'''El Chaltén''' is in the Patagonian region of southern Argentina. El Chalten was founded in the late 70ties/early 80ies as an outpost of Argentina to anticipate land claims of Chile for that area. It is still a small town that is best known for being the gateway to Mt. Fitz Roy and Cerro Torres, two of the most rugged and impressive peaks in the Patagonian Andes. The growing number of hiking tourist lead to an increase in construction and in summer the town is full of tourists.

Get in

Daily buses take 2 1/2 hours to drive the 222 kilometers (138 miles) over a newly paved road (only 16 kilometers remained unpaved as of Jan 2009) from the town of El Calafate.

Get around

Only by foot or car. The main streets have been recently paved. Side streets remain mostly gravel.

See

Do

Hiking

This area is a trekking mecca.

  • '''Laguna de los Tres'''. This 25 kilometer (15 mile) round-trip hike (3200 feet vertical gain from the trailhead at the west edge of El Chalten) should not not be missed in good weather. There are outstanding views of the Fitz Roy range along the way. The trail ends at the cobalt-blue Laguna de los Tres, at the base of Cerro Fitz Roy. The last 1.5 kilometers of this hike are steep and exposed, and as a result many hikers choose to overnight at the nearby Campamento Poincenot prior to climbing the last, difficult stretch. A 500-meter, well marked additional trail winds around to to the left of Laguna de los Tres and leads to a spectacular, cliffside overview of Laguna Sucia, some 200 meters below Laguna de los Tres.
  • '''Laguna Torre'''. A 22 kilometer (12.5 mile) round trip that leads to a lake at the base of the dramatic Cerro Torre, which, although only 3100 meters tall, was not summited until 1975, a generation after all the 8000-meter+ Himalayan peaks had been conquered. Cerro Torre's near vertical walls and a permanent, unstable ice veneer at its summit defeated all earlier attempts. Backpackers can combine the Laguna de los Tres and Laguna Torre treks using connecting side-trails that create a loop.
  • Beside hiking you can do a boat trip combined with a glacier trek on the Lago Viedma and the adjacent Glacier Viedma.
  • In the centre of town you can also pay to go horse riding with a ''gaucho'' guide along some of the major walking trails. The horses here are very easy-going and well suited to beginner riders.
  • Buy

    Supermarket with everything hiker and camper might need. Opening hours depend on season but in general closes rather early so better check out upon arrival.

    Eat

    The calafate berry ice cream (a bit like blueberry but milder) from the ice cream shop in the middle of the town is worth trying. There are also two small grocery stores that sell food and supplies.

    There are a number of restaurants in town.

    Drink

    What better after a long hike in the mountains then to enjoy a good beer. Home brews (rubia y negro) at the Cervezeria! Good food and friendly staff as well.

    Sleep

  • '''Rancho Grande Hostel''', 02962-493005, [http://www.hostelspatagonia.com/]. HI-hostel.
  • There are several free '''campingsites''' in the park
  • Hosteria Koonek. ionel Terray. 15. 054 02962-493304. ttp://www.hosteriakoonek.com.ar. osteria Koonek.

    Cope

    There is a new ATM (the only one) in town as of December 2008. Cash is king -- many businesses and restaurants do not accept credit cards. It's best to come earlier in the day, as the ATM will run out of cash towards the end of the day.

    Get out