Four Itchy Feet

February 12, 2025. Sendero Laguna Torre, El Chaltén, Argentina.

Today, we hiked the Sendero Laguna Torre—our first hiking experience in El Chaltén. This trail is not inside Los Glaciares National Park, so there is no fee to hike it. (More on park fees tomorrow.)

The hike features a steady climb but is never too difficult. Along the way, we enjoyed stunning views of the backside of the iconic Cerro Fitz Roy and the three “Agujas” (Needles): Val Biois, Mermoz, and Guillaumet. The trail offers the perfect mix of forested paths and open spaces, providing breathtaking views of the surrounding mountains and glaciers. At the end of the hike we came upon Laguna Torre, a small lake littered with large icebergs that have detached from the glaciers above.

One of the most unique aspects of this hike was the diversity of people trekking. We heard German, Danish, Russian, Catalan, and several Spanish dialects. We also met and chatted with a lovely couple from Barcelona, a family from Chile and a wonderful 77-year-old woman named Chici from Córdoba, Argentina. She kept us entertained with lively conversation for nearly an hour as we descended. We highly recommend this trail as the first hike to do when visiting El Chaltén. It’s a great warm-up for more challenging trails and provides a well-rounded introduction to the beauty of the region.