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Los Glaciares National Park

Argentina🇦🇷 | national parksLos Glaciares National ParkFitz Roy trails, Perito Moreno ice, Laguna de los Tres, Huemul Circuit | things to do and best time to go

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Backpacking in Los Glaciares
UNESCO World Heritage site
🏆 Top picknational park ranked #2
By Johan Kruseman 🇳🇱 | Updated October 19, 2026

Here's what surprises people: Los Glaciares isn't one park experience, it's two entirely different ones, split by hundreds of kilometers. The northern sector around El Chalten (the trekking capital) and the southern sector near El Calafate (the Perito Moreno glacier) barely relate to each other logistically, and most summaries blur them together. The park sits in Santa Cruz province, way down in Argentine Patagonia. For backpackers, El Chalten's side is the draw: trails to Fitz Roy and Cerro Torre, legit campgrounds, a town built entirely around hikers. Both sectors charge the same park pass, about US$33 a day for foreigners, and Perito Moreno rewards you with a glacier wall you can actually hear cracking. I remember sitting at Laguna de los Tres at 6am, thermos of coffee going cold in my hands, watching the sun hit Fitz Roy's granite like a flare. Compared to Nahuel Huapi further north, this park is rawer and windier, less polished, more rewarding.

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✨ Why go?
Ranked #2 national park in ArgentinaWhat makes it a must-see national park

Backpackers gravitate here because the self-guided trekking infrastructure is genuinely excellent, rare for South America. Trails around El Chalten are well-marked and doable without a guide once you have the park pass, which suits independent travelers who'd rather read a map than follow a flag. Budget camping options like Camping De Agostini and Poincenot sit right on the main routes, and El Chalten itself has hostel dorms without breaking the bank. The trail variety covers everything from a mostly flat 6 to 7-hour there-and-back to Laguna Torre to the punishing full-day push to Laguna de los Tres. You get glacier views, granite spires, and lenga forest all within day-hike range of town, no vehicle required. Add in the fact that El Calafate handles the Perito Moreno side with organized bus … read more 👉
Backpackers gravitate here because the self-guided trekking infrastructure is genuinely excellent, rare for South America. Trails around El Chalten are well-marked and doable without a guide once you have the park pass, which suits independent travelers who'd rather read a map than follow a flag. Budget camping options like Camping De Agostini and Poincenot sit right on the main routes, and El Chalten itself has hostel dorms without breaking the bank. The trail variety covers everything from a mostly flat 6 to 7-hour there-and-back to Laguna Torre to the punishing full-day push to Laguna de los Tres. You get glacier views, granite spires, and lenga forest all within day-hike range of town, no vehicle required. Add in the fact that El Calafate handles the Perito Moreno side with organized bus transport, and you've got a park that rewards planning over guided tours, letting confident hikers build their own itinerary around weather windows and energy levels.

💡 HighlightsPlaces and moments you shouldn't skip

  1. Laguna de los Tres: The classic Fitz Roy viewpoint, reached via a steep final kilometer that earns you a turquoise lake framed by the range's sharpest granite spires. The last scramble up the moraine feels brutal, then the view just stops the complaints.
  2. Laguna Torre: A gentler trail leading to views of Cerro Torre, when the near-constant cloud cap actually lifts. Worth doing even on a cloudy day for the walk through beech forest alone.
  3. Perito Moreno Glacier: Long one of the few stable glaciers in Patagonia, though its front has been retreating since about 2019, with a boardwalk system putting you close enough to hear the ice groan and occasionally watch chunks calve into Lago Argentino.
  4. Mirador de los Condores: A short, easy climb right from El Chalten town, ideal for an evening leg-stretch
… read more 👉
  1. Laguna de los Tres: The classic Fitz Roy viewpoint, reached via a steep final kilometer that earns you a turquoise lake framed by the range's sharpest granite spires. The last scramble up the moraine feels brutal, then the view just stops the complaints.
  2. Laguna Torre: A gentler trail leading to views of Cerro Torre, when the near-constant cloud cap actually lifts. Worth doing even on a cloudy day for the walk through beech forest alone.
  3. Perito Moreno Glacier: Long one of the few stable glaciers in Patagonia, though its front has been retreating since about 2019, with a boardwalk system putting you close enough to hear the ice groan and occasionally watch chunks calve into Lago Argentino.
  4. Mirador de los Condores: A short, easy climb right from El Chalten town, ideal for an evening leg-stretch with condors frequently riding the thermals overhead.
  5. Piedras Blancas Glacier viewpoint: A short detour off the main Fitz Roy trail bringing you close to a hanging glacier, with occasional ice-fall visible and audible from the overlook.
  6. Lago del Desierto: North of El Chalten, a quieter lake with forest trails and fewer visitors than the main circuits, good for a lower-key day when your legs need a break from steep climbs.
  7. Huemul Circuit: A multi-day, technical trek requiring permits, a harness for the Tyrolean traverse over the Río Túnel, and serious weather awareness, this is for experienced backpackers wanting real solitude beyond the day-hiker crowds.
  8. Nimez Lagoon (near El Calafate): A wetland reserve on the edge of Lago Argentino, easy walking, and a solid spot for flamingo and waterfowl sightings if you've got a spare afternoon before or after glacier viewing.
Spotted a mistake or missing something? Contact us.

