The Huemul glacier is a nice little hike near the town of El Chalten, in the Patagonia region of Argentina.
I did this hike recently and really enjoyed it! It’s short, easy, and relatively inexpensive, and you get to see some nice mountains, a glacier, and a bright blue lake.
It’s a great way to spend a rest day between bigger hikes like Fitz Roy and Laguna Torre, and most people visiting El Chalten don’t know about this spot yet, so it’s still a bit of a hidden gem.
How To Get There
The Huemul glacier is located about 35 kilometers north of El Chalten town, and you can get there by car or bus.
The drive takes 1.5 hours by car or 2 hours by bus. It’s all on narrow, winding gravel roads, but it’s comfortable enough.
Your hotel in El Chalten can book the bus for you, or you can book it through Frontera Sur or Zona Austral. I found it easiest to arrange through my hotel.
The bus will pick you up directly from your hotel in El Chalten town, and then wait for you at the Huemul parking lot, so it’s very convenient.
It costs 25,000 pesos per person for a roundtrip bus ticket, which is around $23 USD as of 2025. It’s well worth it!
Huemul Glacier Hike: What To Expect
This hike is short and easy, with a bit of steepness near the end. You might not even break a sweat.
Before you start hiking, you’ll already get a nice view of the glacier from the trailhead as you walk through the fence and past a cow pasture.
From here, the trail is mostly shaded by a mossy green forest, and there are several nice waterfalls along the way that are worth a short detour.
