Great Argentina Hikes near El Calafate, El Chalten, and Ushuaia

Jul 8
07:09

2010

Matthew Barker

Matthew Barker

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Hike glaciers and mountains near Ushuaia, El Chalten, and El Calafate in Argentina, with travel advice from a Argentina travel expert at Argentina For Less.

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With the rugged Andes mountains along its western shoulder,Great Argentina Hikes near El Calafate, El Chalten, and Ushuaia Articles the icy Los Glacieres National Park in Southern Patagonia, and the wild Tierra del Fuego in the extreme south, Argentina has the terrain for some of South America’s best hikes. Many of these regions are popular Argentina travel destinations. Day hikers, backpackers, and serious climbers all enjoy the national parks, which have well-marked trails and amenities.

Begin your Argentina vacation hiking in El Calafate. Fly from Buenos Aires to El Calafate, then transfer to your El Calafate hotel, and enjoy the evening in this small city named after the Calafate flower found around the region.

The next day, wake early, have breakfast in your hotel, and then take a bus to the Perito Moreno Glacier, about 40 miles outside of town. The Perito Moreno Glacier is a famous glacier located in the Los Glaciares National Park that pours into Lago Argentino, or Lake Argentina. You can take a boat cruise across Lago Argentino to reach the glacier, and then go on a guided glacier trek, using crampons to traverse the ice. You will pass lagoons, crevasses, and spectacular ice formations. You can either go on a mini-trek, or a full day trek. The mini trek includes lunch in a shelter near the shore, and is recommended for hikers 10-60 years old. The full day trek takes you into the heart of the glacier, includes lunch in the shelter, and is recommended for hikers 18-45. 

While on your Argentina vacation, you can easily spend a few days hiking in the small town of El Chalten, known as Argentina’s hiking capital. From Buenos Aires, you can fly to the El Calafate airport and then take a bus to El Chalten, about 130 miles, a four hour bus ride. Spend the night in your El Chalten hotel before heading out on one of the many El Chalten hikes available.
 
The Viedma Glacier Trek is one of the most popular hikes near El Chalten. After a delicious breakfast in your comfortable El Chalten hotel, you will head to the Viedma Glacier, the largest glacier in Los Glacieres National Park. Full day treks to Pliegue Tumbado, and Torre Glacier. Many of these treks give you great views of Monte Fitz Roy, one of the most recognizable landmarks in Patagonia. Torre Glacier gives you a chance to try your hand at climbing an ice wall with pick axes. Half day treks include Laguna de los Tres, Laguna Torre, Laguna Capri, and Piedra del Fraile. One of the most physically challenging treks in the region is the full day Paso del Cuadrado trek. Along this trail, you can see Aguja Guillaumet, Glacier Marconi, Gorra Blanca, and later, Glacier del Cuadrado. At 5000 feet, you can see Monte Fitz Roy and Glacier Pollone.

Next, head down to Ushuaia, the southernmost city in Argentina, and in fact, in the whole world. You can fly to the Ushuaia airport and transfer to your Ushuaia hotel. Ushuaia was once a pioneer town, colonized by British missionaries. Recently it has become a popular travel destination due to the spectacular surrounding landscape. The city of Ushuaia itself is situated on the shores of the Beagle Channel. Behind it is the Martial Mountain range. The brightly colored houses, hotels, restaurants, and shops in this town are picturesque.

Nearby Ushuaia is the Tierra del Fuego National Park. This 240 acre national park has some great walking trails that allow you to experience the stunning landscape of snow-capped mountains, rivers, lakes, and beech forests. There are fire bushes, box-leafed barberries, orchids, and violets. Geese and ibis migrate to the lakes and beavers built their dams in the Laguna Negra. You can also take a full day trek to the beautiful Lake Esmerelda.

Another moderately challenging Ushuaia trek is the Tierra Mayor Dog Sled and Snowshoe Trek. Tierra Mayor is a trailhead just outside of Ushuaia. You can take a bus to Tierra Mayor, and take a guided dog sled and snowshoe trek up the Tierra Mayor snowy hills along old logging trails. Pulled by a pack of Huskies, you will head up to a woodcutter’s shelter, where you can warm up by the fireplace with a cup of hot chocolate before continuing on the trail, this time on snowshoes.  You will reach the Alvear icefalls, where you will have a great view of the Tierra Mayor valley. Head back down to the shelter and warm up again, then continue on down to the trailhead on snowshoes. Transfer back to your Ushuaia hotel.