Day hiking from El Chaltén
El Chaltén is the gateway to the Fitz Roy Massif in Los Glaciares – and some world class day hikes leading straight from your hotel to the mountains and glaciers.
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Reasons to go to Los Glaciares
- Gasp at the majesty of Perito Moreno glacier, then explore by boat, kayak or even by donning crampons to hike across its icy back
- Follow a network of day hiking routes from the mountain town of El Chaltén, to enjoy sublime views of the many peaks and glaciers of the Fitz Roy Massif
- Embrace your inner gaucho for life on the range at an estancia, exploring the trails on foot or horseback in an epic wilderness
- Get truly remote with the windswept passes on the Huemul Circuit trek, to wild camp on the shores of an iceberg-strewn lake
- Challenge yourself on an ice field expedition, traversing some of the toughest and most spectacular scenery that Patagonia has to offer.
Hiking to Laguna de Los Tres
The cliffs and crevasses of Perito Moreno
Upsala glacier on the Los Glaciares Wilderness Trek
Sunrise on the South Patagonian Ice Field Expedition
Autumn colours at Cerro Torre
El Chaltén town and the Fitz Roy massif
Cerro Torre day hike
En route to the Marconi Pass on the Huemul Circuit trek
Big Ice hike on Perito Moreno
What to see & do in Los Glaciares
Perito Moreno glacier
Few national parks can be more perfectly named than Los Glaciares. It’s home to a jaw-dropping 356 glaciers, with many of them easily accessible to visitors.
Perito Moreno glacier is Patagonia’s most famous glacier – and for a very good reason. Though it’s named for Argentina’s most famous explorer, Francisco Moreno, you don’t need to be an explorer yourself to enjoy it. It can be quickly reached by road from El Calafate, and its vast cliffs and almost unfathomable length (nearly 19 miles/30km) can be explored in a variety of ways.
From boat trips and ice hiking with crampons on its back to simply gazing on its beauty from a viewing balcony, Perito Moreno is not to be missed.
Looking out at Perito Moreno glacier
World-class day hiking in the Fitz Roy Massif
The peaks of the Fitz Roy Massif are what makes Los Glaciares National Park world famous hiking and trekking destination.
The instantly recognisable granite peaks of Mount Fitz Roy dominate the north of the park. Originally called Chaltén ('peak of fire') by the indigenous Tehuelche people, that name is now given to the town that sits below the mountains, offering instant access to a superb network of hiking trails.
Iconic day hikes from El Chaltén like Laguna de Los Tres and Laguna Torre take you straight to the feet of the greatest peaks, throwing in a few extra glaciers and pretty mountain lakes for good measure, while the Loma del Pliegue Tumbado hike pulls the focus back to reveal stunning panoramas of the entire range.
Laguna de Los Tres below Mount Fitz Roy
Swoop says
There might be no better mountain town in the world for both day hikers and serious trekkers than El Chaltén. Looking up to see the peaks of the FitzRoy Massif right above your hotel is an instant trigger for adventure.
Marcela Benegas Patagonia Customer Experience Coordinator
Outstanding multi-day treks
Multi-day treks offer the chance for much deeper exploration of Los Glaciares.
The classic Laguna de Los Tres and Laguna Torre hikes from El Chaltén are easily combined into an overnight camping trek – perhaps even adding in the e Loma del Pliegue Tumbado hike for an essential experience.
The most celebrated route here is the Huemul Circuit trek with four days over dramatic mountain passes and along glaciers to take you to the wildest corners of the park.
The southern part of Los Glaciares is less visited by hikers, but offers the chance explore the wilderness past frontier estancia to places so remote you’ll need a boat to get home.
Glacier views from the Huemul Pass
The South Patagonian Ice Field
If Patagonia is a place for adventure, then nowhere is better than the South Patagonian Ice Field – the third largest ice field in the world. Those mentally and physically ready to be tested however should grab an ice axe, crampons and snowshoes and prepare for a true expedition.
By climbing the Marconi Pass, intrepid explorers can get a taste of these frozen expanses by camping out on the ice field itself. Expeditions here typically take eight days. The conditions on the ice field are unpredictable such that two extra days need to be built into the itinerary just to account for the ever-changing weather. Those ready to brave the elements will be rewarded with a truly unforgettable adventure.
Trekking on the South Patagonian Ice Field
More on trekking in Los Glaciares
Multi-Day Trekking in FitzRoy
Los Glaciares offers extraordinary multi-trekking adventures, sleeping under the stars to explore Mount FitzRoy, hanging glaciers and hidden valleys.
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South Patagonian Ice Field Expedition guide
Our ultimate guide to the South Patagonian Ice Field Expedition in Los Glaciares, from planning and preparation to a day by day itinerary on the trail.
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Huemul Circuit guide
Our ultimate guide to the Huemul Circuit trek in Los Glaciares, from planning and preparation to a day by day itinerary on the trail.
Discover MoreEl Chaltén
El Chaltén is the chilled-out mountain town that sits in the shadow of Mount FitzRoy, and on a clear day the peak completely dominates its skyline. Since the 1980s it's been a mecca for hikers, mountaineers and rock climbers alike.
The town is small but perfectly formed, with a great cafe, restaurant and bar scene to enjoy after some hard days hiking, as well as plenty of outdoor gear shops where you can top up on kit.
