Best Hikes in Argentina

Why Argentina is a Hiker’s Paradise

A Land of Extreme Landscapes

To hike in Argentina is to journey through a continent’s worth of ecosystems within a single country. The sheer scale and variety of its natural environments are staggering. In the far south, the Patagonian Andes present a world of dramatic granite spires, colossal glaciers, and turquoise lakes. Travel north, and the landscape transforms completely into the high-altitude plateaus of the Andean Northwest, where deserts unfold in a palette of deep reds, ochres, and purples. Between these extremes lie temperate rainforests, vast wetlands, and rolling sierras, offering an almost limitless canvas for exploration on foot.

A Culture of Adventure

This profound connection to the mountains has fostered a deeply ingrained culture of adventure. In regions like Bariloche and El Chaltén, a network of refugios, or mountain huts, provides shelter and camaraderie for trekkers on multi-day journeys. This established infrastructure makes the wilderness remarkably accessible. Whether you seek a gentle hour-long walk to a viewpoint or a demanding, multi-day traverse that tests the limits of endurance, Argentina’s trails offer a suitable challenge. It is a country that welcomes both the seasoned mountaineer and the casual walker with equal enthusiasm.

Patagonia: Trekking at the End of the World

For many, Patagonia is not just a destination but a near-mythical realm of raw, untamed wilderness. This is where the Andes crumble into a dramatic landscape of granite spires, colossal glaciers, and windswept plains. Hiking here is an immersive experience, a journey through a land that feels both ancient and alive, at the very edge of the continent. For practical information on visiting this region, check out our guide to visiting Argentinian Patagonia and Tierra del Fuego.

El Chaltén: The National Capital of Trekking

Nestled at the foot of the iconic Fitz Roy massif, El Chaltén has rightfully earned its title as Argentina’s trekking capital. Its greatest advantage is its unparalleled convenience; world-class trails don’t require cars or buses, they begin right at the edge of the small, purpose-built town. You can finish breakfast, walk to a trailhead, and spend the day in a spectacular wilderness before returning to town for a well-earned dinner.

Laguna de los Tres (Fitz Roy Trek)

This is the quintessential El Chaltén day hike, leading to the legendary viewpoint of Mount Fitz Roy. The trail meanders through beautiful valleys and native lenga forest before presenting its final test: a steep, one-hour ascent up a rocky moraine. The effort is immediately forgotten upon reaching the crest, where the breathtaking panorama of the jagged peak and the turquoise water of Laguna de los Tres unfolds before you. For more on this iconic trek, see our Essential Fitz Roy Trek Guide.

• Difficulty: Strenuous
• Duration: 8-10 hours round trip
• Highlights: The iconic, postcard view of Mount Fitz Roy over a turquoise glacial lake. The final steep ascent is challenging but immensely rewarding.

Laguna Torre (Cerro Torre Trek)

A wonderful alternative or addition to the Fitz Roy trek, this trail leads to the base of the dramatic, needle-like Cerro Torre. The path is generally flatter and less demanding than the trail to Laguna de los Tres, making for a more relaxed day on your feet. The destination is a glacier-fed lake, often dotted with small icebergs, which provides a stunning foreground for the often cloud-shrouded peak.

• Difficulty: Moderate
• Duration: 6-8 hours round trip
• Highlights: A gentler trail leading to stunning views of the needle-like Cerro Torre peak and its glacier-fed lake. Often less crowded than the Fitz Roy trek.

Shorter Hikes and Viewpoints

For days when your legs need a rest or your time is limited, El Chaltén offers several rewarding short hikes. The Mirador de los Cóndores & Las Águilas are excellent, easily accessible viewpoints above the town, offering panoramic perspectives of the entire Fitz Roy range and the vast steppe. For a simple nature walk, the path to Chorrillo del Salto leads you through a quiet forest to a lovely waterfall, perfect for a leisurely afternoon.

