Laguna Torre

Information

This is one of the classic trails in El Chaltén. It takes about 6 hours round trip (or 8 hours if you are going to get to the Maestri viewpoint). Bring water, food, hat, coat and raincoat (the weather in this area can change during the same day). It is advisable to start early in the morning.

The trail can be accessed from San Martín Avenue, approximately in the middle of the town.

The trail has an uphill section at the beginning. Then it starts to get closer to the Fitz Roy River, until you reach a viewpoint where you can see the Margarita waterfall. Further on you reach another viewpoint where you can see the Cerro Torre (a hill). The path continues with good views of the Cerro Solo (another hill) and at one point it goes very close to the river. You pass the Agostini camp, where on the day I went there was a mobile toilet. Finally you reach the Laguna Torre at the foot of the imposing Cerro Torre. When I was there, the water had icebergs, but the hill was completely covered by clouds. If you want, you can continue along a path that goes along the top of a hill that borders the body of water, up to the Maestri viewpoint, where the whole route ends.

If you start early in the morning, the first part of the trail is a good place to observe many bird species.