The Incredible Hike to Laguna Torre in El Chalten – Travel Guide

Hiking to Laguna Torre, El Chalten, Patagonia

If you were to ask me what was the best thing I did in Patagonia, I’d tell you it was hiking to Laguna Torre in El Chalten.

The reason I decided to do this hike is because it’s considered to have some of the most beautiful views of anywhere in Patagonia. I simply couldn’t let my inner couch potato prevent me from experiencing a real adventure and a whole lot of natural beauty, could I?

I’d recommend this hike to anyone – it’s not too challenging, but provides enough physical exertion to make you feel satisfied by the time you rest your feet at the end of the day.

Here’s a break-down of what to expect hiking to Laguna Torre:

Guide to El Chalten

Where to stay in El Chalten

We stayed just moments away from the town centre which I would definitely recommend. We caught the bus from El Calafate and it dropped us off at El Chalten bus station which is just a few minutes’ walk from San Martin, the main street.

It’s a super cute town with lots of characterful wooden buildings with homemade quirky shop signs and colourful buildings – think small-town community charm.

El Chalten, town centre, pub and restaurant

You’ll also find a collection of fantastic restaurants and watering holes which is just what you’ll want after a long hike, as well as few mini markets and shops selling outdoor clothing and gear.

Best of all, it’s a convenient base for exploring the surrounding trails such as the hike to Laguna Torre.

Accommodation

Accommodation in El Chalten was considerably more expensive compared to where we stayed in Ushuaia and El Calafe, I guess because it’s more remote.

Due to our budget we only stayed one night in El Chalten, but I wish we’d stayed longer. I knew it was going to be beautiful, but it was more beautiful than I could ever have imagined, plus the hiking opportunities are endless. Really, it deserves a minimum of two nights, and even better if you can stay at least three or four nights. I guess it really depends on how much you love nature and the outdoors. 

Anyhow, we stayed at Hosteria Senderos which is located right next to the famous El Chalten sign, and just steps away from the bus station. Everything about this hotel is charming, in particular the traditional wooden exterior typical of the Patagonian region, and importantly, it’s quiet at night and the beds are very comfy!

The location next to the station means you also don’t have to walk very far if you have heavy rucksacks and what not. Don’t worry, the station is tiny, so it doesn’t disrupt your view. In fact, on a clear day, you’ll be able to see the peak of Fitz Roy from the hotel. 

Overview of hike to Laguna Torre

If you’ve already done some research you’ll know that the route to Laguna Torre is one of several day hikes from El Chalten within Los Glaciares National Park.

The most famous route is the hike to Laguna de Los Tres because it has the best views of Mount Fitz Roy. But it takes longer and is harder, so we were advised against it since it had been raining the night before and we were crunched for time.

This advice was given to us at the visitor centre, the staff provided us with important information about the park and the various treks and their difficulty level. After this brief introduction we opted for the hike to Laguna Torre because it appeared to tick all our boxes – gorgeous views, not too difficult, and we’d have enough time to relax and enjoy a big meal in the evening.

Laguna Torre is a beautiful glacier-fed lake that sits at the base of Cerro Torre, a famous rock shaped like a shard of glass. It is known to serous climbers for its vertical ascent. From El Chalten it takes 9 km through Los Glaciares National Park to reach Laguna Torre, so that’s a round-trip of 18 km. If you add in an optional detour to another viewpoint at Mirador Maestri it  beings the total to 22 km.

Quick breakdown of distances and times

Torre Viewpoint:  3 km | 1 hour (one way)

Laguna Torre: 9 km | 3 hours (one way)

Maestri Viewpoint: 11 km | 3 hours 45 minutes (one way)  (This includes an additional 2 km to another viewpoint which is optional)

Total distance: 22 km

Total Time: 6 – 8 Hours

It took a lot less time on the way back because it’s slightly more downhill, plus we didn’t stop half as many times for photos. So depending on your fitness and how many food and photo stops you make, times many vary.

Torre Viewpoint - 3 km

The first part of the hike to the Torre Viewpoint is very moderate but there are some tricky steps now and again, so be careful, especially if you have knee problems. It’s easy to trip up over branches and stones so don’t rush. One of the most precarious set of steps also has a chain to grip hold of in case you need it.

Once you’ve arrived at the first viewpoint, you’re rewarded with a glorious glimpse of Cerro Torre and even the majestic Mount Fitz Roy.

By this point I’d really worked up an appetite so I took out the packed lunch of ravioli that Lee had prepared of us the night before. As I peeled off the lid and stared down at the pasta squashed inside the container, it looked oddly anemic and gloppy. The whole thing had congealed together and was now like one big block of pasta.

But maybe it might taste better than it looked? Nope. Not even sauteed tomatoes could save it. It was beyond redeemable, completely devoid of all taste. I suppose that’s what you get for buying the cheapest brand in the supermarket! 

Luckily, not all was a loss, our disappointment was offset by the stunning views of mountain peaks and lush valleys. They were among some of the best we’d seen and they were only going to get better so we were eager to march ahead.

Onwards to Laguna Torre - 6 km

This next part of the hike to the lagoon is the longest, but its almost entirely flat so you could practically skip there if you really wanted to. 

We’d been told that we might see deer and pumas but they remained elusive to us despite being on the look out. The nature is incredible though, made up of woods, valleys, meadows, meandering streams and iconic peaks in the distance. If we’d had more time, I would happily have spend an entire day basking under the sun with a book, looking up from my page only to admire the mountains and birds. 

One great tip for anyone hiking in the park is to bring a re-useable bottle. Don’t pay for water, the streams carry crystal clear drinking water so you’ll never go thirsty.

Arrival at Laguna Torre & Cerro Torre Backdrop

As we drew closer to Laguna Torre the elements grew more intense. The mountains appeared bigger and the rocks on the ground began to multiply. The wind had picked up so much strength, I really had to wrestle with it to keep myself moving forward. If this was Mother Nature’s way of drumming up suspense, it was certainly working. 

Guide to hiking to Laguna Torre in El Chalten. Patagonia

When we finally turned the last corner and peered over the ridge we were greeted with an astonishingly beautiful lake dotted with small icebergs and surrounded by mountains.

However, one main landmark was shrouded from our view…

We should’ve been able to see Cerro Torre rising up in all its glory, but thick, low-slung clouds had gathered at the back of the lake, blocking the ENTIRE view of Cerro Torro’s famed peak. Slightly annoying, but it didn’t matter in the end, Mother Nature is as unpredictable as she is beautiful. When I think of this area of Patagonia, there’s no book nor photograph that compares to being there and seeing it with your own eyes – even with the addition of a few impenetrable clouds!

El Chalten hiking guide to Laguna Torre, Patagonia

We initially wanted to go further to Mirador Maestri but since the clouds across the famous peaks of Cerro Torre hadn’t really budged all day, we decided not to. In retrospect, I do regret this decision, because in typical style, as we made our descent back the way we came, and turned to look back, the clouds started to disperse. Of course they did lol!

Anyhow, this definitely won’t be the last time I step foot in El Chalten with my hiking boots. I will be back, and definitely for longer next time!

Are you planning a hiking trip to El Chalten?

Here are a few more links to help you plan your trip around Patagonia:

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Hiking to Laguna Torre in El Chalten, Patagonia, Argentina
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