Everyone you meet in El Chaltén seems to be either about to head on a trek or has just come back from one. Its supremely relaxed vibe means that it's an easy place to lose yourself in for a few days – or even longer.
El Chaltén and the Fitz Roy Massif
Culture & history
Los Glaciares is a place to experience Patagonia's traditional frontier culture and history like nowhere else.
Estancias dot the landscape here – historic ranches often dating back more than a century, and very often first settled in areas so remote that even the native Tehuelche never lived there.
Visiting or staying on an estancia offers an insight into the life of the gaucho, Patagonia's iconic cowboys, who still live and work in the saddle ranching cattle and sheep. You needn't rough it while you so, but they offer the opportunity to connect with a rich cultural heritage in a landscape where the skies, plains an mountains seem to stretch on forever.
A gaucho in Los Glaciares
Swoop says
Los Glaciares offers some of Patagonia's best cultural experiences. Drinking mate with gauchos after a day in the saddle connects you instantly back in time to the tough lives of the earliest pioneers, founding their estancias deep in the wilderness.
Clo Mazille Patagonia Specialist
Where to stay in Los Glaciares
Most people chose to base themselves in and around El Chaltén, where you can walk straight out your hotel and onto a hiking trail, the return in the evening for a hot shower and to explore the town’s great foodie scene. There’s a good selection of accommodation for all price brackets.
El Calafate also has a wide selection of hotels that are perfect for ease of access to Perito Moreno.
You can get away from everything to stay on an estancia, or traditional Argentinian ranch, connecting with traditional frontier culture in some of the remotest properties in Patagonia.
If you prefer a bit of pampering, Los Glaciares has some excellent luxury lodges, near both El Chaltén and El Calafate.
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Los Glaciares accommodation options
El Chaltén Hotels
Originally a climbers' mecca, El Chaltén is peppered with hotels that are still mainly run by staff dying to help you get out and about in the mountains. Spend your days amongst …
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El Calafate Hotels
El Calafate is the hub of Argentina's Los Glaciares National Park, and there is no shortage of places to stay. Experience warm Patagonian hospitality at a family run boutique …
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Estancias in Los Glaciares
Estancias are the perfect place to disconnect: remote ranches offering a gaucho lifestyle, where you can explore their trails by day then sink into their rustic charms by night.
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Luxury lodges in Los Glaciares
For those wanting to explore Los Glaciares in true comfort, there are superb lodges that deliver a luxury package just waiting to be discovered in the wilderness.
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Swoop says
Some of the best sunrises and sunsets await those and camp for a night or two among the mountains, when you can enjoy the peaks to yourself. Or you can really go far and find campsites and wild camping on some of the park's most brilliantly remote treks.
How to get to Los Glaciares
El Calafate (airport code FTE) is the main gateway to Los Glaciares national park. From here, it’s just 135 miles (215km) by road to the park’s hiking hub at El Chaltén. From El Calafate, it’s 59 miles (80km) to Perito Moreno glacier.
El Calafate is connected by air to Buenos Aires, Ushuaia in Tierra del Fuego, Bariloche in the Argentinian Lake District, Trelew at Peninsula Valdes and Cordoba.
There are no direct flights from El Calafate into Chile, but overland travel is possible from Puerto Natales and Torres del Paine National Park.
When to go to Los Glaciares
Spring The start of the visitor season. Receding snow reopens the trails. Mornings and nights are still chilly, but there are far fewer hikers on the trails.
Summer Long days of over 17 hours of daylight, with typically fine weather but with strong winds. This is peak season, so booking accommodation in advance is essential.
Autumn A time of glorious Fall colours. One of the best time to visit due to generally clearer skies and fewer visitors, but later in the season there's always a chance of snow.
Winter Snow closes most of the trails and many hotels shut completely. Perito Moreno remains accessible throughout the entire year.
What our travellers think of Los Glaciares
Los Glaciares National Park trips scored 4.4/5 from 736 reviews
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Los Glaciares: Your Questions Answered
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How do I see the glaciers?
You can see the glaciers in the north whilst out on treks from El Chalten. If you want to get up close, you can ice hike on Perito Moreno Glacier, or take a boat trip right up to its icy face.
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Where can I trek and mountaineer?
The best place to go trekking in Los Glaciares National Park is the Fitz Roy & El Chalten area. Here there is a wide range of trekking options, from gentle day-hikes to multi-day treks over mountain passes, to expeditions onto the South Patagonian Ice Cap.
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When should I visit?
The best time to visit Los Glaciares is in between the end of spring and the start of autumn, which in the southern hemisphere is roughly from November through to April.
Whatever time of year you visit Patagonia, you will find that the weather is very changeable, but avoiding the winter months will mean that there is a higher chance of being able to do the activities that you want to do.
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Can I combine Los Glaciares with Torres del Paine?
Yes, it's possible to explore both great regions taking in Fitz Roy massif in Los Glaciares and the iconic towers of Torres del Paine.
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Do I now have to pay to hike in El Chaltén?
As of November 2024, a new entrance fee for Los Glaciares National Park was introduced for anyone hiking in the El Chaltén area. We and our local operators cannot purchase the entrance fee on your behalf so you will need to buy it in advance (from 4 months before your trip) via an online form. We can offer more guidance once booked but it will be your responsibility to ensure you have paid the required fee.
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