Laguna Torre (Cerro Torre)

One of the most frequented day hikes from El Chaltén, the route to Laguna Torre leads to a glacial lake at the base of the Torre massif. The 18 km out-and-back trail follows the Fitz Roy River valley, moving through sub-antarctic forests of ñire and lenga. The terrain is primarily well-maintained gravel paths and packed dirt, with a short initial ascent followed by mostly level walking through the glacial valley. The destination offers direct views of Cerro Torre (3,128m) and the Adela range, with icebergs frequently calving from the Torre Glacier into the lake.

A journey through resilience. The Paparoa Track is New Zealand's 10th Great Walk, crossing the spectacular Paparoa Range. It was built as a memorial to the 29 miners lost in the Pike River Mine disaster. This 55km track offers a diverse landscape of limestone karst formations, lush rainforests, and expansive alpine tops. It is unique among Great Walks as it is open to both hikers and mountain bikers year-round. The trail connects Blackball on the eastern side to Punakaiki on the west, providing a traverse through some of the West Coast's most dramatic and untouched wilderness.