El Chalten Loma del Pliegue Tumbado Full-Day Trek

Description

This is another fantastic trek is to access a 360° viewpoint via a less used trail in the national park. The whole way to the destination is up hill. From the top at 1,484mt, there is a great panoramic over the entire National Park. The final sector is quite steep and sturdy footwear and trekking poles are required.

We advise you start your hike early and check the weather forecast. Just because weather is nice in the morning, doesn’t mean it will stay like that all day.

The first hour of walking involves crossing over small streams and through wooded areas of Ñires and Lenga trees.

Then the trail continues across the Pampas, locally called “Pampa de las Carretas” before passing through wooded sectors that are home to a variety of birds.

The trail will be marked as Laguna Toro until you reach the trail junction in approximately 4km, indicating Loma Del Pliegue Tumbado to the right.

After a good 4hr uphill walk you will likely encounter the Patagonian wind, but at the end, provided that it is a clear day, you will be able to see the summits of: Mount Fitz Roy, Mount Torre, Grande Glacier, Mount Solo, among others. Many people consider it the best panoramic view they have ever seen.

El Chalten Piedra del Fraile Full-Day Trek

Description

In order to get to the starting point of this trail you have to take a shuttle from El Chalten to Hosteria el Pilar - 17km from El Chalten. There are daily buses to the trailhead.

The beginning of the trip is on foot or following a path to the west. You will cross an open area without slopes, dotted with rocks, bushes and low ñires, where you will find some coloured marks on the stones that indicate the path. In less than half an hour of starting you will already be walking inside the lenga forest, very close to the mighty electric river, in an area protected from the wind.

The path is always close to the river, and it is gaining height very slowly.

After two hours of starting the hike, you will arrive at the Piedra del Fraile facilities located next to the Electrico river, with a camping site, a sleeping area and a small restaurant.

Ten minutes from Piedra del Fraile facilities it's located the Piedra del Fraile natural viewpoint, which is reached by a path that rapidly gains height. From this lockout you can see the Eléctrico valley to the west and to the south the north face of Cerro Chaltén, and the Mermoz and Guillaumet needles.

During the trip you will have magnificent views of Andes Mountains, views of the different granite peaks which characterize the area and a view of Marconi Path, doorway to Continental Ice fields

To return you must hike again along the path to the Hosteria del Pilar and take the bus back to El Chalten.

El Chalten Mirador Glacier Piedras Blancas Full-Day Trek

Details

Grade of difficulty: Difficult (be aware of changing weather conditions).
Distance from El Pilar to Mirador Piedras Blancas: 5.2km
Distance from Mirador Piedras Blancas to Poincenot: 2.9km
Distance from Poincenot to El Chalten village: 8.4km
Trek Time: 6hrs one way.
Experience Required: You need to be reasonably fit. No trekking experience required, but you should be accustomed to long walks, and trekking poles recommended.
Season: All year round, but in the winter, it depends on conditions.

Description

This is a good option if the weather conditions do not permit for the climb up to Laguna de Los Tres.

To get to the starting point of this trail you must take a shuttle from El Chalten to Hosteria el Pilar - 17km from El Chalten.

The start of this lovely walk is on a path that borders the Blanco river and after 45 minutes there is a great view of the Piedras Blancas glacier, which is one of the lowest in the area.

If you wish to get closer to the icebergs in the lagoon you need to continue on the same path to the Camping Site Poincenot and from there cross over the Río Blanco from where you can access the area where the icebergs will be.

You continue along the same path until you reach the creek Piedras Blancas, which descends from West to East and is one hour walk away from the Camping Poincenot. You then retake the path bordering the river on the right side and cross it almost where its source is and you will finally be at the lagoon and close to the icebergs.

If you do not go to the lagoon as described above, the path you were originally on then ascends gently through a forest, the trail begins the slight ascent, which at times moves away to return to approach the course of the river as it gains height, always in a North-South direction. In less than an hour, you will arrive at the gate where the protected area of Los Glaciares National Park begins.

After approximately two hours of walking, you will reach the viewpoint and you will see the beautiful Piedras Blancas glacier, about 2,000m away, hopefully, it is possible to witness some of the small glacier breaks that happen during the summer.

