El Chaltén Travel Guide

El Chaltén may be a small village but it’s a must-see for all adventurous travellers heading to Patagonia. Get the low-down on what to see and do in El Chaltén with Daytours4u's handy travel guide, with helpful facts, insider tips, weather and transport information and a guide to the best tours and activities in El Chaltén.

The main attraction of the trails is Mount Fitz Roy / Photo: Canva Pro

GENERAL INFO EL CHALTEN

Nestled at the base of the towering Mount Fitz Roy and Cerro Torre is the picturesque small Patagonian village of El Chaltén. El Chaltén’s prime location at the feet of Patagonia’s most iconic peaks in the Los Glaciares National Park has ensured its status as a hiking and rock climbing mecca. It's no surprise then that it has become known as Argentina's Trekking Capital.

The town and its name are defined by the striking mountains looming over it. Chaltén is the tehuelche name for Mount Fitz Roy, which means "smoking mountain." The high peaks of the mountain were always covered in cloud, which locals mistook for smoke, taking the mountain to be a volcano.

El Chaltén is the youngest town in Argentina, founded in 1985. At the time, this territory was the centre of a dispute between Argentina and Chile, and the founding of El Chaltén was the Santa Cruz provincial government’s way of staking its claim over the land and defending Argentina's border. Later, in 1994, an international jury sided with Argentina, placing El Chaltén and its surrounding lands officially under Argentina’s sovereignty.

While the town is new, it is growing rapidly. As its spectacular hiking routes become more acclaimed, and word spreads amongst rock climbers and hikers, the number of visitors each year increases. While the town only has around 300 permenant inhabitants, this number increases dramatically in peak season, particularly January and February, reaching upwards of 40, 000 tourists over the course of the season. This increase in tourism has led to a boom of activity in town, which means there is almost always ongoing construction as it expands. Despite the buzz of activity, the town remains tiny and laid back, the perfect place to escape city life and immerse oneself in nature!

EL CHALTEN HIGHLIGHTS

The location of El Chaltén makes it aparadise for all lovers of the outdoors. The scenery here is rugged and wild, with dramatic mountain peaks, vast ice fields, secluded lakes and lush forests. Besides the breathtaking scenery, this region is also a great place to spot some wildlife, with an amazing bird population, including the Patagonian parrot. If you're lucky, you may even spot a South Andean Huemul, an endangered deer species, native to the Argentinean and Chilean mountains.

The hiking trails are El Chaltén’s main drawcard. There are many routes to choose from to navigate Mount Fitz Roy and Cerro Torre. Popular self-guided treks include Laguna de los Tres, Laguna Torre, Condor Mirador and Eagle Miradors. There are a wide variety of treks to choose from, offering something for everyone from sedentary first-time hikers, to the more experienced mountaineers and rock climbers. All trails start in town and are well-signposted meaning it is very difficult to get lost. To find out more about the hiking trails in this area, read this trekking guide, complete with maps.

El Chaltén’s position in the heart of the stunning Los Glaciares National Park means that a visit to a glacier is simply unmissable. The Viedma Glacier, on Lake Viedma is Argentina’s largest glacier, after recent measurements discovered it was in fact bigger than the Upsala, one of the largest and most important glaciers in the National Park. Located in the heart of the Southern Patagonian ice field, the Viedma Glacier is an impressive sight indeed, with a huge ice wall rising up from the lake, and a width of 2km. Get up close and personal with the glacier, with either a sedate option of a Lake Viedma Cruise, or put some crampons on and go ice trekking on the glacier itself, with a beginner option as well as lengthier trek for the truly adventurous.

Besides mountains and glaciers, El Chaltén is also a great base for exploring lakes and forests. Lago del Desierto, or the Desert Lake, roughly two hours drive from El Chaltén, is well worth the trip for the breathtaking scenery. Once here, you can take a relaxed cruise on the lake, go hiking in the surrounding mountains and forests, kayak on the lake, visit the Humuel Glacier, or simply picnic next to the lake enjoying the tranquility. Don’t be put off if the weather is bad - locals recommend taking a trip to Desert Lake on a rainy day, when the misty green forest, dripping with rain, is especially enchanting.

