Best Hikes in El Chaltén: Easy & Day Hikes Guide
Hiking in El Chalten, Argentina, is a dream for hikers. Patagonia itself is a hiker’s paradise, and El Chalten is its capital.
And you don’t even have to be in perfect shape to hike in this corner of Patagonia! Some of the best hikes in El Chalten are rather flat and short – in fact, we did a day hike to Laguna de los Tres (hard) and quite an easy walk to the Mirador Los Condores and Las Aguilas (short and easy), the next day.
So, for the best short hikes, I’d recommend the Mirador Los Condores and Las Aguilas, as they offer a great view of Lago Viedma and the town of El Chalten. For the full-day hikes, Laguna de los Tres is our favourite – there are so many beautiful sights both on the way to the lagoon and at the laguna, too. But Laguna Torre is a strong second-best.
Before you hit the trails, check our full Patagonia packing list to make sure you’re prepared.
Short hikes in El Chaltén
Let’s start off with the easy, shall we?
There are short hikes in the hiker’s paradise that you can do even if the weather doesn’t want to cooperate – as happens quite often in Patagonia.
1. Los Cóndores and Las Águilas
Distance: 4 or 6 km | Time: 2 hours | Difficulty: easy | Trailhead: The Visitor’s Center at the edge of town
The Mirador Los Condores and Las Aguilas is a double hike. At first, go to the Mirador Los Condores where you can see a lot of condors flying from the Fitz Roy River to the De Las Vueltas River and back.
You’re going to walk through nice hilly fields almost the whole time.
At one point, there are crossroads which have signs – one way, you go to the Los Condores viewpoint 10 minutes away, and the opposite is the Las Aguilas viewpoint 30 minutes away.
2. Laguna Capri
Distance: ~8km | Time: 4-5 hours | Difficulty: easy | Trailhead: end of San Martin Avenue
Laguna Capri is a very beautiful lagoon which offers nice views of the Fitz Roy mountains. It’s actually a part of the Laguna de los Tres hike – if you don’t feel confident doing the whole Laguna de los Tres, this might be a good alternative.
We went to Laguna Capri on our way back from the Laguna de los Tres – it was just a tiny bit out of the way, so definitely worth it. After having a bit of a snack and enjoying the views, we continued on to our hotel – it was definitely convenient to have a hotel just by the trailheads.
It’s great that the trail to Laguna Capri is relatively flat so even if you have great muscle pain, it’s not that much of a problem. Plus, the lagoon is quite quiet – there were not too many people here.
3. Glacier Piedras Blancas viewpoint
Distance: ~10km | Time: 3 hours | Difficulty: moderate (~350m elevation gain) | Trailhead: El Pilar Mountain lodge (take transfer)
Just like Laguna Capri, this trail is part of the Laguna de los Tres hike.
The best way to get to it is to take a transfer to the trailhead, just like when hiking the Laguna de los Tres. Ask your hotel for more information, as they’ll be able to arrange all the transfers necessary.
The trail follows the Blanco River, going uphill a little until you reach the viewpoint. Hiking through the forests lets you enjoy the flora and fauna of Patagonia!
Best day hikes from El Chaltén
By day hikes I mean ones that are around 8h long. And when hiking El Chaltén, one of your hikes should definitely be a day hike! They are just too beautiful to pass up!
Planning your stay? Check our guide to the best places to stay in El Chaltén before you go.
1. Laguna de Los Tres
Distance: 23km | Time: 8-10 hours | Difficulty: hard (960m elevation gain) | Trailhead: Hosteria Pilar or Rio Electrico bridge (take transfer or taxi)
Laguna de los Tres can be done as a there-and-back trail from El Chalten, but it’s better to do it from Hosteria Pilar or Rio Electrico bridge (in different sources, they suggest one or the other. We did Hosteria Pilar). That way, avoid some of the ascent and get to enjoy some special views. Ask your hotel for a transfer.
It’s one of the most famous hikes in Patagonia, so expect it to be crowded. The beginning part of the Laguna de los Tres hike is relatively easy – you ascend quite a bit, but still, it’s over quite a long distance. Once you reach the last hour, on the other hand… it’s pretty much ascending a vertical wall. During that last hour (some 1,5km), you ascend 300m.
On the way, you get to enjoy the viewpoint of Glacier Piedras Blancas. The hanging glacier is gorgeous, so make sure to not miss the view!
In the end, you get to enjoy an incredible view of the three peaks that are behind the “tres” in the name of the lagoon – Mt Fitz Roy, Poincenot and Torre. A bit to the side of the main lagoon is Laguna Sucia, which is equally as beautiful as Laguna de los Tres.
On the way back, go and see the Laguna Capri – it’s a bit off the trail, but then again, the view of Mt Fitz Roy is worth it.
We saw some kids ascending the trail to Laguna de los Tres, but it did take them really long – we managed to pass them, enjoy the two lagoons, have lunch, and still meet them on the way back down. So if you’d like to do this hike, make sure to get in quite a good shape.
If you’d like to, you can stay in one of the camping places on the way to the lagoon, for example, Campo Poincenot. That way, you can ascend the trail in the very morning and enjoy sunrise colours on Mount Fitz Roy.
Come prepared! This hike is HARD. The last part has loose rocks and can get slippery. Make sure to have hiking poles, PROPER hiking boots, and a PROPER hiking backpack. And for the love of all that’s holy, take enough water and some food.
And yes, the colour of the lagoon really is that blue.
If you don’t want to do this hike on your own, you can also join a guided tour – it’s a good option for the final steep section.
