South America
Welcome Kit
Argentina
El Chaltén
Leave civilization behind and enjoy the unspoiled beauty of this mountain village: the Capital of Trekking.
Highlights
Set off and walk on enchanting roads. Stand facing the Torre and Fitz Roy mountains, impressive granite giants, the goal of hikers and climbers. Get carried away by paths that get through ñire and lenga forests, marked by clear-water rivers, paths that climb up high and show water mirrors reflecting the snow-capped mountaintops.
Challenge the Fitz Roy roads. Discovery days, nights under the stars and experiences with the mysticism of expedition adventurers will be waiting for you. Enjoy every circuit: Glaciar and Laguna Piedras Blancas, Laguna Torre and Campamento de Agostini, Glaciar Huemul and Laguna de los Tres, Laguna Toro and Loma del Pliegue Tumbado, Laguna Capri and the Río Blanco and Poincenot campsites, Laguna Sucia and Lagunas Madre e Hija, Piedra del Fraile and Río Eléctrico.
General Facts
El Chaltén is the National Capital of Trekking in Argentina.
El Chaltén, founded in 1985, is located in the southern Andes, within Los Glaciares National Park, in a valley where the De las Vueltas and Fitz Roy rivers converge. The Chaltén or Fitz Roy hill is the predominant figure of the landscape.
The term Chaltén comes from the aonikenk language with which the ancient Tehuelches named this mountain that they considered sacred. Its meaning is smoking mountain, because that is the impression it gives when the clouds meet the wind at its top.
The usual thing is to arrive by plane at El Calafate International Airport and from there by land the last 200 km to El Chaltén. From the airport to El Chaltén the lakes Argentino and Viedma are bordered, by paved road in excellent condition.
Map Location
Documentation
A valid Passport. Insurance information.
Most countries in America and
Western Europe do not require a visa.
Best Time to Go
The best time to travel to El Chaltén is from October to March, when temperatures are most pleasant.
High Season: begins in October and ends in April. During the austral summer the greatest concurrence of travelers is registered. With a temperate climate and long days due to the longest duration of sunlight of the year, during the season you will be able to carry out all the self-guided and organized activities.
Southern winter: from June to September the weather is cold and the days are short, the excursions do not operate and some sectors of the self-guided trails may be closed due to the accumulation of snow or mud due to thaw. The vast majority of services do not work but some shelters, cabins or apartments, markets and stores remain open. The winter snow and calm attract those seeking a different and more intimate experience with Patagonia.
May and September: These are “in-between” months where a lot of self-guided hikes are possible since the weather is not that cold, but most hikes don’t work. Some accommodations and restaurants remain closed. Walking the trails, contemplating the landscapes from the natural viewpoints or spending the night in campsites is a much calmer experience than in the months of the tourist season.
Clothing
A trip to El Chalten means, in most cases, enjoying the outdoors and getting close to nature. Thus, binoculars will help to see wildlife more closely, or the detail of the ice of a glacier. If you take a hiking tour, especially on top of the ice of the glaciers, it is advisable to wear gloves that protect the hands of the edges of the ice, in the case of a fall or having to rely on something solid. It is convenient to wear a scarf or windbreaker. In most places you will need a jacket and a fleece coat or similar, even if it is summer, since in the same day you can have all 4 seasons.
Good shoes will be necessary. Boots or good walking shoes will be very useful, especially if planning activities to the outdoors.
Apart from clothes, it is advisable to take: sunscreen, creams, flashlight, medicines in case you need them.
Healthcare
Some adventure tours in the area have a specific physical requirement, check if in doubt with your doctor.
Packing
Argentinean flights allow, as their restrictions are limited to 33 pounds (15 kg) per person.
Currency
Peso Argentino.
Major credit cards are widely accepted.
Electricity
Argentina: 220 V – 60 Hz.
Plugs Type C / I
Local Taxes
Foodie
The food and beverage sector has diversified a lot in the tourist village, so you will find almost any menu according to your preferences: bars, pizzerias and restaurants with regional, gourmet and international specialties, artisanal products, dishes for vegetarians or vegans, options suitable for celiacs and much more.
When we talk about the local food of El Chaltén, you can not miss as in almost the entire area of Patagonia, the Lamb, although they are also characteristic of the area, trout, salmon and deer.
Red meat
The Patagonian lamb is the most requested dish by tourists and although you can eat it in different ways, you can not leave the area without trying a good lamb “al asador” (barbecued)
Also typical are choique (rhea or ostrich) and guanaco dishes.
Guanaco meat is tasty and lean and in the province of Santa Cruz and Tierra del Fuego, it is increasingly a common alternative in their menus, since the population of guanacos increased in recent years, so much so that there was overpopulation, so the government supported the initiative to return to the gastronomy of the ancestors, which used the guanacos to eat and also with their skins were made the clothes, necessary for the cold of the area.
Two other meats widely consumed in the area are rabbit and mountain hare, also cooked on the grill or in the oven. This food delights the palates of all people with the most exquisite flavors. Likewise, these dishes are cooked with mushrooms, raspberries, blackberries, wild boars, deer, among other ingredients, which give a unique and indescribable flavor to all their meals. The best thing to accompany these meals are the most delicious red and white wines that are famous in Argentina for the high quality harvest it has and for the freshest and richest craft beer. In addition, you can try a snack with the most delicious varieties of cold cuts and cheeses in the area.
