Piedra del Fraile

This is a really charming campsite in the Electrico valley to the north of Mount Fitz Roy. The "piedra" refers to a huge boulder once dumped in the valley by the glacier. The boulder provides a good degree of shelter in what is otherwise a very exposed valley on the edge of the South Patagonian Ice Cap.

The campsite itself is small (maybe 10-15 pitches) and relatively basic (a few shelters for cooking and basic washrooms), but there's a great hut with a wood-burning stove (and a very content dog), and it serves surprisingly good pizzas and cold beers.

Piedra del Fraile could either be a destination in itself or a nice stopping off point en route to the Marconi Pass and the Ice Cap, the Polllone valley or Piedra Negra.

It takes about 2-3 hours to get here from the Rio Electrico bridge (a 30 min transfer from El Chalten).

Map of Piedra del Fraile

Nearby landmarks

Trips that visit Piedra del Fraile

South Patagonian Ice Field Expedition

Test yourself in one of the most difficult environments on Earth on this trek across the Southern Patagonian Ice Field. Climb up onto the Marconi Glacier and camp overnight in the dramatic frozen landscape of the ice field. Hike across…

  • 8 Days
  • $3,135