The trek to Glaciar Martial (Martial Glacier in English) was the very first hike we did after arriving into Ushuaia, and my first in the beautiful Patagonia region of South America.
The hike was recommended to us by the friendly taxi driver who picked us up from the airport, but it’s hardly a hidden secret. In fact, trekking to Glaciar Martial is easily one of the most popular day-hikes from Ushuaia, on account of the fact that the trailhead can be accessed from town on foot and the great views it affords you over Ushuaia and Beagle Channel.
The timing of our visit to Ushuaia (we were there in late October) may not have been ideal according to the guidebooks, but the thick layer of snow that persisted at higher altitudes made trekking to Glaciar Martial a hundred times more beautiful – if not a bit more challenging.
Even if we couldn’t actually figure out where the glacier was…!
Glaciar Martial hike quick stats
Type of trail – in-out hike, up and down a ski-slope (off-season, obviously)
Terrain – the hike takes you up a ski field into the mountains; sans snow, the terrain is compact dirt and rock near the base, which becomes looser and steeper towards the top. (In October, ice covered much of the lower trail, and snow covered most of the middle).
Distance – about 3km each way (6km total), but there are a lot of alternative side routes that will alter this slightly
Elevation – close to 600m
Recommended time – 3-4 hours
How difficult is trekking to Glaciar Martial?
The trail to Glaciar Martial is actually along a ski slope (Martial Ski Center) that is used in the winter for snow sports. Trekking to Glaciar Martial is not technical and the terrain, especially in summer when the snow has melted, is pretty easy to navigate.
However, it is essentially all uphill, so having a reasonable level of fitness will make this much more enjoyable.
Because we visited in October and there was still a decent amount of snow covering most of the trail, our biggest difficulty was finding the right route. The trek starts off with an ascent up the base of the ski slope – it’s massive and impossible to miss – but once we reached the first viewpoint, the routes were completely submerged in a blanket of snow.
It was still fairly easy to figure out which general direction to go in (the glacier is ‘up’, after all) but it did mean picking our own path up the mountain side.
In summer, the trails are a lot easier to see, and ‘alternative’ routes become viable. For example, running parallel to the ski slope (to the right of it) is a much more scenic, forested trail that eventually meets up with the main ski slope. From what we could tell, that route is probably a lot prettier, but we couldn’t use it due to excessive snow.
The last section of the hike (the push to the glacier edge) gets steeper and quite rocky underfoot. We actually skipped the very last part, because we couldn’t figure out where the actual glacier was on account of too much snow!
How to get to the Glaciar Martial trailhead from Ushuaia
Trekking to Glaciar Martial is very popular, because the trailhead is within walking distance from Ushuaia town centre.
However, it’s a pretty uninspiring uphill hike from Ushuaia to get the trailhead and about 5-7km distance each way, so unless you’re strapped for cash, it’s worth getting transport to the start of the trail (which is what we did). The taxi ride takes about 10-15 minutes.
What will I see during a trek to Glaciar Martial?
The trek to Glaciar Martial is pretty much all uphill, and the reward is the birds-eye-view vantage point you get from the very top. It’s a bit of a slog getting up there, but there is a nice viewpoint to stop for a breather about half-way up.
As you hike upwards, the majestic Andes mountains open up, while behind you, the views go all the way across Ushuaia to the Beagle Channel.
A word of warning. Despite its name, trekking to Glaciar Martial is not about seeing a jaw-dropping glacier. Compared to other glaciers in the Patagonia region, Glaciar Martial is actually quite underwhelming. We couldn’t even figure out where it was because it simply blended in to the lingering snow.
There’s obviously a much better chance of spotting the glacier in the midst of summer, but even then, be aware that it has retreated so much that getting close to it is increasingly difficult.
In short – do not set out on this hike expecting to see something like the Perito Moreno glacier, or you will be sorely disappointed. This hike is more about the great views across Ushuaia and the Beagle Channel (which are stunning), and it is a great, accessible half-day hike to get you warmed up for the bigger hikes in the area.
When is the best time to visit Glaciar Martial?
It really depends on what you want to see. Just be aware that regardless of when you visit, Patagonian weather is infamous for being unpredictable and rather extreme – so make sure you’re adequately geared up.
Remember, the Glaciar Martial area is an active ski slope during the winter months (around Jun-Oct) so you can only hike during spring, summer and autumn.
We hiked in spring (late October, I think just shortly after the ski season ended) and there was still a lot of snow. I thought it made what would otherwise be a boring uphill slog into quite a beautiful hike. But the snow did also make the trail difficult to see, and hiking was generally more tiring as we had to be a bit more careful about our steps (there was ice on the lower slopes, and thick snow higher up). Additionally, we couldn’t figure out where exactly Glaciar Martial was, as it blended too well into the snow on the mountainside.
Summer (Dec-Feb) is the most popular hiking season in Ushuaia as it coincides with Antarctic cruises and hiking season in Patagonia. Weather is likely a bit more stable at this time of year too (relatively speaking – Patagonia weather can hardly be described as ‘stable’ in the classical sense!).. Trekking to Glaciar Martial is much more straight forward when the snow has melted, and you have an actual chance to see the glacier, but in all honesty, the trail itself is probably quite boring at that time of year.
Personally, I think autumn/fall would be a really nice time for this hike, as the native lenga forests are deciduous and turn amazing colours during this season. You’d have the benefit of clear, easy trails, a chance to spot the glacier, and some epic fall colours to marvel at.
How long does it take to complete the Glaciar Martial hike?
For your average hiker, I’d consider this a half-day hike. 3-4 hours should suffice if you have reasonable fitness and are not planning to linger anywhere for too long (if the weather is good, there are definitely some nice spots to stop and have lunch).
We went up in the morning and were back down in time for lunch.
Speaking of lunch, at the base of the hike, there is a quaint tea house (La Cabana Casa de te) which we visited on our return. It’s a nice, picturesque spot for hot tea and scones, and is worth factoring some extra time for if you want a post-trek treat.
What else is there to do around Ushuaia?
A lot of blogs and reviews I read about Ushuaia prior to visiting was that it “wasn’t worth the time”, or that there was nothing to do.
I suspect many of these reviews came from people who were passing through en route to Antarctica (Ushuaia is the main launching point for Antarctica cruises). I’m in a few Antarctica travel groups (’tis the dream, and all) and can confirm that the demographic who tend to go on these trips are – somewhat ironically – not necessarily the same demographic who enjoy hiking and outdoor adventures.
Ushuaia is mostly outdoors and hiking. It is not the place to visit if you’re interested in bustling city activities or cultural tours. There are plenty of nice day hikes in the area, like the stunning trek to Laguna Esmeralda and nearby Laguna Turquesa. Of course, there is also the famous Tierra del Fuego (‘Land of Fire’) National Park, which has an abundance of hiking trails and is also home to the world’s southernmost train – dubbed the ‘End of the World’ train.
We also enjoyed an amazing Beagle Channel boat trip, which was one of the highlights for me and one of my top recommendations in Ushuaia.
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