El Chaltén is a small village in the south of Argentina, within the Parque Nacional Los Glaciares and the Santa Cruz Province. It is in the Patagonia region of the nation, close to El Calafete and the Chilean border. El Chaltén is otherwise known as the hiking capital of the world, with some of the best mountain hikes in the region.
The village of El Chaltén is small, with only a few restaurants, bars and accommodation options. Still, it’s the perfect base for a weekend or week of hiking – making it a bucket list and must-visit destination for anyone who loves hiking.
Despite its size, El Chaltén offers many hiking options, including full-day and hour-long hikes, the majority of which are self-guided with fully marked trails allowing you to hike and explore at your own pace. There are also great places to eat and enjoy a drink or two.
If you are thinking about making El Chaltén your next hiking destination or simply planning a weekend or week-long trip, check out our ultimate guide to El Chaltén.
Best Hotels In El Chaltén
Accommodation options in El Chaltén are limited. There are just a small number of luxury hotels, with most places catering to budget travellers in hostels and apartments. Despite the very basic facilities provided in El Chaltén, the hotels and apartments still charge high prices due to their prime location for hiking.
While plenty of options are available, booking in advance is recommended, especially when travelling during the peak season between December and February. Hotel options tend to come complete with breakfast, and they are very knowledgeable about the area’s hikes and tours. Most hotels also have the option to order and prepay for takeaway lunch options for you to take on your hike.
These are ten of the top-rated hotels in El Chaltén. We’ve organized them by luxury, mid-range and budget to help you choose the best hotel for your group.
Luxury El Chaltén Hotels
- Chalten Suites Hotel – Located on the main street, this hotel offers everything you need for a great stay in the area. They provide packed lunchboxes, perfect for a day’s hike, as well as a delicious breakfast and an on-site restaurant.
- Chalten Camp Glamping – This Riverwalk campground has eight rooms or domes for guests to book. These domes are a mixture of room sizes with some sleeping three people and others with a queen bed. The domes are clear on one side, and some offer incredible mountain views.
- Hosteria El Puma – Located just outside of town, this hotel has guestrooms that can sleep between one and three people. The rooms include different configurations, such as multiple twin beds, double beds, full beds and king beds.
Mid-Range El Chaltén Hotels
- Destino Sur Hotel & Spa de Montaña – This hotel features an indoor swimming pool, a spa, free self-parking, bike rentals, and luggage storage. It also offers rooms that can sleep up to five people, making it ideal for larger groups.
- Los Cerros del Chalten Boutique – Complete with incredible mountain views from large windows in some rooms, this hotel is in a great location for exploring the surrounding area. The hotel also has a free breakfast buffet, a sauna and spa tub and an on-site restaurant.
- Hosteria Senderos – This rustic-style cabin hotel is close to the Madsen House Museum. All of the rooms have Egyptian cotton sheets and the hotel offers guests a free breakfast buffet.
Budget El Chaltén Hotels
- Kaulem Hotel Boutique – Located just up one of the side streets, this hotel has a mixture of rooms with king beds, or double/twin beds, sleeping up to two people. The hotel also has an on-site restaurant which serves, breakfast, lunch and dinner.
- Hotel Poincenot – Just outside the town, this hotel is located in the mountains close to the boardwalk and provides easy access for numerous hikes and exploring the area. The hotel offers guests a free breakfast, bike rentals and a garden.
- Senderos Aparts and Suites – This hotel offers various room types, including lofts, twin rooms, a basic apartment that sleeps six, and a basic apartment that can sleep up to four people.
- Hostel Rancho Grande – Located on the outskirts of town, this hostel offers quadruple room options, as well as twin and double rooms. It also has dormitory options for those on a budget.
Top Things To Do In El Chaltén, Argentina
El Chaltén, despite its small size, is the perfect base for exploring the region’s mountains. The town is best known for hiking, and due to its remote location, I would recommend only visiting if you plan to go hiking, as there aren’t many other activities to do or places to see outside of the main street.
Here are the top ten things to do in El Chaltén, the hiker’s paradise.
1) Take on the Mount Fitz Roy and Laguna de Los Tres hiking trail
The Mt Fitz Roy and Laguna de Los Tres trail is the most popular hike in the area and is why most people come to the village. There are two route options – one option starts and ends in the town on a busy out-and-back trail past Laguna Capri. The second requires a transfer to Hosteria El Pilar, and then the hike goes past Glacier Piedras Blancas before returning down the trail past Laguna Capri into town.
