El Chaltén is truly a hikers paradise and one of the most wonderful remote places. This is where you base to do SO many of the epic hikes in Argentinian Patagonia such as Mount Fitz Roy (Laguna De Los Tres) and Laguna Torre. The thing I love most about El Chaltén is that it is comfortable and has great food and accommodation. I’m a bougie outdoors girl so I love when I can be hiking all day but have a glass of wine, a good shower, and a cozy bed at night. In El Chaltén, you can have it all!
How to Get to El Chaltén, Argentina. Do you need a car?
Getting to El Chaltén by car
We rented a car to get around Patagonia for this trip and I was SO glad that we did. Honestly, you don’t really need one, and you don’t need to drive that often, but having the flexibility was a life saver.
Driving from El Calafate to El Chaltén is also truly one of the most beautiful drives I’ve ever done in my life and we got out of the car SO MANY TIMES. We got out nearly every time we saw guanacos on the side of the road. We got out to see lakes, to see mountains, to see an emu, to see rainbows, the list goes on and on. I would have been so bummed if we were in a ride or a shared transfer and we couldn’t stop to check things out.
We also had rough weather during our trip (common for Patagonia). When we decided to make changes or switch plans up, having the car made that possible. If we had to wait for a bus schedule or shared rides we may not have been able to adapt our itinerary in the same way.
Actually driving is VERY easy here. The roads are extremely straight forward and simple and we had no problem actually driving.
Getting to El Chaltén by bus
You can easily take a bus from El Calafate to El Chaltén. You can take a bus from the airport in El Calafate or from the town center. In El Chaltén the bus terminal is right on the edge of town and is easily walkable. This is going to be your most affordable yet least flexible option.
Taking a group transfer or tour to El Chaltén
You also would have the option of taking a group tour or transfer here. This cost can vary depending on the type of transfer and whether it is shared or private. This will likely give you a little more flexibility regarding time and comfort.
What about El Calafate?
Since you’ll be coming to El Chalten from either El Calafate or straight from the airport, I also have a post about El Calafate. You can check it out here if you need it —-> El Calafate
Weather in El Chaltén
If you’re planning Patagonia, I’m pretty sure you already know, the weather here can be wildly unpredictable. We were lucky on our first visit in Chile that we had mostly dry skies during our trip. We were NOT lucky this time. Of the 3 full days we spent in El Chaltén (supposed to be 4) it rained about 85% of the time. There was NO visibility. And we only saw Fitz Roy a total of about 20 minutes in the whole entire 3 days.
Obviously this is not to say that you’ll heave weather like this. Anything can happen in any season. Just to say that you should always be prepared that this is a possibility. Have the right rain/cold gear for the trip, and be prepared for anything.
Where to stay in El Chaltén
Chaltén Suites for a mid range stay
This is where we stayed and honestly we found it to be a solid stay. It was located perfectly in the center of town and we could walk to anything we wanted to do. Our room was spacious and clean and we had a balcony overlooking the mountains. The shower was warm, the bed was comfortable, and that’s about all you can ask for in a mountain town! We enjoyed coffee and breakfast every morning. The hotel also had a restaurant but we didn’t try it for lunch or dinner.
To check availability and book this hotel —–> click here
Destino Sur for a more “luxury” stay in El Chaltén
I put luxury in quotes because it’s important to note that in remote locations like this, luxury may not entirely be the same as what you’re used to. This doesn’t mean this place isn’t wonderful. It just means that things may be a tad different. This place has spa facilities, beautiful and large rooms, bike rentals, help with tour bookings, etc. The superior and premium rooms are noticeably larger and more comfortable looking.
To check availability and book this hotel —–> click here
Bucket list stay: OVO Patagonia, I seriously want to do this one day!
I didn’t book this experience/stay for our trip and I’m really glad I didn’t. Since the weather was so bad on our trip we would have had no visibility. BUT this looks like an absolutely bucket list experience that I would love to have someday. You’re essentially in a little dome hanging off the side of a mountain with views over the whole scene! This is definitely one of those spots where the stay IS the experience! They have options that include meals and wine etc. I would absolutely LOVE to do this if we visit again and are blessed with better weather.
