These 12 hikes will show you the astonishments of Patagonia

28.10.2024 - 16:09 / lonelyplanet.com / El Chalten

Oct 25, 2024 • 9 min read

Crisscrossed by glacial rivers and streams, alternately covered in scrubland and ancient woodlands, and dotted with myriad ice-melt lakes whose surfaces range from pale blue to navy, Patagonia offers an extraordinary way to encounter nature at its rawest.

Covering a massive chunk of southern Chile and Argentina, the region is almost synonymous with adventure. Whether you’re looking to rough it on multi-day treks through pristine wilderness, hike from hut to hut in epic national parks, exert yourself on varied day treks before returning to the comfort of your boutique guesthouse, or just stretch your legs beneath the shade of Chile’s and Argentina’s oldest trees while road-tripping along Chile’s Carretera Austral, Patagonia has a great deal to offer.

Keep in mind that trekking in Patagonia and Tierra del Fuego is largely confined to the peak and shoulder seasons of November to late March. If you want to hike off the beaten track, make sure you’ve left word with someone about proposed route, take a tent sturdy enough to withstand the famous Patagonian wind (called La Escoba de Dios, or God’s Broom) and all the supplies you’ll need. During any hike, all-weather gear is a must (in Patagonia, it’s normal to experience four seasons in one day – or even one hour). Accommodations must be booked many weeks in advance for the December-to-February high season.

With those details out of the way, let’s get to the 12 best hikes in Patagonia.

Best for scenery and a sense of accomplishment

15.5 miles (25km) round trip, 8–10 hours, moderate

Only accessible on less windy days, this is the most scenic and challenging of all the day hikes around southern Argentina’s compact trekking capital of El Chaltén. The well-marked trail ascends through ñire (small southern beech) woodlands from the north end of El Chaltén’s main street, past turquoise Laguna Capri and across boggy terrain to Camapamento Poincenot, popular with climbers. A steep, exposed trail zigzags up the mountain side to the glacial lagoon, where you get excellent bonus views of Cerro Fitz Roy (11171ft/3405m), the mountain resembling a jagged tooth. Dip your feet in the water – but don’t keep them there, as you’ll quickly lose feeling.

Best overnight option in Torres del Paine

46 miles (74km) one way, 3–5 days, moderate

The shorter of the two multi-day treks that Chile’s iconic Torres del Paine National Park is known for, this route is shaped like the letter that gives it its name. To start off, you’ll take a boat across Lake Pehoé, then hike through woodland along the banks of Lake Grey to the icy monolith of Glacier Grey before retracing your steps. You then pass along the shores of glacial Lake Nordenskjöld, and climb steeply up the