Ushuaia’s Glaciar Martial Hike – A Complete Guide

Overview

After paying 20USD for just the bus to Laguna Esmeralda and back to Ushuaia yesterday, I was looking for an activity that would be gentler on my pockets today. I settled on the Martial Glacier, or Glaciar Martial hike, as it’s called in Argentina, a hike only 5 km from Ushuaia town.

Montes Martial, or the Martial Mountains, is a range of mountains that provide the epic backdrop of Ushuaia, the city referred to as ‘el fin del mundo’, or the end of the world. It is located in the Tierra del Fuego region of Patagonia, in the southernmost town in the world. This is where cruise ships leave from to go to Antarctica.

One of the most popular treks in this area, the Glaciar Martial hike offers a fantastic half-day adventure due to its close proximity to Ushuaia town. You certainly do not need to book in a tour to do this hike. I had also seen incredible photos on Instagram of a lesser-known ice cave located high up on the Martial Glacier trail that I had to try and see for myself! (edit: apparently the ice cave has collapsed as of January 2025).

The glacier hike really took me by surprise, I enjoyed it much more than I did Laguna Esmeralda. It was slightly more challenging on the later sections of trail, but still very doable and not technical. Compared to Esmeralda, this hike has much better on-site facilities and was generally busier but not overcrowded. Overall this is one of my favourite treks in all of Patagonia.

Know before you go

• The Glacier Martial hike itself is free! (UPDATE Feb 2025: the hike now costs 10,000 ARS or 10 USD).
• For transport, you can get a taxi (local or Uber), a shuttle bus from the town centre, hitchhike (very common here), or walk from town if you’re ok with adding another hour and 5km each way
• You can rent walking poles from the mountain centre for 6,000 ARS (or find a good walking stick! I was fine without either)
• Today in December 2024 and there was snow only at the top of the trails. Easy to navigate without spikes and I was alright without walking poles
• Clear trails, however the individual routes are not well sign posted
• The chairlift (aerosilla) no longer in use

How to get there

1. Walk/Hitchhiking

I actually walked up to the start of the Glaciar Martial hike from town, it took one hour and about 5km one way. To be honest it was longer than I had thought. My stubbornness to not spend any money today won out. On the way back down, there were taxis waiting at the mountain centre, but I opted for hitchhiking as there were a lot of cars also making their way down the one road that leads to the town. It hadn’t crossed my mind to hitchhike up until too late but it would totally also work!

2. Car Rental

If you have rented a car in Ushuaia (which is probably best if you are a couple or group and plan to fit everything in a few days), you can drive up to the Glacier Martial ski centre and park at the start of the trail.

3. Public Transport/Taxis

Uber works super well in Ushuaia. Right now, an Uber to the mountain centre for Glaciar Martial Park to begin the hike is 6,000 pesos (6 USD) each way. If you are a group, this is likely one of the most affordable options.

There are multiple local buses that will bring you to the base of Luis Fernando Martial, the road Martial Glacier is on. From here, you will have to either hitch or get a taxi. Here is a taxi rank right near the road (link). The distance from here is about 5km and not the prettiest of trails.

I will always recommend getting a local bus pass if you are travelling for multiple weeks in one country. In Argentina, this works by finding a small shop or kiosk that has a ‘SUBE’ sign. Here you can purchase and top up your SUBE card. A bus ride is 800 pesos (less than 1 dollar) in Ushuaia.

Another option is to go to the bus station in Ushuaia and take one of the many shuttle buses to and from Ushuaia.

Price

The Glaciar Martial hike is free! (UPDATE February 2025: This hike now has a 10,000 ARS or 10 USD entry fee).

Transport, however, you may need to pay for. It is a good, busy spot for hitchhiking once you make it to the road the glacier hike is located on. If you are a group of 4 or so people, a taxi would probably be the best and cheap split between you all (about 6 USD each way). Be sure to agree on the price in advance.

Glaciar Martial Hike Routes

There are 4 trekking routes to choose from (Sendero de los Vientos was closed) catering to all fitness levels. You will begin your hike from the tourist centre/mountain centre. Here you will find are great bathroom facilities, route maps, a café and restaurant, a zipline and a helpful booth where the staff will advise you on the trail you’ve selected.

All the Glaciar Martial hike routes begin from the same point, on a well-marked trail from the mountain centre that brings you upward alongside a gorgeous icy cold glacial river amongst gorgeous pine trees. The route all the way up to the glacier is considered medium difficulty, only in the sense of ascending continuously – it is not technical. There are two easier routes if that’s more what you are feeling.

Something to note on the trail markings is that although the trails themselves are clearly laid out and have ‘Senda’ or ‘Trail’ signs, it was not always clear which trail was which. At both of the ‘cross sections’ marked as ‘bifurcaciónes’ in the map above, it was not always stated which trail was which. At times there were poles with coloured route stickers on them, but it’s not reliable.

I recommend you take a photo of the map and keep this in mind as you go, especially if you are doing ‘Sendero del Mirador de las Lagunas’. I would have missed the turn off if the guy at the mountain centre hadn’t explained it to me before.