El Calafate: Gateway to Glaciers

While El Chaltén is the hub for mountain hiking, El Calafate is the primary base for experiencing one of nature’s most spectacular phenomena: the Patagonian ice fields. The main attraction here is the magnificent Perito Moreno Glacier, a living river of ice that constantly advances, groans, and sheds enormous icebergs into Lago Argentino.

Perito Moreno Glacier Trekking

To truly comprehend the scale and power of a glacier, there is no substitute for walking on one. This unique experience requires joining a guided tour, where you’ll be fitted with crampons and led by experts across the ancient ice. You can choose from different excursions, such as the popular “Mini-Trekking” or the more extensive “Big Ice” tour, both of which offer a fascinating perspective on the glacier’s deep blue crevasses and surreal ice formations.

• Difficulty: Moderate
• Duration: Varies (Half-day to full-day tours)
• Highlights: The unique experience of strapping on crampons and walking directly on the ancient ice of the Perito Moreno Glacier.

Pasarelas (The Balconies)

For an equally impressive but less physically demanding experience, the park features an extensive network of boardwalks and viewing platforms. These “pasarelas” are brilliantly designed to offer different perspectives of the glacier’s massive, 70-meter-high face. You can spend hours strolling the circuits, listening to the thunderous crack of the ice and watching mesmerized as multi-story chunks calve into the lake below.

• Difficulty: Easy
• Duration: 1-3 hours
• Highlights: An extensive network of accessible boardwalks providing spectacular, safe vantage points of the glacier’s calving face.

Ushuaia and Tierra del Fuego National Park

Hiking in Ushuaia, the world’s southernmost city, offers a different kind of Patagonian experience. Here, the Andes meet the sea, creating a unique landscape of coastal trails, dense subpolar forests, and mountains that plunge directly into the historic Beagle Channel. For a comprehensive guide to this city, check out our Ushuaia: The Ultimate Travel Guide.

Laguna Esmeralda

This is one of Ushuaia’s most popular day hikes, and for good reason. The trail takes you through a classic Fuegian landscape of lenga forest and across marshy peat bogs before revealing the prize: a small lake of an almost impossibly vibrant emerald-green color, fed by the hanging Albino Glacier. Be prepared for muddy conditions, as the peat bogs rarely dry out completely.

• Difficulty: Moderate
• Duration: 4-5 hours round trip
• Highlights: A trail through forest and peat bogs leading to a stunningly green lake nestled below the Albino Glacier.

Senda Costera (Coastal Path)

Winding through Tierra del Fuego National Park, the Coastal Path offers a magnificent way to experience the region’s unique intersection of land and sea. This trail hugs the shoreline of the Beagle Channel, dipping in and out of native forest and offering constant views of the water and the mountains on the Chilean side. It’s a relatively gentle walk that fully immerses you in the atmosphere of the “end of the world.”

• Difficulty: Easy to Moderate
• Duration: 3-4 hours one way
• Highlights: A beautiful trail winding along the shore of the Beagle Channel within the national park, offering views of the sea, mountains, and native forests.

Bariloche and the Lake District: Alpine Charm

Often called the “Switzerland of South America,” the region around San Carlos de Bariloche presents a different side of Patagonia. Here, jagged peaks rise above deep blue lakes, and dense forests of native lenga and coihue trees create a landscape of profound, alpine beauty. The hiking is varied, with an established network of trails and mountain huts catering to all levels of adventurers. For more on the region, check out our visitor practical information for Argentinian Patagonia.

Refugio Frey and Cerro Catedral

The hike to Refugio Frey is a quintessential Bariloche experience, offering a perfect introduction to the region’s granite mountainscapes. The most common trail begins at the base of the Cerro Catedral ski resort, leading you on a steady ascent through a beautiful forest alongside the Van Titter stream. The final section is a steeper climb over rocky terrain, which opens up to the stunning destination: a rustic stone hut beside Laguna Toncek, a pristine alpine lake enclosed in a cirque of dramatic granite spires that are a playground for rock climbers. While it can be done in a day, staying overnight at the refugio allows for a truly memorable experience under the stars.