If you continue walking you will get to Poincenot and Rio Blanco campsites where the footpath splits into two with one direction heading to Mount Fitzroy and the other to Laguna Capri - where there is a campsite area, but no services.

On the trek looping back to El Chalten it winds its way down the valley passing through a Lenga and Ñire-tree forest.

El Chalten Laguna de Los Tres Full-Day Trek from Hosteria Pilar

Description

This trail is less traveled than the main trail (walking from the village).

In order to get to the starting point of this trail you have to take a shuttle from El Chalten to Hosteria el Pilar - 17km from El Chalten. There are daily buses to the trailhead.

This is a simple trail that goes through a well-populated Lenga forest, the slope is quite steep until you reach the Del Salto gorge. From this point, it is already possible to begin to see several glaciers in the distance, after that you will pass by some pretty views of the Rio Electrico Valley and Piedras Blancas Glacier.

After approximately 6km, you will join the normal route that comes from Laguna Capri. Almost immediately afterward, it goes back into the forest, and after only 120 meters from the junction, you reach the Poincenot campsite.

Here, the hike is the most demanding part of the trek, ascending a steep slope until finally reaching Laguna de los Tres where there is the majestic sight of Mt Fitz Roy, “Los Tres” Glacier and its lagoons.

This option offers a perfect loop that goes via Laguna Capri and then dropping back into El Chalten village.

El Chalten Poincenot Full-Day Trek from Hosteria Pilar

Description

This trail is less traveled than the main trail (walking from the village).

In order to get to the starting point of this trail you have to take a shuttle from El Chalten to Hosteria el Pilar - 17km from El Chalten. There are daily buses to the trailhead.

This is a simple trail that goes through a well-populated Lenga forest, the slope is quite steep until you reach the Del Salto stream. From this point, it is already possible to begin to see several glaciers in the distance, after that you will pass by some pretty views of the Rio Electrico Valley and Piedras Blancas Glacier.

After approximately 6km, you will join the normal route that comes from Laguna Capri. Almost immediately afterwards, the path goes back into the forest, and after only 120 meters from the junction, it reaches the Poincenot campsite.

El Chalten Mirador Maestri Full-Day Trek

Description

The trail head begins at the northern edge of El Chalten village. The initial minutes is all uphill until you reach the small Ñirre forest. From here, the path starts to gain height until is levels out beside the Fitz Roy River at a viewpoint of the river canyon and the Margarita waterfall.

After 2.5 km of walking, you will arrive at Mount Torre viewpoint. Here you can enjoy the most magnificent view of Mount Torre, the Adela range, and its glaciers.

One hour of walking later, you will reach a natural viewpoint with an incomparable panoramic view of the Adela mountain range and the Mount Torre and the granite spiers that accompany it. The path finally crosses the De Agostini base camp, where it is possible to spend the night.

You will walk through large Lenga forests, and also over old glacial moraines and wet plains formed by the previous courses of the river until you get to Laguna Torre.

At Laguna Torre, it is usual to see huge icebergs, ice which has fallen off the Torre glacier face.

The final part of the trail leads to the Mirador Maestri viewpoint. Starting from the northern bank of the Laguna Torre the trail continues for 2 km more until it reaches the lookout.

The trail does not continue, therefore, in order to return you need to take the same trail back.

El Chalten Laguna Torre Full-Day Trek

Description

After 2.5km of walking, we arrive at Mount Torre viewpoint. Here you can enjoy the most magnificent view of Mount Torre, the Adela range and its glaciers.

You will walk through large Lenga forests, and also over old glacial moraines and wet plains formed by the previous courses of the river until you get to Laguna Torre.

At Laguna Torre, it is usual to see huge icebergs, ice which has fallen off the Torre glacier face.

After a rest at the lagoon, you can start your trek back to El Chaltén

El Chalten Campamento de Agostini
Full-Day Trek

Description

This is one of the classic trekking trails from El Chaltén offering a wonderful view at the destination, but also a lot of uphill trekking.

From El Chaltén you need to take the trail to the Laguna Torre and after a small climb you will enter a small Ñire forest. From here, the path starts to ascend until it levels out alongside the Fitzroy River up to the viewpoint of the river canyon and the Margarita waterfall.

