Patagonia Hiking: 10 Best Hikes in Chile and Argentina

Hiking in Patagonia means walking towards granite spires that rise straight out of glacier lakes, through beech forest that turns red in autumn and into wind strong enough to stop you mid-stride. At night you sleep in a mountain refugio, in a tent or in a village below Fitz Roy.

These ten hikes run from Bariloche in the north to Navarino Island, south of Tierra del Fuego, on both sides of the Chile and Argentina border. They range from a half-day climb to a volcano's crater rim to the 7 to 8 days of the O Circuit, and five sit on the edge of the Southern Patagonian Ice Field.

Torres del Paine and El Chaltén hold five of the ten, and buses link the two parks, so many first trips combine both.

The 10 Best Hikes in Patagonia

Patagonia's best hikes range from a 9 km lagoon walk outside Ushuaia to week-long circuits where every night must be booked before you start.

1. W Trek, Torres del Paine

• Distance: about 65 km on CONAF's trail sections, or 76 km if you walk to Grey and back from Paine Grande

• Time: 4 to 5 days

• Climb: 1,150 m up and down on the Base of the Towers day

• Start: the Central sector by Hotel Las Torres, or Paine Grande by catamaran, both by bus from Puerto Natales

• Season: October to April; a CONAF-accredited guide in winter

• Fee or permit: park ticket CLP 48,500 for 2 to 10 days; every night booked before you enter

• Best for: a first multi-day trek with a bed every night

The W links three side valleys on the south side of the Paine massif: the Ascencio to the Base of the Towers, the French Valley to Mirador Británico, and the Grey glacier. CONAF grades only two sections as demanding: the 1.4 km boulder moraine below the towers and the 5.4 km climb to Británico.

With Las Torres in the east and Vertice in the west, every night must be booked before you start. In 2026 CONAF required a guide from 27 April to 15 September and closed the W outright in June and July. Our W Trek guide sets out each stage.

2. O Circuit, Torres del Paine

• Distance: about 93 km round the massif on CONAF's sections, about 120 km with the French Valley and the towers

• Time: 7 to 8 days

• Climb: up to John Gardner Pass at about 1,180 m, graded demanding on both sides

• Start: the Central sector, walked anticlockwise in one direction only

• Season: from 1 November at the earliest, after a CONAF check; closed early on 26 March in 2026

• Fee or permit: park ticket CLP 48,500, registration at Guardería Coirón, 100 walkers a day

• Best for: fit walkers who want the remote back side of the massif

On the north and west sides of the massif, the O adds Serón, Lago Dickson, the Los Perros glacier and John Gardner Pass, where the Grey glacier opens up below. That back side has no road access and no phone signal for three days.

Five hikers died in a storm near the pass on 17 November 2025. CONAF now caps the O at 100 walkers a day, one way only, and it has kept the circuit closed since May 2026. Our O Circuit guide covers each camp and the pass day.

3. Laguna de los Tres, El Chaltén

• Distance: 25 km return from El Chaltén

• Time: 8 to 9 hours

• Climb: 750 m, 400 m of it in the last 2 km

• Start: the Base Fitz Roy portal at the north end of El Chaltén

• Season: September to April

• Fee or permit: Los Glaciares day pass ARS 50,000, bought online and paid by card

• Best for: the closest view of Fitz Roy without climbing gear

Argentina's park service calls Laguna de los Tres the closest natural viewpoint of Fitz Roy. The first 8 km to Poincenot camp climb only 350 m through lenga forest, then the last 2 km climb another 400 m, a section the park leaflet calls dangerous in wind and rain.

If cloud hides the peak, stop at the Fitz Roy viewpoint 4 km out and save the lagoon for a clearer day. Poincenot and Laguna Capri camps must now be booked and paid in advance.

4. Laguna Torre, El Chaltén

• Distance: 18 km return

• Time: 6 to 8 hours

• Climb: 250 m

• Start: the Cerro Torre portal on the west side of El Chaltén

• Season: September to April

• Fee or permit: the same ARS 50,000 day pass, half price for a second day within 72 hours

• Best for: a windy day, or tired legs after Los Tres

Where Los Tres climbs, Laguna Torre stays low: 250 m of climb up the Fitz Roy river valley to a glacier lake below Cerro Torre, about 3,100 m. The Mirador Cerro Torre, 3 km out, gives the first view of the peak.