Fish
Other foods that stand out is trout, since it is caught from the lakes that are in the vicinity of the city, allowing them to have a greater freshness. One of the meals prepared with this fish is the “trucha en papillote”, which is a trout fillet with chopped tomatoes with smoked bacon. The trout is closed well and then wrapped with aluminum and cooked in the oven, this meal accompanied with white wine. It is the best option for a dinner admiring the landscape of Argentine Patagonia.
Desserts
Among the most consumed desserts, and which are one of the regional sweet dishes, is the red fruit crumble with ice cream, “rosehip” chutney, both dishes made with the fruits of the harvest of the area; and the richest artisanal chocolates. Chocolates stand out for having almonds, walnuts, milk duce, among other fillings
The confectionery, of European origin, uses all the variety of red fruits that are grown in the neighboring farms. Be sure to try the specialties that include “calafate”, the typical fruit of the area. There are cakes, jellies, sweets and liqueurs, not to be missed!
Craft beer
The El Chaltén brewery is a classic in the town, with more than 20 years brewing craft beer. He belongs to a family with Czech roots, and specializes in making lager beers. Following the German purity law they only use malt, water, hops and yeast as ingredients to make beer. They produce Pilsen, Bock, Amber Lager and Wheat.
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Activities
El Chalten was declared the Trekking National Capital on July 28, 1994, thanks to the variety of trails suitable for developing this activity due to the geographical particularities of this area. There are different degrees of trail difficulty, from low to high physical and technical demand. Among the most frequented, we can mention those leading to: Laguna de los Tres, Laguna Capri and Laguna Torre, which are well marked and have been adapted with infrastructure by the Local National Park Administration, for easy access to major scenic spots without interfering with the natural environment.
In the Visitor Center of Los Glaciares National Park, which is located at the entrance of El Chaltén, -and in the Municipal Tourist Office- you can obtain maps with the trails of the place and check its condition.
Self guides trekkings
Prácticamente todos los circuitos son gratuitos y no requieren experiencia previa en la montaña. De todas formas, puedes contratar un guía para tu mayor tranquilidad, especialmente para los de mayor dificultad. Si no estás acostumbrado a caminar en la montaña o si dudas de tu condición física es muy recomendable que comiences con caminatas cortas, como los circuitos
de Mirador Margarita, Los Cóndores – Las Águilas, Chorrillo del Salto, Mirador del Torre o Laguna Capri, que son aptas para todas las edades, antes de emprender alguna de mayor duración, como la Laguna de los Tres, Laguna Torre o Loma del Pliegue Tumbado.
Practically, all circuits are free and do not require previous experience in the mountains. Anyway, you can hire a guide for your peace of mind, especially for those of greater difficulty. If you are not used to walking in the mountains, or if you have doubts about your physical condition, it is highly recommended that you start with short walks, such as the circuits of Mirador Margarita, Los Cóndores – Las Águilas, Chorrillo del Salto, Mirador del Torre or Laguna Capri -which are suitable for all ages- before undertaking one of longer duration, such as Laguna de los Tres, Laguna Torre or Loma del Pliegue Tumbado.
Bonanza Ranch Adventure
If you are looking for a different full-day activity, Estancia Bonanza organizes your day with the activities you prefer: horseback riding, kayaking / Pack Rafting or trekking; and combines them with its gastronomic delights, so that you have a unique experience.
De las Vueltas River Rafting
De las Vueltas river belongs to the Santa Cruz River basin. An important portion of its waters is of glacial origin, partly from the melting of the glaciers in the northern area of Los Glaciares National Park. It is born in the Desert Lake, at an altitude of 506 meters above sea level, and flows into Lake Viedma at an altitude of 250 meters above sea level.
The first part of the rafting is 6 km of calm and meandering waters, an opportunity to contemplate the Cerro Fitz Roy and its satellite needles, the Andean forest, the steppe and eventually native fauna and birds. The second part of the journey advances over the area of the Cañadón del Río De las Vueltas, where you will find a succession of rapids from class III to III+ for 10 km.
Explore La Leona Petrified Forest
La Leona is a deposit of petrified logs and fossil bones in an impressive eroded landscape. It is located in the middle of the steppe just halfway between El Calafate and El Chaltén.
Along the walk you can see a large number of petrified logs lying on the surface, about 70 million years old, some with a diameter of 1.20 m. These remains are testimony of ancient times where the climate was very different from the current one and allowed the development of an abundant and large flora. Occasionally fossil remains of different types of dinosaurs are discovered.
Kayak in Del Desierto Lake
A full day excursion to paddle in this fantastic lake of turquoise waters surrounded by native
forest and wonderful views of the hills and glaciers.
Once in the water the paddle begins towards the Bahia TRanquila, which takes approximately 40 minutes and in which some stops are made to rest, appreciate the views of the Huemul and Vespignani glaciers and chat about the lake and its environment. Bahia Tranquila is a beautiful corner protected from the wind, surrounded by forest and with crystal clear shallow water. It is the perfect place to disembark and replenish energy.
Vía Ferrata Del Cañadón
An excursion that combines climbing, climbing and walking on the rock, in a safe way, designed for those who have no experience in mountaineering.
Via Ferrata is an accessible and safe way to climb mountains for people who have no climbing experience, combining climbing, climbing and walking on rock. The rock wall is equipped with a steel cable fixed with anchors, from the foot of the track to the top, along with steps, stairs and bridges strategically placed to facilitate the ascent.
The tour ends with the crossing of a zip line to enjoy fantastic views of the valley, mountains, glaciers and the majestic cordon of Mount Fitz Roy.