• Difficulty: Moderate to Strenuous
• Duration: 6-8 hours round trip (or overnight)
• Highlights: A classic Patagonian hut hike. The trail ends at a mountain lake surrounded by dramatic granite spires, popular with rock climbers.

Cerro Llao Llao

For one of the most rewarding views for a minimal amount of effort, the trail up Cerro Llao Llao is unbeatable. Located within the Llao Llao Municipal Park, this short hike winds gently through a magnificent old-growth forest before a final, brief but steep, push to the summit. The payoff is an extraordinary panoramic vista over the branching arms of Lake Nahuel Huapi, the famous Llao Llao Hotel, and the snow-capped Andes in the distance. It is an ideal choice for a half-day outing or for those wanting a taste of the region’s beauty without a strenuous commitment.

• Difficulty: Easy
• Duration: 2-3 hours round trip
• Highlights: An accessible and highly rewarding short hike with some of the best panoramic views of Lake Nahuel Huapi and the surrounding peaks.

The Nahuel Huapi Traverse

This is a trek for serious, well-prepared hikers seeking a true backcountry challenge. The Nahuel Huapi Traverse is one of Patagonia’s classic multi-day routes, a demanding hut-to-hut journey that links several remote mountain refugios like Frey and Jakob. This is not a maintained trail in the traditional sense; it involves navigating across high mountain passes, loose scree fields, and exposed ridges. It requires excellent physical condition, confidence in route-finding, and complete self-sufficiency between huts. For those with the requisite experience, it offers unparalleled solitude and a profound connection to the wild heart of the Andes. A good trekking gear checklist is essential for this journey.

• Difficulty: Strenuous
• Duration: 4-5 days
• Highlights: A challenging multi-day, hut-to-hut trek for experienced hikers, connecting several mountain refugios in the region.

The Andean Northwest: Colorful Mountains and High Deserts

A world away from the ice fields of Patagonia, Argentina’s Northwest offers a completely different, yet equally breathtaking, hiking experience. This is a land of high-altitude deserts, deep canyons, and a vibrant indigenous culture. Here, the mountains are not draped in green but painted in an impossible palette of reds, ochres, and purples, shaped by millennia of geological activity. Discover more about this unique region in our guide to the Northwest Argentina.

Quebrada de Humahuaca (Jujuy)

A UNESCO World Heritage site, the Quebrada de Humahuaca is a narrow mountain valley that has served as a crucial trade and cultural route for 10,000 years. Its dramatic landscapes are a primary draw, offering accessible walks that immerse you in a world of color.

Paseo de los Colorados (Purmamarca)

While most visitors admire Purmamarca’s famous Hill of Seven Colors from the town, this gentle walking path offers a far more intimate encounter. The loop trail takes you behind the iconic hill, surrounding you with surreal, undulating formations of intensely colored clay. It’s a short, rewarding walk that reveals the landscape’s texture and scale in a way that a simple viewpoint cannot.

• Difficulty: Easy
• Duration: 1 hour loop
• Highlights: Being completely enveloped by the vibrant, multi-hued rock formations that make this region famous.

Serranía de Hornocal (The 14-Color Mountain

The journey to Hornocal is an adventure in itself, climbing a winding road to a high-altitude viewpoint. The “hike” is merely a short walk from the car park, but the reward is one of the most staggering geological sights in South America: a massive limestone formation with a distinct chevron pattern of at least 14 colors. The primary challenge here is not the physical exertion but the altitude, which sits above 4,350 meters (14,270 feet). Take your time, walk slowly, and let the panoramic view unfold before you.

• Difficulty: Easy (walk at viewpoint)
• Duration: 15-30 minutes at viewpoint
• Highlights: The jaw-dropping, panoramic view of the massive, multi-colored mountain range.

Calchaquí Valleys (Salta)

Stretching through the province of Salta, the Calchaquí Valleys are renowned for their otherworldly rock formations, high-altitude vineyards, and charming colonial towns. The hiking here is less about summiting peaks and more about exploring the unique canyons and landscapes carved by wind and water.