De Agostini, 9 km in, is the only camp and must be booked. Mirador Maestri, 2 km past the lake, is exposed to the wind, and the 7 km Madre e Hija path links this trail with the Fitz Roy trail.

5. Huemul Circuit, El Chaltén

• Distance: about 65 km, or 70 km if you walk the last stretch back to the village

• Time: 4 days and 3 nights, camping

• Climb: 500 m to Laguna Toro on day 1, then about 900 m to Paso del Viento on day 2

• Start: the Laguna Toro trail from the Los Cóndores portal in El Chaltén

• Season: December to March

• Fee or permit: ARS 50,000 park pass plus compulsory remote-area registration

• Best for: experienced backpackers with a tent, a stove and a harness

Argentina's park service classes the loop round Cerro Huemul as a remote area: parts are unmarked, with no phone signal or medical help. From Paso del Viento the Southern Patagonian Ice Field opens to the west, and Paso Huemul looks down on the Viedma glacier, at 975 km² the largest in Argentina.

The Río Túnel is crossed twice on a Tyrolean traverse, a pulley on a fixed cable, so each walker carries a harness and locking carabiners. Most walkers book a pick-up after the last crossing, about 8 km from the village.

6. Refugio Frey, Bariloche

• Distance: 9 km each way from Villa Catedral

• Time: 4 to 5 hours each way, so a long day or a night at the refugio

• Climb: 700 m

• Start: the base of the Cerro Catedral ski area, at the end of bus line 55 from central Bariloche

• Season: December to March

• Fee or permit: free online trekking registration with the national park; beds booked with the refugio

• Best for: a first night in a mountain refugio, in northern Patagonia

Refugio Frey stands at about 1,700 m beside Laguna Toncek in Nahuel Huapi National Park, below a ring of granite spires. The path from Villa Catedral climbs a forested valley, and the park notes that the last 2 km are rocky, stepped and exposed to the sun.

The hut sleeps 35 and also opens in winter, but you must book to stay the night. A second route climbs 900 m in 10 km from Lago Gutiérrez, and the park requires every walker to register before setting off.

7. Cerro Castillo Trek, Aysén

• Distance: 53.5 km from Las Horquetas to Villa Cerro Castillo

• Time: 3 to 5 days, camping

• Climb: about 2,000 m up and 2,500 m down in all

• Start: Las Horquetas, on the Carretera Austral south of Coyhaique

• Season: October to April; closed from May to September

• Fee or permit: CLP 37,750 pass for three days or more; a certified guide at present

• Best for: a wild traverse in Aysén, walked with a guide

Cerro Castillo National Park lies on the Carretera Austral 64 km south of Coyhaique, and its traverse crosses open passes marked with yellow posts. For now CONAF allows the traverse only with a certified guide, and the concession that sells tickets caps it at 40 walkers a day.

Before any hike, register at the park administration at Laguna Chiguay. The shorter option is the day hike to Laguna Cerro Castillo, about 13 km return with 1,122 m of climb, which CONAF also lists as guide-only.

8. Dientes de Navarino Circuit, Navarino Island

• Distance: 40 to 50 km, from and back to Puerto Williams

• Time: 4 to 5 days, wild camping

• Climb: 550 m in the first 3.4 km, up to Cerro Bandera

• Start: Puerto Williams, on Navarino Island south of the Beagle Channel

• Season: November to March

• Fee or permit: no fee; register with the Carabineros in Puerto Williams at the start and the finish

• Best for: walkers who can navigate without a marked trail

After the first climb to Cerro Bandera, the Dientes circuit has no campsites, no phone signal and only cairns to follow, sometimes more than 500 m apart. Route-finding is the main difficulty, along with deep mud, bog and scree over five passes.

Paso Virginia, the last of them at 848 m, is exposed to violent gusts and has a steep descent. The registration rule applies at both ends.

