Los Glaciares National Park Hiking & Trekking Tours

Hiking & Trekking

Fitz Roy and Cerro Torre demand attention, though much of the joy of hiking to them lies along the approach: sheltered stretches of beech forest, pristine glacial-fed creeks, then open moraine where the wind greets you in the high country. The peaks can disappear behind clouds for hours, so allowing several hiking days is a better option than betting the views on one attempt.

The famous trails are varied enough to allow flexibility in how you hike them. A shorter walk to a lookout gives you a proper taste of the mountains; reaching Laguna de los Tres adds a steep, demanding day. These hikes are beneath the climbing routes, rather than to the summits, so expect to earn views of the peaks, not from the peaks.

• Laguna de los Tres: Hike from El Chalten through native forest and past mountain viewpoints to a glacial lake directly below Mount Fitz Roy. The steep, rocky climb at the end makes this one of the area’s more strenuous day hikes. Allow 8–10 hours for approximately 13–15.5 miles, depending on the route.
• Laguna Torre: This trail follows the Fitz Roy River valley from El Chalten to a glacial lake beneath Cerro Torre, with views of glaciers and sharp granite peaks when skies are clear. There are some uphill sections, but much of the route crosses gentler terrain. Plan on approximately 11–12 miles and 7–8 hours, without the optional extension to Mirador Maestri (an add-on hike to a stunning viewpoint).
• Laguna Capri: This is a shorter hike from El Chalten that leads uphill through forests to a blue lake with views of Fitz Roy and its surrounding peaks. The initial climb requires the most effort; and the trail becomes gentler as you approach the lakeshore. Allow 4–5 hours for the approximately 5-mile round trip journey.
• Piedras Blancas Glacier viewpoint: Starting near El Pilar, a short drive north of El Chalten, this forest trail follows the Rio Blanco valley to a viewpoint overlooking Piedras Blancas Glacier. You’ll see the glacier from across the valley rather than walk onto the ice. The round trip hike is approximately 5 miles and takes 4–5 hours, plus transportation to and from the trailhead.
• Loma del Pliegue Tumbado: This demanding hike climbs from the national park visitor center through grassland and forests to an open mountain viewpoint overlooking Laguna Torre, Cerro Torre, and Fitz Roy. Expect a sustained uphill walk and an exposed final section where the wind can be strong. Allow 7–8 hours for approximately 13 miles to the viewpoint and back.
• Los Condores and Las Aguilas viewpoints: These shorter walks begin near the national park visitor center. Los Condores overlooks El Chalten and the surrounding peaks, while Las Aguilas looks across the Patagonian steppe toward Lake Viedma. Allow roughly 1–2 hours and 2.5 miles for Los Condores, or 2–3 hours and about 3.7 miles to visit both.
• Chorrillo del Salto: An easy walk from the northern end of El Chalten follows sections of road and forest trail to a waterfall surrounded by native trees. It’s a good choice for a relaxed half-day outing, with minimal climbing. The round trip from town is approximately 4.3 miles and takes about 3 hours.

MT Sobek’s Ultimate Patagonia itinerary includes Laguna de los Tres and Laguna Torre. The Premier Lodging trip takes a less strenuous approach to the Fitz Roy sector.

Perito Moreno Glacier

At Perito Moreno, it actually pays off to stop hiking for a bit and simply soak up the views and sounds. The glacier creaks and cracks; occasionally, a piece breaks free and crashes into the lake. Even without calving, the immensity of the glacier and the wilderness that surrounds it is mesmerizing.

A network of viewing walkways provides several angles of the glacier without requiring mountaineering skills. There are stairs and sloping sections, so check the appropriate access route if mobility is a concern. It’s a different physical undertaking from a long El Chalten hike and often a welcome change of pace between days of mountain trekking.

• Walkway visits: Observe the glacier from shore, with the option to move between viewpoints.
• Ice trekking: Separate excursions operated by authorized guide services take participants onto the glacier with professional trip leaders and equipment. Eligibility and fitness requirements vary by company and depend on the outing.
• Boat excursions: Available boating options provide a lake-level perspective while keeping an appropriate distance from the ice front, where calving ice can be hazardous.

MT Sobek’s Ultimate Patagonia and Premier Lodging itineraries include Perito Moreno viewing.

Boat Trips & Guided Kayaking

Lago Argentino’s branching arms extend into country you cannot explore by road. Boat excursions from the El Calafate area offer incredible access to glacier scenery, with some routes visiting the Upsala or Spegazzini sectors. The destinations, landing arrangements, and time ashore depend on the excursion.

Guided kayaking is another way to see the Perito Moreno area from the water. It comes with a different set of considerations: cold water, wind, and the need to respect glacier safety distances. This is an outing you can book with an authorized guide service.

Wildlife & Native Forests

Listen carefully while you walk through the lenga groves. A woodpecker may announce itself before you see it, and a pause in the trees can be as rewarding as another photograph of the skyline. In open country, watch for condors scanning the slopes or guanacos grazing in the open.

Los Glaciares National Park protects both Patagonian forest and steppe. This diversity of habitat is important because the animals you may encounter beside a wooded stream differ from those on the drive between El Calafate and El Chalten.

• Andean condors: Watch the cliffs and rising air above the valleys.
• Magellanic woodpeckers and torrent ducks: Look and listen in suitable forest and river habitats.
• Guanacos: Often associated with the open steppe surrounding the mountain country.
• Huemul: This threatened native deer inhabits the park, but a sighting is a fortunate encounter rather than a dependable feature of a hiking day.
• Foxes and pumas: Both occur in the region. Neither should be promised as part of a standard trekking itinerary.

Always keep your distance, leave animals with an escape route, and let the guide lead the way if there is an encounter.

Horseback Riding & Estancia Country

Beyond the forests, the landscape opens into sheep country: low scrub, long fences, and horizons that recede as you approach them. Estancias and horses have shaped this part of Argentine Patagonia for generations. Spending time here puts the mountain trails into a broader setting.

MT Sobek’s Premier Lodging itinerary includes a horseback outing while staying at EOLO near El Calafate, with an alternative hiking option described in the itinerary. Other ranch visits and rides depend on the trip. Ask what is actually scheduled before treating an estancia experience as part of every Los Glaciares departure.

Combining Los Glaciares with Torres del Paine

Torres del Paine and Los Glaciares complement one another and together form a more complete experience of Patagonia. Los Glaciares gives you the Fitz Roy and Cerro Torre trail networks, lake journeys, and Perito Moreno Glacier. Torres del Paine adds the Paine Massif, refugios, and the W and O trekking routes.

MT Sobek offers combinations with substantial hiking, premier lodging, and a longer journey extending toward Patagonia’s southern waterways. If you do it on your own, know that crossing between Argentina and Chile takes time, including immigration formalities. Plan the transition between countries as a travel day, with room for delays.