If you want to check this spot out and book —> click here
Best Spots to Eat in El Chaltén aka Things to Do In El Chaltén when it rains
The weather during our trip was horrible, so we got to try out a surprising amount of spots in town during our brief visit. Popping in and out of some of these spots and trying to make the most of it was sometimes the only thing to do with how bad the weather and visibility was.
Lito Ristoran for the most cozy delightful charm
This spot was incredible. It really felt like you went over your families house for dinner. If we had another night in El Chaltén I would have likely eaten here again. After a long day of hiking it was the most welcoming place. We started with a delicious soup and some house made focaccia. It was all fantastic! Then I had ravioli and my husband had a steak. Everything was delicious! The couple that runs this place was the most kind and welcoming. We felt so at home here and highly recommend it.
Asadores for the best asado and a very worthy tasting menu
This is the reservation you’ve gotta get while you’re in El Chaltén. We saw countless people come in during our meal to ask for a table and get turned away. There is a REASON it is so popular. We LOVED this meal! They had a few different options for tasting menus. We went with the full experience. This included everything you see pictured below. Started with delicious empenadas, then moved on to a trio of sausages and sauces. One of my favorite things about Argentina was that you always got an assortment of different dips to go with your meat! After the sausages was the cheese course, which is always my favorite. We had a lovely salad, and then came the meats. The steak was incredible and cooked right in a blazing open fire that you could see from the dining area. The desert was fantastic too.
La Vineria for a cozy and refined dinner
This was like a perfect mix between Asadores and Lito. It was lovely and a little more upscale. They had a great wine list and some fantastic meats. The price range was right in the middle as well. Don’t be fooled by that photo that looks like a salad, it was an absolutely delicious plate of cheese! You can see the pull in the following photo! The meat was fantastic too and they had many great wine choices!
La Wafleria for waffles but also empendada!
We stopped into this spot looking for a coffee and a treat and ended up with absolutely amazing empenadas. To be fair though, this spot does have waffles and everyone in the place seemed to love them. Again, we were in town during a crazy rainy few days, so this was such a great spot for people to relax, play cards, and snack on a sweet treat together.
Cerveceria Patagonia for a communal hang
This was a great hang out spot and had a really nice vibe. We just popped in for a drink during a rain storm for something to do. It was definitely the kind of place you gather with your friends for a drink and a card game after a long day of hiking.
Meme’s Cakes for a delicious sweet treat
This place was always packed and when we finally got a spot in there we figured out why! It was absolutely delightful! It’s the perfect place for a coffee and a sweet treat after a day of hiking! This seems repetitive, but obviously this town is all about the hiking and then having a good place to chill afterwards and Meme’s cakes fits the bill!
Malbec & Macchiato for relaxed vibes, wine, and snacks
This place is so cute and VERY chilled out. Perfect spot for a little snack and a drink after a hike or during happy hour. We loved the cozy vibes.
Hikes & things to do in/from El Chaltén
Hike Mount Fitz Roy aka Laguna De Los Tres
| Hike | Distance | Elevation Gain | Average Time | Difficulty |
|---|
| Laguna de los Tres | ~15.5 mi / 25 km | ~2,450 ft / 750 m | 8–9 hrs | Moderate–challenging |
This is absolutely the most epic hike on the Argentina side of Patagonia. The great thing about this hike is that not only is actually seeing Mount Fitz Roy a dream, but the entire way is stunning. You hike through so many different landscapes and terrain. If you get a day like we did you’ll also hike through a ton of different weather.
This hike isn’t super hard until the very end. The first few hours are not technical and don’t require too much of you physically. The final climb is a bit of a doozy. It takes about an hour and it’s a lot of elevation at once. But it’s SO worth it when you get there!
This hike takes about 7-8 hours in total and it’s important to be very on top of the weather for this one. Some days you can have absolutely no visibility at all. We used an app called windguru to help us decide when to hike.
Laguna Torre
| Hike | Distance | Elevation Gain | Average Time | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Laguna Torre | ~11.8 mi / 19 km | ~800 ft / 250 m | 7–8 hrs | Moderate |
This hike is long and beautiful but not very challenging at all. I think anyone who is reasonably fit, sets out early enough, and has enough time can do and enjoy this one. We were lucky to visit in the fall when all of the trees were changing colors and some of the scenery on this hike was just mind blowing!
