Ice Trek Glaciar Neumeyer

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Itinerary

This is a full-day activity, around 10 hours in total, which due to its remote location requires approaching the area beforehand and spending the night at the Puesto Cagliero mountain refuge, where the excursion starts and ends.

Breakfast and briefing

The day begins with a warm breakfast at the refuge, where the mountain guide will give you a short summary and several useful tips for the whole trek.

Start of the climb

With all the gear and backpacks ready, the group heads out along the trail that skirts Laguna del Diablo, slowly gaining altitude and difficulty until reaching the elevation where vegetation is reduced to small shrubs and bushes. In this first hour of walking you will have climbed about 300 meters above the lagoon, so you'll get spectacular views of the Cagliero glacier and the Diablo river valley, flanked by Loma del Diablo and Cerro 30 Aniversario.

Via ferrata

At this point the slope of the rocky terrain becomes very steep, so from here the climb continues along a via ferrata: a system of steel cables anchored to the rock that lets each hiker stay clipped in to their harness through a continuous safety line, under the guides' close watch and constant assistance. The via ferrata section is the most demanding but also the most fun, thanks to the interaction between hikers. By the end of the via ferrata, you will have gained another 200 meters of elevation, so the panoramic views become increasingly impressive.

Approaching the glacier and lunch

On the final stretch of walking to the glacier the slope becomes less demanding again, but at times more unstable too, so you'll need to stay alert at all times. After crossing the stream that flows from the glacier's meltwater, the Neumeyer glacier and its lagoon — almost always dotted with icebergs — begin to reveal themselves in full. You will be immersed in a high-mountain setting where the immensity can be felt with every sense, and it's the perfect moment to enjoy your packed lunch.

Glacier trekking

Skirting the lagoon, another 300 meters and you will reach the glacier access area, where you will need to put on your crampons to take your first steps on the ancient ice. You will walk roped together through a world of ice and small crevasses. Venturing into the glacier, as if setting foot on another planet, within minutes you will leave the everyday world behind to live an unforgettable exploration adventure.

Return to the Refuge

After experiencing the glacier, the group heads back along the same via ferrata, arriving at the refuge at around 5 pm.

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Location

The blue line shows the route of the excursion from the Puesto Cagliero Refuge to the Neumeyer glacier (approx. 700m of elevation gain). The green line shows the trail from the Visitor Center of the Los Huemules Private Reserve to the Puesto Cagliero Refuge (approx. 300m of elevation gain).

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How to get to the refuge

If you don't have your own vehicle, you'll need to hire a private transfer service to get to the main grounds of Estancia Los Huemules, traveling along 17 km of the scenic gravel Provincial Route 41 through the Río De las Vueltas valley.

Once there, you need to check in at the Estancia's Visitor and Information Center before setting out on a 7 km walk along the beautiful, well-marked, low-difficulty trail that follows the Diablo river upstream to its source at the lagoon of the same name. See the hike to Laguna Del Diablo.

On the shore of an old moraine left by the Cagliero glacier, the silhouette of the refuge stands out, waiting for you with the warmth of a lit fire, a hot shower, a good lunch or dinner, and all the comforts for a restful night before setting out on the excursion bright and early the next day.

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Frequently asked questions