The Laguna Torre trail meanders through native beech forest alongside the Fitz Roy River. Highlights of the mostly uphill hike include the viewpoint over the Cascada Margarita waterfall and the Cerro Torre Mirador lookout—from here, you can see Cerro Solo, the Adela range, the 10,000-foot (3,000-meter) near-vertical Cerro Torre and the famous Mt. Fitzroy. To get closer to Laguna Torre, you must continue to the DeAgostini base camp.
As one of El Chaltén’s most popular hikes, Laguna Torre features on plenty of trekking tours, which typically last between two and six days. They cover natural highlights such as Lago Argentino, the Perito Moreno Glacier, Laguna de los Tres, and Cerro Torre.
The Laguna Torre trail is in the small town of El Chaltén, located about three hours from El Calafate. The official start of the path is at the end of Los Charitos street. However, there are a couple of other unofficial start points that both lead to the main hike after a short while.
Patagonia’s hiking season runs from December through March, coinciding with South America’s summer season. Thanks to its relatively easy incline, the trail can often get crowded—try to set off early to beat the bulk of the crowds. This area's weather is very turbulent; snow is possible even in summer.
Whether you’re a first-time trekker or a seasoned hiker, El Chaltén is home to stunning hikes that cater to all fitness levels. The easy Mirador Los Cóndores hike reveals the El Chaltén mountain range in all of its snow-capped splendor, while the more challenging Laguna de los Tres is considered the pinnacle of El Chaltén treks—it takes you to the base of Mt. Fitzroy through forests, riverbanks, glacier lakes, and miradors.