Glacier Martial Hike 1: Sendero del Bosque 

• Duration: 1hour
• Distance: 1.5km loop
• Difficulty: Easy-moderate difficulty
• Elevation gain: 200m

This one is a short forest loop (name in English is ‘Forest Trail‘) along the glacial river. You can finish and return on the wide access road for vehicles on river left past the trail you were on, or come back the same path along the river. You will not see snow (in summer) or get near the glacier on this route. However, it is still a gorgeous hike.

This is an easy hike, the only ‘difficulty’ being that it is continuously uphill.

Glacier Martial Hike 2: Sendero del Martial 

• Duration: 1.5hours
• Distance: 3km out and back
• Difficulty: Easy-moderate difficulty
• Elevation gain: 300m

The ‘Martial trail‘ brings you up through the end of the forest trail along the river. You will cross a clearly marked bridge of wooden slats and finally be able to see the snow up close. This is where there is a cross point, you can either continue straight up (onto Sendero de las Nubes) or you can take the trail to the right (onto Sendero del Mirador de las Lagunas). The crossroads is the end of this trail.

The views from here are already spectacular looking up to the glacier, and back down over the Beagle channel and Ushuaia airport and town. 

Glacier Martial Hike 3: Sendero de las Nubes

• Duration: 3.5 hours
• Distance: 6.2km out and back
• Difficulty: Moderate difficulty
• Elevation gain: 400m

After completing the Sendero del Martial you will continue, with the river on your left, straight upward towards the summit, ignoring the trail splitting off to the right.

There is a clear gravel path here bringing you continually upward toward the peaks. You will very quickly reach another cross point in the trail. The one continuing upward to toward the left on a gravel trail of switchbacks is Sendero de las Nubes. This section only takes about 20 minutes, with a few snow crossings until you reach the ‘end of trail’ sign. The other trail to the right is ‘Sendero de los Vientos‘ and it was closed.

For the ice cave, you will continue past this point upward past the end of trail sign for another 20 minutes or so. The trail is narrower, steeper and more snowed in from here out so be prepared for that. It is also more exposed to the elements, but it is doable.

 

Glacier Martial Hike 4: Sendero del Mirador de las Lagunas

• Duration: 3 hours
• Distance: 5.5km out and back
• Difficulty: Moderate difficulty
• Elevation gain: 200m

After completing the Sendero del Martial you will cross a wooden slat bridge leaving the forest and coming to a clearing. Here there are two ‘Senda’ signs, one pointing left and one to the right. The Sendero del Mirador de las Lagunas is the trail to the right. It is not otherwise marked by name, so keep that in mind.

From here, the trail is mostly flat without dramatic elevation gain. Views of the Beagle channel below and Ushuaia town are spectacular!

Safety Tips

I completed this trek as a solo female and felt super safe while trekking Glaciar Martial. I walked up from the town and hitchhiked back down and while I am always cautious, this felt super safe. This has been true for me across all of Patagonia, Argentina.

As always in Ushuaia, start with the weather which is notoriously bad. The top of the glacier is very exposed so check for wind and rain conditions and dress accordingly. Waterproof clothing is necessary to at least bring in your bag, as well as packing a hat, gloves, woolly socks and decent boots.

I always travel with maps downloaded, an emergency foil blanket, a headtorch, and small first aid kit. Ushuaia is famous for being often grey, cloudy, windy and rainy though there are also days of gorgeous sun. Sun cream and waterproof clothing are essential for staying safe on the trails. Sun cream will also protect your face from the wind. Bring plenty of water and pack a lunch.

One of the great things about summer months in Ushuaia (December – February) is that the sun does not set until 10.30 pm. Still, you should always aim to hike in the morning or early afternoon at the latest.

This trial, unlike the Laguna Esmeralda hike, had great phone reception the entire way.

Other activities

Ziplining – you can zipline from the mountain centre at the Glacier Martial trail head with Canopy Ushuaia. There are multiple zip lines and two hanging bridges making for a great way to spend an hour or two. Prices go from 35,000 pesos (or 35USD). They operate from a café located just to the left of the mountain centre. Book in advance, as it is not open every day of the week (open Thurs – Mon). You can email or WhatsApp to book, more information here.

A guy was ripping around on a dune buggy/ATV and it looked absolutely epic. However, I couldn’t find any activity relating to this so I think it was staff.

There is a café and restaurant here too, to enjoy hot chocolates, coffee, wine or lunch.

Skiing and snowboarding would be stellar there in the winter months (Jun – Aug).

There are other trails nearby before you reach the mountain centre, but none as spectacular.

Spanish Vocabulary

• La senda – trail
• La cumbre – summit
• El mirador – viewpoint
• La bifurcación – split in the road
• El bosque – the forest

Post hike, I came home to my B&B where I cooked up a hearty batch of gnocchi vegetable soup!

If you feel like eating out after your Glaciar Martial trek, the two most recommended restaurants by local Argentinian’s were without a doubt Kaupé Restaurant (higher end) and El Viejo Marino (much more budget friendly). If you are veggie like me, I loved Isla Vegana.

To see more Argentina or other Central and South America travel adventure & housesitting blogs, see here.

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