El Chalten is one of Argentina's hiking hotspots, and for good reason! The mountain's skylines are iconic, and the hikes here definitely belong to anyone's bucket list.
The Laguna Torre hike is the second most popular hike in El Chalten. Although it's less known than its famous brother, Mount Fitz Roy, the Cerro Torre Mount is stunning, and this hike will provide you with unforgettable memories.
In this guide, you will find all you need to know about the Laguna Torre hike, from how to get there, entrance fees, and what to pack to a breakdown of the hike.
Things to know before the hike
How to get to the Laguna Torre trail
The trail leading to the Laguna Torre starts right in the town of El Chalten. You can reach it on foot if you're staying in town.
Fees to Hike Laguna Torre
The Laguna Torre is situated inside Los Glaciares National Park in Argentina. From 2025, the entrance fee for foreigners will be 45,000 pesos (around USD 42) per day. If you intend to hike in El Chalten for several days, you can reduce the daily costs by buying a multi-day pass.
What to bring on a hike to Laguna Torre
- Sturdy hiking shoes
- At least 1.5 liters of water per person
- Sunscreen, sunglasses & hat on sunny days.
- Layers - the weather can quickly change
- Camera
- Food and snacks - this is a long hike, and you won't find any services on the mountain.
When to Hike to Laguna Torre
From December to March, summer is the best time to hike to Laguna Torre. You can also hike to Laguna Torre in the shoulder season months of April and October. Outside these months, the trail might be closed due to extreme winter weather.
Other things to consider
This is the second most popular hike in El Chalten, so start as early as possible to avoid crowds.
Another reason to start early is the annoying horseflies that keep trying to land on your body, especially once the sun is fully up.
Some parts of this trail are exposed, and Patagonia's wind can be strong. If it's very windy, consider rescheduling this hike for another day.
You will most likely lose service once you're in the mountains, so for safety reasons, it's essential to download the trail map on your phone in advance.
Laguna Torre Hike Overview
Elevation gain: 1748 ft / 533 m
Distance: 11.4 mi / 18.3 km
Difficulty: Medium Type: Out-and-back
El Chalten to Laguna Torre
The trail is well signaled, and each kilometer is marked with a sign. It is uphill for the first two kilometers and then gets relatively flat.
You will find the second lookout, Mirador Cerro Torre, 1.5 miles (2.5 km) into the hike. You can appreciate a great view over the needles and its neighboring glacier there. If you don't wish to walk further, you can turn around here and go back to town.
Between kilometers 6 and 7, you will see a sign with two options: "Camp. de Agostini, Laguna Torre" and "Camp. prestadores de servicios". If you want a slightly easier, flatter route, take the left towards "Camp. de Agostini, Laguna Torre." This way will take you along the river to the lower part of the lake. If you take the right, the road will be more inclined and bring you to the top of the lake.
Before kilometer 8, you will find a rock valley. Some people report that there's a path to follow, but I personally didn't see it and got lost. Luckily, I could find my way by looking at the map I had previously downloaded.
Once you reach kilometer 8, you will have to walk uphill through a series of switchbacks to reach Laguna Torre. The altitude can be tiring, but even this part is easier than the Laguna de los Tres hike (Fitz Roy hike).
Laguna Torre to Mirador Maestri
After taking a well-deserved break, you can go up to the ridge on the right-hand side of the mountain. Follow it for 1.2 mi (2 km), and you will get to the Maestri Lookout, where you can appreciate a better view of the glacier.
