entrance fee
North: Free
South: $330 ARS (foreigner)
Park Highlights
Monte Fitzroy
Perito Moreno
Lagos Argentino and Viedma
Parque Nacional Los Glaciares is a national park in Santa Cruz, Argentina. Famous for it's jagged granite peaks, expansive ice-fields, and jaw-dropping glaciers, the park was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1981. The largest national park in Argentina, Los Glaciares covers an area of ~7,300 km2. Ice covers 30% of the park, which is bordered to the west by two Chilean national parks (O'Higgins and Torres del Paine) and to the east by the vast Patagonian steppe.
Trekking around Fitz Roy
The northern portion of Parque Nacional Los Glaciares features easily-accessible, world-class trekking. Each summer, backpackers from around the world make pilgrimage here to experience the majesty of Monte Fitz Roy and the surrounding granite peaks. The charming alpine-town of El Chaltén serves as base-camp for these adventures. In addition to multi-day treks, the area has an assortment of one-day hikes.
Day Hikes
Pink Tracks
Recommended trails for people who only have a couple of days to explore the park or don't wish to embark on any overnight trekking adventures.
Multi-day Hikes
Blue Tracks
These are some of Patagonia's best (and most popular) multi-day treks. If you're traveling alone, consider making friends in El Chaltén and trekking in a group.
Sendero Fitz Roy · Madre & Hija · Laguna Torre
Best Day Hike
If you've only one day to experience Parque Nacional Los Glaciares, this one-day hike is a good way to experience the park. Start on the Fitz Roy trail for ~7.5 km to Chorillo del Salto. Take the Madre & Hija trail (to the left), and proceed south. After passing two lagunas, continue for ~6.5 km and swing a left onto the Laguna Torre trail to head back toward El Chaltén.
| Distance | ~19.5 km (circuit) |
|---|---|
| Trailhead Coordinates | -49.321013, -72.894595 |
| Difficulty | Medium |
Traveling between El Chaltén & El Calafate
The regional hubs of El Chaltén & El Calafate are the primary access points for excursions within Los Glaciares national park. The two towns are separated by ~200 km of paved road (Rutas 23, 40, and 11). For details on cycling this route, see Bicycle Patagonia's El Chatén to El Calafate route page. Many backpackers try their luck at thumbing it (dedo) between the two regional hubs. During the summer, buses run daily.
Glacier Perito Moreno
Glaciar Perito Moreno is named after Francisco Moreno, a prominent 19th-century explorer and academic, who was hugely influential in the incorporation of large parts of Patagonia into the republic. Glaciar Perito Moreno is quite unusual in that it is advancing – most glaciers are retreating. The reason for the glacier's advancement is debated by glaciologists.
Perito Moreno is located ~80 kilometers west of El Calafate. Buses run daily from town; hitchhiking and taxi (or remis) are also common ways of reaching the glacier. A park entrance, located ~5 km east of the glacier, collects the park entrance fee ($330 ARS). The entrance is closed overnight (cyclists have been caught trying to sneak in during the night by noisy fishing-line/aluminum can tripwires). Trekking on the glacier is possible, but only through organized tours. Given the glacier is one of Patagonia's most popular and iconic attractions, expect crowds.
Cycle to Perito Moreno
From El Calafate, it's nearly 80 km (one-way) to Perito Moreno. There are no official camping sites along the way and most of the route is extremely dry and desolate. Camping is not permitted in this area of the park. There are a few wild camping options just outside the park entrance.