From the viewpoint after about an hour of walking you will arrive at the Mount Torre viewpoint. Here are some of the most magnificent views of Mount Torre, the Adela range, and glaciers.

The trek continues for 2 hours through thick Lenga forests, crossing old glacial moraines and wet plains formed by the previous courses of the river, until you arrive at Laguna Torre and camp de Agostini.

At Laguna Torre it is usual to see huge icebergs that have fallen off the Torre glacier face.

Del Desierto Lake and Huemul Glacier
Full-Day Trek from El Chalten

Description

You need to depart from El Chalten village by private transfer, or car, heading north, bordering the De las Vueltas river. After about one hour you will arrive to the southern point of Lake del Desierto and here is where the trek begins.

This beautiful lake is located at the end of the valley of the De las Vueltas river. Its name does not honor this paradise of forests, turquoise water, hills, glaciers and waterfalls where you can take walks and excursions of different duration and difficulty.

Went you arrive to Lago del Desierto, you can park in a free parking area in Punta Sur.

Before you enter you must go to the entrance of the property and pay the fee, where you will find the start of the trail.

The trail quickly enters a Lenga forest and in a few minutes, begins its ascent along a well-marked path. In just over half an hour of ascent you will reach a ridge with panoramic views of the De las Vueltas river valley and the Fitz Roy and you will see the Huemul glacier.

The Huemul glacier breaks into icebergs which lie in the Huemul lagoon - a lagoon of dark-blue waters, typical of the colour of the icebergs.

To return you must hike again along the path to Punta Sur parking lot and drive back to El Chalten.

El Chalten Madre Hija Lagoons
Full-Day Trek

Description

One of the most used trails in the park because it joins the two other most walked trails in the park, the one that goes to Laguna los Tres and Cerro Torre.

The trail begins at the end of Avenida San Martín. During the first hour of walking, you will have access to a natural viewpoint of the De las Vueltas river valley.

After a few minutes of hiking, you will enter the valley of the Del Salto gorge in the direction of Mount Fitz Roy. You will find a Ñirre forest and approximately after an hour and a half of walking, the trail leads to a well-marked natural, rocky viewpoint, with an information board that describes the mountainous and glacial panorama that can be viewed.

The trail continues up the Del Salto stream to the drainage area of the Madre and Hija lagoons.

El Chalten Laguna de Los Tres
& Laguna Sucia

Description

This is the classic, most stunning and memorable trek at El Chalten. However, the final sector is steep and not recommended on windy or wet days. Sturdy footwear and trekking poles are recommended.

After 20 minutes ascending from El Chalten, you will walk through a forest and into open, often windy areas, however, from here there is a superb view of the Rio de las Vueltas valley.

The pathway will split into two at a sign-posted fork, and you can choose to go to the Mount Fitz Roy viewpoint or go to Laguna Capri where there is a free camping site, but without services. At a later stage both paths join again to go to the Poincenot camping site.

At the first Fitz Roy viewpoint you will get the dramatic sight of the entire Fitz Roy Massif. From here, continue walking for two more hours through beautiful forests full of Lengas and Ñires trees until you reach the Rio Blanco. Here, the hike is the most demanding part of the trek, ascending a steep slope until finally reaching Laguna de los Tres where there is the majestic sight of Mt Fitz Roy, “Los Tres” Glacier and its lagoons.

El Chalten Campamento Poincenot
Full-Day Trek from the Village

Description

Two trails lead to the base camp Poincenot, but here we will explain the path that starts from El Chalten village and then you take the same route to get to Laguna Capri (see Laguna Capri trek info), but at the trail fork, you take the path sign-posted to Poincenot.

This trek offers a great viewpoint to the Fitzroy range. It is an easy but long trek. This walk allows you to enjoy the mountains, glaciers, glacial valleys, Patagonian forests, and lagoons.

The trail head start is located at the end of the main San Martin Avenue. This is also the current northern urban limit of El Chalten village.

During the first thirty minutes the trail is quite steep until you reach the natural viewpoint of the De las Vueltas valley.

