El Chaltén Hiking Guide: The Best Trails For Every Hiker

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After months of planning, we finally arrived in El Chaltén – the trekking capital of Argentina. Stepping off the bus, we were surrounded by hikers, all geared up with heavy backpacks and a shared sense of purpose: to take on Patagonia’s legendary trails.

Despite its remote feel, El Chaltén welcomes everyone – whether you’re a seasoned trekker or not. The town itself is tiny, walkable in 20 minutes, but its energy is undeniable.

Our must-do hike? Laguna de los Tres. When we arrived in January (peak summer time), strong winds of 70-90 km/hr forced us to start slow. We tackled shorter trails while waiting for the perfect weather window. After six days, we got one clear day for Fitz Roy – and we did it!

But there are many other hikes apart from the legendary Fitz Roy hike. Let’s break down the best hikes you can do here.

Check HERE for a complete list of hiking gears for hikes across South America.

Overview Of The El Chalten Hikes

El Chalten provides an opportunity for every level hiker to experience it. There are multiple short trails as well as long 9 hr day hikes too. You can pick your challenge based on your fitness levels and what you want to get out of this part of Patagonia.

Most of the shorter hikes would be sections of the long trails so if you don’t want to do the complete trail, then you can choose to do a small part of it as well. 

My purpose is to give you an insight and to prepare you for what to expect.

Long Day-Hikes In El Chalten

1. Laguna De Los Tres

Starting with the best and most popular one! I wrote a full blog on Laguna de los Tres hike as it requires sharing a lot of details.

• Difficulty Level: Difficult (but don’t panic!)
• Distance and Duration: 12.4 miles or 20 km round trip, 8-10 hours
• Elevation Gain: 900m with 400m in the last 1km
• Access: San Martin Street

All I want to say here is that if you put your mind to doing this hike – you will do it. We saw people with different fitness levels taking on this trail. It starts with a gentle incline for an hour, a pretty flat patch for another 1-2 hours, and then the tough part begins. The last stretch is 1 km but takes around 1 hour to complete.

It is always a good idea to eat a snack before you start the last stretch. And you can also fill your water bottles at the stream there.

2. Laguna Torre

• Difficulty: Moderate (easy but long)
• Distance and Duration: 11 miles or 18 km round trip, 6-8 hours
• Elevation Gain: 487 m (1,600 ft)
• Access: Trailhead from El Chaltén town, at the end of Los Charitos Street

This trail leads to Laguna Torre, with views of Cerro Torre along the way. The hike is long but mostly flat, making it a good option if you want a less strenuous trek. The first hour is a gentle incline taking you to the views of Cerro Torre. For the next two hours, the trail is pretty flat and will take you to the base of the Cerro Torre to Laguna Torre. 

The lake often has icebergs floating on its surface, adding to its remote, untouched feel. Wind can be strong here, so bring layers and be prepared for sudden weather changes.

We were unable to do this as the weather did not allow us to do the three big trails in the five days we were there. We had to choose between Laguna Torre and Loma Del Pliegue Tumbado and we picked the latter. 

3. Loma Del Pliegue Tumbado

• Difficulty: Challenging
• Distance and Duration: 13.7 miles or 22 km round trip, 8–10 hours
• Elevation Gain: 1,100 m (3,610 ft)
• Access: Trailhead from the National Park Visitor Center

A very underrated hike but the best one in our opinion. The starting point of the trailhead is the same as of Laguna Toro (not to confuse it with Laguna Torre!). After 5-10 min of starting the hike, you will see a divergence. Unlike other hikes that take you to a lake, this one gives you a high vantage point. 

The whole trail is a constant gentle uphill. The first section requires some climbing over rocks and then takes you through a beautiful forest and open meadows. The second half is fully exposed, making it harder on windy days. It is not advisable to attempt this hike if it is windy as the trail can get dangerous. 

Once you reach the summit, you get wide views of Fitz Roy, Cerro Torre, and Glacier Torre.

I was a bit hesitant as I read it is difficult and not well marked. But honestly, if I were to choose one hike in El Chalten, it would be this! The whole journey to reach the viewpoint was diverse and beautiful. We saw some cows on our way too! The trail is also well marked up to the first mirador (viewpoint). 

