Backpacker on his back in front of the Torre Lagoon
Snowy landscape of Laguna Torre
Woman in front of Laguna Torre in a cold and snowy landscape
Traveler in the background of a greenish and snowy landscape of Los Glaciares National Park.
Backpacker and Laguna Torre landscape
Los Glaciares National Park snowy landscape
1 / 6

Laguna Torre Hike

Self-guided hiking route to Laguna Torre from El Calafate

El Calafate
1 day
Self-guided
Starts: Lodging in El Calafate between 6:00 and 6:30 a.m.
Ends: Lodging in El Calafate at 10:00 pm
Free cancellation!

Briefing

The Laguna Torre Trekking is one of the most beautiful and well known treks in the region of El Chalten and inside Los Glaciares National Park.

The tour includes pick up from your hotel in El Calafate and transfer back, as well as lunch. The trekking is self-guided, that is, it does not include a guide during the tour.

During the trekking, you will discover emblematic sites such as the Fitz Roy River canyon or the Margarita waterfall. A true wonder of nature.

Below we give you all the details of the itinerary so you can understand it perfectly and book your Laguna Torre Trekking with confidence 😉.

Tour details

Included

  • Roundtrip transfer from your lodging in El Calafate
  • Canes
  • Map

Not included

  • Guide
  • Personal trekking equipment
  • Lunch
  • Entrance to the National Park

Important information

The minimum age for the tour is 16 years old.

Regarding the transfer, pick up/drop off is not available for lodgings that do not have reception. In this case, we will provide you with a meeting point close to the lodge.

Keep in mind that the Laguna Torre Trekking has a medium intensity, so the duration time will also depend on the physical conditions of the participants, but it is estimated to be between 6 and 7 hours of walking.

Please note that the entrance fee to Los Glaciares National Park is not included and must be purchased in advance through the official website of National Parks at this link.

Cancellation policy

Free cancellation!

The activity may be cancelled free of charge up to 48 hours before the start time of the activity. If you do not cancel within this period or do not show up the activity will not be refundable.

Tour itinerary

TREKKING LAGUNA TORRE

Distance: 18 km

Duration: 6-7 hours

Difficulty: medium

Altitude: 420 meters

Pick up from your hotel in El Calafate and arrival in El Chaltén.

Early in the morning, around 6:00 am, we will pick you up at your accommodation in El Calafate.

Then we will take the mythical Route 40 along the Argentino Lake and we will travel to the town of El Chaltén, 220 km from El Calafate. This trip will take approximately 3 hours. On the way, we will cross the Santa Cruz River, and we will stop for a few minutes at Estancia La Leona, next to the river with the same name. Here we will make a brief stop for those who need to use the restrooms or have a hot meal.

Once in El Chaltén, we will leave you at the beginning of the trail to Cerro Torre and you will start your hike. The trail has multiple slopes but without much complexity so you can enjoy the scenery in a relaxed way.

Welcome sign and views of El Chaltén village

Trekking Laguna and Cerro Torre and descent to El Chaltén.

Start your trekking inside part of the Andean forest where you will be able to see some of the local fauna and enjoy the landscapes that will cross your path.

You will start ascending through the valley of the Fitz Roy River and continue until you reach the viewpoint in the canyon overlooking the Margarita Waterfall. Enjoy the scenery that will leave you speechless!

After 1 hour of hiking you will arrive at the next viewpoint. You will see that it is spectacular because if the day is clear you can admire Cerro Torre and its glaciers from some benches that you will find well located.

The trail continues and after 2 hours of pleasant walking, you will leave the entrance to the D'Agostini camp on one side to continue up a stone path that communicates with the Torre Lagoon.

Once you arrive here, you will have enough time to eat and rest. Take your time to take the best videos and pictures of Cerro Torre, the lake and the glacier that lies at its feet.

It is time to return to El Chaltén. As you begin to descend, be aware that near the final stretch the trail becomes littered with small rocks and can become confusing if you are not paying attention. Stay on the route marked on the map and do not leave the trail.

Traveler crouching in front of Cerro Torre Lagoon

Return to El Calafate

Once you arrive in El Chaltén, we will be waiting for you at a previously arranged meeting point to take the road back to El Calafate. We will arrive between 21:00 and 22:00 and we will drop you off at your accommodation so you can rest after a long day of adventure and nature.

Two vehicles on the road to and from El Chalten with snowy mountain scenery in the background.

What to bring to Laguna Torre Hike tour

The weather in Patagonia is very changeable and can change from hot to cold and vice versa in a matter of minutes. For this reason, we recommend you to bring the following basics:

  • ID / NIE / Passport
  • Camera (The use of drones is not allowed inside the Park).
  • Warm clothes and several layers
  • Trekking pants
  • Thermal T-shirt
  • Comfortable shoes
  • Hat or cap
  • Sunglasses
  • Sunscreen
  • Small trekking backpack

Where does the tour Laguna Torre Hike start

The tour starts with pick up at your hotel in El Calafate. In the booking confirmation we will ask you to indicate the name and address of your hotel.

The city of El Calafate is located 3,000 km from Buenos Aires, and 325 km from the city of Rio Gallegos, capital of the province of Santa Cruz. The airport has direct daily connections with Buenos Aires, Ushuaia, Bariloche, Trelew, Cordoba and Rosario. Several airlines operate this route, being Aerolineas Argentinas the most frequent one. From Howlanders we also recommend you to check LADE airline.

If you want to arrive by land you can do it by bus. The trip between Buenos Aires and El Calafate takes about 36 hours. From Río Gallegos, the trip takes 4 hours. If you come from Puerto Natales we recommend you to take a bus that arrives to El Calafate in about five hours or hire a private service with us. Finally, if you are traveling from Ushuaia, check the waiting times due to the crossing of the Strait of Magellan or stopover in Rio Gallegos.

Questions & Answers

  • What is the starting time for this activity?

    Pick up at the lodges in El Calafate will be around 6:00 am, but in the months of June, July and August departure will be at 07:00 am.

  • When will I know the final pick-up time?

    The schedule will be confirmed 24 hours in advance and will be sent by WhatsApp or E-mail, at the latest before 18:00 pm the day before the tour.

  • What happens in case of bad weather?

    The tour is available all year round, except on snowy days or if there is a lot of ice, when the Parks Department will inform us that it is not safe to do the activity. In that case, other alternatives will be given such as the Pliegue del Tumbado, Laguna Capri or the Aguila and Cóndores viewpoints.

  • Is this tour suitable for everyone?

    Although the tour is not of high intensity, it is not permitted for children under 16 years of age, pregnant women, or people in wheelchairs or with reduced mobility.

  • Is lunch included?

    Yes, food and drinks are included in the tour so you don't have to worry about bringing them with you.

  • Where can I buy the entrance ticket to the National Park?

    You can avoid unnecessary queues and waiting time by purchasing your ticket here

Other tours that might interest you from Argentina

Other travelers also booked

from ‌
Trustpilot