The Best Hikes in El Chaltén, Patagonia

El Chaltén is home to some of the most stunning and vast hikes in all of Patagonia.

The enormous Fitz Roy peaks form a natural backdrop to the quaint little town, while the sunrise views at Cerro Torre and the southern patagonian ice fields are the icing on the cake to make El Chaltén a favourite destination for hikers. El Chaltén should definitely be included in any Patagonia itinerary.

During my time El Chaltén, I fell in love with the mountains, the town, the food and the people, and I think you will too. Here I have listed what I believe to be the must do hikes in and around El Chaltén, ranging from easy 30 minute hikes, to slightly more challenging one to three day treks, to more advanced multi-day treks. 

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Fitz Roy – Laguna de los Tres

Distance: 25km return

Time: 8 – 10 hours return

Difficulty: Medium – due to the steep section at the end

If you read my post about my three day trek to Fitz Roy and Cerro Torre then you know exactly why you need to put this hike on your list. The views at the top are well worth the steep climb of the final section. I’m talking an increase in altitude of 400m in just 1km. Even if you aren’t lucky enough to see the peaks, the lakes are still absolutely gorgeous. The whole area at the top has such a magical feeling to it. We weren’t able to see the peaks at sunrise due to the weather conditions. Anyone I met on the road who saw Fitz Roy at sunrise were utterly speechless. It sounds like the sunrise is something you don’t want to miss.

If you have the time, I would recommend a side hike on your way up or down to see a glacier as well. Once you reach the camp site, you follow a path along the river to your right until you reach a lake with a spectacular view of a glacier. You can even hike right up to it. If you have maps.me then the trail is clearly marked on there.

Cerro Torre

Distance: 22km return

Time: 5-6 hours return

Difficulty: Easy – Medium (due to length and initial incline)

Sunrise at Cerro Torre is still one of my favourites views, photos and experiences of my time in Patagonia, and perhaps my life. This is second only to the four day trek to Cerro Castillo.

The hike to Cerro Torre is very easy with minimal inclines, aside from the beginning. I feel it is fairly accessible to most people of varied fitness levels.

It is definitely worthwhile to camp the night so you get to take in the lake and surrounding peaks in all their glory while the pink and orange hues creep across them first thing in the morning. Some people hike up for sunrise in the dark, but this is not always the safest bet. If you are aren’t going to camp then you definitely need to use a head lamp and careful footing if hiking in the dark.

Linked Hike – Fitz Roy and Cerro Torre

Distance: 34km total loop

Time: 2 – 3 Days

Difficulty: Medium

If you really want to see both Fitz Roy and Cerro Torre at sunrise, which I highly recommend, then the easiest way is to combine the two hikes into a three day loop. The loop can be completed in either direction via the linking trail. While you can complete the loop in two days, you won’t get to see both peaks at sunrise or complete the side hike to the glacier.

If you want to hear a little more about how my three day trek to Fitz Roy and Cerro Torre turned out, and how it changed me, then check out this post.

Condor Lookout

Distance: 2km return

Time: 30 minutes return

Difficulty: Easy

This cheeky little walk to the Condor Lookout behind the ranger hut had some pretty spectacular views. It only took us 30 minutes return to get to the view point and back to El Chaltén. It was definitely a surprise to see such stunning landscapes, harsh terrain, and jagged mountains on such a short hike.

The above photo was taken over to the right of the actual lookout. Due to the cloud coverage over Fitz Roy during our time in El Chaltén, the views were actually more captivating in this direction.

On a clear day though, you can see the enormous Fitz Roy peaks towering over the town. Looking back at this photo I’m still a bit lost for words. The terrain was so strange and foreign to what I am used to here in Australia. It honestly looked unreal and as though it was a whole other planet. You get that feeling a lot in Patagonia, and South America in general!

Laguna De Las Àguilas

Distance: Additional 1km return

Time: Additional 20 minutes

Difficulty: Easy

On our way back down from the Condor Lookout we saw a sign directing us towards another lookout. We couldn’t really see where it led, but there was a lot less foot traffic headed that way so we decided to give it a go. After walking for 10 or 15 minutes we arrived at a very open lookout with an endless view of the vast plains, highway and enormous lake.

