South AmericaPhoto by Sander Crombach on Unsplash
El Chaltén
Granite spires at dawn, glacier-fed lakes, lamb off the spit.
Why visit
01 / 10The case for going
Everyone pictures Patagonia as a mountaineer's gauntlet, but El Chaltén was built from scratch in 1985 as Argentina's trekking capital: the trails to Fitz Roy and Cerro Torre leave from the last street in town, and most are day-hikes.
Stand under the spires at first light and you are back for a craft beer by dinner.
What to do
02 / 10Ways to spend a day
Activities €50–150 total
- 01Trek to Laguna de los Tres for the classic Fitz Roy view. Book on GetYourGuide (opens in a new tab)
- 02Hike to Laguna Torre beneath the spire of Cerro Torre. Book on GetYourGuide (opens in a new tab)
- 03Walk onto the ice on a Perito Moreno glacier trek from El Calafate. Book on GetYourGuide (opens in a new tab)
- 04Spot condors and guanacos on the steppe trails. Book on GetYourGuide (opens in a new tab)
- 05Boat across Lago del Desierto toward the Huemul glacier. Book on GetYourGuide (opens in a new tab)
- 06Refuel on spit-roast lamb and craft beer in town. Book on GetYourGuide (opens in a new tab)
Book activities & tickets
Granite spires at dawn, glacier-fed lakes, lamb off the spit.
Where to stay
03 / 10The right base
Accommodation €40–80/night
In El Chaltén
El Chaltén village
trekking capital, the trails from your door
In El Calafate
Avenida del Libertador
El Calafate's main strip, the glacier base
Find a place to stay
How to get there
04 / 10Easiest way in
How to get around
05 / 10Once you land
Regular buses link El Calafate and El Chaltén in about three hours for 25 to 35 EUR, and the Perito Moreno glacier is an organised day-tour or transfer from El Calafate, roughly 60 to 80 EUR. Every El Chaltén trail starts on foot from the village edge.
Get around
What to eat
06 / 10Order this
Food €25–40/day
- TasteAtlas (opens in a new tab)
Cordero patagonico
spit-roast lamb
- TasteAtlas (opens in a new tab)
Empanadas
stuffed pastries
- TasteAtlas (opens in a new tab)
Milanesa
breaded cutlet
- TasteAtlas (opens in a new tab)
Dulce de leche
caramel spread
- TasteAtlas (opens in a new tab)
Calafate sour
berry cocktail
- TasteAtlas (opens in a new tab)
Alfajores
caramel cookies
By the numbers
07 / 10Cards on the table
Safety index
80/100
General guide, not advisory data
Best seasons
Summer · Fall
When it's at its best
Stay for
5 days
The sweet spot
Daily spend
$$
Mid-range
How to fit in
08 / 10Read the room
Watch the wind, not the clock: locals start the Laguna de los Tres climb in the dark because the peaks clear at dawn and cloud over by lunch. Afterwards the whole town piles into the breweries on San Martin to compare trail notes over a pint.
How to pack
09 / 10What goes in the bag
Best in Summer
Summer: highly changeable from 10 to 20C, with famously strong wind and sun that can flip to sleet within an hour even in January.
- a windproof and waterproof shell jacket
- sturdy broken-in hiking boots
- a warm hat and gloves
- layers for fast-changing weather
- strong sunscreen and sunglasses
- a refillable water bottle
How to prepare
10 / 10The boring bits
Three things worth sorting before you fly.
Tomorrow's detour
One place worth the trip.
Curated destinations, one a day.