Trekking And Navigation To Torrecillas Glacier

Our journey kicks off at Puerto Chucao. For those opting for the shuttle service, we'll pick you up from your hotel in downtown Esquel around 9:00 am. If you're driving your own vehicle, meet us at the port by 10:30 am.

Upon reaching Puerto Chucao, we'll embark on a brief walk leading us to the South East arm of Lake Menéndez. We'll traverse the wooden footbridges over the Arrayanes River and stroll along a section of the lake, admiring its stunning emerald waters until we reach the boat awaiting us to offer a closer experience of the lake.

Our voyage across Lake Menéndez lasts 40 minutes to Puerto Nuevo, offering breathtaking views of snow-covered peaks and the surrounding Patagonian forests. Upon arrival at Puerto Nuevo, we disembark and begin our ascent toward the Glacier.

The trek to the Torrecillas Glacier unveils one of the most spectacular zones within Alerces National Park. We'll spend two hours fully immersed in the Valdivian Rainforest. The hike presents a medium difficulty level as we navigate steep and rocky paths, while our guide shares insights about the local flora and fauna, rich with history and geological transformations.

Nearing the end of the trail, we'll cross a small mountain stream leading us to Laguna del Antiguo, situated at the base of the Torrecillas Glacier. Here, we'll seek a perfect spot to rest and soak in the grandeur of the glacier. We'll marvel at ancient larches and other tree species like tineos, coihues, and lengas. We'll observe the basins where snow began to accumulate and glacier ice formed over 24,000 years ago during the last glaciation. With a bit of luck, we might spot condors, as well as witness the magnificent glacier ice breaking over the lagoon.