Things to do around Los Glaciares National Park

Glaciares Gourmet Navigation: Spegazzini, Upsala & Perito Moreno

Glaciares Gourmet Navigation: Spegazzini, Upsala & Perito Moreno

4.7(335) 11h
From €213
per personViator
The Spirit Of The Glaciers: 1 Night Guided Cruise from Calafate

The Spirit Of The Glaciers: 1 Night Guided Cruise from Calafate

3.5(4) 48h
From €817
per personViator

Ratings based on Tripadvisor reviews. When you book through this link, you support our work at no extra cost to you.

🌤️ When to go?Best time to explore Los Glaciares

  • Peak Summer (Dec-Feb): Warmest window, 15-22°C (59-72°F) daytime, up to 17 hours of daylight, but also peak crowds and highest hostel prices in El Chalten.
  • Shoulder Season (Mar-Apr, Oct-Nov): Fewer crowds, temperatures around 8-15°C (46-59°F), still solid daylight, and noticeably cheaper beds.
  • Winter (Jun-Aug): Many trails become hazardous with ice and snow, daylight drops to under 9 hours, and some services in El Chalten close entirely.
  • Wind Season (Nov-Feb): Patagonian wind peaks in summer, sometimes strong enough to knock you sideways on exposed ridges; mornings are calmer than afternoons.
Late March is the sweet spot. The crowds thin out, the lengas turn orange and red, and you still get a solid 11 hours of usable daylight for long treks.

source: climatestotravel.comJANJanuary: excellent for travelingFEBFebruary: excellent for travelingMARMarch: highly recommended for travelingAPRApril: good for travelingMAYMay: fair for travelingJUNJune: below average for travelingJULJuly: below average for travelingAUGAugust: below average for travelingSEPSeptember: fair for travelingOCTOctober: good for travelingNOVNovember: highly recommended for travelingDECDecember: excellent for traveling
Argentina - Los Glaciares National Park

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🛏️ Where to stay?Where staying makes the most sense

El Chalten is the obvious base for the trekking side of the park. It's a small town built entirely around hikers, with hostel dorms, a handful of budget guesthouses, and gear shops on nearly every block. Camping is allowed for free at designated sites like Camping De Agostini and Camping Poincenot right along the main trails, which is the cheapest way to stay close to the action and catch sunrise on Fitz Roy without an early bus.

There's no lodging inside the park itself beyond these backcountry campsites; everything else sits in town, a short walk from the trailheads.

For the Perito Moreno … read more 👉
El Chalten is the obvious base for the trekking side of the park. It's a small town built entirely around hikers, with hostel dorms, a handful of budget guesthouses, and gear shops on nearly every block. Camping is allowed for free at designated sites like Camping De Agostini and Camping Poincenot right along the main trails, which is the cheapest way to stay close to the action and catch sunrise on Fitz Roy without an early bus.

There's no lodging inside the park itself beyond these backcountry campsites; everything else sits in town, a short walk from the trailheads.

