Day hiking from El Chalten

This route provides arguably the best viewpoint in the national park, as the name refers to the peaks of Cerros Fitz Roy, Poincenot and Torre, all of which can be seen in the magnificent 360 degree views from the shores of the lake.

While it can be done as an out-and-back hike from El Chalten, it's a more interesting day if you get transport to Hosteria Pilar and start from there. That way, the trek starts out on a forest path looking out to the Piedras Blancas glacier, before a steep 800m ascent to the laguna itself, which makes a great lunch stop, and a return to El Chalten past the wonderful Laguna Capri with views to the massif.

Duration: 22km, 7 to 9 hrs

This is a reasonably gentle hike up a perfect glaciated valley to wonderful views of Cerro Torre from the lake. The climb is only 250m or 350m if you continue on up to the Mirador Maestri lookout point.

Duration: 20km, 5 to 6 hrs

Loma roughly translates as 'hill', but this route still takes you some 1,000m above the town of El Chalten, offering a different perspective on the mountains and giving you great views of Lake Viedma as it loops round to the south of the Fitz Roy massif. Although the altitude gain is significant the trail is relatively easy going and you can always cut a couple of kilometres off the end. The rocky terrain is a great place to find fossils.

Duration: 16-18km, 6 to 8 hrs 

Los Huemules Reserve is a 5,800 hectare private reserve, to the north of El Chalten. It was created 15 years ago to preserve the ecology of this area and protect it from development. A series of trails of different difficulties have been developed so that tourists can do a number of hikes. The rest of the park has been left to grow wild and hopefully the huemules, foxes, magellanic woodpeckers, condors and puma will find sanctuary there. Although the trails will not get the spectacular views that you will get from Laguna de Los Tres and Laguna Torre, these hikes are special because of their solitude, exploratory nature, the pristine landscape and diversity of species within the reserve through which they pass.

To the north of Fitz Roy lies the Electrico Valley and the rustic refugio and campsite at Piedra del Fraile. The hike out is along gentle forest paths, with little climbing and views along the valley to the distant Marconi Glacier.

Duration: 8 to 9 hrs

The Ice Hike on Viedma Glacier is no longer possible to do as the glacier is in rapid retreat and isn't stable enough to support trekkers. 

There is an alternative ice hike that can be done in the Los Huemules Reserve just north of El Chalten on the Cagliero Glacier. It is more of a via ferrata style excursion and involves a 2 hour hike to get to the ice. This ice hike is not suitable for beginners.