9. Volcán Chaitén, Pumalín

• Distance: 4.4 km return

• Time: about 4 hours return

• Climb: about 600 m

• Start: the Los Gigios bridge on the Carretera Austral, north of Chaitén town

• Season: all year

• Fee or permit: free; register with the park rangers

• Best for: a steep half day on the northern Carretera Austral

Volcán Chaitén erupted in 2008 and forced the evacuation of Chaitén town, and the lava dome it built inside the crater still steams. The trail climbs about 600 m in just over 2 km to a viewpoint on the crater rim, where it ends.

The path is steep, with many high steps, and has no water after an early stream crossing, so carry plenty. Pumalín Douglas Tompkins National Park charges no entry fee for its trails, but walkers register with the rangers.

10. Laguna Esmeralda, Ushuaia

• Distance: 9 km return

• Time: 4 to 5 hours

• Climb: 220 m

• Start: a car park on Ruta Nacional 3, 18 km from Ushuaia

• Season: November to March; icy or snowy in autumn and winter

• Fee or permit: none listed by Ushuaia's tourism office

• Best for: a first or last day at the end of a trip

Ushuaia's tourism office rates Laguna Esmeralda medium to easy: 9 km return with 220 m of climb. The path crosses lenga forest and then a peat bog, so waterproof boots matter more than fitness here.

The lagoon sits in the Valle Tierra Mayor reserve, and meltwater from the peaks above gives it its green colour. The car park is beside Ruta 3, on the left as you leave Ushuaia.

How Hard Is Hiking in Patagonia?

Most Patagonian trails need fitness rather than climbing skill. The effort comes from wind, loose moraine, mud and long days far from help.

Wind

Patagonia's wind blows mainly from the west and is strongest from November to January, the main hiking season. El Calafate averages 21.6 strong-wind days in December, against 14.3 in February and 6 in May.

Gusts are worst on passes, ridges and lake shores. The November 2025 storm on the O brought winds reported at around 190 km/h, and since January 2026 a CONAF protocol closes mountain trails in advance when forecast wind, rain or temperature cross set limits.

Argentina's park leaflet calls the last climb to Laguna de los Tres dangerous in wind and rain. On exposed ground, a turn-back time and a spare day matter more than speed.

Moraine, Mud and River Crossings

Glacial moraine, the loose boulders left by retreating ice, is the steepest ground on most hikes. CONAF times the last 1.4 km to the Base of the Towers at an hour and warns that the moraine there can injure leg joints.

Mud is the other constant. The Dientes de Navarino circuit crosses deep bog, and Laguna Esmeralda's path crosses a peat bog. On the Huemul, the Río Túnel is crossed twice by cable, and CONAF warns that Torres del Paine's rivers become dangerous above the knee.

Remote Routes and Registration

The more remote the route, the more registration it needs. Los Glaciares requires it all year on the Huemul and on every trail from May to September, and the Dientes circuit needs it with the Carabineros at both ends.

On the O, walkers register at Guardería Coirón and sign out at Los Perros and Paso before the pass. Torres del Paine has mobile signal only at Villa Monzino, and help in the mountains can take several hours to arrive.

When to Hike in Patagonia

The hiking season runs from October to April, and through it the wind, the daylight and the open beds and trails all change.

December and January bring the longest days and the most wind, while March has a third fewer windy days than December. Refugio beds for the summer go first, so book as soon as a season opens, usually between April and June.

Around El Chaltén, Argentina's park service advises September to April, and snow limits some trails from May to October. Our best time to visit Patagonia guide covers every month.

Know Before You Arrive

Planning a Patagonia hiking trip comes down to flights, long bus rides, bed bookings and wind-proof layers.

Getting to the Trailheads

Each group of hikes has its own airport, and from there a bus, a transfer or a short flight takes you to the trail.

• Torres del Paine: fly to Punta Arenas, then take Bus-Sur to Puerto Natales, about 3 hours 15 minutes. The 07:00 park bus reaches Laguna Amarga at 09:00.

• Puerto Natales flights: runway works limit its airport to Friday to Sunday in January 2027 and to weekends in February and March.

• El Chaltén: fly to El Calafate and take the bus north, roughly 3 hours. Buses also run to El Calafate from Puerto Natales, and the Perito Moreno glacier walkways, 80 km from El Calafate, make a half-day side trip.

