Fitz Roy / El Chalten Trail

A compact trekking area of short but dramatic hikes radiating from town.

Time to Hike: 2-4 days to combine several day-hikes; the classic day return to Laguna de los Tres is roughly a long 20 km roundtrip for fit walkers.

Best Time to Go: October to March offers the most reliable trail conditions and long daylight hours; December to February are the warmest and busiest months.

Getting there: Trailheads start in El Chalten, a short walk from the main street; most visitors arrive by bus or private transfer from El Calafate.

Costs: Low daily costs if camping or staying in town; no special climbing permits for the day-hikes inside Los Glaciares National Park but expect to pay for transport, park entrance where applicable and huts or campsites if used.

Difficulty: Well-marked tracks with some steep, rocky pitches and exposed viewpoints; weather is the main hazard - strong winds and sudden cold - while glacier travel is only required for technical ascents.

From El Chalten the trails thread through lenga forest, river valleys and moraine basins to mirror-like glacial lakes beneath towering granite. The landscape is compact so dramatic views of the Fitz Roy massif and neighbouring spires are reached in a single long day from town.

Highlights include the viewpoint above Laguna de los Tres where Fitz Roy looms over the lake, the quieter beaches of Laguna Capri and the panorama from the ridge viewpoints. There is no staffed long-distance hut system here; hikers either do long out-and-back days or overnight at designated campsites and small private refugios near the trailheads.

Fly into El Calafate and take one of the regular buses or a private transfer to El Chalten - the road journey is about three hours under normal conditions. Buses run daily in the main season and are timed for tourist connections.

Most walkers base themselves in El Chalten and start hikes from the town centre; the well-signed trails fan out into the valleys and nearly all popular routes are out-and-back from town rather than linear through-routes.

The walking season is mainly October to March when trails are largely free of snow and daylight hours are long; December to February bring the warmest temperatures but also the most visitors. Shoulder months can still be excellent but expect mud and shorter daylight.

No formal permits are required for the day-hikes, but book accommodation in El Chalten well in advance for high season. In Los Glaciares National Park be prepared for rapidly changing weather, strong winds and the occasional summer snowstorm even on a warm morning.