Another attraction on the way to Lago del Desierto is Chorillo del Salta - the trickling falls. This waterfall is 4km North of El Chaltén, on the road to Lago del Desierto. The falls are small - don't expect anything on the scale of Iguazu - but they are sheltered from the wind and have secluded pools to swim in, making it an idyllic place to have a picnic and soak up some summer sun. Very popular with the locals!

If you’re not up for walking or hiking, you can opt to go horse riding instead on the mountain and forest trails, with an authentic gaucho guide. Tours start in town. El Chaltén has also become a popular mountain biking destination. You can hire a bicycle or book a cycling tour in town.

Halfway between El Chaltén and El Calafate is the lunar landscape of the La Leona Petrified Forest (Bosque Petrificado La Leona). Amidst the snow-capped mountains, glaciers and deep-green forests, this desert landscape stands in stark contrast to its surroundings. An earth depression in this old river delta caused ancient tree fossils to emerge, dating back around 100 million years. This land has also revealed a number of animal skeletons, including the vertebra of an Argentinosaurus. This is a great excursion to take on your journey travelling between El Chaltén and El Calafate.

El Chaltén is the best place to visit during your stay in Argentina / Photo: Canva Pro

HOW TO GET TO EL CHALTEN

El Chaltén is 212 kilometers from El Calafate. There is a new road, in excellent condition, between these towns, which takes around 3 hours to traverse by car, or around 4 hours by bus.

By Bus

There are several buses per day between El Calafate and El Chaltén, such as Las Lenguas. You can find a bus timetable here. Be aware that buses are less frequent during low season from March to December.

By Plane

The nearest airport is El Calafate (FTE). Aerolineas Argentina and LAN have regular flights from Buenos Aires.

Alternatively, hire a car in El Calafate and drive this beautiful route. Be aware that there is only one stopping point en route with gas, food and restroom facilities, which is La Leona, 110 km from El Calafate. This ranch is well worth stopping at for a bit of history: Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid stopped at this very ranch on their way to Chile, whilst on the run from the law.

WEATHER IN EL CHALTEN

The weather in El Chaltén, as in the rest of Patagonia, is incredibly unpredictable. Strong winds, especially in summer are responsible for rapidly changing conditions, so be prepared for different seasons in one day

Summer: Temperatures are mild, with warm daily temperatures, ranging between 12°C and 24°C. You will need warm layers and waterproof clothing, as temperatures drop to around 7°C at night. Cloudy and rainy days are frequent thanks to the proximity to the Ice Field. Be prepared for all weather conditions, especially while hiking.

Winter:The average temperature in winter is around 3°C, ranging between -1 and 6°C, although can vary considerably during the day.

The weather in Patagonia is unpredictable, so we recommend you to have warm clothes / Photo: Canva Pro

USEFUL TIPS EL CHALTEN

The Parque Nacional Office (National Park Office), located at the entrance to the town, should be your first port of call on arrival in El Chaltén for the most up to date information. Their helpful rangers are bilingual and can help you plan your hiking treks, as well as provide recommendations on where to stay in town and which restaurants to go to.

While the town has recently received cellphone signal, be aware that this is not reliable and large sections of the National Park are without signal. Most places have an internet connection / wifi, and there are internet cafes in town.

The town itself is small enough to get around by foot - or with car, although many streets are still gravel.

There are no banks in town, although there is an ATM. Take cash with you because not every place has credit card facilities.

There are a number of accommodation options in and around El Chaltén. If you want to get even closer to nature, there is also a great camping site at Piedra del Fraile. The National Park allows free camping in the mountains, although this is subject to weather conditions. You will need to book well in advance if you're travelling to El Chaltén in peak season, because accommodation is limited.

Festivals in El Chalten

The National Festival of Trekking (Fiesta Nacional de Trekking) is held annually in the first weekend of February. The festival celebrates the first Argentinean attempt to conquer Mount Fitz Roy in 1948. The festival is jam-packed with various competitive events, ranging from rock climbing, to mountain biking as a well as a tree chopping competition. While the festival is a good party with live music, there is also a focus on environmental education.

Start planning your Patagonian adventure and book one of our El Chaltén tours and activities!

 

By: Daytours4u Team Content.