For the Perito Moreno glacier side, El Calafate is your base, about 3 hours by bus from El Chalten. It's a bigger, more touristy town with a wider range of hostels and budget hotels, plus better transport links to Argentina's other regions. Most backpackers split their trip between both towns rather than picking one, since the two sectors don't overlap logistically.
Best hostels in Argentina


Best quality hotels in Argentina

👛 Costs (as of 19 October 2026)What things cost and how to budget

A backpacker doing Los Glaciares National Park on a tight plan spends about US$125 a day in high season, with the park fee, a dorm bed, self-catered food and local buses making up most of it.
CategoryBudget RangeLocal Reality
Park entrance feeAbout US$33 per dayForeigners pay a higher rate than Argentines, and the same pass covers the Perito Moreno sector and the El Chaltén sector (Fitz Roy trails). Cheaper 3-day and 7-day passes exist. Divided over a multi-day stay, that comes to roughly US$12 a day.
Accommodation (high season, Dec to Feb)US$30 to 55Dorm beds in El Calafate and El Chaltén run about US$30 to 50 and book out early. Private rooms start near US$90.
Accommodation (low season)US$15 to 30Many hostels close from May to September, though some stay open at lower rates.
CampingUS$0 to 15Free
… read more 👉
A backpacker doing Los Glaciares National Park on a tight plan spends about US$125 a day in high season, with the park fee, a dorm bed, self-catered food and local buses making up most of it.
CategoryBudget RangeLocal Reality
Park entrance feeAbout US$33 per dayForeigners pay a higher rate than Argentines, and the same pass covers the Perito Moreno sector and the El Chaltén sector (Fitz Roy trails). Cheaper 3-day and 7-day passes exist. Divided over a multi-day stay, that comes to roughly US$12 a day.
Accommodation (high season, Dec to Feb)US$30 to 55Dorm beds in El Calafate and El Chaltén run about US$30 to 50 and book out early. Private rooms start near US$90.
Accommodation (low season)US$15 to 30Many hostels close from May to September, though some stay open at lower rates.
CampingUS$0 to 15Free camps at Poincenot and De Agostini on the Fitz Roy side. Private sites near town charge US$10 to 15. Stoves are required, as fires are banned.
Local transportUS$10 to 25The bus between El Calafate and El Chaltén costs US$30 to 45 each way, so spread over days it averages about US$10. The Perito Moreno shuttle is roughly US$30 to 40 return.
Food and suppliesUS$20 to 40Supermarket pasta, bread and cheese keep costs low. Sit-down meals cost US$12 to 25, and prices in El Chaltén run higher than in El Calafate because everything is trucked in.
ActivitiesUS$0 to 25Hiking trails are free. A boat tour to the glacier face costs US$35 to 50 per person, and glacier trekking runs US$200 and up, so most backpackers skip it.
Total Daily BudgetUS$125Based on US$12 for fees, US$40 for a dorm, US$10 for transport, US$30 for food, US$18 for activities and supplies, and US$15 of extras. Bring pesos in cash for better exchange rates.


source: argentina.gob.ar
⚠️ Prices can change and everyone travels differently, so take this as a rough guide. Hope it helps you plan your adventure!

🥾 TrailsHiking Los Glaciares national park: highlights and difficulty

Hiking here splits cleanly into two zones. Around El Chalten, trails wind through lenga forest before breaking onto exposed moraine and rock, with granite spires dominating the skyline the entire way. Wildlife sightings include Andean condors overhead and, if you're lucky, a grey fox trotting across the trail. Terrain ranges from flat riverside paths to steep, loose-rock climbs near the glacial lakes.
  • Laguna de los Tres: 20km round trip, 8-10 hours, difficult, with a steep 1km final ascent over loose scree to a glacial lake beneath Fitz Roy.
  • Laguna Torre: 18km round trip, 6-7 hours, moderate, mostly
… read more 👉
Hiking here splits cleanly into two zones. Around El Chalten, trails wind through lenga forest before breaking onto exposed moraine and rock, with granite spires dominating the skyline the entire way. Wildlife sightings include Andean condors overhead and, if you're lucky, a grey fox trotting across the trail. Terrain ranges from flat riverside paths to steep, loose-rock climbs near the glacial lakes.
  • Laguna de los Tres: 20km round trip, 8-10 hours, difficult, with a steep 1km final ascent over loose scree to a glacial lake beneath Fitz Roy.
  • Laguna Torre: 18km round trip, 6-7 hours, moderate, mostly flat forest trail ending at a lake facing Cerro Torre.
  • Mirador de los Condores: 4km round trip, 2 hours, easy, a short climb straight from town with valley views.
  • Huemul Circuit: 60km multi-day loop, 4 days, difficult and technical, requiring a park permit and a harness rental for the Rio Tunel crossing.
The Perito Moreno side, in the park's southern sector near El Calafate, works differently: a network of boardwalks rather than backcountry trails, fully accessible and requiring no hiking fitness at all.