Huemul Circuit

Distance: 64km (estimated)

Time: 4 – 5 Days (depending)

Difficulty: Difficult (experienced hikers only)

The famous Huemul Circuit was one of the reasons I came to Patagonia and El Chatlén in the first place.

I so desperately wanted to tackle this trail both for the views and for the challenge. This hike is famous as one of the most difficult trails in all of Patagonia, with some of the most breathtaking views. After reading about it on Be My Travel Muse’s blog, here and then reading about it more here, I knew I needed to do it.

Despite my commitment to the cause, I couldn’t out-wait the weather. The travel gods had other ideas for me. I needed to make my way south to arrive in Puerto Natales in time for my O Circuit trek in Torres Del Paine National Park.

My hiking buddy Anaïs, who I had hiked and hitch hiked with, had a little more time up her sleeve so she set off to do the trek on my second last day in El Chaltén. I left her in good hands with two other solo travellers we met in the hostel.

As I waved goodbye to them in the doorway of the hostel, I was so excited for them and also devastated all at the same time. I wouldn’t be doing this incredible trek with them. I was also parting ways with the woman who pushed me to conquer my fears and the cold only a few days before on the three day trek to Fitz Roy and Cerro Torre. It was a bittersweet moment, but as it turned out it wouldn’t be the last time Anaïs and I crossed paths in South America.

Travel Insurance

No outdoor hiking guide would be complete without travel insurance. While you can take every precaution under the sun to ensure the safety and security of yourself and your belongings, you just never know what is going to happen. That is why I always make sure I have adequate travel insurance before I travel or hike anywhere. For my last three long term adventure trips, my preferred travel insurer has been World Nomads.

If you decide to use them for your next trip or hike and you would like to support this blog, then please make your purchase through the below quote link and I will receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. As always, make sure you read their product disclosure statement and check that it is suitable for your needs before proceeding.

What to Pack

My last piece of advice with regards to hiking in El Chaltén is what you should pack for any of these treks. If you are only doing a day hike then you really only need snacks, water, and layers for potential weather you may encounter. On an average day hike I usually take the following items;

• 18L Osprey Ultralight Stuff Pack or Osprey 20L Tempest day pack
• Fujifilm X-T2 Camera, a wide angle lens and a general purpose / portrait lens, and accessories
• CamelBak water reservoir / Nalgene water bottle
• Snacks (muesli bars, dried fruit and nut, Clif bars and / or fresh fruit or snacks depending on the length of the hike)
• Water/windproof jacket if the weather turns — this jacket from Arc’teryx is excellent quality, or or a jacket from The North Face 
• XT Ultralight Packable Down Jacket or Arc’teryx fleece in case it will be cold at the summit or if completing a sunrise hike
• Headlamp in case you lose light
• Phone for emergencies and maps.me
• First Aid Kit
• Personal Locator Beacon (PLB) — depending on how remote your hike will be, although I always carry one regardless

If you are hoping to tackle one of the multi-day treks listed above then you will need a lot more gear, specifically designed for overnight hiking. I highly recommend heading over and checking out my post about what to pack for multi-day hikes.

That hiking guide provides you with a detailed packing list for clothing, shelter, food and cooking, as well as safety and emergency gear for any multi-day trek. There is a downloadable checklist as well to use the next time you are packing.

Recommended Reads

For anyone wanting to check out more of the incredible hiking, landscapes and views of Patagonia then I would suggest reading my posts on some of my other favourite spots and hikes throughout the entire Patagonia region:

• The 4 Day Trek to Cerro Castillo, on the Carretera Austral in Chile
• Hiking and Camping in Pumálin Park, on the Carretera Austral in Chile
• The Best Hikes in Bariloche, in Northern Patagonia, Argentina
• Adventure Activities and Hiking on the Carretera Austral, Chile
• The Ultimate Guide to Torres Del Paine and The O Circuit, Chile

Save it for Later

If you are headed to Patagonia soon then why not save this guide about the best hikes in El Chaltén for later on Pinterest? You can share it to Facebook with friends and family as well. If you have been to El Chaltén and know of an incredible hike not included here, then please leave it in the comments section below so I can add it to my list for next time. Let me know if you have any questions!

- Girl Seeking Purpose