Hiking Guide for Cerro Torre from El Chaltén, Argentina

Located inside Los Glaciares National Park, the Cerro Torre hike is one of Patagonia’s most rewarding day hikes – and unlike its more famous neighbor, Mount Fitz Roy, it’s much less strenuous.

Cerro Torre is the tallest peak in a chain of four spires (Cerro Torre, Torre Egger, Punta Herron, and Cerro Standhart) that rise dramatically from the Southern Patagonian Ice Field. While the summit is considered one of the hardest climbs in the world, the Laguna Torre hiking trail is perfect for trekkers of all levels.

This out-and-back trail from El Chaltén ends at a glacial lake with incredible views of all four mountain needles reflected in the turquoise water.

After tackling the Mount Fitz Roy hike the day before, we were craving something slightly easier, and this trail was exactly that. The Cerro Torre hike is the ideal follow-up: scenic, peaceful, and still wildly impressive.

Short on Time? Here are the Key Takeaways:

• The Cerro Torre hike is 18 km (11 miles) round trip with about 490 meters (1,600 feet) of elevation gain – mostly in the first 2 km.
• It’s a relatively flat and moderate trail compared to Fitz Roy, making it ideal for a recovery hike or an easier full-day trek.
• Start early to catch the morning glow on Laguna Torre and avoid the infamous Patagonian winds that pick up by midday.
• There are two basic toilets along the trail – bring your own toilet paper.
• The Laguna Torre viewpoint offers stunning reflections of Cerro Torre and the Glaciar Grande – don’t skip the extra walk to Mirador Maestri for the best panoramic view.

This post was originally published in April 2019, and was updated in October 2025.

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Quick Overview of Patagonia 

As we mentioned in our Monte Fitz Roy hiking guide, Patagonia got its name from Ferdinand Magellan, who thought the region’s native inhabitants resembled “Patagón,” a giant from an old Spanish tale.

Today, Patagonia spans southern Argentina and Chile, covering more than 260,000 square miles (673,000 square kilometers) of glaciers, grasslands, and the Andes mountains. Cerro Torre, located near the town of El Chaltén, sits at the heart of this wild landscape – and is one of the most photographed peaks in South America.

Renting Equipment 

We rented trekking poles from Patagonia Hikes, one of several rental shops in El Chaltén. There are at least six stores in town offering gear if you didn’t bring your own.

We didn’t end up using our poles much on this hike, but they were lifesavers on Fitz Roy. If you prefer extra support or stability on descents, bring or rent a pair just in case.

If you want a complete list of what we carried, check out our Patagonia Packing List for El Chaltén – it breaks down everything we brought for both Fitz Roy and Cerro Torre.

Tour Options and Info

If you’d rather not hike solo, there are several guided options available – great for travelers short on time or new to the area.

Top-rated Cerro Torre hiking tours:

• Full Day Trekking to Laguna Torre: Professionally guided, with round-trip transport from El Chaltén. You’ll need to pack your own lunch and water.
• 2-Day Hiking Guide (Fitz Roy and Cerro Torre): Includes camping gear, food, and a local guide – ideal if you want to experience both iconic trails.

If you’d rather go self-guided, this trail is well-marked and easy to follow. For a bit more flexibility, you can browse Cerro Torre tours and prices on Viator, where many options offer free cancellation and instant booking in USD.

How to Find the Trailhead to get to the Laguna Torre Hike 

The Cerro Torre trail head is located at the end of an unnamed road (according to Google) on the northwest side of town. 

It’s near the middle of the map below and much closer to downtown El Chaltén than Fitz Roy:

Depending on where you are staying, you will need to climb the black stairs at the end of the main street.

Hang a left and head towards the defined path on the hill.

You will see this sign below, and not knowing Spanish, it is about the fire risk, not the level of difficulty for the trail. There is also camping on this trail around kilometer 8.

There are portable toilets near the sites (bring your own toilet paper) and if you do camp, you can NOT use fire to cook food.

There is a way to combine for Fitz Roy (Laguna de los Tres) and Cerro Torre (Laguna Torre) on a different path which you will be able to access around kilometer 5.

Follow the signs for “Madre E Hija, Poincenot and Lag. De Los Tres”.  

All the trails are well marked and you can easily do this self-guided.

Remember, you can drink the water from any stream or lake, so refilling your hydration packs and water bottles is a breeze.

The worst part of this hike starts before you even hit the trailhead. (See above photo)

From the top of this hill to where the trailhead starts is about a 5-10 minute walk up a steep hill, where you will find the trailhead sign.

Make sure you have a hat, sunglasses, and sunscreen as 75% of this hike is not protected from the sun.  

As previously mentioned, we did not use the trekking poles on this hike.

Cerro Torre (Laguna Torre) – the Hike 

• Length: 18 km (11.18 miles) round trip, 6-8 hours
• Elevation Gain: 490 meters (about 1,600 ft)
• Difficulty: Moderate – mostly flat compared to Fitz Roy, with short steep sections early on
• Time: 6-8 hours round trip
• Best Start Time: Early morning for calm winds and golden light on Cerro Torre

The Cerro Torre hike starts right from the edge of El Chaltén and leads through forests, valleys, and open meadows before ending at Laguna Torre, a glacial lake surrounded by sharp granite peaks.

If you catch a clear day, you’ll see the entire Cerro Torre massif reflected in the water – an unforgettable Patagonia view that rivals Fitz Roy without the same crowds or uphill grind.

Kilometers 0 – 3: The First Climb 

60-70% gradual incline

KM 1: While the first couple of kilometers are slightly uphill, you are treated with your first distant views of Cerro Torre and Mount Fitz Roy less than 1 kilometer in (around 20 minutes) at Mirador Margarita.