This is a 24km hike lasting around 7-10 hours, depending on your pace. It has flat areas, but watch out for the last kilometre, which ascends the mountain at a dramatic rate. The view from the top is worth it.
2) Spend the morning walking around town before taking on a short hike
If you don’t want to do two long day hikes in a row or are looking for a more chilled day or afternoon, you can take a walk around the town; despite its small size, there are several shops filled to the brim with hiking gear, adventure sports equipment and souvenirs.
3) Hike on the Cerro Torre trail
The Cerro Torre hike is a simple out-and-back trail, which is around 22km or takes approximately six to eight hours. It is mostly flat and passes waterfalls and viewpoints. Ask your hotel for a lunch box, take a break and admire the view while eating your sandwiches.
4) Hike to Glacier Huemul
Glacier Huemul is ideal for a day or half-day trip outside the town. Located just one hour outside the village, you will find a small farm shop, and from there, you can pay the entrance fee and hike for around an hour to admire incredible views.
5) Admire the beauty of Lago del Desierto
Lago del Desierto is just a 20-minute drive from Glacier Huemul, making it the perfect place to visit after your glacier hike. There is a lake with crystal clear water surrounded by mountains.
6) Go mountain biking from Lago del Desierto back to El Chaltén
You can rent a mountain bike, and if you are feeling adventurous, you can ride back from Lago del Desierto to El Chaltén. You can take a taxi to the starting point or go on an organised tour with a guide. The road is unpaved, so a mountain bike is the best option.
7) Take a horse riding adventure
From El Chalten, you can take a horse riding tour around the area and admire the view along the way.
8) Go kayaking at Lago del Desierto
While not well known for kayaking, there are many options in Lago del Desierto and along the De las Vueltas River, with incredible views of the mountains, including Mount Fitz Roy.
9) Take a day trip to El Calafate
El Calafate is located around 3.5 hours from El Chaltén and is the main city in the area, with more amenities such as gas stations, supermarkets and more restaurant options. This city is a great place to add on before or after a trip to El Chalten. There are numerous day trip options and more things to do and see in the area, with glaciers, longer hiking options and a large lake to enjoy.
10) Spend the morning relaxing over brunch
La Waflería is a great breakfast, brunch, or breakfast option with ample choices with omelettes, waffles, and other breakfast favourites. You can have a lazy morning eating brunch before enjoying an afternoon hike, or enjoy a brunch while you wait for the weather to clear up.
Best Hikes To Take In El Chaltén
El Chaltén offers some of the world’s best hikes, ranging from hour-long to nine-hour-long treks, with options in between. The trails lead to waterfalls, lagoons, and other natural wonders, all clearly marked and easy to follow. No guide is necessary, as you can obtain a map from a local outdoor shop or ask your hotel to print one for you.
The hikes around the area vary in difficulty, with some of the longer hikes requiring a higher level of fitness than others. Depending on the area and mountain range, the longer hikes will often have steep endings or high elevations.
It is advisable to wear layers during the hikes, as temperatures vary depending on the time of day and elevation. Many of the hikes have basic bathroom facilities and are free to enter. For the longer hikes, it is best to set off early and plan to return before nightfall, as no lights or people are patrolling individual hikes. Also, sunrise is a great time to start your hike or provide you with great views.
Here are ten great options, all varying in length and difficulty. All of the hikes listed and signposted do not require a guide.
- Chorillo del Salto – This trail is one of the easiest in the area. It is a flat out-and-back path to a 20-meter-high waterfall, and it takes around two hours to complete the 8km trail.
- Lomo Del Plieguo Tumbado – This is one of the less visited trails in the area, yet it offers an incredible experience. It is an out-and-back trail with mostly uphill sections leading to a viewpoint. The hike spans 24km and typically takes between 8-10 hours to complete.
- Cerro Torre – This hike is a simple out-and-back trail, around 22km or six to eight hours. It is mostly flat and passes waterfalls and viewpoints.
- Mt Fitz Roy and Laguna de Los Tres – This hike is the most popular in the area and has two route options. One option starts and ends in the town on a busy out-and-back trail past Laguna Capri. The second requires a transfer to Hosteria El Pilar, and then the hike goes past Glacier Piedras Blancas before returning down the trail past Laguna Capri into town. This is a 24km hike lasting around 7-10 hours, depending on your pace.
- Laguna Madre and Hija
- Lago Del Desertio – Has some shorter hiking trails next to some glaciers.