Quebrada de las Conchas

This is not a single, continuous trail but rather a collection of natural wonders located along the scenic drive between Salta and Cafayate. The route is dotted with marked pull-offs where you can take short walks to explore incredible geological features. Highlights include the Amphitheater (El Anfiteatro), a natural acoustic chamber carved into the rock, and the Devil’s Throat (Garganta del Diablo), a narrow, fractured canyon you can walk into. It’s a perfect way to experience the landscape at your own pace.

• Difficulty: Easy
• Duration: Varies (short walks from the road)
• Highlights: Exploring a series of unique, monumental rock formations sculpted by natural forces.

Parque Nacional Los Cardones

This national park protects a vast expanse of high-altitude desert dominated by the majestic cardón grande cactus. Hiking here feels like stepping onto another planet. Well-marked trails lead you through a silent “forest” of these towering cacti, some of which are centuries old. Against the backdrop of the arid, pre-Andean mountains, it’s a serene and unforgettable experience that captures the stark beauty of the region.

• Difficulty: Easy to Moderate
• Duration: 1-3 hours
• Highlights: Walking among thousands of giant cardón cacti in a vast, silent, and dramatic desert landscape.

Central Argentina: High Peaks and Alpine Villages

Beyond the dramatic landscapes of the far south and north, Central Argentina presents its own distinct hiking allure. Here, the formidable Andes reach their highest point near Mendoza, offering a taste of high-altitude trekking, while the ancient Sierras of Córdoba provide a gentler, greener, and culturally rich mountain experience.

Aconcagua Provincial Park (Mendoza)

Home to the highest peak outside of Asia, Aconcagua stands at a staggering 6,961 meters (22,838 feet). While summiting is a world-class mountaineering objective, the provincial park provides accessible day hikes that allow visitors to stand in the shadow of this giant and appreciate the raw scale of the High Andes.

Laguna de Horcones Trail

This short, accessible loop is the perfect introduction to the park’s grandeur. The trail winds through the arid alpine valley, offering spectacular and ever-improving views of Aconcagua’s formidable south face. It’s a hike that delivers a profound sense of scale and power with minimal effort, culminating in a viewpoint over a small glacial lake.

• Difficulty: Easy
• Duration: 1-2 hours
• Highlights: An accessible loop trail offering the first stunning views of the south face of Aconcagua, the highest peak in the Americas.

Confluencia Base Camp Trek

For a more demanding day, the trek to Confluencia offers a genuine taste of a high-altitude expedition. Following the initial part of the normal climbing route, this hike takes you to the first base camp used by mountaineers. The primary challenge is not the terrain but the altitude, which makes for a strenuous but incredibly rewarding day in a truly immense landscape.

• Difficulty: Strenuous (due to altitude)
• Duration: 6-8 hours round trip
• Highlights: A challenging day hike that follows the expedition route to the first base camp, providing a taste of high-altitude trekking.

Sierras de Córdoba

The mountains of Córdoba are older, lower, and lusher than the Andes. This region is characterized by rolling hills, grassy peaks, and charming central-European-style villages. The hiking here is less about raw wilderness and more about pleasant trails, panoramic views, and unique local culture.

Cerro Uritorco

The highest peak in the Sierras Chicas range, the ascent of Cerro Uritorco is a regional classic. It’s a steady, persistent climb on a well-defined path to the summit. The reward is a 360-degree view over the Punilla Valley and its lakes. The peak is also famous in local folklore, surrounded by myths of mysterious energy fields and frequent UFO sightings, adding a unique cultural layer to the trek.

• Difficulty: Moderate to Strenuous
• Duration: 5-7 hours round trip
• Highlights: A steady climb to the region’s highest peak, famous for its panoramic views and UFO-related myths and legends.

La Cumbrecita Trails

Nestled in the Calamuchita Valley, La Cumbrecita is a pedestrian-only alpine village that serves as a hub for a variety of beautiful, well-marked trails. Hikes from the village center lead through pine forests to hidden waterfalls, across bubbling streams, and up to gentle viewpoints. It’s an ideal destination for those seeking relaxed, scenic walks in a tranquil environment.