Mirador Margarita is in no way related to the delicious drink! (Although, a drink would have been nice about now!)

Along this stretch, we were lucky enough to encounter a Magellanic Woodpecker. We stopped for several minutes to marvel at it.

KM 2: Mostly shaded through the woods and roughly 10 minutes past the marker, you reach the Mirador del Torre.  

Like on the Fitz Roy trail, there is a sign that details the beautiful view before you.

KM 3: Primarily downhill until you reach the flat open valley.

Kilometers 4 – 6: Flat, but rocky with views

KM 4:  Very flat, but riddled with rocks and pebbles and has zero shade.

The views of Cerro Torre are absolutely beautiful, but you can’t enjoy them too much as you must look at where you are walking so you don’t roll your ankle.  

If you’re going to look, make sure you plan out a few steps ahead of you so you don’t eat a rock for a mid-morning snack!

KM 5:  Still flat and runs along the side of the mountain.

With less rocks in your path, you are able to really take in the scenery and views of Cerro Torre.

The path will split after KM 5, so make sure you follow the signs for Camp. de Agostini and Laguna Torre.

This is where you can head towards Fitz Roy if you are doing the full circuit. 

KM 6: In the dense forest. Large trees loom overhead that brings a nice change of scenery and a much needed break from the sun.  The path splits here again to go to another campsite.

Follow the Laguna Torres arrows. 

Kilometers 7 – 9: Mostly Shaded with Varied Views of Cerro Torre  

KM 7: The forest-portion of the hike ends and opens to a field of rocks and pebbles again and runs along the river.

KM 8: Back into a forest for a few minutes before turning into a field with rocks. The last little bit of this hike is uphill when you come to another fork in the path.  

Going left will take you to a “toilet” and camping. Going right will take you to the lake.

KM 9:  The last kilometer is nowhere near as steep or strenuous as Mount Fitz Roy, but there is no shade and the path is thick with pebbles. Once you walk up a hill, you come over the top to see…..

Laguna Torre: The Destination 

The trail ends at Laguna Torre, a stunning lake surrounded by jagged peaks, including Cerro Torre itself towering over 10,000 feet high. On a clear day, you’ll also see floating chunks of ice that have broken off from the Glaciar Grande, drifting peacefully across the surface.

We found a spot along the shoreline to eat our packed lunches (grab one from a local bakery in town before heading out) and just soak it all in. The reflections on the water are mesmerizing.

If you still have energy, continue along the left side of the lake to the Mirador Maestri viewpoint. It adds about 2 km round trip and offers a higher vantage point to see both the glacier and Cerro Torre.

We didn’t do this and we regret it. You are already there, please push yourself to do it.

To see a virtual tour of the hike, which is the coolest thing I’ve seen, click here. Click on “Virtual Tour” and press “Start Virtual Tour”. You can see what the entire path looks like!

Tips for Hiking Cerro Torre (Things We Wish We Knew)

The Cerro Torre hike to Laguna Torre is a mild and relatively flat hike to see the iconic mountains.

We were very very lucky again on this hike as we were able to see the 3 fingers the entire time without clouds.  Above is the picture from the walk back with the cloud blocking the mountains. 

• Start early. The morning light is unreal, and the wind gets stronger as the day goes on. The first lookout point is only 25 minutes from town and the morning light would have been gorgeous!
• Bring layers. Patagonia’s weather changes every hour – sunshine one minute, sleet the next.
• Toilets on trail: There are two basic facilities (with no toilet paper), one near the beginning and another by Camp De Agostini.
• Bring snacks or a boxed lunch. You’ll want something hearty when you reach the lake.
• Trekking poles are optional. The terrain is moderate and mostly flat, but they help if your knees get tired on descents.
• Don’t skip the Mirador Maestri viewpoint. It’s a short detour and offers one of the best panoramic shots of the glacier.

FAQ About the Cerro Torre Hike

How long does it take to hike Cerro Torre?
The full Cerro Torre hike takes about 6-8 hours round trip, depending on your pace and weather conditions. Most of the elevation gain happens in the first 2 km, then it levels out for an easy walk to Laguna Torre.

Is the Cerro Torre hike harder than Fitz Roy?
Not even close! Fitz Roy is steeper and more demanding, especially in the final climb to Laguna de los Tres. Cerro Torre is far more forgiving, with long, flat sections and incredible views that don’t require a summit push.

Can you hike Cerro Torre without a guide?
Yes – the trail to Laguna Torre is well-marked and doesn’t require a guide. If you prefer a guided experience or want to combine multiple trails, there are excellent El Chaltén trekking tours on Viator that include both Fitz Roy and Cerro Torre with gear and meals included.

Hiking in Patagonia isn’t for everyone – the long distances, unpredictable weather, and physical challenge rule out a lot of travelers – but this trail strikes the perfect balance. It’s tough enough to feel earned, but not so demanding that it ruins your next day.

We’d hiked Fitz Roy and Laguna de los Tres the day before, and tackling Cerro Torre afterward was the right call. It kept our bodies moving and helped us recover faster (plus, the views were the perfect motivation).

If you’re planning both hikes, we definitely recommend saving Cerro Torre for your second day – it’s the best “active recovery” hike you’ll ever do.

And when you finish, grab a celebratory beer at one of our favorite El Chaltén breweries – you’ve earned it.

If you’re planning your Patagonia adventure, here are more Argentina guides to help you plan your trip:

• The Complete Guide to El Chaltén Argentina – Patagonia Basecamp
• Guide to El Chalten Breweries
• What to Pack for day hiking in Patagonia
• The Complete Hiking Guide for Monte Fitz Roy Trek from El Chalten, Argentina