7 km
Laguna Capri
The afternoon walk. A gentle half-day return with the first clear views of the Fitz Roy. Ideal for families.
Gentle · 3 hrsParque Nacional Los Glaciares · Patagonia Argentina
At the heart of Patagonia lies El Chaltén, Argentina's National Trekking Capital, and there stands the village's most iconic hotel. For twenty years, Los Cerros has been the point where the legendary trails to Fitz Roy and Cerro Torre begin and end — with the finest views of the village, the Río de las Vueltas valley, and the peaks that define this wild corner of the world.
The destination
Founded in 1985 on the banks of the Río de las Vueltas, El Chaltén is Argentina's youngest town — and the living heart of Parque Nacional Los Glaciares, a UNESCO World Heritage Site of nearly 727,000 hectares. Officially recognised as the country's National Trekking Capital, it exists for a single purpose: to place you at the foot of some of the most extraordinary mountains on Earth.
From the village, a network of trails unfolds towards hanging glaciers, crystal-clear lagoons and viewpoints that reorder your sense of scale. Every path is a fresh reading of the same monumental landscape — from unhurried scenic walks to demanding ascents on rock and ice — and every one of them begins minutes from our door.
Experience Argentine Patagonia from El Chaltén's most iconic hotel.
Full destination guideThe afternoon walk. A gentle half-day return with the first clear views of the Fitz Roy. Ideal for families.
Gentle · 3 hrsTowards the needle. A full-day return through a lenga forest to the lake below Cerro Torre.
Moderate · 6 hrsThe panoramic. From the summit ridge, both the Fitz Roy and Cerro Torre groups are visible simultaneously.
Demanding · 8 hrsThe classic. A full-day return to the glacial lake at the foot of the Fitz Roy. Exceptional views on clear days.
Chaltén MUST DO · 10+ hrsBeyond the trails
While El Chaltén is famous for its hiking trails, the region rewards those willing to explore beyond the main paths — from photography expeditions and wildlife observation to scenic drives through valleys that few travellers reach.
Photography Expeditions
The light in Patagonia is unlike anywhere else on Earth — shifting by the minute between storm and clarity, setting the granite towers alight in colours that never repeat. From mid-March to late April, as the lenga forests turn red and gold beneath the peaks, photography groups arrive from around the world for what many consider the finest autumn landscape in the Southern Hemisphere. Guided expeditions can be arranged through the hotel, timed for dawn and dusk — when the Fitz Roy earns its reputation.
Patagonian Wildlife
The valleys surrounding El Chaltén are home to condors, guanacos, foxes and a remarkable diversity of birdlife. For wildlife photographers and nature enthusiasts, Patagonia offers opportunities that extend well beyond the mountains themselves.
Reserva Los Huemules
Twenty kilometres north of the village, on the road to Lago del Desierto, lies a private nature reserve devoted to conservation and small-group excursions. Native lenga forests, wetlands and quiet trails shelter the endangered huemul deer that gives the reserve its name — a slower, more intimate reading of Patagonia, far from the main circuits. Entrance can be arranged through the hotel.
Lago del Desierto
Just 37 kilometres north of El Chaltén, Lago del Desierto is one of Patagonia's hidden treasures. Surrounded by native forests and snow-capped peaks, the area offers gentle walks, waterfalls, kayaking and boat crossings — with one of the finest views of the Fitz Roy in the region. The drive itself is considered one of Patagonia's most scenic routes.
On video
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