A Guide to the Laguna Torre Hike in El Chalten, Argentine Patagonia

After Mount Fitz Roy and Laguna de los Tres, the second most popular hike from the small town of El Chalten is to Laguna Torre. This moderate but long trek will reward you with views of a beautiful glacial lake with icebergs floating in it, Torre glacier, and the iconic four jagged peaks as a backdrop.

Although this trail is generally easier than the Mount Fitz Roy hike, you should never underestimate being in the mountains. Therefore, we’ve put together this guide to detail everything you need to know before attempting the trail, including its length, difficulty and other practical information such as the best time to hike it, what to wear, where to stay and what to expect from the trail.

If you’d like to see the hike, make sure to watch our Los Glaciares National Park video, which we shared on our YouTube channel Kitti and Jon. For more videos from the country, check out our Argentina playlist.

About Laguna Torre and Cerro Torre in El Chalten

Laguna Torre is a glacial lake located near the small town of El Chalten in the Los Glaciares National Park in Argentine Patagonia. The lake sits at the foot of the 3,128 m (10,262 ft) tall Cerro Torre, the highest peak in a four mountain chain (Cerro Torre, Torre Egger, Punta Herron and Cerro Standhardt). Other notable peaks nearby are Cerro Solo to the west and of course Mount Fitz Roy to the east.

Although climbing Cerro Torre (or any of the peaks) is incredibly challenging, enjoying the views from the shores of Laguna Torre is something that most outdoor enthusiasts like us can easily do.

Laguna Torre Hiking Trail Statistics

Laguna Torre Trailhead Options

• A popular starting point for the hike is at the end of Los Charitos street in El Chalten, marked as Laguna Torre Trailhead on Google Maps. At the time of our visit, they still didn’t have a ticket booth here, although this may change in the future. It’s easily accessible on foot from your accommodation without needing transport.
• Sendero Fitz Roy Car Park in El Chalten is another potential starting point. Many other hiking trails, such as the Mount Fitz Roy / Laguna de los Tres one, also start here. They have a ticket booth here, so make sure to have a national park entry pass ready to show. It’s also easily accessible on foot from town.

In this guide we’re detailing the first (and most popular) route starting from the end of Los Charitos street. We also have a detailed hiking guide for Mount Fitz Roy starting from the second access point if you’re interested.

Length of the Laguna Torre Trail

The Laguna Torre trail, starting from the end of Los Charitos street in El Chalten, is 18 km (11 miles) long (out-and-back). Depending on where you’re staying in El Chalten, you also have to account for some extra walking to and from the trailhead.

In terms of timings, we started the hike at 7:30AM and got to Mirador Cerro Torre around 8:30AM. Here we took a quick 15-minute snack break before continuing on. In the end, we reached Laguna Torre around 10:30AM. After a while the sky cleared completely, so we ended up spending 2.5 hours at the glacier lake, resting and taking in the incredible views. We set off at 1PM and got back to town just after 3PM, just in time for some happy hour drink deals. Overall, our hiking time was around 5 hours, not counting our long break at Laguna Torre.

Level of Difficulty of the Laguna Torre Trail

The level of difficulty of the Laguna Torre hike is moderate. If you have a decent level of fitness, and some hiking experience, then you won’t have much trouble completing this trail. However, there are still a few aspects of the hike that you may find challenging:

Elevation Gain. There’s only about 475 m of elevation gain in total, which is about half of the popular Mount Fitz Roy hike. Unlike the Fitz Roy one, you’ll gain the majority of it at the start of your hike when you still have a lot of energy. After that the trail is mainly flat, with a very small steep section at the end, but nothing like the one up to Laguna de los Tres.

Trail Length and Conditions. Possibly the main challenge for a novice hiker will be the trail length, which is 18 km. It’s quite a long distance to walk in just one day if you’re not used to it. If the weather conditions allow, then definitely take an extended break at the lake.

The terrain is generally good, although it can be uneven and dotted with tree-roots. After heavy rainfall, it can be quite muddy and slippery. The last section is more rocky, so wearing sturdy shoes with good grip and having walking poles can be useful.

