La Tronconada

La Tronconada is a backcountry refuge in the Río Azul valley near El Bolsón, built in wood and used for overnight stays after a roughly 3–4 hour trek from Wharton. It’s close to the Cajón del Azul area and sits on the river, with access via Wharton and connecting paths through the area’s refugios network.

Inside stays have limited sleeping space (“plazas”), and you’ll need your own sleeping bag. Food and drinks are available with options ranging from breakfasts and snacks to cooked meals, and the refuge also runs a small basic shop (proveeduría). For washing, both overnight and tent campers use shared bathrooms with hot water for showers, and there’s a cooking setup inside the refuge for guests.

Planning the approach: you start from Wharton and follow the marked route that includes river crossings by footbridge(s); the final leg brings you to La Tronconada’s camping area after passing the nearby La Playita crossing point. Overnight stays have limited capacity, so securing a reservation in advance—especially in peak summer—is strongly advised; payment is commonly handled in cash, covering the stay ahead of time or at the start of the trail.