Coming to El Chalten for a few days of hiking? Lucky you.

If you’re fortunate to be here right now, you’re perhaps not aware of just how lucky you are.

A classic ‘brecha’ or weather window has opened up in all of Patagonia this week. It’s been a long time coming….. Alpinists from around the country have been watching the forecast for months. The smart ones saw this coming and have made the run down south. Brechas don’t come very often, maybe two or three times a season.

At last, La Cerveceria in El Chalten is empty!
So now that you’re here, unless you have alpine dreams and mountaineering experience (or unless you’ve got a guide….) you want to do some hiking. This is hiking heaven.

The two classic day hikes from El Chalten both take you to small alpine lakes nestled beneath stunning granite spires.

Laguna Torre is right there below the Torre Glacier and the legendary skinny Cerro with the same name. Head up the FitzRoy River through a thick beech forest to the D’Agostini campground. Climb over the moraine to this milky-blue lake. If you’ve got time, scramble around the north shore of Laguna Torre to Mirador Maestri.

Those wanting to do up Laguna Torre to the maximum ought to sign up for the Torre Glacier trek. You’ll zip across the glacial river on a tyrolesa or Tyrolean traverse, then strap on crampons and go deep into the ice. This must be done with a guide and you’ll have to get up at 5am to make a day out of it.

Reward yourself with dinner at Fuegia in town, maybe some chocolate at La Chocolateria, and get a good night’s sleep.
The next day, cruise on past tranquilo Laguna Capri (save it for a late afternoon tea break), through a beautiful woodland, past Poincenot and up the steep hill to Laguna de los Tres. You’ll get incredibly close to FitzRoy and the Los Tres Glacier. This is probably the most famous hike in southern Patagonia.If you’ve got the time and energy, head around Los Tres and up the outfall to catch a glimpse of Laguna Sucia.

Happy trails! And count yourself lucky - this season alone I’d say 75 per cent of the folks who’ve traveled these beautiful trails haven’t seen a single summit.