Travel Guide of El Chaltén in Argentina by Influencers and Travelers
El Chaltén is a small mountain village in Santa Cruz Province, Argentina. It is located on the riverside of Rio de las Vueltas, within the Los Glaciares National Park near the base of Cerro Torre and Cerro Fitz Roy spires, both popular for climbing.
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The Best Things to Do and Visit in El Chaltén
TRAVELERS TOP 7 :
1 - Lago Argentino Department
Lago Argentino Department is a department in Santa Cruz Province, Argentina. It has a population of 7,500 and an area of 37,292 km². The seat of the department is in El Calafate. Lago Argentino is a major lake in the department.
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2 - Monte Fitz Roy
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3 - Rafting in El Chaltén
11 km away
Rafting is an activity that mixes adventure, emotion and adrenaline. The Rio de las Vueltas offers an ideal setting for this activity. In its first section, the calm waters of the river allow us to connect with nature and contemplate the beauty of the landscape framed by the imposing Cerro Fitz Roy and its satellite needles, in addition to eventually being able to see local fauna and birds. After having covered approximately 5 kms we cross the first rapid, which the guides call "Portage", after that first rapid begins a succession of rapids of approximately 10 kms, which will cause a lot of adrenaline, fun and will give you the right dose of adventure to an experience that will awaken all your senses and will make you experience Patagonia from a completely different perspective.
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4 - Fitz Roy
13 km away
Monte Fitz Roy is a mountain in Patagonia, on the border between Argentina and Chile. It is located in the Southern Patagonian Ice Field, near El Chaltén village and Viedma lake.
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5 - Viedma Glacier
22 km away
Viedma Lake, approximately 50 miles long in southern Patagonia near the border between Chile and Argentina. It's a major elongated trough lake formed from melting glacial ice. Viedma Lake is the second largest lake in Argentina.
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6 - Camping in El Chaltén
11 km away
This 2-day trek offers the possibility of enjoying the most amazing views of Patagonia's most iconic massifs: Mount Fitz Roy and Cerro Torre as you camp for one night in the wild. You will get a close view of Fitz Roy and its glaciers from Laguna de los Tres viewpoint. Then, from Laguna Torre you can see Cerro Torre, Grande Glacier and Las Adelas. The set camp allows you to hike with no weight in your pack and you will have a comfortable dome to give you a good space for chilling with your new friends.
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7 - Perito Moreno Glacier
22 km away
The Perito Moreno Glacier is a glacier located in the Los Glaciares National Park in southwest Santa Cruz Province, Argentina. It is one of the most important tourist attractions in the Argentinian Patagonia.
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Pictures and Stories of El Chaltén from Influencers
8 pictures of El Chaltén from Daniel Burka, Sean Thoman, Dirk Spijkers and other travelers
- Road towards El Chalten Argentina ...click to read more
- Experienced by @Dirk Spijkers | ©Unsplash
- Preparing to ascend the peak ...click to read more
- Experienced by @Daniel Burka | ©Unsplash
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Why should you visit El Chaltén ?
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⛰️ Mountaineering ⛰️ Hill station ⛰️ Mountain range ⛰️ Hill ❄️ Glacial landformLearn More about El Chaltén
El Chalten is a village located in the department of Lago Argentino of the province of Santa Cruz in southern Argentina, in Patagonia. El Chalten is the Argentinean capital of trekking. This small village is located in the heart of the Andes, at the foot of the Fitz Roy. The village keeps growing due to the number of tourists who come to the area to hike its famous trails. It is the starting point of all the excursions around the Fitz Roy 11300 feet (3 441 m) and Cerro Torre 10300 feet (3 138 m), two mythical summits of the Andes.
When you arrive in El Chalten, there are two places you must visit: the visitors' center, a little before the entrance to the village, and the tourist office near the bus terminal. The first one is the park rangers' office, they have a lot of information about the different hikes and will be able to advise you according to your level and the weather. The second one will be able to show you the cheapest lodgings in El Chalten and will give you a map of the village with the different shops. Once you are settled in or ready to camp, all you have to do is choose one of the many trails available to you.
El Chalten to Laguna de Los Tres This is a fairly short hike of 6.2 miles (10 km) - 4 hours that leads to the Capri Lagoon and its free campground. You will have the opportunity to see the Laguna de Los Tres, the famous lagoon with Mount Fitz Roy in the background, the mountains are covered with cottony clouds, which makes one think of a volcano. The water of the lagoon is a beautiful milky blue and the towers of Mount Fitz Roy are impressive!
Many hikes are possible, some for half a day, others for several days, it is up to you to decide according to your level and your desires. In any case, you will be amazed by the splendor of the landscape, the Cero Fitz Roy mountains are a must in the region, during your escapades, you will encounter waterfalls, lagoons, glaciers, geological formations, and many other things that will satisfy your curiosity.
Frequently Asked Questions by Travelers planning a trip to El Chaltén
The weather is particularly unpredictable throughout the year in El Chalten, temperatures and weather can change suddenly during the day. Average temperatures are about the same throughout the year in El Chalten, but the best season is in summer from October to April, during other periods, restaurants and hotels are almost all closed. To visit the Mount Fitz Roy, make sure you have several layers of clothing and a windbreaker, the wind is quite powerful at the summit.
You can sleep for free only a 1h30 walk from El Chalten at the Capri lagoon campground. It's not the most practical thing, but it will save you from paying a lot of money for camping. You will be in the middle of nature in a beautiful environment and partially sheltered from the wind by the trees.
If you don't want to camp, you'll have to arrive early or with a reservation. The accommodations fill up extremely fast in the high season (December to February). Hotel Los Cerros Del Chaltén is a very good address.
The region is propitious for hiking, go to the ranger station, they will advise you on the hikes to do depending on your abilities and the weather. But otherwise, the most popular hike is Senda Pilar Chaltén, 13.6 miles 22 km and 3280 feet (1000 meters) difference in altitude, it is not the easiest hike but the view is worth the effort.
Where to Stay in El Chaltén
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More Travel spots to explore around El Chaltén
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❄️ Glacial landform spots ⛰️ Hill station spots ⛰️ Hill spots ⛰️ Mountain range spots ⛰️ Mountaineering spots 🛣️ Road trip spotsTravel map of El Chaltén
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