Argentina

From El Calafate, the town of El Chalten is about 2 1/2 - 3 hours away. The entire drive is incredibly scenic as you will have views of Lake Argentina Viedma to start with, and as you get closer to the town, Fitz Roy and Cerro Torre get closer with each passing kilometer. There is also one place to ...

Mount Fitz Roy is one of the most iconic mountains in the world and is still relatively undeveloped, allowing visitors to experience the landscape without the massive hoards of people. The best place to start the trek is in the town of El Chalten. I would recommend coming to the town with plenty of ...

From the town of El Calafate in Argentina, the glacier is less than two hours away down route 15. There are easy signs the entire way. You will then reach the park entrance, where you will pay roughly $20SUSD/per person for entrance. About 20 minutes from the park entrance, you will reach the parkin...

Piedra Parada is an enormous rock feature standing alone in the desert of the Chubut Region of Argentina. Marking the entrance to a long, winding canyon, Piedra Parada has endless possibilities for rock climbing. Because Piedra Parada is located hours from any town, there is no internet or cell phon...

With sweeping vistas of Lake Nahuel Huapi, Lake Perito Moreno, Llao Llao peninsula and the surrounding mountains, this short hike is a must-do for anyone visiting San Carlos de Bariloche. A quick hike (about 30 minutes) takes you to the summit of Cerro Campanario, at 3,442 feet. The trail is well-de...

This short but dense with adventure loop begins at Refugio Cajón del Azul in the mountains of El Bolsón in Rio Negro, Patagonia, Argentina. Turning right out of the refuge's wooden gate, follow the path toward Refugio Retamal until you reach a small creek covered by a discreet wooden bridge. Follow ...

There are admittedly more dramatic hikes to more impressive locations in the El Chalten area, but most of them require a fairly significant time commitment and some stamina. At only 4 miles roundtrip with little elevation change, this adventure can be done in a couple of hours if necessary and you w...

This steep, but not so long hike begins at Refugio Hielo Azul. The view of the lake at the base of the glacier is hidden from the refuge but the path to it is clearly seen. Be sure to register your name with whoever is working in the refuge before you begin to hike. The staff can also provide extra ...

At 1,500 masl a patch of forest sits seemingly dead above the city of El Bolsón in the Patagonia region of Argentina. A 1 kilometer steep climb starting from "la plataforma" flattens out and transforms into a forest of hidden faces, wooden cats, and gnomes. A short, easy path, allowing incredible vi...

The parking area is about 1 mile from the Laguna de los Tres trailhead to Fitzroy. Follow the dirt road to the right. If you have a car, you can drive all the way to the Chorillo del Salto trailhead where there is a good parking lot. The initial half mile is a flat well maintained trail to the base ...

This is one of the more popular hikes in El Chalten. There are two trailheads with the main one being on the west side of town at the end of Avenida Charito. There is plenty of parking along the road. The trail ascends quickly from the road and once cresting the hill there are great views of the cou...

Bariloche is a beautiful town loaded with European architecture, chocolate, and beer. But no trip to Bariloche would be complete without some time cycling through the mountains and around the lakes. The Circuito Chico bike ride begins at km 18.3 of the main road in Bariloche. You can take the bus fr...

The Climb With Mendoza sitting amidst an array of South America’s finest vineyards, it is not uncommon for the more intrepid traveller to seek out an arduous activity to warrant one or two extra Malbecs at the end of the day. Enter Cerro Arco – a 1640m (5,380ft) peak sitting just at the city’s edge,...

Laguna Esmeralda is one of the easier lagunas to hike to if you have a car because the trail head and parking are right on Route 3 just outside Ushuaia. Fortunately we had a car. Without the car you have to rely on hitchhiking or taxi. From the trail head, you descend into a Lenga Forest. The trail ...

From the parking area, pass through a gate and hike up the trail which is lined with fields of Buttercup flowers. This lasts for about 0.5 miles when you gradually enter the forest. At this point, the trail gets incredibly muddy. Some attempts at trail maintenance are apparent with logs placed acros...

The trailhead to Piedra Del Fraile is on the right side of Ruta 23 just before the road crosses Rio Electrico. There is signage a few yards into the trail that initially is easy to find. There is a short section where the trail is difficult to find but it is marked with small cairns. After about one...