Martial Glacier trek from Ushuaia: 5-hour guided hike
The chairlift gets you high fast, then the real climbing starts through open mountain.
A 5-hour guided trek from Ushuaia to Martial Glacier combines a chairlift ascent with hiking through native Patagonian forest and alpine terrain, ending at a viewpoint overlooking the glacier and Fuegian mountains. Your guide explains the region's geology and environment as you climb, and a homemade lunch and hot drink wait at the top. The small-group format keeps the pace flexible and personalized.
What’s included
- Trekking poles.
- a day pack with a sandwich, nuts or cereal bar and an alfajor.
- a hot infusion to share.
- grampons in winter season.
- a live guide in English or Spanish.
- hotel pickup.
Times
- Every day 11:00
Information
Prices and times updated today
Operated by Arpon Trekking
The experience
You're in Ushuaia with a free afternoon and want to see Martial Glacier without spending a full day. The trek starts with a chairlift ride from Cerro Martial that lifts you above the city. You get panoramic views of Ushuaia, the Beagle Channel and the surrounding peaks before you step off. From there, the hike begins through native Patagonian forest, gradually opening into high-mountain terrain where the landscape flattens and the glacier comes into view. Your guide walks with the group, pointing out how the glacial landscape has shifted and what the rock and vegetation tell you about the region's geology.
The upper Martial Glacier area is where you stop. A homemade lunch and a hot drink are waiting: sandwiches, nuts or a cereal bar, plus an alfajor, shared with hot infusion while you sit surrounded by the Fuegian mountains. The whole experience runs about 5 hours. Weather in Tierra del Fuego changes fast, so the route and pace shift depending on conditions and what the group can handle safely. In winter, crampons are provided. In other seasons, trekking poles help with the uneven terrain. The guide speaks English or Spanish, and pickup is included.
Cerro Martial's entrance fee and the chairlift ticket are separate costs you pay on arrival. This is an active mountain trek, not a casual walk. You need at least moderate fitness and proper trekking boots and mountain clothing of your own. The operator uses reusable gear and minimizes single-use plastics, so you're not leaving much behind.
Is this one for you?This trek suits anyone with moderate fitness who wants to see Martial Glacier without committing a full day. The chairlift gets you high quickly, so the hike focuses on the alpine terrain and the glacier itself rather than a long climb from the base. You'll need your own trekking boots and mountain clothing, and the Cerro Martial entrance fee and chairlift ticket are paid separately on the day.
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Top questions
What languages is the tour guided in?
Live guide in English and Spanish.
What happens if it rains?
It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.
What's the chairlift like on the way up from Cerro Martial?
The chairlift carries you from the base of Cerro Martial and gives you panoramic views of Ushuaia, the Beagle Channel and the surrounding mountains as you ascend. It saves the climbing for the hike itself, so you start the trek already high on the mountain.
What kind of terrain do you hike through after the chairlift?
You trek through native Patagonian forest first, then move into open high-mountain alpine terrain as you climb toward Martial Glacier. The guide explains the geology and glacial landscape as you go, so you understand what you're seeing.
What happens when you reach the glacier viewpoint?
At the upper Martial Glacier area, you stop at a scenic viewpoint overlooking the glacier and the Fuegian mountains. A homemade lunch (sandwich, nuts or cereal bar, and an alfajor), and a hot drink are shared there while you rest and take in the views.
How does weather affect the route?
Tierra del Fuego's weather changes rapidly, so the trek's route and pace adjust based on conditions and group safety. Your guide decides on the day whether the standard route works or if an alternative is safer.
What do I need to bring for this trek?
You must bring your own trekking boots and mountain clothing. The operator provides trekking poles (and crampons in winter), a day pack with lunch, and a hot drink. Bottled water is not included, so bring your own or plan to refill.
Martial Glacier trek from Ushuaia: 5-hour guided hike
5h · EN · ES · at your hotel
from US$ 95 per person