Shortly after the viewpoint, you will enter the Del Salto river valley heading towards Mount Fitz Roy. The path winds its way up the glacially-formed valley side, affording a lovely view. After about one and a half hours more trekking you will notice the beginning of the Patagonia forest of Ñires and Lenga trees until you reach a signposted fork that indicates the footpath to Laguna Capri is to the left and to the right is to the viewpoint of the Mount Fitz Roy and Laguna de Los Tres, you must take the trail from the right.

From here you will walk a further 2hrs through a forest of Lenga and Ñires trees, the trail continues going up the Del Salto stream to the drainage area of the Madre and Hija lagoons and after that you arrive to Rio Blanco where the camp site is located. Poincenot campsite is a good spot to take pictures of Fitz Roy during sunrise.

El Chalten Mirador de Los Condores
2hr Trek

Description

This is one of the shortest walks from El Chaltén and takes you to a viewpoint on the top of a small hill called Cóndores, which overlooks the village of El Chaltén. Often there are excellent views to the surrounding mountains, and these can be particularly special at sunrise and sunset.

Starting from the park ranger station located in the southern sector of the village, you will walk a few meters and pass a small gate. A sign will indicate the way to go and from here it will be another half an hour until you reach the Los Cóndores viewpoint. This path is relatively new, as it was created in 2004. It is very well signposted and on the path, there are several information boards that reveal details of the surrounding landscape.

As its name indicates, the viewpoint is located at a strategic point for the eventual observation of condors on their frequent glide path to and from the Fitz Roy river valley.

Staring at the sunset from this viewpoint can be a great farewell to your stay in El Chaltén.

Mirador de Las Aguilas
Half-Day Trek

Description

The start is along the same trail that goes to the Mirador de los Condores. However, ten minutes before getting to the turn off to the Condores trail, you must take the trail to Mirador de los Aguilas, which will be sign-posted.

Starting from the park ranger station, located in the southern sector of the village, you will walk a few meters and pass a small gate. A sign will indicate the way to go, and from here it will be another 45 minutes until you reach the Las Aguilas viewpoint. The trail is well signposted and on its way, there are several information boards that explain features of the landscape around you.

After you take the trail to Mirador Las Aguilas, the path endures a gentle altitude gain which, as it progresses, reveals the great Viedma lake on the horizon.

Once at the viewpoint, you will get an excellent view of Lago Viedma, Cerro Piramide, Bahia Tunel, and typical Patagonian landscape scenery.

El Chalten Mirador del Torre
Half-Day Trek

El Chalten Laguna Capri
Half-Day Trek

Description

This trek offers a great viewpoint to the Fitzroy range. It is an easy trek perfect for those short of time or not wanting to trek all day. This walk allows you to enjoy the mountains, glaciers, glacial valleys, Patagonian forests and lagoons.

The trail head start is located at the end of the main San Martin Avenue. This is also the current northern urban limit of El Chalten village.

During the first thirty minutes the trail is quite steep until you reach the natural viewpoint of the De las Vueltas valley.

Shortly after the viewpoint you will enter the Del Salto river valley heading towards Mount Fitz Roy. The path winds its way up the glacially-formed valley side, affording a lovely view. After about one and a half hours more trekking you will notice the beginning of the Patagonia forest of Ñires and Lenga trees until you reach a signposted fork that indicates the footpath to Laguna Capri is to the left and to the right is to the viewpoint of the Mount Fitz Roy and Laguna de los Tres.

Laguna Capri is a crystal-clear lagoon from where you will also get a stunning view, on a clear day, of the Fitzroy mountain. If you have time and can afford another 45 minutes (one way, double it for the return) you can trek to the Laguna de los Tres (Fitzroy viewpoint).

After visiting the lagoon, you will return to El Chalten along the same trail.

El Chalten Chorrillo del Salto
Half-Day Trek

Description

This is a waterfall located 4km from the village. Access is by walking, car, or bike (in the last section of the trail you can enter only on foot).

This beautiful path is completely flat, between low trees and easy to get to and it’s a perfect walk to make a first contact with the natural environment of El Chaltén.

At the end of the route, you will find a beautiful waterfall of approximately 20 metres high. It is a lovely place surrounded by a leafy forest.

On the coldest days of winter, when the temperature drops to -20ºC or more, the waterfall begins to freeze to the point of being completely covered in ice.

El Chalten Loma del Pliegue Tumbado Full-Day Trek