Network of trails
Within the Perito Moreno National Park there is a network of more than 100 km of trails of varying degrees of difficulty and duration. Some are short and can take between 45 minutes to 3 hours, and longer circuits can take between two to five days.
In the Onelli detachment there is the “Ceferino Fonzo” Visitor Center where it is mandatory to register the visit before entering. There, the National Parks staff provides complete information about the routes, their viewpoints and key points for observing birds and rock art.
Some trails have strategically located shelters, domes and camping areas. Along the way you can see guanacos, choiques, condors, and, with luck, huemules and orange piquines or chinchillons.
Trails
There are three circuits of medium and high difficulty with spectacular views of hills, lakes, mountains and forests:
- Belgrano Peninsula: 16 km that panoramicly cover the extensive Belgrano Peninsula that enters its homonymous lake with turquoise waters. Along the route there are panoramic views of the Volcán River, Cerro San Lorenzo and Cerro Mié. This circuit takes about four to six hours of walking and has four shelters at different points along the route (Caleta Huala, Archipiélago, Dos Bahías and Playa Quetro). It starts at the isthmus where the parking lot is located.
- Azara Lake: 52 km that transition from the steppe to the lenga forests until reaching the mythical and turquoise Azara Lake. The first 13 km route runs between the René Negro refuge and the Tucúquere refuge, bordering the foothills of the pointed and imposing Cerro Mié. From Tucúquere a fork opens towards the south to reach, in 15km, the Azara refuge, and a few meters away, you can visit the Azara Waterfall. Then the path borders the final arm of Lake Belgrano for 8km, until reaching the La Angostura refuge, remaining 10 km to meet again with the Tucúquere refuge fork. This circuit begins in the parking lot of the Lago Belgrano viewpoint.
- Cerro San Lorenzo and Valle del Río Lácteo: this circuit connects the Gilberto refuge with the Kris and Doug Tomkins, for 11 km, bordering the Río Lácteo. This impressive glacial valley flows into the Laguna de los Témpanos, which can be reached after another 5 km of walking, with a fording in between. In it, you will be at the foot of the highest mountain in the province, San Lorenzo, 3706 meters above sea level, with hanging glaciers. It is recommended to base yourself in the Kris and Doug Tomkins refuge area, which also offers domes and camping areas to access the Iceberg Lagoon and then return to the parking lot retracing the path of the Milky River Valley. This circuit is in the northern area of the national park, 20 km from the Information Center, near the El Rincón detachment.
It is essential to choose and plan the routes according to experience, in addition to carrying the appropriate equipment. Since the park is very isolated and the distances to nearby towns are long, it is essential to plan the departure time taking into account the hours of daylight.
