At almost 3500 meters high and on the border between Argentina and Chile, Mount Tronador is an ideal destination for trekking and discovering the impressive glaciers that surround it.
The imposing Mount Tronador with its eternal snow-capped peaks is one of the icons of Patagonia. Surrounded by eight glaciers, its name derives from the noise produced by the detachment of ice from the glaciers, which seem to “thunder”.
Here is all the information you need to visit the Tronador mountain, from how to get there, what to see, possible trekking and where to eat and sleep.
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How to get to Tronador mount from Bariloche?
There is no public transportation to Tronador mount. From Bariloche, take route 40 south for 35 kilometers until you reach the fork with provincial route 81, where the gravel road begins.
After driving for a few kilometers along route 81 the road splits in two:
- To the right you reach the base of Tronador mount after about 40 kilometers of gravel road.
- The Los Alerces waterfall is reached to the left after 18 kilometers of gravel road.
🔎 Touring the Bariloche area? Take a look at our article on things to do in Bariloche.
Excursion to Mount Tronador from Bariloche
You can also hire a day trip to Tronador Hill from Bariloche that includes transportation and a professional guide. It is the way to forget about everything and learn about the glacier and natural environments with the guide. It also makes several stops at the most important places such as the Piuke Island viewpoint and the Pampa Linda mountain refuge.
📷 Book here the excursion to Mount Tronador from Bariloche.
Mount Tronador by car
It is possible to reach both the base of Tronador mount and Los Alerces waterfall by car, always bearing in mind the speed limits as it is inside Nahuel Huapi National Park and the state of the road, zigzagging and gravel.
In both cases, it must be taken into account that the direction of vehicle traffic is restricted during certain hours of the day to one way traffic:
📝 Traffic restriction for Tronador mount: from 10:30 am to 2 pm only entrance to the hill, from 4 pm to 6 pm only exit from the hill, from 7:30 pm to 9 am two-way without restrictions.
📝 Traffic restriction for Los Alerces waterfall: from 2pm to 5pm only entrance, from 11am to 1pm only exit, from 6pm to 10am two-way without restrictions.
Both attractions can be visited on the same day, starting early in the morning. Due to traffic restrictions, we recommend first arriving at the Los Alercesantes waterfall at 10 am.
Once the visit to Los Alerces waterfall is done (it should take an hour at the most) go to Tronador mount and visit the main points. After 4 or 5 p.m. start the return trip.
Main activities to do in Tronador mount and surrounding areas
Attractions on the way to Los Alerces waterfall:
- Los Moscos Lake and its viewpoint.
- Hess Lake
- Lake Roca
- Los Alerces waterfall: the final point of the tour. The viewpoint of the waterfall is reached through a wooden path of about 300 meters of low physical difficulty. The turquoise water and the forest surrounding the waterfall constitute a dream landscape.
Attractions on the way to Tronador mount:
- Isla Corazón: on the shore of Lake Mascardi there is a viewpoint with a place to leave the car parked. From here you can see the small island Corazón in the middle of the immensity of the lake and with the mountains in the background.
- De los Césares waterfall: at the end of Lake Mascardi and where the Los Césares camping site and the Hotel Tronador are located, the second stop on the trail is the path that leads to the Césares waterfall. After about 40 minutes of walking through the forest you can reach three different balconies to observe the waterfall, you can even go down to the water course.
- Pampa Linda: here you will find an ideal place to have a snack before or after hiking the Tronador mountain. From here there are several trails that lead to viewpoints and shelters. One of the best places to visit in Pampa Linda is the saltillo de Las Nalcas, a waterfall that can be reached after following a 500-meter trail of low physical difficulty.
- Ventisquero Negro: the great attraction of Mount Tronador. This glacier is formed by the ice coming from the Manso glacier, which is located in the upper part of the mountain and is visible from the viewpoint. The ice flows down the gully and mixes with the sediment on the ground producing the dark hue. From the viewpoint you can observe the different shades: white of the ice, blackish of the Ventisquero glacier, green of the water of Manso Lake. It is impressive.
- Garganta del Diablo: the last stop of the circuit, a few kilometers from Ventisquero Negro. One of the walls of Tronador mount forms a kind of amphitheater from which water cascades fall. It takes about 30 minutes walking to get there with a climb of 700 meters.
Main trekking in Tronador Mount
For the more adventurous and physically fit there are more demanding treks that can be done in the surroundings of the Tronador mountain, in most cases starting from Pampa Linda:
Trekking to Otto Meiling refuge
It is the most recognized. It takes about 9 hours round trip from Pampa Linda to the refuge, although you can even spend the night there sleeping inside or camping outside. The route begins with an area of cohiue forests, to later begin the demanding ascent for about three kilometers.
The prize is to have the Tronador mountain practically next to you and to hear the continuous thundering of the ice slides.
📝 If you want to sleep at the Otto Meiling shelter, it is necessary to make a reservation in advance by calling or sending a whatsapp to +54 9 294 4213932 from 8:30 am to 9:30 pm, or an email to info@refugiomeiling.com. Places are limited.
Trekking to Castaño Overa Glacier
It also starts from Pampa Linda and is about 14km round trip. Follow the same path that leads to the Otto Meiling refuge until you reach a fork, where you must take the path to the left down to the glacier viewpoint.
Other Trekking in Tronador mountain
- Valley Viewpoint
- Agostino Rocca refuge
- Ilón Lagoon
🔎 In all cases where trekking is to be done, it is advisable to wear at least comfortable and adequate footwear, one liter of water per person, sunscreen and warm clothes. Conditions are always changing in the mountains.
Prices for Mount Tronador
To access the places described above you only have to pay the Nahuel Huapi National Park fee. In January 2023 the prices are as follows:
- Foreigners: 3,500 pesos
- Argentine residents: 1,000 pesos
- Children from 6 to 16 years old: 500 pesos
- Children under 6 years old and senior citizens: free of charge
Where to stay and eat in Tronador Mount
Basically many of the campsites and hosterias have a place to eat something, although you can bring your own food into the national park and enjoy a picnic with the best views. Some places to sleep in Tronador mount are:
- Hostería Pampa Linda: the ideal place if you don’t want to camp. Rooms and common areas with stunning mountain views. They also have a restaurant for a quick lunch or snack.
As for campgrounds, there are several options
- Camping Los Vuriloches: in Pampa Linda and very close to the lodge. It has a camping area with fire pits, a grocery store, electricity and a hot water shower. They also have a dining room for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
- Camping Río Manso: in the area of Pampa Linda, it is a wild site next to the river for camping.
- Camping Lago Roca: near Los Alerces waterfalls. They are located between the Manso River and Lake Roca and have camping sites, hot water, small grocery store, fire pits and electricity only in the bathrooms.
- Camping Lago Hess: a few kilometers before the Lago Roca campground, is a rustic camping lodge with fire pits. It does not have restrooms or a supply room.
As far as places to eat on Tronador Mount, in addition to the hosteria and some campsites, there is a small snack bar at the base of Tronador Hill where you can have a drink or a snack. Prices are a bit high
If you base in Bariloche and make the tour in one day, we recommend the following accommodations where to stay in Bariloche:
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Header image by user raandree at Pixabay
