Laguna del Desierto Excursion

What better way to live the Argentine Capital of Trekking, than with the Laguna del Desierto excursion? It is an experience full of natural wonders, including two walks to must-see destinations in the Patagonian region. This means that you will live two of the most fascinating settings of this village of Los Glaciares National Park.

The first thing you need to know is that Desert Lake is located 37 kilometers from El Chaltén. It’s a half-day or full-day experience, depending on the route you decide to take. They do not require great physical effort, as both walks are easy. The difference between them is the path (you’ll already know the duration of each one), and the panoramic view you’ll get in each place.

The route to Desert Lake, from El Chaltén, is 37 kilometers. You can tour them on your own in case you have your own vehicle, but if that’s not the case, you only have to hire the private transfer services offered. To do this, we invite you to contact our travel specialists.

For the Moebius Travel team it will be a pleasure to guide you. Although this activity can be done in a self-guided way, the ideal is to contract the Laguna del Desierto excursion with transportation and the accompaniment of a guide. Not only will you feel protected and safe from the journey you take, but you will have access to important information about each journey you take on.

•         HIKE TO THE HUEMUL GLACIER

It consists of a 2-hour walk to the smallest but most accessible place in the area. It is the most requested by those who have little time. It is only 2 km away to one of the most fascinating places in El Chaltén village.

The adventure begins at the Southern Tip of Desert Lake as far as you get by car (there you have a free parking area). There is an access point to the path where a tariff must be paid, as it is a private property.

Immediately, you take the path between a forest of Lengas. A few minutes away, the ascent begins along a properly signposted road. Around an hour later, you reach a ridge with panoramic views of the Valley of the Vueltas River and Cerro Fitz Roy. A dream! You will have in front of you the north face of Cerro El Chaltén.

There is more. Beyond, after another 15 minutes of travel, you will reach Huemul Lagoon. Fed by the glacier that bears the same name, it gives us a paradise where turquoise waters are the protagonists.

•         MILESTONE BORDER LAGUNA LARGA, HIKE WITH NAVIGATION

This walk is a little longer and has moderate difficulty. It is 9.5 kilometers of travel along the border area, for a total of 4 to 5 hours. Simply put, it’s a full-day activity departing from El Chaltén or noon if you’re camping in Punta Sur del Lago del Desierto.

The experience begins at 10:00 am. The boat sails to cross the lake bound for Punta Norte. It’s an hour of sailing and, from there, six hours of walking. The return is scheduled at 5:30 p.m.

The trail begins at the height of Gendarmerie Nacional, just behind its facilities. It is also the beginning of the forest, next to a small but charming stream. The ascent begins immediately. The higher the height, the greater the landscapes!

After a half hour going up, the slope decreases until you enter a quiet and cozy lenga forest. You will find the stream that comes from Laguna Larga, which you will have to cross through several bridges of logs. Half an hour later, you’ll reach muddy ground.

Now, you have to continue north to enter the last path of the forest. You start to pick height again, being able to observe the Laguna Larga from the top and admire how the beautiful waters hide in this unspoiled forest.

But that’s not all! The last section consists of a path that crosses the facilities of Gendarmería Nacional to reach the Hito Limítrofe. They are majestic waters that define the border with Chile and from where you can delight in the granite mole of Fitz Roy that is just 40 kilometers away!

It should be noted that, along the route, you will see the Desert Lake in all its splendor: from the waters, to the Del Bosque cordon that surrounds it in a sense to the east and the Vespignani cordon with hanging glaciers that take over the landscape to the west.

DATA OF INTEREST FOR DESERT LAKE VISIT

If you are going to take the Excursion Hito Limítrofe Laguna Larga, you must hire the navigation service with some travel agency. Remember that to start with trekking you have to cross the lake, so do not hesitate to contact our travel specialists to help you .

Another important issue to consider is footwear. It must be suitable for trekking, as should the rest of the apparel. Take advantage and consult our article on what clothes to wear for El Chaltén. It will help you to live to the fullest and without waste the Laguna del Desierto excursion, a must of El Chaltén.