If you want, you can continue to hike further up on the mountain you would see on your left. We did not do it because of the strong winds and rain. But on a sunny day, you should definitely do it.

Although it was raining the day we hiked and it had downpoured the whole night earlier, we still took our chances as we did not want to miss out on a day. When we were crossing the forest and close to getting to an exposed area, it started to snow (in peak summer time!). And what a beautiful view it was! It lasted for a short time, and the snow melted on our way back. But just experiencing the rain, snow, and sun within a few hours was magical!

4. Mirador Piedras Blancas

• Difficulty: Easy to moderate
• Distance and Duration: 6.2 miles or 10 km round trip, 3–4 hours
• Elevation Gain: 300 m (985 ft)
• Access: Start from Hostería El Pilar or join from the Laguna de los Tres trail

This is a shorter, more accessible hike that gives you a close-up view of the Piedras Blancas Glacier. The trail is not as steep as other hikes, making it a good choice for those who want a less demanding trek. The viewpoint offers a direct look at the glacier as it descends into a lake below. If you’re not up for a long hike but still want to see a glacier, this is a great option.

To reach the Mirador Piedras Blancas trailhead from El Chaltén, you have two options:

A) Hike from El Chaltén

• Start on the Laguna de los Tres trail from town.
• After about 2.5 km (1.5 mi), you’ll reach a fork – continue towards Hostería El Pilar instead of heading directly to Laguna de los Tres.
• From Hostería El Pilar, follow the trail towards Mirador Piedras Blancas, which takes about 45 minutes.

B) Drive or take a transfer to Hostería El Pilar

• Drive 17 km (10.5 mi) from El Chaltén on RP23 to Hostería El Pilar. You can also take the shuttle which has a cost (you can confirm the prices from the information centre).
• Start the hike from there, which is a shorter and easier route.

There is another multi-day hike, Laguna Toro, which I have not mentioned. But if you want to do multi-day trekking then you can look into that.

Short Day-Hikes In El Chalten

5. Mirador de los Cóndores y Águilas

• Difficulty: Easy
• Distance and Duration: 3.1 miles or 5 km round trip, 1.5 – 2 hours
• Elevation Gain: 250 m (820 ft)
• Access: Trailhead from the National Park Visitor Center

A short and gentle uphill hike that leads to two viewpoints – one is Cóndores and one is Águilas. You can easily do both in one day. We saw a condor soaring above us on the Aguilas lookout point and it was beautiful!

The views of El Chalten and the surrounding mountains are spectacular. This is a good hike for a rest day or if you don’t want to do any long hikes. 

6. Chorrillo Del Salto

• Difficulty: Easy
• Distance and Duration: 4.3 miles or 7 km round trip, 2 hours
• Elevation Gain: 100 m (328 ft)
• Access: Reachable by hiking from town or driving

A gentle walk (3-4km) from the town or a short drive takes you to this scenic waterfall. The hike is mostly flat and suitable for all fitness levels. If you need a break from the more intense hikes, this is a perfect way to enjoy nature without much effort.

And the waterfall is beautiful and refreshing!

7. Laguna Madre y Hija (Lagoon of Mother And Daughter)

• Difficulty: Moderate
• Distance and Duration: 6.8 miles or 11 km one way, 4–5 hours
• Elevation Gain: 350 m (1,150 ft)
• Access: Connects Laguna Capri and Laguna Torre trails

A peaceful route connecting Laguna Capri to Laguna Torre. The trail passes through forests and open valleys, with great views along the way. If you’re doing a multi-day trek or want a quieter alternative, this is a great option.

You can also attempt this hike when doing the Fitz Roy hike. On your way back, you can take a detour and do this hike too. We tried to attempt it but realized we weren’t prepared for it so we took a U-turn. But some friends did this hike and went all the way to Laguna Torre and back to town, completing three trails in one day!

8. Laguna Capri

• Difficulty: Moderate
• Distance and Duration: 5 miles or 8 km round trip, 3–4 hours
• Elevation Gain: 350 m (1,150 ft)
• Access: Trailhead from the Laguna de los Tres route

A shorter alternative to Laguna de los Tres. The hike takes you to a calm lake with a perfect reflection of Fitz Roy on a clear day. It’s a great option if you want stunning views without a full-day trek.