- Huemul Circuit – A four-day trek often referred to as the hardest trek in the area and requires a guide.
Best Tours To Take In El Chaltén
El Chaltén offers a variety of enjoyable tours for exploring the area, taking to the water and visiting natural wonders. Here are some great options if you would like to hike with a guide:
- One of the most iconic hikes in Patagonia involves a trekking excursion to Laguna de Los Tres. This hike offers breathtaking views of Mount Fitz Roy towering above the lake.
- Explore the trekking capital of the world on an eight-hour hiking tour of Glaciers National Park from El Chaltén. Immerse yourself in the breathtaking landscapes of Patagonia and take in the stunning views of the glacial mountains of the Andes.
Best Restaurants And Bars In El Chaltén
El Chaltén only has a small number of restaurants and bars, many of which are located within the hotels and accommodation options.
Here are our suggestions for ten of the best restaurants and bars in El Chaltén.
- Curcuma – This very small restaurant is the perfect place to find gluten-free options, as well as vegetarian and vegan options.
- La Cervecería Chaltén – This microbrewery was first opened in 1999 and has been serving delicious food and drink options ever since. The restaurant has a warm and friendly atmosphere with delicious and plentiful food.
- Cesarino – Located within the Chalten Suites Hotel, this restaurant is named after Cesarino Fava, an Italian mountaineer and writer. The restaurant serves typical dishes from Patagonia, Argentina, including steak, empanadas, soups and pasta, all made with fresh products.
- Maffía – This Italian restaurant is located on the village’s main street and serves hand-made artisanal pasta. It also has a great wine selection.
- The Asadores – A highly rated parilla has a five-course menu that includes empanadas and steak, ina quant and relaxing ambience with a fireplace.
- La Tapera – This is a popular option for dining in the town which serves Argentinan food, cocktails and other great options.
- La Waflería – A great breakfast, brunch or breakfast option any time of the day. There are ample choices with omelettes, waffles and your other breakfast favourites.
- Laborum – Complete with outdoor seating and incredible views, this pizza restaurant is the perfect place to grab something to eat after a day of hiking. –
- Bandidos Patagonicos – This pub-style restaurant which also serves craft beer and provides a great place to relax and enjoy a nice evening with friends.
- La Vinerua Grill – This steak restaurant specialises in Argentine steak and is the perfect place to eat incredible Argentine steak. The restaurant also has a wine cellar and serves delicious pasta.
How To Get To El Chaltén, Argentina
The easiest way to get to El Chaltén is to fly into El Calafate Airport (FTE), located 124 miles away (3.5 hours) from El Chaltén. Transfers between the two cities are easy; you can rent a car and drive, hop on a transfer, or hire a private transfer.
El Calafate Airport has daily flights to Buenos Aires and seasonal flights to Santiago de Chile via Aerolíneas Argentinas, JetSmart Airlines S.A, Sky Airline, and Flybondi.
If you rent a car, ensure you have a full gas tank before you set off, as there are no service stations or facilities between the two cities. Also, try, where possible, to drive in the daylight as the roads are in the middle of nowhere with few facilities or places to stop, but the views are incredible.
Best Time Of Year To Visit El Chaltén
The best time to visit and hike in El Chaltén is between December and February, which are the peak summer months in the area. However, accommodation options will be higher during these months than in other months.
The shoulder seasons of October to April offer slightly cooler climates and cheaper accommodation options.
Note that during the shoulder seasons, you are more likely to encounter snow or frozen lakes at the tops of mountains or at the destination points of hikes. You might also find yourself hiking in the wind or rain so pack accordingly.
El Chaltén Hiking Guide Wrap Up
Known as the hiking capital of the world, El Chaltén should be on your bucketlist if you love to hike!
I hope you’ve found this El Chaltén guide helpful. If you have questions about El Chaltén or tips for our readers, please comment below!
We hope that this article has inspired you to visit El Chaltén! If you have questions about El Chaltén or tips to share with our readers please leave these in the comments below.
Want to write for We Are Travel Girls? Visit our Contribute Page to submit your article.
Read More About Argentina
- Exploring Cafayete, Northern Argentina
- A Weekend Guide To El Calafate, Argentina
- A Weekend Guide To Salta, Argentina
Author
We Are Travel Girls Editor and Contributor Anny Wooldridge
Connect with Anny Website | LinkedIn | Instagram | Twitter
Pin For Later
This website is a free resource, but we may use affiliate links in our articles. Please see our Disclosures for more information.
Leave a Reply