Temperatures and Weather Conditions. You’ll most likely be hiking in the summer season when the sun can be pretty intense. You’ll be exposed during the majority of the trail, so it’s still important to wear a hat, sunglasses and sun-cream. In the summer months, the Patagonian wind can be quite notorious, so be extra cautious when walking in the forest or when exposed. Never forget that you’re in the mountains, so conditions can change quickly.

Laguna Torre Hike: Route Description

1^st Section: Trailhead to Mirador del Cerro Torre

The hike started with a steep uphill section from the end of Los Charitos street. Once we got to the top of the hill we had a nice overview of El Chalten. From there the path was pretty flat, with a slight downhill through some lovely meadows. There were even signs that we may spot deer here. We didn’t see any around 7:30AM, but you may if you’re setting off earlier.

After walking for about 10 minutes we got to the official trailhead sign, which showed a map of the route and gave us a few warnings to be aware of. From this point, the route is about 9 km to Laguna Torre. Following the trail for a few hundred metres, we reached Mirador Cascada Margarita. We stopped here for a few minutes to appreciate the meandering Fitz Roy River, the impressive Cerro Solo mountain and our first peek of Cerro Torre itself. Even Mount Fitz Roy was visible for a while.

The path continued to meander up and down, and on our right the other trail coming from the start of the Fitz Roy hike joined up with this one. About 2.5 km into the hike we arrived at the Mirador del Cerro Torre viewpoint. We saw a toilet sign, although there was no actual toilet facility. We stopped here for a good 15 minutes, enjoying the views and having our breakfast before carrying on.

2^nd Section: Mirador del Cerro Torre to Valley Floor

From the Cerro Torre viewpoint, it was generally downhill until we reached the valley floor about 3.5km into the hike. The next few kilometres winded us through this flat section, with Cerro Torre in front of us the whole time. Whilst it will be an easy section, you’ll be exposed to the elements and have no escape from the wind, rain, or strong sunshine. We had a warm but overcast morning, although it was much hotter on the way back. Some parts of the footpath were wide open and other sections were quite narrow through tall bushes.

Soon we got to another fork. The right one was towards Madre e Hija, which is the trail you would take if you wanted to go to Fitz Roy. (Or you would join the Laguna Torre path at this point if you’re doing the 2-day Fitz Roy and Laguna Torre hike.) Just follow the trail towards Cerro Torre here. Eventually the path took us alongside the Fitz Roy River. At this point, there was less than 2 km left of the trail before we’d arrive at Laguna Torre.

3^rd Section: Laguna Torre

The last kilometre of the path took us through a rocky section with a bit of an incline, but nowhere near as intense as the last uphill part of the Mount Fitz Roy hike.

Shortly, we reached the rim and got our first glance at Laguna Torre and Cerro Torre behind it. Here you can decide to carry on along the ridgeline to get a closer view of the glacier. There will be some steep parts to climb, so only attempt it if you feel up to it. We walked around the rim for a while, then returned to the shore of Laguna Torre and enjoyed a well deserved picnic with an incredible view of the glacier lake, with icebergs floating on the surface and the impressive Cerro Torre and its neighbours towering over it.

It was a bit cloudy when we first arrived but soon enough the sky cleared, so we decided to extend our stay and enjoy the sunshine and the views. After about 2.5 hours we reluctantly started our hike back to El Chalten. The route will be exactly the same on the way back.

Practical Information About the Laguna Torre Trail

Should You Hike Laguna Torre Independently or with a Guide?

You can totally hike the Laguna Torre trail on your own. The path is well signposted and very easy to follow. There are also always people on the trail, so you’ll never feel alone in case you need any assistance.

That said, if you’re not a confident hiker, or just want to enjoy the trail with like-minded others, then consider joining a group hike like this full day guided hike. Guides can help you along the way and also point out some interesting flora and fauna.

Should You Hike Laguna Torre in One Day or Over 2 Days?

Most people would hike to Laguna Torre in one day from a hotel or hostel in El Chalten. However, if you enjoy camping, want to be at the glacier lake for sunset and sunrise, or want to also do Mount Fitz Roy / Laguna de los Tres the next day, then consider camping for a night.

There are a few campsites dotted around, with Agostini Campground being the closest. If you want to do Laguna Torre the first day, then be up at Laguna de los Tres for sunrise the next, we suggest spending the night at Poincenot campsite.