Public buses run daily from El Calafate to El Chalten (about 3 hours) and from El Calafate out to the Perito Moreno glacier viewpoints (roughly 1.5 hours), so a car isn't necessary. One pass covers both the El Chaltén trails and the Perito Moreno sector, and 3-day and 7-day passes bought online cost less per day. Expect real crowds at Laguna de los Tres and Perito Moreno's main boardwalk in January, thinner numbers on the Laguna Torre trail and almost everywhere in shoulder season.
⚠️ Hiking info can sometimes be outdated or inaccurate. Before you hit the trail, check the latest conditions with locals. If you do spot anything that's off, I'd love to hear from you, so I can update it for fellow travelers.

🛡️ SafetyScams, Hazards, and Annoyances

Patagonian weather changes fast, sun to sideways rain in under an hour, so pack layers and a real rain shell even for short hikes. Wind is the bigger practical hazard: on exposed ridges near Laguna de los Tres it can genuinely knock you off balance, so time exposed sections for morning calm when possible. Trails are well-marked and footing is generally solid except the final scree climb to Laguna de los Tres, which is loose and steep. Wildlife poses no real threat, condors and foxes keep their distance. First-timers often underestimate daylight limits and start too late; start early, know your turnaround time, and check the park ranger's posted forecast at the trailhead before committing to longer routes.
Check Country Safety

FAQCommon questions from travelers

Plan for at least 4 to 5 days if you want to cover both sectors properly: 3 days in El Chalten for the main Fitz Roy and Cerro Torre treks, plus a day trip from El Calafate to see the Perito Moreno glacier. Add extra buffer days since strong wind or rain can shut down the best viewpoints unexpectedly.
Yes, and most backpackers do exactly that. Daily buses connect El Calafate and El Chalten (about 3 hours), and from El Calafate, buses or organized transfers run out to the Perito Moreno glacier viewpoints (around 1.5 hours). Within El Chalten, every major trailhead is reachable on foot from town.
Both the El Chalten trekking trails (Fitz Roy, Cerro Torre) and the Perito Moreno glacier sector need the park pass, about US$33 a day for foreigners, with cheaper 3-day and 7-day passes; no extra permit is needed for day hikes. Multi-day routes like the Huemul Circuit do require a separate permit and safety briefing from park rangers.
⚠️ Things can change over time, so always validate details locally before you go.

Other Argentine national parks near Los Glaciares

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We 💚 feedbackKey takeaways before you go

Worth it for the Fitz Roy sunrise alone, that first light hitting granite is the kind of thing that makes cold feet and a heavy pack feel irrelevant. The drawback: the wind and weather volatility can wreck a tight itinerary, so build in extra days if you can, because Patagonia doesn't care about your bus schedule.

✈️ When did I visit Argentina?
I have visited Argentina, together with Chile, in September 2012.

✍️ Help improve this page!
The information on this page is based on my own backpacking experience in Argentina, supplemented with up-to-date research and feedback from other travelers. Travel details can change, so if you notice anything outdated or incomplete, feel free to let me know.



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Johan, backpacker and founder of TakeYourBackpackHi, I’m Johan (Netherlands 🇳🇱), the creator of TakeYourBackpack. Over the past 3 decades, I’ve backpacked through 90+ countries across six continents, gaining extensive experience with independent travel, long-term trips, and overland routes.

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