In Lago Argentino Department, glaciers, long hikes, lakes and rock art each offer a very different experience. You can take a walk to a glacier front, admire mountain landscapes from a viewpoint or explore traces of earlier cultures. The distances and timings given for individual excursions provide practical guidance for planning your own trip.

Glaciers and different perspectives

Los Glaciares National Park covers 726,927 hectares and was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1981. At Moreno Glacier, a network of boardwalks and viewpoints extends for more than 4.5 kilometers to the glacier front. If you are looking for a different perspective, you can consider trekking on the ice of Perito Moreno Glacier: crampons and specialized guides are available for this activity. Perito Moreno Glacier is also designated a World Heritage Site.

A boat trip on Lago Argentino reaches Spegazzini Glacier. There, you will find a hiking trail, a shelter and viewpoints. A circuit to the glacier front, trekking on the ice and a boat trip to a glacier offer different ways to experience the glacial landscape.

Hikes with specific timings and distances

The Fitz Roy, or Chaltén, hike leads to Laguna de los Tres. It is 25 kilometers long and takes eight to nine hours. The trail from El Chaltén to Laguna Torre via Cerro Torre is 18 kilometers round trip. For the Laguna Torre route, the distance given is for the entire round trip; for the hike to Laguna de los Tres, both the distance and duration are provided. This gives you a concrete basis for comparing the two hikes in terms of how long they take.

The viewpoints also differ. From a viewpoint at Laguna Torre, you can see Cerro Solo, Cordón Adela and the Cerro Torre massif. Another option is the half-day excursion to Chorrillo del Salto waterfall, which is six kilometers from El Chaltén and can also be reached on foot. The options range from a hike lasting several hours to a waterfall excursion described as a half-day trip.

Lakes, forests and distinctive rock landscapes

The Reserva Provincial Lago del Desierto is characterized by a long, narrow lake surrounded by lenga and ñire forests and enclosed by mountains. Near Tres Lagos, Piedra Clavada rises more than 20 meters; the view from the geological formation extends to the Río Shehuen. Here, the lake, forests and rocks each offer a different way to experience the landscape.

Another natural highlight lies 20 kilometers southeast of Tres Lagos: a petrified forest that is 90 million years old. Trees up to 90 meters tall have been preserved standing upright there. The formation combines a specific sense of scale with a vast geological timescale. Tres Lagos is also home to sites with petroglyphs and rock art; these cultural traces add another discovery to the natural and scenic experiences.

More experiences and practical information

The Cabalgata Cristales lasts three hours and follows the Cordón de los Cristales along the southern arm of Lago Argentino. Estancia Nibepo Aike in Los Glaciares National Park welcomes guests who can experience life on an authentic Patagonian estancia there. The three-hour horseback ride and the estancia experience offer two distinct ways to explore the area.

The Glacio Bar, an ice bar, is located in the basement of Glaciarium. Puerto Punta Bandera is 47 kilometers from El Calafate and can be reached via the paved provincial roads RP 11 and RP 8. These location and road details help you find your way, while the descriptions of hikes, glaciers and cultural sites show the variety of experiences to discover in Lago Argentino Department.

Discover more destinations: El Calafate, El Chalten, Colonia Francisco Perito Moreno, Charles Fuhr, Lago San Martín, Los Antiguos, Lago Viedma, Lago Buenos Aires Department.

View the full travel overview: Santa Cruz.