Top Hiking Trails in Santa Cruz Trail Map
Santa Cruz covers 243,943 km² of southern Patagonia, from the Atlantic coast to the Andes on the Chilean border. Los Glaciares National Park (7,269 km², created in 1937) holds both of its hiking areas: the north zone around El Chaltén, where the park map gives Fitz Roy 3,405 m, Cerro Torre 3,102 m and Poincenot 3,002 m, and the south zone near El Calafate with the Perito Moreno Glacier. El Chaltén sits at about 400 m, 213 km by road from El Calafate. The Laguna de los Tres lake lies at about 1,170 m and Laguna Torre at about 630 m.
Explore the Best Trails in Santa Cruz
Santa Cruz hiking trails in Argentine Patagonia start in El Chaltén, in the north zone of Los Glaciares National Park: Laguna de los Tres below Fitz Roy (10 km each way, about 750 m of climbing) and Laguna Torre below Cerro Torre (10 km each way, about 250 m). Park access costs ARS 50,000 a day at general rates from 1 June 2026, paid online or by QR with a card. Checked 8 October 2026. Country hub: https://incatrailreservations.com/trails/argentina/
Geographic Overview
Santa Cruz covers 243,943 km² of southern Patagonia, from the Atlantic coast to the Andes on the Chilean border. Los Glaciares National Park (7,269 km², created in 1937) holds both of its hiking areas: the north zone around El Chaltén, where the park map gives Fitz Roy 3,405 m, Cerro Torre 3,102 m and Poincenot 3,002 m, and the south zone near El Calafate with the Perito Moreno Glacier. El Chaltén sits at about 400 m, 213 km by road from El Calafate. The Laguna de los Tres lake lies at about 1,170 m and Laguna Torre at about 630 m.
Cultural Context
El Chaltén was founded on 12 October 1985 by provincial decree, to settle the Andean zone near areas then disputed with Chile, and had 1,865 residents in the 2022 census. Los Glaciares National Park was created in 1937 and inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1981. The national parks service charges an access ticket in the north zone during the main season.
Best Time to Visit
October to April. From May to September the park makes poles and crampons mandatory.
Laguna de los Tres Trail: Fitz Roy Hike Distance, Elevation & Rules
The Fitz Roy hike from El Chaltén: 10 km each way and 750 m of gain to Laguna de los…
Laguna Torre Trail: Cerro Torre Hike Distance, Elevation & Camping
Laguna Torre from El Chaltén: 10 km each way, 250 m of gain, the Mirador Maestri extension, De Agostini campsite…
Frequently Asked Questions about Top Hiking Trails in Santa Cruz
No. No official rule requires a guide on the marked day trails to Laguna de los Tres, Laguna Torre or Laguna Capri. Registration is needed only for climbing and remote treks such as Laguna Toro.
No. Los Glaciares charges an access ticket in the El Chaltén zone: ARS 50,000 for one day, ARS 100,000 for 3 days or ARS 175,500 for 7 days at general rates from 1 June 2026. Pay online or by QR, card only.
10 km each way from the trailhead, so about 20 km round trip. The park gives 5 hours one way and 750 m of climbing, much of it in the last kilometre.
Laguna de los Tres. Both are 10 km each way, but Laguna Torre climbs about 250 m against about 750 m, with no steep final section.
Only at the authorised campsites: Capri, Poincenot and De Agostini. All three must be booked and paid in advance.
October to April. From May to September the park requires poles and crampons and prohibits walking on frozen lagoons.