• Bariloche: fly to Bariloche and take bus line 55 to its last stop, at the base of Cerro Catedral.

• Carretera Austral: fly to Balmaceda, near Coyhaique, for Cerro Castillo; Chaitén is reached by ferry or small plane from Puerto Montt. Queulat's hanging glacier, 20 km south of Puyuhuapi, is a half-day stop between the two.

• Ushuaia and Navarino Island: fly to Ushuaia for Laguna Esmeralda. DAP flies from Punta Arenas to Puerto Williams in about 1 hour 15 minutes.

Where to Sleep

In Torres del Paine you sleep where the concessions put you, and wild camping is not allowed anywhere in the park.

• Torres del Paine refugios: six-bed dorms at Las Torres' Central, Francés and Los Cuernos (Chileno is camping only); Vertice's Paine Grande sleeps 100 and Grey 60, and both are listed as open all year

• Torres del Paine campsites: own-tent pitches or rented tents; stoves only in signed cooking areas, and none at Chileno

• El Chaltén camps: Poincenot, De Agostini and Laguna Capri, with dry toilets and no showers, gas stoves only and check-in from 12:00

• Refugio Frey: 35 places at about 1,700 m, open in summer and winter

• Wild camps: on the Huemul and the Dientes de Navarino you carry a tent; the Cerro Castillo traverse has five camping zones

How Much Does It Cost?

Park tickets are the small part of the bill, because beds and meals inside Torres del Paine cost far more than any entry fee.

Both companies price foreign visitors in US dollars, and Vertice's rates need your passport and PDI entry card at check-in, or 19% VAT is added. A peak night at Central with full board comes to USD 370.

What to Pack

Patagonian weather can bring sun, rain, sleet and gales in one afternoon, so pack layers you can add and remove quickly.

Start with a normal list for a day hike or trek, then add what Patagonia needs.

For any day hike or trek:

• Waterproof jacket and trousers, plus a warm mid-layer and a down jacket

• Warm hat and gloves, even in summer

• Sun hat, sunglasses and sunscreen for long, bright days

• Walking boots you have worn in, with good grip on wet rock

• Head torch, first-aid kit, a power bank and water bottles

For Patagonia:

• Trekking poles for moraine, mud and long descents

• Microcrampons early in the season, which CONAF recommended on the W and Base Torres trails in October 2026

• A bank card for El Chaltén's park portals, which take no cash

• A gas stove only where cooking is allowed; a fire outside Torres del Paine's signed areas can cost up to CLP 2,000,000

• A sleeping liner for refugio nights, in a 25 to 45 litre pack

• A harness and two locking carabiners for the Huemul's river crossings

• Your passport and PDI card for border buses and refugio check-in

Torres del Paine or El Chaltén: Where to Hike First?

Choose Torres del Paine for a multi-day trek with a bed and a hot meal at the end of each day, booked months ahead. Choose El Chaltén for day hikes from a village, picked each morning by the forecast, because a day hike there needs only a park pass.

With 10 to 12 days you can do both: the W in a week from Puerto Natales, a travel day to El Chaltén, then three days of walks there. Keep a spare day on the Argentine side, because a cloudy morning only means waiting for the next one.

The hard part of Torres del Paine is the booking. CONAF admits overnight walkers only with every night reserved, across Las Torres in the east and Vertice in the west, and Las Torres keeps the full price of a stay cancelled 44 days or less ahead.

Our self-guided Patagonia W Trek Tour books that chain for you:

• Duration: 7 days / 6 nights, Puerto Natales round trip

• Walking: four days of 11 to 24 km, to the towers, Los Cuernos, the French Valley and Grey

• Nights: Refugio Torre Central, Refugio Los Cuernos, Refugio Paine Grande and Camp Grey, plus two hotel nights in Puerto Natales

• Included: the park entrance fee, transport, the one-way boat on Lago Grey, four dinners, a GPS app and a digital guidebook

For the full loop, our Torres del Paine O Circuit tour runs 10 days from Punta Arenas. It includes eight nights in the park's camps and refugios, meals and gear rental. Ask us about dates for next season.

Whichever park comes first, the big days end the same way: at a glacier lake below granite spires, with the wind coming straight off the ice field.