Important: This hike takes place in an area of Los Glaciares National Park that is considered a “Remote Area“, so it is essential to have some mountain experience to do it. The trails are not signposted as in the case of the treks that are part of the backbone network (Laguna de los Tres, Laguna Torre, etc.), nor is there medical assistance nearby or campsites with amenities.

Use the described information only as a reference, and before starting it is recommended to go to the “Cerferino Fonzo” Visitor Center to obtain updated information about the route and the necessary equipment.

Registration of Mountain Use in Remote Areas – Los Glaciares National Park:

• Private visitors: click here.
• Independent guides or service providers: click here.
  
  

Day 1: El Chaltén – Camp. Toro

Total distance: 17 km / 10.5 mi.
Walking time: 6 hs approx.
Elevation gain: 250 mts.
Overnight stay: Toro Camp.

Leaving from the town, we take the path towards Toro Lake. All along the way there are beautiful views of Lake Viedma and you cross some streams (which may have small log bridges to cross them), always in the direction of the Rio Túnel Valley.
Without many difficulties, you reach the first camp.

Day 2: Camp. Toro – Refugio Paso del viento

Total distance: 14 km / 8.6 mi.
Walking time: 8 – 9 hs approx.
Difference in altitude: 900 mts.
Overnight stay: Camp / Refugio Paso del viento.

Intense and long day.
Leaving the camp on the right side, the ascent begins and we cross the Túnel River using the zipline that is installed. Then we continue the march in the direction of the glacier Túnel Inferior.
Important: Area with a lot of landslides and possibly without a visible trail. It is recommended to leave the carriage that borders the glacier and continue advancing along the glacier without getting too deep (it is not necessary to use crampons). Descend from the glacier and follow the monoliths upstream.

Once upstream, on the left bank you can see a bivouac and the path that begins to ascend towards Paso del Viento.
From this point you have a spectacular view of the Patagonian ice field.

The descent is done following the path to the left until you arrive at the Paso del Viento Refuge.

Day 3: Refugio Paso del Viento – Camp. Bahía de los Témpanos

Total distance: 17 km / 4.3 mi.
Walking time: 6 – 7 hs approx.
Difference in altitude: 150 mts.
Overnight stay: Bahía Tunel Camp.

Another intense day, although less long than the previous one.

After leaving the camp, we continue southwards always with the Viedma Lake on the right and start the ascent to the Huemul Pass, from this point we can appreciate the immensity of the ice field.

Important: The descent to Bahía de los Témpanos is very steep, caution is recommended to avoid accidents.

Finally you arrive at Bahía de los Témpanos from where you can see the beginning of the Viedma Glacier.

Day 4: Camp. Bahía de los Témpanos – El Chaltén

Total distance: 18 km / 11.1 mi (up to B. Túnel) / 24 km / 14.9 mi (up to El Chaltén)
Walking time: 6 hs (to B. Túnel) / 8 hs (to El Chaltén) approx.
Unevenness: 50 mts.
Overnight stay: El Chaltén.

Last day of the trek. It is mostly through a steppe with lots of vegetation and after 4/5 hours we cross the Túnel River again with the zip line. Finally 2 hours later we arrive at the Estancia Río Túnel.

From here there are several alternatives to get to the town and it depends mainly on the time of the year:

• Wait for a tourist / public bus returning from the excursion to the Viedma Glacier.
• To have previously coordinated with a cab.
• Start walking towards the town (Estimated time 2 hours walk without slope).

Total distance: 70 km / 43.5 mi (complete circuit).

Total estimated time: 4 days and 3 nights.

See: Equipment for long trekking or hiking

See: What to pack for hiking in Patagonia?

For the crossing of the zip lines it is necessary to have:

• 1 Harness (per group).
• 1 steel carabiner with safety catch.
• 1 duraluminum carabiner with safety device.
• 1 Daisy Chain.
• 35 meters of 3 or 4 mm rope (to recover the pulley).

In addition, it is necessary to have:

• VHF radio with the following frequencies loaded:
  • RX 150.395
  • RX 150.395 // TX 155.135 (RPT El Chaltén)
• GPS or App that allows you to follow a track without Internet (We recommend Wikiloc).
• Topographic map and compass (it is recommended to keep the map inside a bag to prevent it from getting wet).

It goes without saying that it is necessary to have knowledge and experience in the use of these materials. It is recommended not to improvise on the fly to avoid accidents.

About the crossing:

• Do the trip in a group (minimum 2 members) and if you do not have experience, it is recommended to hire a qualified guide.
• Keep in mind that the cold discharges the batteries faster (that is why a map and compass are recommended).
• Check the weather conditions and look for a window of good weather (or at least that there are no strong gusts of wind), especially on days 2 and 3, which are the days of greatest exposure.
• For the glacier crossing: The glacier is alive and therefore changes. Use common sense to get on and off, do not be 100% guided by the track or trails. Also be careful with the crevasses that exist.
• For crossing the zip lines: consider carrying an extra carabiner in order to be able to link the backpack directly to the cables and be able to “drag” it.
  Extra tip: To better distribute the weight, try to attach the backpack from the shoulder straps.

About the environment:

• Garbage should go back to the village. If they were able to bring kilos of food, they can easily return with the wrappers or shells that weigh only a couple of grams.
• Fecal matter should be buried, toilet paper is placed in a bag and should also be returned to the village.
• To wash your face or teeth: Use a container to draw water and move at least 50 steps away from the stream or river. Avoid contaminating the water or using chemicals and soaps. The hot shower can wait until you return to the village.
• As in any national park, fires are prohibited. To cook, use the heater and do so only in designated areas.

Before starting any trail, it is recommended to check the weather conditions. Additionally (and depending on the time of year and the type of the hike), it is recommended to check the time of sunrise and sunset.

We recommend the use of the following Apps (or their corresponding desktop version):

• WINDY.COM: Very useful to corroborate wind speed and gusts.
• YR.NO: With this app we will be able to check the temperature and precipitation.

For more info about the weather and alternative Apps: click here.