2. Laguna Torre (Cerro Torre)
Distance: 17,5km | Time: 7-8 hours | Difficulty: moderate (500m elevation gain) | Trailhead: end of Los Charitos street, well marked
The other most famous and popular is the Laguna Torre. It can be done as an out-and-back trail, starting from the town itself, so you save on transfer costs.
The Laguna Torre is long but not too difficult. You ascend 500m. Still, make sure to be in good shape for this.
Going to Cerro Torre, you follow the route of Rio Fitz Roy up until the source. The whole time, if you’re lucky, you’ll get to enjoy Torre Massif. The route is steep at the very beginning and at the end, for the last kilometre or so. Otherwise, it’s rather easy. Some parts sandy, some parts rocky – as it should be. The route has different viewpoints along the way, for example, Mirador del Torre which offers a magnificent view of the Adela range and Cerro Torre.
At the end, you reach a lagoon with icebergs from the Grande glacier.
You can descend down to the lagoon or continue on a couple of kilometres to the Maestri viewpoint. It offers a beautiful view of the Cerro Torre and the glacier. Maybe do both?
If you’re staying overnight, check the best places to stay in El Chaltén.
3. Loma del Pliegue Tumbado
Distance: 21km | Time: 8 hours | Difficulty: moderate (1100m elevation gain) | Trailhead: The Visitor’s Center at the edge of town
The beginning of the Loma del Pliegue Tumbado hike is at the visitor’s centre – the trail on the left goes to Los Condores and Las Aguilas viewpoints, and to the right – to Pliegue Tumbado and Laguna Toro / Paso del Viento.
If Laguna de los Tres and Laguna Torre hikes are all about the lagoon, then Loma del Pliegue Tumbado is all about the views. This hike offers some of the best panoramic views that you can get when hiking in El Chalten.
The hardest part about this hike is that you’re constantly ascending. It’s not like the previous two where you do short bursts of ascent.
Some of the highlights include Pampa De las Carretas with views of Mount Huemul, Lago Viedma, and Mount Torre and Mount Chaltén; then there’s the Río Túnel Valley at the end of the trail, of course.
This is one of the more dangerous day hikes from El Chalten. Unlike the other 2 days hikes mentioned, on this one, you are very exposed to the elements, be it sun, wind, rain, or snow. Make sure to pack layers and warm hats and gloves, as well as sunglasses and sunscreen. Use your best judgement and don’t get hurt.
Lago del Desierto and Huemul Glacier (bonus hikes)
Distance: 3.2km | Time: 2 hours | Difficulty: easy (200m elevation gain) | Trailhead: 37km from El Chalten, by Lago del Desierto
Important! This is a paid hike!
This short hike is about 90 minutes to get to the trailhead. You have to drive on the Ruta Provincial 41 for some 37km. At the end, there’s a free parking lot, but the hike itself is paid, it costs around 9 dollars per person.
The hike itself is quite easy, through a Lenga forest and a moraine ledge. You get magnificent views of the De las Vueltas River Valley and Mount Fitz Roy. On the other side, there’s Lago del Desierto and the Cordón Del Bosque mountain range.
Huemul Glacier is one of the easiest accessible glaciers by El Chalten. You get to enjoy the blue glacial lake and the tongue of the glacier descending into the lake.
If you can’t do the Laguna de los Tres hike, this is a nice and easy alternative.
You can also do this hike as part of a guided tour if you prefer not to go on your own.
FAQ about hiking in El Chaltén
How long should you spend in El Chalten?
We spent 2 full days in El Chalten and it didn’t really feel enough. So we’d recommend at least 3 days depending on how many hikes (or other activities, of course) you’d like to do.
What is the most popular hike in El Chalten?
Depending on who you ask, it would be Laguna de los Tres or Laguna Torre hikes.
Is El Chalten worth a visit?
Yes, definitely. Even if you can’t do the big hikes, there are smaller walks for everyone. The nature is amazing either way.
Where to stay in El Chalten?
El Chalten is a tourist town so there are places to stay there for every single wish and budget. We have a whole article on the best accommodation in El Chalten.
What’s a good 10 day itinerary for Patagonia?
If you have only 10 days in Patagonia, our itinerary is perfect for you. It covers 5 days in Chilean Patagonia, including Torres del Paine National Park, and 5 days in Los Glaciares National Park – El Chalten and El Calafate.
Is Torres del Paine better than El Chalten?
They are both great in different ways.
Do I need a permit to hike El Chalten?
No, you do not. For some hikes, you need to let the rangers in Visitor’s Centre know that you’re going on them.
What are the best hikes in El Chaltén?
The most popular hikes are Laguna de los Tres, Laguna Torre, and Loma del Pliegue Tumbado. If you’re short on time or want something easier, go for Los Cóndores or Laguna Capri.
Are there easy hikes in El Chaltén?
Yes. Los Cóndores and Las Águilas, Laguna Capri, and Chorrillo del Salto are all easy hikes that don’t require much elevation gain.
What is the hardest hike in El Chaltén?
Laguna de los Tres is the most challenging one, mainly because of the steep final ascent.
How many days do you need for hiking in El Chaltén?
2–3 days is enough to cover the main hikes, but you can easily spend more time if you want to explore at a slower pace.
Can you hike in El Chaltén without a car?
Yes. Most trailheads are accessible directly from the town, and for others you can take a transfer or taxi.
Do you need to pay to hike in El Chaltén?
Most hikes are free as they are in Los Glaciares National Park. Some trails outside the town, like Huemul Glacier has a 9 dollars fee.
Found this post interesting? Share it!
