You will love this expedition among the best spots of North Patagonia, on the Argentinean side.
All of us have heard about North Patagonia in the Andes Range, at least once. Well, it’s time to discover the amazing mountain secrets this area have.
During this 12-day trekking expedition we’ll reach high altitudes and visit the best huts, lakes and glaciers of the region.
If you want to know more about this adventure, please continue reading the full itinerary:
DAY 1: FREY HUT
Our starting point will be Bariloche. Early in the morning we’ll move to our trail-head in Cerro Catedral. We’ll hike above the Gutierrez Lake until we are in the Van Titter Stream, where we’ll lunch and rest for a while.
By the afternoon we’ll be at the Frey Hut at 1.650 meters. A fondue of cheese will be our dinner before a nice sleeping time.
- Walking time of today: 4 hours
- Distance: 10 km
- Altitude gained: 700 meters
- Surface: trail terrain
DAY 2: SAN MARTIN HUT
We leave Frey Hut in direction to the Rucaco Pass at 2.050 meters of height. On the way, we’ll probably find some snow. We have lunch in the middle of the forest and then we continue hiking until we’re in the Brecha Negra. It’s a mountain pass that will lead us to San Martin Mountain Hut, our home of today.
- Walking time of today: 7/8 hours
- Distance: 17 km
- Altitude gained: 800 meters
- Surface: rocky terrain
DAY 3: laguna negra hut
This day is the hardest one. We start the ascent to Refugie Peak. You have to know it is a rock climbing section of grade III and it includes some scrambling with the hands and the feet.
When we gain a 1.900-meter altitude we keep hiking across a ridge called “Inocentes”. It is the way to Mount Navidad summit. Then, we’ll take a ravine in direction to Italia Hut passing along the Black Lagoon where our accommodation awaits.
- Walking time of today: 9 hours
- Distance: 16 km
- Altitude gained: downhill
- Surface: rocky terrain
DAY 4: lopez hut and colonia suiza
Today we will walk around the Black Lagoons and then, ascend to the ridge of Bailey Willis from where we can admire an amazing viewpoint of Nahuel Huapi Lake.
Once we cross the Goye Valley we’ll reach to Cerro Lopez summit at 2.000 meters. Time to descend to our last mountain hut: Lopez Hut. There, a transfer will take us to Colonia Suiza, a nice town of Bariloche.
- Walking time of today: 8 hours
- Distance: 22 km
- Altitude gained: 500 meters and then -1200 meters
- Surface: rocky, stone and snowy terrain
DAY 5: REST IN COLONIA SUIZA
DAY 6: BLACK LAGOON HUT VIA NORMAL ROUTE
We start walking among the Colonia Suiza Valley until we are at Black Lagoon hut. We’ll set up our camp there and sleep in tents.
- Walking time of today: 5 hours
- Distance: 14 km
- Altitude gained: 600 meters
- Surface: trails
DAY 7: CAB LAGOON CAMP
We’ll hike down into La Chata Valley. Then, we climb to the CAB Lagoon across an outback route. And there we establish our new campsite.
- Walking time of today: 6 hours
- Distance: 16 km
- Altitude gained: 1000 meters
- Surface: trails
DAY 8: CAMP AT CRETON LAGOON
It is the day of climbing to the top of Cerro CAB along a stone and rocky edge. When we cross to the other side of the summit, we will be at the high Mate Dulce Valley.
We have lunch and keep climbing to Cerro Cristal. Then, we’ll be finally in our base camp at The Creton Lagoon.
- Walking time of today: 9 hours
- Distance: 18 km
- Altitude gained: 1000 meters
- Surface: rocky and stone route
DAY 9: ILON LAGOON
We will enjoy one of the best viewpoint of all the expedition during this day. Amazing lakes and Chilean summit such us Mount Tronador. After 8 walking hours we’ll be at Ilon Lagoon camp, where we’ll spend the night.
- Walking time of today: 8 hours
- Distance: 20 km
- Altitude gained: 400 meters
- Surface: rocky and stone route
DAY 10: PAMPA LINDA INN
Today we’ll move to Mirada del Doctor. Then, we return to the camp to pack our gear and start to descend to Pampa Linda. Once in there, we will enjoy a deserved bath and a delicious meal.
- Walking time of today: 6 hours
- Distance: 15 km
- Altitude gained: -1000 meters
- Surface: trails
DAY 11: Meiling hut
We are hiking in direction to the Meiling Hut at 2.000 meters among the Castaño Overo Valley. After a picnic lunch we continue the trek to the refuge, where we’ll reach by the afternoon. At night, we’ll have a nice candle lights dinner.
- Walking time of today: 5 hours
- Distance: 15 km
- Altitude gained: 9000 meters
- Surface: rocky and snow terrain
DAY 12: BARILOCHE
Once we breakfast we’ll move towards a glacier that is 200 meters from the hut and enjoy a great Andean view. Then, we’ll return to the hut, have lunch and start the last trip to Bariloche, where the program ends.
You cannot miss this experience. Please contact me now and let’s plan the trip together. North Patagonia is waiting for you!!!