The campsites are currently $20,000ARS per person (not per tent) and you have to reserve your spot, which you can do on this website. You’ll also have to have all the necessary camping gear and food. If you’re just doing a dedicated Patagonia trip, then we suggest bringing your own equipment. Otherwise, you can rent a tent and other necessities in El Chalten.

Entry Fee to Los Glaciares National Park

Since 2024, all national parks across Argentina require an entry pass. Currently, the entry fee for foreign visitors to Los Glaciares National Park is $45,000 ARS per day. To save some pennies, there are options for a 3-day or 7-day flexipass. In addition, you can also buy an annual pass for $225,000ARS, which grants you access to all national parks for the year. This may work out cheaper if you’re spending a few months backpacking through Argentina.

Having said that, there’s currently no ticket booth at the trailhead at the end of Los Charitos street, so technically you can do this hike for free. Of course, this could change in the future. Note that there is a ticket booth at the Sendero Fitz Roy Car Park, in case you wanted to start from there.

You can purchase you entry pass via the official website, as well as see up-to-date prices and discounts.

Best Time to Hike Laguna Torre

The best time of the year to hike Laguna Torre is between November and March. This is essentially late spring, summer and early autumn in Argentina. During this timeframe you’ll have more chances of dry, clear and warmer days with plenty of daylight hours. On the other hand, the summer is also the high tourist season in Patagonia, so expect the trail to be more crowded.

In terms of time of day, we suggest setting off earlier if you want to do the hike in one day. Some might try to make it to the lake for sunrise. Unless you’re camping at Agostini the night before, you would need to set off pretty early for that. However, if you decide to camp, then you can hike in the afternoon and enjoy both the sunset and sunrise the next day without getting up too early.

Always check the weather forecast before you set off and be prepared that conditions can change quickly. The day of our hike started off with high enough clouds that we could enjoy clear views of Cerro Torre the whole way. After reaching the lake, the clouds were replaced by clear blue skies. Whilst it was really lovely during our time around the lake, the sun felt very strong on the way back.

What to Wear and Bring with You When Hiking the Laguna Torre Trail

Clothing and Footwear. Wear season-appropriate clothing and footwear. When we did this hike at the start of January, it was warm and cloudy in the morning but the sun came out by 11AM. You could have quite the opposite experience, including high winds. Therefore, make sure to wear layers so you can adjust to the conditions. Depending on what you feel more comfortable in, wear either shorts or long trousers. We still suggest taking a fleece and / or a rain jacket. In terms of footwear, try to wear hiking boots or shoes with good grip. We personally like wearing boots for their extra ankle support.

Food and Drinks. Have plenty of drinking water because it can get really hot on a sunny day. Don’t forget to pack some snacks and a packed lunch to help re-fuel your body. Some eateries in El Chalten offer packed lunches in case you don’t have access to a kitchen. We also like to drink some electrolytes or rehydration drinks before and after such a demanding hike.

Additional Items. Also, make sure to have enough SPF on you as the sun can be pretty strong. Take a hat and sunglasses for extra protection as well. If you suffer from knee issues, take some hiking poles.

Where to Stay in El Chalten

The small town of El Chalten is going to be the perfect place to base yourself for a few nights. There are many hotels and hostels here, although expect higher prices per night than in El Calafate. This is because El Chaten is much smaller, so there are naturally less options and a lot of demand. We also recommend booking your stay as early as possible if you’re visiting in the high tourist season.

Top Tip. You’re probably also planning on completing the Mount Fitz Roy hike whilst in Chalten. For this reason, we suggest staying somewhere along the middle or northern part of San Martin Street (Ruta 41). This will save you some additional walking at the end of your hikes.

Final Thoughts on the Laguna Torre Hike in El Chalten

We really enjoyed hiking up to Laguna Torre. The trail was pretty easy and relaxing compared to the Fitz Roy hike. We also enjoyed the views of the mountains in front of us the whole time, which is always a bonus. Whilst the day started off a bit gloomy, the sun eventually came out and made us stay at the shore of the lagoon for over two hours. This was the last hike we did during our stay in El Chalten, and it was the perfect way to end our time in Argentina’s trekking capital.

Have you ever done this hike before? If so, let us know what your experience was like. If you found this blog post useful and want to show your support, you can buy us a coffee here.