• Difficulty: Easy to Moderate
• Duration: Varies (1-4 hours)
• Highlights: A network of well-marked trails starting from a pedestrian-only alpine village, leading to waterfalls, streams, and forests.

Essential Planning for Your Argentina Hiking Trip

A successful hiking adventure in Argentina relies on thoughtful preparation. The country’s immense scale and diverse climates mean that what works for one region is unsuitable for another. Understanding the nuances of timing, gear, and safety will ensure your focus remains on the incredible landscapes ahead.

Best Time of Year to Hike

Timing your visit is crucial for experiencing the best trail conditions and weather. Argentina’s seasons are the reverse of the Northern Hemisphere, and the ideal hiking window varies significantly from south to north.

• Patagonia (South): The prime hiking season is during the austral summer, from December to February. This period offers the longest daylight hours and the most stable weather. The shoulder seasons of November and March-April can be beautiful, with fewer crowds and stunning autumn colors, but be prepared for more unpredictable and colder conditions.
• Northwest (Salta/Jujuy): This high-altitude desert region is best visited during the dry winter season, from April to November. You can expect clear blue skies and pleasant daytime temperatures, though nights will be cold. The summer months (December to March) are prone to heavy rains, which can cause road closures and washed-out trails.
• Central (Mendoza/Córdoba): To avoid the intense heat of mid-summer, plan your hikes for the spring (September to November) or autumn (March to May). These seasons provide moderate temperatures perfect for trekking in the foothills of the Andes or the Sierras.

What to Pack

Packing for Argentina requires a focus on versatility, especially if you plan to visit multiple regions. The key is to prepare for four seasons in a single day, a common occurrence in places like Patagonia.

• Layering System: This is the most important concept for staying comfortable. Pack a moisture-wicking base layer (merino wool or synthetic), an insulating mid-layer (like a fleece or light down jacket), and a high-quality waterproof and windproof outer shell. This allows you to adapt quickly to changing temperatures and sudden storms.
• Footwear: A pair of well-worn, waterproof hiking boots with sturdy ankle support is essential. Do not make the mistake of breaking in new boots on the trail. Comfortable socks (preferably wool) are equally important to prevent blisters.
• Sun and Wind Protection: The sun is incredibly strong at high altitudes and in the southern latitudes. High-SPF sunscreen, a wide-brimmed hat, quality sunglasses, and protective lip balm are non-negotiable. The relentless Patagonian wind can also cause windburn, so a buff or neck gaiter is highly recommended.
• Navigation: Do not rely on cell service, which is often non-existent on the trails. Before you leave, download offline maps of the regions you’ll be hiking on an app like AllTrails or Maps.me. A portable power bank is crucial to keep your phone charged for navigation and emergencies.

Safety and Etiquette

Trekking responsibly ensures not only your own safety but also the preservation of these pristine natural environments for future generations.

• Altitude Acclimatization: When hiking in the Northwest or near Aconcagua, give your body time to adjust. Plan to spend at least one or two days at your destination’s altitude before attempting any strenuous treks. Stay hydrated and listen to your body to mitigate the effects of altitude sickness.
• The Patagonian Wind: Do not underestimate the wind. It can appear suddenly with formidable force, making walking difficult and dangerous. Always check the forecast before setting out and be prepared to turn back or change your plans if conditions deteriorate.
• Leave No Trace: Adhere to the fundamental principles of outdoor ethics. Pack out everything you pack in, including food scraps. Stay on marked trails to prevent erosion and protect fragile vegetation. Observe wildlife from a respectful distance and never feed the animals.
• Hiring Guides: For technical or specialized treks, such as walking on the Perito Moreno Glacier or attempting parts of the Aconcagua route, hiring a certified local guide is often mandatory and always a wise decision. They provide essential safety equipment, expert navigation, and invaluable local knowledge.