You are exposed to the elements for a lot of this hike, so be prepared for wind and to not have a lot of shelter if its raining etc. Right before the final push to see the lake there is a pretty significant wooded area. We actually spent some time hiding out from the wind there and going back and forth to see if the visibility was any better at the lake.
When we finally reached Laguna Torre we were met with some of the wildest wind EVER. People were having a hard time standing up, some were hiding behind rocks, things were blowing everywhere, it was actually quite amusing. We tried to get some pictures, but it’s one of those situations where you’re nervous to even have your phone out, you have to hold it with two hands.
Mirador de Los Condores & Mirador De Las Aguilas
| Hike | Distance | Elevation Gain | Average Time | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mirador de los Cóndores | ~1.6–2.5 mi / 2.6–4 km | ~330–425 ft / 100–130 m | ~1–2 hrs | Easy |
We did this hike twice due to weather. The day we arrived we decided to do it since it was an easy and quick one and we could test out our gear for hiking Fitz Roy. Thank goodness we did, because we found out that my waterproof pants weren’t really waterproof. This is why you see me in a poncho in all the Fitz Roy hike pics.
Anyway, it was honestly kind of a stupid and brutal hike in the pouring rain. There was no visibility and it’s not too thrilling of a hike besides the views. But we did it anyway.
After we finished hiking Laguna Torre a few days later, the sun came out and it was the first time we could see Fitz Roy from town the whole trip. I immediately forced my husband to hike it again so we could see it in all its glory.
We got up there so quick and it was so worth it! I’m so glad we did it. I wished we’d gotten the opportunity to do it for sunset. Maybe next time. Patagonia weather really got the better of us this time.
Hiking with a guide
Nearly all of the trails here can be done entirely on your own. But I know that not everyone feels comfortable with that. If you do want to hike this area with a guide, there are tons of options.
You can check out options that might suit you and book here —> click here
Practical Information
What is the National Park pass and why do you need it for hiking in El Chaltén?
In recent years Argentina has decided to charge for many of the hikes in El Chaltén. You can buy National Park passes that include 1, 3, 5 days etc. We purchased a week long pass and it covered everything we did in El Calafate and El Chaltén. It was a QR code you kept on your phone to show at huts before the hikes. Even when we started the Laguna De Los Tres hike well before the sunrise, we were checked.
Money in El Chaltén
We were encouraged to bring lots of cash to Argentina and told we wouldn’t be able to use our cards a lot. In the end that was pretty much entirely false. Even the most small shops and restaurants took card. We had brought so much cash with us that we tried to pay for things in cash and they’d often encourage us to use our cards saying the exchange rate was actually better when using a card. In the end we came home from Argentina with a ton of cash we didn’t use.
Safety in El Chaltén
I know what you’re thinking, but I don’t mean safety in the sense of crime. El Chaltén is incredibly safe and only very small crimes of opportunity are likely here. What I mean about safety is that you’re in a VERY remote town in the mountains of a VERY remote area of the world. I don’t know if I would travel here if I had any health conditions I was worried about and I wouldn’t want to do any hiking if it wasn’t sure of my fitness. This is a very challenging place to get immediate help if there was an issue.
There is a health center in El Chaltén but no hospital. If you had a serious situation you’d need to be air lifted or drive back to El Calafate which is at minimum 2.5 hours away. This is just something to keep in mind when you’re traveling to this part of the world.
I’m not going to lie and say we get travel insurance before every trip, because we sure don’t! But whenever we do a mountain trip like this we ALWAYS do.
How to pack for visiting El Chaltén
I have put together a complete packing list for this type of trip and it’s on my shopmy page. You can find it here —-> Packing for Hiking
This detailed a number of things you need to know before visiting El Chaltén. If you want my super specific 18 Things You Need to Know Before You Visit Argentinean Patagonia, you can check that out by clicking the post title above. I think it’s very comprehensive and should cover anything you’d wonder about making the trip.
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