Best El Chalten Glacier Treks

Trek the glaciers in Los Glaciares National Park in Patagonia, Argentina, with travel advice from an Argentina travel expert at Argentina For Less.

El Chalten, the little town known as the trekking capital of Patagonia, has gained popularity in the past decades for its numerous treks of all levels of difficulty, all with stunning views of glaciers, lakes, mountains, and river valleys.

The Los Glaciares National Park, only a few miles from El Chalten, is a playground for trekkers. Hailed a UNESCO World Heritage site, the park protects a variety of endangered wildlife and birds such as the Andean condor, gray foxes, guanacos, and pumas. Massive glaciers, lagoons, estancias, lakes, and massifs all reside in this park.

Monte Fitz Roy is the most famous, and if you’ve never heard of it before, you’ve may recognize its jagged profile from the Patagonia clothing company icon. This iconic mountain has a dramatically steep surface that is so slick, snow does not stick. Often shrouded in mist, this mountain is also known as ¨the smoking mountain¨ since the indigenous people thought the perrenial mist looked like smoke.

Other popular hikes include those to Viedma Glacier, the largest glacier in Los Glaciares National Park, as well as to Lago Viedma and Laguna de los Tres. Most treks are hikeable in half a day or a full day, and range from easy to moderate difficulty level. Overnight camping is doable, as there are many campsites throughout the park, but proper equipment is essential. Hikes of more than two days and hikes requiring special equipment also generally require certified mountain guides. Many guides and tours are available and can be booked in El Chalten.

Torre Glacier ice trekking is a popular moderate level, full day route that takes you past Laguna Torre to Torre Glacier. You hike across moraines and the Tirolesa River, and use crampons to trudge through the glacier. You climb crevasses, an ice wall requiring pick axes, and other obstacles, all in an effort to win the best views of the Torre Glacier area. Even if not an experienced climber, this trek is possible, as guides are with you every step of the way.

The Laguna de los Tres easy to moderate full day hike is well-trod, as it gives terrific views of Monte Fitz Roy. You take the Lodge El Pilar route to the Rio Blanco valley, where you can see the Piedras Blancas Glacier. Once you reach Laguna de los Tres, a high-elevation glacier lake, you will see Monte Fitz Roy, plus the other lakes Laguna Sucia and Lago Viedma, and later, Laguna Capri.

Two easy day hikes are Laguna Torre trek, which takes the same route as Laguna de los Tres, but stops halfway at the first lookout point and detours to Laguna Torre, and the second is Laguna Capri, which also follows the same trail, but detours to Laguna Capri.

Another option, although by no means the last option, is a boat cruise plus trek. You can take a boat cruise along Lago Viedma to the Viedma Glacier, which is very popular. This is truly a beautiful trek, and although it is fairly easy, it does require special equipment such as crampons, and going in a tour is advised.

Article Tags: Monte Fitz, Torre Glacier

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