Los Glaciares National Park: Trails and Trekking Guide

Los Glaciares National Park covers 7,269 square kilometres of southern Santa Cruz province and forms part of the Southern Patagonian Ice Field — the largest contiguous mass of ice outside Antarctica and Greenland. It was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1981. The park divides into two distinct zones linked by the same park administration but separated by around 220 kilometres of road.

Park Overview

The northern zone, centred on El Chaltén, is a trekking and mountaineering area organised around the Río de las Vueltas valley and the granite peaks of the Fitz Roy and Cerro Torre massifs. Access is free. The trails here are among the best-maintained in Argentine Patagonia, and the village of El Chaltén provides full visitor infrastructure: accommodation, restaurants, gear shops, and a park office with daily weather briefings.

The southern zone, centred on El Calafate, is dominated by Lago Argentino — the largest lake in Argentina — and by the Perito Moreno Glacier, which advances into the lake at a rate that makes it one of the few glaciers in the world that is not in sustained retreat. Entry fees apply in this section.

Northern Section Trails (El Chaltén)

Laguna de los Tres — 21km round trip, 800m elevation gain, 6–8 hours. The most popular hike in the park and one of the most visited in South America. Ends at a glacial lake directly beneath the Fitz Roy towers. The final section is steep and exposed.

Laguna Torre — 20km round trip, minimal elevation gain (most of the route is flat valley walking), 5–6 hours. Leads to Laguna Torre, a milky glacial lake fed by the Torre Glacier at the base of Cerro Torre. The route passes through lenga beech forest and open pampa. Cerro Torre (3,128m) is notoriously difficult to see clearly due to cloud — the summit carries its own permanent weather system.

Mirador del Cóndor — 8km round trip, 300m elevation gain, 2–3 hours. A shorter alternative offering views across the Río de las Vueltas valley and north toward the main trekking zone. Good option for acclimatisation on arrival or for less experienced hikers.

Loma del Pliegue Tumbado — 23km round trip, 800m elevation gain, 6–8 hours. Less popular than the Fitz Roy or Torre trails but with panoramic views over both the Fitz Roy massif to the north and the Lago Viedma basin to the south. One of the best viewpoints in the park.

Huemul Circuit — 50km, 4 days. Permit required (obtainable at the El Chaltén park office). Involves river crossings, significant elevation changes, and route-finding on unmarked sections. Only for experienced hikers comfortable with self-navigation and high-wind conditions.

Southern Section (El Calafate)

The southern zone is primarily accessed via Perito Moreno Glacier, 80 kilometres from El Calafate. The main attraction is the glacier viewing infrastructure — a network of boardwalks along the rocky peninsula opposite the glacier face, allowing views of the 5km-wide, 60-metre-high ice face. Ice calving events (chunks of the glacier breaking off and falling into the lake) occur regularly throughout the day and are audible from a considerable distance.

Beyond the standard boardwalk visit, the park offers:

Big Ice Trek — a guided ice trek across the upper surface of Perito Moreno, accessed via boat and a forest trail. Participants are fitted with crampons and led by guides across a section of the glacier. The experience lasts approximately 4–5 hours from El Calafate. Pre-booking is required.

Mini Trek — a shorter, less strenuous version of the ice trek, also guided and cramponed, lasting approximately 1.5 hours on the glacier. More accessible for those without trekking experience.

Boat excursions on Lago Argentino — several operators run multi-day boat trips on Lago Argentino visiting the Upsala, Spegazzini, and other glaciers that are not accessible by road. These are multi-day experiences requiring advance booking.

Practical Information

Entry fees (southern section): Fees apply at the Perito Moreno Glacier access point. The fee structure changes periodically; current rates are listed at the park entrance. Argentine nationals and Mercosur residents pay a lower rate than international visitors.

El Chaltén (northern section): Free entry, no booking required for day hikes. Registration at the park office is mandatory before heading out.

Season: The park is open year-round, but trekking in the northern section is only practical November to April. The southern section and Perito Moreno Glacier can be visited year-round, though access road conditions can be difficult in winter.

Wildlife: The park protects guanaco (a camelid related to the llama), Andean condors, flamingos on the lakes, and the huemul deer (Argentina’s national animal, critically endangered). Pumas are present in both sections but rarely seen.