How to do the Refugio Otto Meiling Hike

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Planning to do the Refugio Otto Meiling hike in Argentina and not sure where to start? Let me help you plan this off-the-beaten-path Patagonia hike, with updated information for 2026…

On our recent six-week Patagonia trip, hiking was one of the main objectives and we did some incredible hikes – eight days on the O Trek, the iconic Fitz Roy base hike, lots of miradors overlooking mountains and lakes – but the two day Refugio Otto Meiling hike was one of our absolute favorites.

The reason this hike is special is that, as well as being a stunning setting for a refugio (backcountry mountain hut), it was largely Argentines who were doing it, making it the perfect off-the-beaten-path hiking option in a part of the world where you more often than not see foreigners on the trail.

The hut is backed by two giant glaciers with multiple waterfalls and you can walk right up to the glacier behind the hut. It is also a really good place to see Andean condors, the largest flying bird in the world, and we saw many of these magnificent birds really close as the curious birds flew by us back and forth when we were outside the hut – incredible!

Because it isn’t a super well-known hike, I did find that a lot of the already scarce information online wasn’t accurate anymore, as things have changed a lot in the past few years.

I wanted to share how to book the hike in 2026 and beyond, how to get there, and what the refugio and the hike are like so I can make it easier for you to add this excellent Patagonia adventure to your itinerary – it’s definitely worth it!

Our Experience Hiking to the Refugio Otto Meiling and Back

Day One: Pampa Linda to Refugio Otto Meiling

We hit the trail after arriving at the trailhead in Pampa Linda at 10.30am, and it was already getting hot. The first hour of the trail is mostly flat, and you will be hiking through the forest. We saw a few of the majestic red-headed Magellanic Woodpeckers, the largest in South America, along this part of the trail.

After hiking for 1.75 miles/2.8km, we reached the Castaño Overo River and crossed the bridge, then the trail started to climb. We hiked up switchbacks through the forest, taking the shortcuts marked by signs with pictures of the animals that live in the forest. The shortcuts are definitely worth taking as they cut off large sections of the trail and they are short and aren’t too much steeper than the main trail.

Make sure to follow the signs for Refugio Otto Meiling, as there are a couple of turn-offs to different places along the way.

As we rose higher, we started getting glimpses of the Castaño Overo Glacier, and all of the waterfalls running from the bottom of the glacier and down into the valley were simply spectacular.

There is a hosepipe on the right-hand side of the trail with a sign saying this is the last water till the top, so make sure to fill up if you need to. A little while after that, we reached a clearing and then the trail turned into tight, steep switchbacks. Take your time, this part is tough – especially if it is hot like the day we did it.

There is a clearing under the trees with logs to sit on at the top of this section that is the perfect place to take a break and stop for lunch or a snack.

The next section is more gradual again, and we were exposed to the sun as we left the tree cover. We started to get more and more incredible views of the surrounding mountains, glaciers and waterfalls, and back down to the valley that we started in.

The dirt trail gave way to the last section of the hike, an exposed rocky trail with the best views over the Castaño Overo Glacier and its many waterfalls. While this section of the trail is steeper, it isn’t too difficult; just watch your footing. As we got closer, we saw a little house above us. It isn’t the Refugio Otto Meiling itself, but the refugio is just beyond.

Just before reaching the hut, we had a few curious condors flying really close to us and checking us out. They were hovering close to us and then doing fly-bys. Pretty incredible! I wish I got a picture but I was too busy watching them.

And then we were there.

Once at the hut, we were afforded panoramic views of the Castaño Overo Glacier and Alerce Glacier, waterfalls coming off the glaciers, the snow-covered Mount Tronador, and the green valley below. I would say the Refugio Otto Meiling has the most spectacular views of any hut I have ever stayed at – just wow.

The temperature dropped and was much more pleasant than the blaring heat we had been dealing with and the wind also picked up. It made me happy that we had booked to stay in the refugio and that we weren’t camping. We checked in and relaxed in the refugio for the rest of the evening, popping outside to take in the view as the sun set and the sky changed color.

Day Two: Getting Close to the Glaciers and Hiking From Refugio Otto Meiling to Pampa Linda

After breakfast, we went for a walk above the hut, first to the Castaño Overo Glacier where we could overlook it from above as it looked difficult to climb down to. I skirted the glacier and hiked up to the glacier above us and filled my water bottle directly from a small waterfall coming off the glacier – the water was very cold and delicious.

From there, we hiked back down to the hut. It was around 45 minutes of hiking overall but you could spend much longer exploring, just make sure not to stand on a glacier as it can be dangerous.

As the return shuttle wasn’t till 5pm, we spent time reading and taking in the views outside the refugio for another hour before starting our return trek to Pampa Linda.

