Vinciguerra Glacier trek from Ushuaia: Laguna de los Témpanos
Eight hours through forest, across the timberline, to glacier ice caves
A guided trek from Ushuaia that climbs from the Andorra Valley through Fuegian forest and across the timberline to reach Laguna de los Témpanos and the Vinciguerra Glacier. Your mountain guide decides whether ice conditions allow you to walk on the glacier itself and explore its caves. The day includes hotel pickup, a packed lunch with hot beverages, and the chance to spot Andean condors and beaver dams on the descent.
Step-by-step itinerary
Trek to Vinciguerra Glacier and Lagoon
- Pick up at hotel
- Drive 7 km into Andorra Valley
- Trek through peat-land
- Cross Arrojo Grande creek
- Hike uphill through Fuegian forest
- Pass peat bogs in higher valley
- Cross timberline to Témpano Lagoon
- View Vinciguerra Glacier and ice caves
- Optional: Approach ice caves (depending on ice conditions)
- Rest and enjoy lunch with hot beverages
- Watch for Andean Condor
- Descend back downhill
- Look for beaver dams along trail
What’s included
- Bottled water and snacks throughout the day.
- a packed lunch box with hot beverages.
- a specialized mountain guide fluent in English or Spanish.
- walking poles.
- pickup and drop-off from your hotel in Ushuaia.
- Every day 08:30
Information
Trek through Fuegian forest from Ushuaia to Laguna de los Témpanos and Vinciguerra Glacier, guided by a mountain expert with lunch included along the way.
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The experience
The trek starts with a 7 km drive into the Andorra Valley, then you begin on foot through peatland that shows the layered geology of glacier-carved terrain. The route follows Arrojo Grande creek uphill through the Fuegian forest, where the vegetation thickens until you cross the timberline and enter high mountain landscape. The whole climb takes you from valley floor to the Laguna de los Témpanos, where the Vinciguerra Glacier rises behind it. If ice conditions are safe, your guide will lead you onto the glacier to explore the ice caves. If not, you'll view it from the lagoon shore.
Around midday you rest at the lagoon with your lunch box and hot beverages, with time to watch for Andean condors overhead. The descent follows the same trail back down, where beaver dams line the creek and you may spot the animals themselves if you're patient. You'll return to your hotel around 2 pm. The trek is graded moderate difficulty and suits all fitness levels, though the 8-hour day and elevation gain demand steady hiking pace and proper footwear.
Top questions
What languages is the tour guided in?
Live guide in English and Spanish.
What is the Vinciguerra Glacier like when you reach it?
The Vinciguerra Glacier sits behind Laguna de los Témpanos at the top of the trek. Your specialized mountain guide assesses ice conditions on the day and decides whether it is safe to walk on the glacier itself and enter the ice caves, or whether you'll view it from the lagoon shore instead.
How much of the trek is uphill versus downhill?
The route climbs steadily from the Andorra Valley through forest and across the timberline to reach the glacier and lagoon, then retraces the same path back down. The ascent takes most of the morning and early afternoon. The descent occupies the return journey.
What wildlife might I see on this trek?
Andean condors sometimes appear overhead in the high mountain landscape near the glacier. Beaver dams line the creek on the descent, and you may see the beavers themselves if conditions are right. Peat bogs and the Fuegian forest also support smaller wildlife typical of the region.
Do I need to bring my own trekking boots and jacket?
Yes, you must bring comfortable trekking shoes (waterproof preferred), a waterproof jacket, a spare pair of socks, sunglasses and sunblock. The operator provides walking poles, bottled water, snacks and a packed lunch, but personal trekking gear is your responsibility.
What time does the trek start and finish?
Hotel pickup happens around 8:30 am. The trek itself lasts 7 hours, with the return to your hotel around 2 pm, making the full outing approximately 8 hours including the drive to the valley.
Operated by Tierra del Fuego Aventura. Explorevia does not run this tour: we compare it with similar options, and you book it with our booking partner.
Prices and times updated 2 days ago
Vinciguerra Glacier trek from Ushuaia: Laguna de los Témpanos
8h · EN · ES · at your hotel
from US$ 200 per person
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