We saw a lot of families with kids coming to this spot to hang out and enjoy. You can also take this route coming back from the Mount Fitz Roy hike to relax. 

9. Glacier Huemul

• Difficulty: Moderate
• Distance and Duration: 2.5 miles or 4 km round trip, 2–3 hours
• Elevation Gain: 300 m (985 ft)
• Access: 22 miles or 35 km from El Chaltén, accessed via private land with an entrance fee

A short but steep hike leading to a glacier with a bright blue lagoon. Less crowded than the main trails, this can be your go-to if you want a quieter experience with amazing scenery. The winds are strong here so layer up. 

There is a shuttle that can take you there (with a cost) and then there is an entrance fee of $10,000 ARS as well.

We were unable to do it, but those who did it from our hostel said it was beautiful.

Understanding The Weather Forecast Of El Chalten, Patagonia

The best app that was recommended to us by locals is Windguru. You can check the cloud coverage, temperature, winds, and chances of rain. No app can be relied 100% but it was the closest that we found in terms of predictability.

How Do I Reach El Chalten?

Now that we know all about the hikes in El Chalten, Patagonia, and its weather, let’s talk about how to reach El Chalten.

There are 3 ways: By bus (most popular), by car, or by coming to the town as a day-trip with tour agencies. There are no direct flights that take you to El Chalten.

El Chalten is a small town, 214 km or 2 hr 45 min away from El Calafate. If you are taking a flight, you come to El Calafate first. Then you have an option to rent a car, share a car, take a private shuttle, or take the bus to El Chalten.

Three major bus companies – Caltur, Marga Taqsa, and Chalten Travel – run multiple daily routes between El Calafate and El Chaltén. You can take the bus from El Calafate airport or from the Omni Bus Terminal. Rides are cheaper if booked in person. Alternatively, you can book them via Bus Bud in advance.

Where To Stay In El Chalten

Here are the budget friendly hostels to choose from (for 1 adult):

Rancho Grande Hostel: Great hostel, friends who stayed there had the best things to say. It has good breakfast! The location is closer to the trailhead of Mount Fitzroy. Prices start from $16 USD per night for a bed in a dorm.

Rancho Aparte Hostel: The hostel has free parking and wifi. Prices start at $16 USD per night for a bed in a dorm.

Hostel Luna Country: The hostel has free parking, shared kitchen, and wifi. Prices start at $20 USD per night for a bed in a dorm.

Entrance Fee For The Hiking Trails

As of 2025, the entrance fees to Los Glaciares National Park are:

• General rate: $45,000 ARS
• National residents (Argentina): $15,000 ARS
• Provincial residents (Santa Cruz): $5,000 ARS
• Students: $7,000 ARS
• Children under 6 & seniors (65+): Free

Note: Prices can change due to inflation, so always check the official website.

If you are a student, please bring your ID card. Your country of residence does not matter as long as you are a student!

Hiking Packing List

Check out the detailed Essential Hiking Gear here!

If you’re not camping and just doing a day hike like we did, here’s what you must bring:

• Fleece jacket (for warmth)  
• Down jacket or waterproof layer 
• Good hiking boots (trust me, sneakers won’t cut it!)  
• Beanie & gloves (it gets cold at the top)  
• Hiking poles (game-changer for balance and knee support)  
• Snacks (trail mix, fruit, energy bars)  
• Lunch (sandwiches or something filling)  
• Reusable water bottle (you can refill along the trail)  
• A good attitude (seriously, this helps more than you’d think!)

Final Thoughts On The Hikes In El Chalten, Patagonia

El Chaltén’s hikes vary from quick walks to multi-day treks. Weather can change fast, so always bring layers, food, and plenty of water. If you’re new to hiking, don’t worry. There are trails for every skill and fitness level. No matter which trail you choose, you will enjoy the trail, the views, and be proud of your efforts!

Have questions? Don’t hesitate to reach out to us. We would be more than happy to help guide you in your trekking and travel to Patagonia!

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