Los Glaciares National Park
the northern sector, from El Chaltén
Los Glaciares National Park covers more than 720,000 hectares in southwestern Santa Cruz and was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1981. It is the second largest national park in Argentina and protects a portion of the Southern Patagonian Ice Field, the third largest freshwater reserve on the planet.
Two sectors, two experiences
The park is divided into two access zones, separated by approximately 200 kilometers of road. Although it is the same park, the experience is completely different and most travelers visit both sectors.
The southern sector, from El Calafate
It's the one with the glaciers that reach the water: Perito Moreno, Upsala, Spegazzini. It's mainly experienced from walkways and boat trips on Lake Argentino, requiring no physical exertion.
The northern sector, from El Chaltén
It is the high mountain region: the massifs of Fitz Roy and from Cerro Torre, The park features trekking trails, hanging glaciers, and high-altitude lagoons. It's primarily explored on foot.
What does the northern sector protect?
The area around El Chaltén It combines Andean Patagonian forests of lenga and ñire trees, glacial lakes, and the granite cliffs that made the destination famous. The fauna includes the huemul, an endangered native deer that gives its name to several geographical features in the area, as well as Andean condors, foxes, and a wide variety of birds.
The glaciers in the area, such as Piedras Blancas, Torre, Cagliero and Vespignani, are mostly mountain and hanging glaciers: They can be seen from below or from viewpoints., unlike the large southern ice fronts.
The trails of the northern sector
The unique feature of El Chaltén is that the main trails start from the town, without the need for transfers.
The four classic routes
The busiest ones are those that lead to Laguna de los Tres, to Laguna Torre, to Capri Lagoon already the Hill of the Fallen Fold. Each one aims for a different viewpoint and has its own requirements.
With a guide or on your own
The trails are from free access and they are signposted. Hiring a guided trek adds safety, emergency communication equipment and interpretation of the environment, and in some cases allows routes that cannot be done otherwise, such as the complete circuit to Laguna de los Tres starting from the Puente del Río Eléctrico.
Entry, rules and private reservations
Entrance to Los Glaciares National Park It is paid separately and it's advisable to arrange it in advance on the official website of the National Parks Administration. It is not included in the price of the excursions, and connectivity in El Chaltén is limited.
Rules within the protected area
There are rules of use that should be respected: do not leave the marked trails, do not light fires outside of designated areas, take all trash with you, and do not feed or approach the wildlife. During nesting season, some areas may have additional restrictions.
Adjacent private reserves
There are also private reserves bordering the park, such as Los Huemules, where the Ice Trek to the Cagliero Glacier, with its own income system included in the activity.
Plan your visit
Check the complete catalog of excursions or the guide to What to do in El Chaltén.