What are the Best Hikes in Patagonia?

What are the best hikes in Patagonia?!  And what IS Patagonia, anyway??  Is it a region, or a country?  How big is it?!  If you’ve never visited, these questions can cause anxiety as you start to plan your trip.  Because the truth is, Patagonia is a MASSIVE region (not a country).  It encompasses the entire southern tip of South America, & is in two different countries: Chile & Argentina.  I’ll be answering all these questions here, as I show you where all the best hikes are, within this sparsely-populated but hugely scenic part of the world. 

Patagonia = 402,700 square MILES!!! This is larger than most countries.

The Fitz Roy Trail in El Chalten is one of Patagonia’s legendary hikes.

Map of Patagonia

While Patagonia technically extends from Ushuaia all the way up to Bariloche, the heart of Patagonia lies in three places: 1) El Chalten, 2) El Calafate, & 3) Torres del Paine National Park.  Because it’s impossible to cover every hike in Patagonia, I’m focusing on the stand-outs ~ which are on the map below.

Lightweight Backpack

Best Hikes in El Chalten

If hiking is your main objective, & you want hikes for all ability levels (including beginners): El Chalten is my top choice.  Even “easy” hikes here offer tremendous views.  And one of Patagonia’s most legendary hikes, Fitz Roy, is located here ~ along with stunning Cerro Torre.  El Chalten is a growing frontier town: filled with hostels, cute restaurants, & even ome luxury hotels & spas. 

There’s no airport here: but there is a large bus terminal that links you to other popular Patagonia destinations. 

How to Reach El Chalten: By bus or by renting a car.

***1. Mount Fitz Roy (26 km), Intermediate, but Difficult at the End

This is one of my favorite hikes EVER, & I’ve written about it extensively here.  Yes, it’s long: but much of it is moderate, & a large section meanders through a gorgeous, flat meadow.  But the last 45-minutes of the hike are seriously hard: you’re climbing up uneven rocks, along steep switchbacks, with a TON of people. The views down into the valley are incredible, though.  Fitz Roy is El Chalten’s most popular hike, & the final view you get of Laguna de los Tres (pictured below), as well as Laguna Sucia (off to the left), are some of the most spectacular you’ll see in this lifetime. 

Hike Time = 6 – 9 hours

Standing in front of Laguna de los Tres, on the Mount Fitz Roy Trail.

2. Cerro Torre (24 km), Intermediate

Cerro Torre is a little easier than Fitz Roy, but the pay-off is nearly as spectacular.  After a few hours of climbing, you’ll reach icy Laguna Torre, with a view of Cerro Torre in the background.  Cerro Torre is taller & skinnier, whereas Fitz Roy is a wider massif, & slightly more imposing.  Both make for amazing photos… 

Hike Time = 5 – 7 hours

Cerro Torre, with Laguna Torre in the foreground.

3. Mirador de los Condores (0.9 miles), Easy

Everyone can do this hike ~ even people who don’t like to hike!  There’s a very short climb to reach the lookout, & it’s SO SO worth it!  You can hike around at the top, & get different viewpoints of looming mountains in the distance.  

Hike Time = 1 Hour

This INSANE lookout is one of the EASIEST hikes in El Chalten: Condor Lookout, or Mirador de los Condores. The town of El Chalten is to my right.

Just past the first lookout at Mirador de los Condores are more stunning vistas, like this one.

4. Chorrillo del Salto (0.7 miles), Easy

A short walk from El Chalten is Chorrillo del Salto: a very easy, very short “hike” to the beautiful waterfall shown below.  Tourist buses sometimes stop here with LOTS of people.  But I highly suggest making the short walk from town yourself, because of the stunning landscapes you’ll see along the way. 

Hike Time = Less than an hour

Chorrillo del Salto. “Chorrillo” means “trickle,” in Spanish ~ but to me, this looks more like a waterfall!

Best Hikes in El Calafate

El Calafate is where most Patagonia visitors fly into: it’s pretty much smack-dab in central Patagonia, & just a two-hour ride from top attraction: Perito Moreno Glacier.  Again, everyone can visit Perito Moreno!  There are metal walkways built right in front of the glacier, that extend for several (mainly flat) kilometers.  To take a tour actually on the glacier, you’ll need to go with a guide. 

For more info about Perito Moreno & how to get there, read this article.

5. Perito Moreno Glacier, Easy

Epic Perito Moreno Glacier = a Patagonia MUST.

The “hike” at Perito Moreno is flat & easy, with some stairs ~ on metal ground (like what is shown above).

6. Hike ON the Glacier at Perito Moreno, Intermediate

Hike ON Perito Moreno Glacier with a guided tour.

Best Hikes in Torres del Paine National Park

I’ve saved Torres del Paine National Park for last because frankly, these are some of the most difficult hikes in Patagonia: & they’re not right for everybody.  I’m pretty fit ~ but there’s no WAY I wanted to hike 50 miles (80 kilometers), in the rain, on the famous “W” Trek!  But I did want to hike part of it, which is why I hiked its most iconic section: Mirador Las Torres.

***7. Mirador Las Torres (24 km), Difficult

I’ve written extensively about this hike here, but I can tell you: it’s challenging.  Fitz Roy’s final section is harder, but I found this hike more difficult overall.  There’s more climbing, & you need to climb at the end, when you’re super tired.  Some people break this hike up & do it in two days, which isn’t a bad idea.  Refugio Chileno marks the half-way point, & you can eat & spend the night there (reservations need to be made WAY in advance). 

But in looking at the photos below, you can see: it’s WORTH the pain!!!  For a full video of this amazing hike, click here.

Hike Time = 7 – 10 hours

The world-famous end to the Mirador Las Torres hike, in Torres del Paine, Chile.

Views like this await you, in Torres del Paine National Park, in Chile.

8. The “W” Trek in Torres del Paine, 50-miles, Very Difficult

The “W” Trek is one of the most famous in the world.  It takes 4-5 days, hiking approximately 12-15 miles per day.  Most people hike it with a group, while some go solo (like my Irish friend, Siobhan).  Some bring their own camping gear & stay in campsites along the way, while others stay in a mixture of amazing hotels, refugios, & campsites.  The trek’s top highlights are: the French Valley, Mirador Las Torres (the hike from above), & Glacier Grey. 

This trek isn’t for beginners: only experienced hikers & backpackers.

An excellent map of the “W” Trek, which is outlined in orange. Map: Swoosh Patagonia.