The hike down was faster and easier and we only stopped once, to eat our lunch. It was another hot but beautiful day.

We still arrived a couple of hours before the shuttle was due to depart so we had a cold drink on the lawn of one of the restaurants in Pampa Linda and went down to the river to paddle in the freezing but refreshing water.

And then after two hours on the shuttle, we were back in Bariloche, tired but happy.

Refugio Otto Meiling Trail Stats

16 miles/25.5km out and back from Pampa Linda to Refugio Otto Meiling over two days.
3450 feet/1050 meters elevation gain – all on day one.
It took us 4.5 hours with breaks to reach the top, and 3.25 hours to hike down.

What the Refugio Otto Meiling is Like

I was pleasantly surprised by the Refugio Otto Meiling. It is rustic but cozy. I had read in multiple blogs that the sleeping quarters upstairs consisted of just mattresses on the floor next to each other, but fortunately they have upgraded this and extended the top floor, and there are now partitioned rooms with around four sets of bunks per room. There are some double bunks too, and we found the beds quite comfortable.

You aren’t allowed to bring your bags inside the hut communal area or upstairs, you can either leave them outside or on a hook in the entry area. You are allowed to bring what you need upstairs so I took a small canvas bag up with my pajamas, eye mask, earplugs, power bank, phone, and book.

Downstairs is the kitchen where staff prepare meals and drinks, and a communal dining room with long tables and benches, and a couple of couches. You can charge your devices in this area, and this is where meals are served. If it’s cold or wet, there is a log burner and a hanging drying rack to dry wet clothes.

On arrival, we ordered a couple of drinks – Toby had a couple of beers and I had a really good homemade pomelo (grapefruit) juice mixed with sparkling water. We put in our order for dinner – Toby had a steak with mashed potato which he said was incredible, and I had the vegetarian option of the day, a huge and delicious vegetable cannelloni dish. Dinner is accompanied by homemade bread and is served around 8.30pm, quite late for me so luckily I had some snacks to keep me going.

You can also get half-board and full-board options, toasted sandwiches, snacks, soup, and dessert.

Breakfast is served at 8am and consists of a hot drink (coffee, tea or hot chocolate), homemade bread and fruit jam, dulce de leche, yogurt, granola, and grapefruit or orange juice.

If you would like to save money, you can bring your own meals to cook but you will need to bring your own cookware, eating utensils, stove and propane, and you will need to cook outside, although you are welcome to eat inside, as long as it isn’t during the breakfast, lunch, or dinner service. You used to be able to pay to use the kitchen but that is no longer the case.

There is hot water available at a cost and drinking water is free and can be accessed by an outside tap. I also filled my bottle straight from glacial runoff when I hiked up to the glacier, and that water was really cold and tasted amazing.

The only thing I didn’t like about the refugio and its offerings were the toilets. There are two flimsy stalls for mixed use, and you definitely don’t feel like you have enough privacy. There was nearly always a line to use the toilets and you either need to ask a staff member for toilet paper or you can bring your own.

The toilets didn’t smell great by later in the evening and there is also only one sink, so there was a line to brush teeth/wash faces. There are no showers, but that isn’t an issue for me for only one or two nights.

Outside the refugio, there are a few outdoor chairs scattered around – perfect to soak up the incredible views. Sunset up here is definitely a time you want to be outside as the sky changes to pinks and oranges. There is also a small pool in front of the hut that some people swam in when they first arrived and were hot and sweaty from the hike.

How To Book the Refugio Otto Meiling

While in the past you weren’t able to book the refugio in advance, you would just need to show up and hope for the best, you now can book it online. If you are traveling in the busier summer months of December through February, I recommend booking it – even if it is just a few days in advance.

If you are bringing your own tent and camping gear this isn’t as necessary as you can pretty much camp anywhere around the refugio.

Send a reservation request through the contact form on the official Refugio Otto Meiling website and they will get back to you with prices and how to pay. We paid US$64 per person via PayPal for one night in the refugio in January 2026 and you can correspond in English if you don’t speak Spanish.

If you do want to wing it, you can just show up at the refugio, and as long as they have space, you can pay for your bed when you arrive.

You can also book sleeping bags (although the free blankets were enough for us), food, and excursions in advance. We ordered and paid for food when we were there and this is easy to do. Make sure to bring cash – they do accept credit cards, but there is a 10% charge on card payments.

I wish we had booked one of the glacier walking excursions in advance as they are great value and sounded so fun. They were sold out so we weren’t able to book it once we arrived at the refugio. If you do plan to do one of the longer excursions, you will probably want to book two nights at the refugio.

