Trekking expedition to Marconi Pass

Join certified local guide Merlín on this 3-day trekking expedition to Marconi Pass, an ideal place to admire the Patagonian Ice Field.

3 Days

Jan - Mar, Oct - Dec

Highlights

Admire the beautiful Patagonia ice field.
Join a certified guide on a unique Marconi Pass trek.
Enjoy a challenging trekking adventure near El Chaltén.

Description

I invite you on a 3-day expedition to Marconi Pass, near El Chalten. This is an ideal place to admire the Patagonian Ice Field.

The Patagonian Ice Field is one of the largest extensions of ice in the world, only behind Antarctica and Greenland. It's a large ice plateau, lying on the border between Argentina and Chile.

From El Chalten, a transfer will take us to Rio Electrico, which is the starting point of this trip. During the second day, we'll cross Marconi glacier to enter the Ice-Field. You can see the details of the itinerary below.

This is a hard and physically demanding trek. In fact, it's important to have some previous trekking and camping experience. On the other hand, you won't need any technical glacier experience.

Are you planning to visit El Chalten? Please contact me for this amazing trip to Marconi Pass. I will be happy to be your guide in one the best trekking spots in Patagonia.

I also organize other trips around El Chalten. You can check some of them, like this 4-day trekking circuit in Cerro Huemul or this guided alpine climbing to Aguja Guillaumet.

Price includes

Guiding fee
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
Transport during the trip
Personal insurance

Itinerary

Day 1: 'La Playita' campsite

A transfer takes us to Río Eléctrico.

From there, we trek for 2 hours to get to Piedra del Fraile Campsite or 5 hours to La Playita Camp, at the foot of the Marconi Glacier.

Piedra del Fraile is a private campsite with services, at the edge of the forest. After getting there, the terrain is open and rockery until the next campsite (La Playita).

Meals: Box Lunch and Dinner.

Day 2: Marconi Pass

We leave our camp set up, and continue trekking with a light pack.

In 1 hour we arrive to Marconi Glacier where we will start the ascent.

Once on the glacier we will use crampons and/or snow shoes depending on the terrain conditions.

We estimate it will take about 6 hours to hike from the campsite to Paso Marconi.

From here, there are amazing panoramic views of the mountains Cerro Fitz Roy, Piergiorgio, Torre, Gorra Blanca and Marconi, among others.

We’ll return the same way that we came up, estimating 4 hours to reach the camp La Playita.

The elevation gain is 950 meters.

Meals: Breakfast, Box Lunch and Dinner.

Day 3: Return to El Chaltén

We return by the same trail back to Rio Electrico bridge, (about 6 hours), and then we will take a transfer back to El Chalten.

Meals: Breakfast and Box Lunch.

Details

More info

Elevation Gain: 950 Meters (3100 Feet)
The following gear is included:

Four Seasons Tents Camping And Kitchen Equipment Snow Shoes Technical Glacier Gear: Crampons, Harness, Rope, Locking Carabiner, Other Safety Devices, Etc. VHF Radio GPS (Global Positioning System) First-Aid Kit

The following items are not included in the price: Lodging at El Chalten Aditional porters Personal gear

Meeting point

El Chalten

About the guide

Merlín

4.8

(62)

Mountain Guide

Certified UIAGM-IFMGA Mountain Guide from Argentina.

I live in El Chaltén since 1998. I'm originally from Bariloche and I started with mountain activities when I was 15 years old. I've done climbing and ascents in many mountains of Patagonia, Perú, Bolivia, United States and Europe; such as Fitz Roy, Cerro Torre, Alpamayo, El Capitán, Mont Blanc and Aconcagua among others. I'm also a Ski Instructor and I am passionate for backcountry ski.

I speak fluent English, Italian and French and have been leading trips and expeditions for more than 20 years. I work together with a group of guides, so if I'm not available for the trip you request, one of my colleagues will guide you!

Languages

Italian | French | English

Certificates

AAGM | UIAGM

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