Argentina's best hiking destinations

Argentina's best hiking destinations

We explore the best hiking destinations of Argentina, from the highest snow -covered summit of South America to the last rest of the civilization at the end of the world

Thanks to the 5,000 km long Andes,

Argentina is one of the best hiking countries in the world like a backbone along the back of the nation. This wide landscape offers the Patagonian steppe, huge glacier and the highest trekking summit in the world.

When Kia and I were there for the first time in 2015, we spent our time to explore the hiking trails around El Chalén before we continue to Perito Moreno and then to Tierra del Fuego, the famous "End of the World" on the southern tip of Argentinia.

I just returned from my second visit to Argentina - the climbing of the Aconcagua, my third mountain of the Seven Summit - and thought I was looking at even more of the outstanding hiking destination in the country.

Argentina's best hiking destinations

1. The Lake District

The Argentine Lake District in the northwestern part of the Argentine Patagonia is one of the most popular hiking destinations in Argentina. It is a country with picturesque glacier lakes surrounded by green forests, jagged peaks and sleeping volcanoes.

alt = “The best hiking destinations in the Lake District in Argentina”> Guido Amrein/Shutterstock Lago Nahuel Huapi in Lake District

The Argentine Lake District lies around the flowering city of Bariloche and extends along the coast of Lake Nahuel Huapi. It offers a number of hiking opportunities, from simple hikes to the multi -day crossing of the Parque Nacional Nahuel Huapi.

The area is a center for outdoor activities with cycling, riding, skiing, snowboarding and even diving.

2. El Chaltén

el Chaltén is Argentina's first -class hiking destination. Fitz Roy and Cerro Torre's imposing towers steal the show everyone, but they are the playground just the toughest mountaineers in the world.

alt = “El Chaltén is one of the best hiking destinations of Argentina”> 4kwWonderland/Shutterstock el Chaltén is one of the best hiking destinations of Argentina

When these treacherous towers are behind them, there is an excellent network of well-kept hiking trails that offer incomparable views of these pin-up summits.

Laguna de Los Tres, Laguna Torre and Piedra del Fraile are just a few of the excellent hiking trails. There is enough selection of difficulty, duration and distance to be suitable for every level of skills.

Read more: Hiking in El Chaltén: 6 outstanding hiking trails

3. Tierra del Fuego

south of Patagonia is Tierra del Fuego, the last accumulation of mankind in front of the vast hinterland of Antarctic. The Feuerland Andes circle the southernmost city in the world, Ushuaia, and offer extraordinary hiking opportunities.

Alt = “Argentina's best hiking destination Tierra del Fuego”> Anton_iwanow/Shutterstock National Park Tierra del Fuego

There are several options, such as the Tierra Mayor Valley, Glacier Martial or coastal hikes directly from the city. A short boat trip over the Beagle Canal leads to Isla Navarino (officially in Chile), a nature reserve with several hiking trails through and around the mountains of Dien Dien de Navarino.

However, it is the Tierra del Fuego National Park and its extensive panoramas of echoes that are most rewarding in terms of the landscape. The park is just a short bus ride from Ushuaia and offers an excellent selection of short hiking trails, longer distances and viewing platforms.

Read more: Visiting the end of the world in Tierra del Fuego

4. Quebrada from Humahuaca

Argentina's Rainbow Valley is the history of Argentina.

alt = “Argentina's rainbow valley”> Suninger/Shutterstock Argentina's rainbow valley

In this site belonging to the World Heritage Site, evidence of early hunter and collector's tribes, pre-Spanish communities, the Inca culture, Spanish colonizers and the nation's struggle for independence were found.

Apart from geology and archeology, there are some breathtaking day hikes that you can enjoy in the folds of this living landscape.

5. Perito Moreno

The expansion of the blue ice of the colossal perito-goreno glacier-250 km2 (97 square miles) large and an average of 74 m (240 feet)-is one of the most overwhelming places we have ever seen.

alt = “Argentina's best hiking destination Perito Moreno”> Atlas & Boots The wooden bar next to the perito-Moreno glacier

It is not only the breathtaking, alien landscape that impresses, but also the noises of the glacier. There is a constant creak when ice pieces loosen and plunge into the water.

beyond the bridges and wooden walkways, it is possible to take guided hikes on the glacier. This is our knowledge the only place in the world where you can commit a glacier that is in an equilibrium state (i.e. withdraws and grows to the same extent and is therefore in balance).

Read more: Visiting the Perito Moreno Glacier

6. Iguazu waterfalls

not exactly a hiking destination, but a walk on the wooden walkway next to and over the fantastically thundering cascade of Iguazu is probably on the Argentine travel route of every traveler.

alt = "Argentina's best hiking destination"> Suninger/Shutterstock guazu is located on the border between Brazil and Argentina

guazu is perhaps not the largest waterfall in the world -be it width (Khone Phapheng Falls in Laos), height (Victoria in Zimbabwe and Zambia) or flow rate (Boyoma Falls in the Congo) -but its excellent sidewalks and trans limits between Brazil and Argentina make traffic junctions make it one of the most accessible in the world.

Read more: Boat trip to the Iguazú cases: Washed under a natural miracle

7. Peninsula Valdés

hiking in the Reserva Faunística Península Valdés is one of the best natural experiences in South America. Sea lions, sea elephants, Guanakos, Nandus, Magellan penguins, Südkaper, Orcas and countless seabirds can all be seen along the 400 km long coast.

Alt = "Magellan penguins on the Valdés peninsula"> Natalia di Marco/Shutterstock It is easy to discover Magellan penguins

Much of the wildlife can be spotted all year round, but from February to April orcas can be seen at flood that hunt seals and sea lions directly from the beaches.

Most hiking trails follow the cliffs and beaches along the coast and only occasionally cut into the wide Patagonian pampas.

8. Aconcagua

The big one. The aconcagua may not be one of the most charming mountains in the world, but what is missing in grace, he makes up for his call.

The Aconcagua is the highest mountain in South America and one of the seven peaks: the seven peaks, which are sought after by mountaineers who want to reach the highest point on all continents.

aconcagua is a non -technical climb, but with almost 7,000 m (22,965 feet) it is a long, high and extremely challenging climb. Prospective summit strikers should plan for at least two weeks on the mountain.

I took part in a guided aconcagua ascent from Acomara Aconcagua Expeditions. If you don't want to record it with the whole beast, there is a hike to the Aconcagua base camp and others. Acomara offers several trekking options.

Read more: Ascent of Aconcagua: My third seven -summit

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