How To Get to the Refugio Otto Meiling Trail Head

The trailhead in Pampa Linda, a scenic valley and small tourist outpost in Nahuel Huapi National Park, can be reached by driving 2-2.5 hours (85km) from Bariloche, where most people stay before and after the trek. Once you enter the national park, the second half of this drive is on a well-maintained gravel road.

You will either need your own vehicle to reach Pampa Linda, or you can book the return shuttle when you book the Refugio. The pick-up and drop-off point is at a convenient location in downtown Bariloche. Pick up is at 8am in Bariloche and returning from Pampa Linda, the shuttle departs at 5pm. We paid US$57 per person for the return shuttle in January 2026.

Although it is possible to do this hike as one long day trip if you don’t want to stay overnight in the refugio, it won’t be possible if you are taking the shuttle (unless you are super fast or a trail runner) as you won’t be able to hit the trail until around 10.30am and you would need to be back in Pampa Linda by 5pm.

If you are driving there yourself, be aware that there are strict timings of when you can use the road going into the park and coming out. There is more information about this here.

What to Pack For the Refugio Otto Meiling Hike

Hiking boots/shoes – the last part of the trail is pretty uneven and rocky so I recommend proper hiking shoes or boots instead of sneakers.
Toilet paper – it’s best to bring your own but they do have some you can ask for as well.
Warm clothes for the evening – you’d be surprised how cold it gets here once the sun goes down. Pack a thermal base layer top, and possibly a down jacket.
Inside shoes – you are not allowed to wear your hiking shoes upstairs in the sleeping quarters, and after hiking for hours, I am sure you will want to take off your hiking boots anyway. I love my Tevas.
Lunch and snacks for both days – you will eat breakfast and dinner at the refugio.
Electrolytes – we hiked on two very hot days and electrolytes were definitely needed as I sweated a lot.
Phone charger – you can charge them in the refugio communal area.
Sleeping bag liner – as there are blankets provided, you could just bring a sleeping bag liner to save bag space.
Rain Jacket – the weather can be unpredicatable so make sure you pack a rain jacket.
Pillow – Pillows aren’t provided so bring a travel pillow if this is something you can’t do without.
Cards or a book – some entertainment for the evening. They also have some board games you can use.
Eye mask and earplugs – there are no curtains on the refugio windows and you may end up with a snorer in the bunk next to you so unless you are a heavy sleeper, don’t forget these.
Small canvas bag – to bring your essentials up to the sleeping room in.
Body wipes – there aren’t showers at the refugio so it’s nice to have these, especially when you sweat a lot hiking up.
Head torch – in case you need to use the toilets at night.
Trekking poles to help with the downhill – your knees will thank you!
CamelBak – this makes it easier to hydrate when you are hiking.

The Best Time of Year To Do the Refugio Otto Meiling Hike

The refugio is only open from October to May every year, and the best time to do the hike weather-wise is mid-December through mid-March. Make sure to talk to Club Andino, who own the hut, either at their office in Bariloche or through their contact form online, to check weather conditions and make sure it is safe to hike – especially if it is outside the peak summer months.

Checklist Before You Go

Purchase your Nahuel Huapi National Park in advance online. Make sure to book for the amount of days you will be in the park.
Fill in your Trekking Registration form – it’s a Google form you will be sent to fill out once you book the refugio.
Book your accommodation, and excursions and shuttles if required. Print your reservations out to show at the hut.
Bring enough cash for meals and drinks, and a credit card just in case (it is really pricey at the refugio as they have to bring in their supplies on foot).
Pack your lunches and snacks for the hike.
Check the weather. There can be snowstorms, strong winds, crazy rain – it’s the mountains so expect unpredictable mountain weather and make sure you are prepared.

Where to Stay Before Your Hike

We really didn’t like the place we stayed, but there are many great accommodation options in and around Bariloche. If I did it again, I would stay further outside of town, close to the small villages around the Circuito Chico, although if you don’t have a vehicle it would be more difficult to get around.

For budget stays, La Justina Hostel, Reviviendo Hostel, and Bonita Lake House all have excellent reviews and have both private rooms and dorms available.

Some solid midrange options include Design Suites Bariloche, Refugio del Lago, and Hosteria Antu Kuyen. For a more luxurious stay, consider Lirolay Suites Apart Hotel, Aldebaran Hotel & Spa, and Charming Luxury Lodge and Private Spa.

The Best Travel Insurance For Your Argentina Trip

Make sure you get travel and health insurance before your Galapagos trip, just to be on the safe side. Safety Wing is my go-to and they are cheap and easy to claim with.

Safety Wing also allows you to sign up when you are already traveling, unlike a lot of other travel insurance providers.

If you enjoyed this post, check out my other multi-day hiking posts:

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February 15, 2026 by theworldonmynecklace | 0 comments

The World on my Necklace

Everything You Need to Know About the Refugio Otto Meiling Hike in Argentina