How to explore the trails of El Chaltén with freedom and awareness.
Argentine Patagonia holds one of the most impressive sanctuaries for those seeking the essence of movement. El Chaltén, known as the national trekking capital, is a destination that demands dedication and respect for nature. Throughout my travels through more than 60 countries, I’ve realized that places like this are rare. In them, the route is defined by the wind and the strength of your legs.
Exploring the trails of El Chaltén is not just walking among mountains, but rather an immersive experience. The town functions as a strategic base, as the main trails literally begin on the last street of the village. This allows you to ignore rigid tourist packages. You wake up, look at the sky, and decide where the day will take your steps.
Laguna Torres trekking - El Chalten
The beginning of the trekking is about 20 minutes from the city center.
The trail that leads to the base of Cerro Torre has a lower level of difficulty than FitzRoy’s.
There is no need for guides, as, in addition to signage, it is not difficult to find the trail.
It starts with a slight incline and continues along the course of the Fitz Roy River.
Gently ascending along the Fitzroy river with beautiful waterfalls (Margarita waterfall) and, weather permitting, beautiful views of Cerro Torre.
We stop at the viewpoint and continue along the valley to the base camp of Agostini and then to the lagoon Torres.
The weather was not very good and we decided to go back.
It is possible to continue to the Maestri viewpoint, but due to weather conditions, we didn’t.
Laguna de Los Três trekking
This is undoubtedly the most iconic journey for those wishing to explore the trails of El Chaltén. The path leads you to the base of the imposing Mount Fitz Roy. The final climb is steep and challenges physical endurance, but the visual reward justifies every drop of sweat. At the top, the silence is only broken by the sound of the biting wind.
During the journey, human interaction happens naturally. You will find travelers from all over the world sharing the same shortness of breath and the same fascination. It’s a good time to exchange stories and learn about the perspectives of other peoples. Always remember to take all your trash back with you, preserving the purity of this fragile ecosystem.
The trail begins following Avenida San Martin, with an indicative sign.
It has a small parking lot and drinking water, also the beginning of a small trail to the waterfall.
The duration depends on which strategy you use and how fast you can be.
The total is 13 km (one way), with the camp at the base of Poincenot about two hours from the lagoon de Los tres.
As we were light, it took us about 10 hours to make a round trip.
The first stretch is a climb that starts off steep but then eases a little, reaching the viewpoint with a panoramic view of the valley of the Rio de Las Vueltas.
Following a flatter area between the trees and at the end you reach the FitzRoy lookout.
A longer stretch leads to the base of Poincenot (campsite), then there is another one for climbers.
The last stretch is the most difficult, as it is a very steep climb of about 400 meters in altitude and about 2 km long, in addition to having found it on ice.
All round trip time was under snow.
After we got back to Camp Poincenot the snow stopped and all the way back the weather got better until we reached El Chalten with sunshine.
Connection and Sustainability Along the Way
My travel philosophy has always prioritized resource conservation and minimal impact. When exploring the trails of El Chaltén, this stance becomes a moral obligation. The village lives in harmony with Los Glaciares National Park. As visitors, our mission is to ensure that future generations find the same untouched beauty.
Stay strictly on the marked trails to avoid erosion.
Do not use soaps or chemicals in natural waterways.
Avoid excessive noise so as not to disturb the local wildlife.
Support local businesses and small producers in the village.
Tour on the Viedma glacier.
As we had another day free, we went on the glacier walking tour.
It is an interesting tour for most people who are not familiar with walking on ice.
But as I already have experience on ice, the tour was regular.
After running out of time, we returned to El Calafate and then went to Puerto Natales to make Torres del Paine trekking.
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