Top Things to do in El Chalten
The 10 Best Things to Do in El Chalten, Argentina
The postcard-perfect landscape of El Chalten sets the scene for some incredible hiking and horseback riding. Trails of varying degrees of difficulty crisscross the national park, winding through beautiful stretches of greenery inhabited by rare birds. Recharge after a long trek with a visit to a local brewery or chocolatier.
Restaurants in El Chalten
1. Cerro Fitz Roy
Overall Ratings
5 based on 2 reviews
Reviewed By proberts77 - Fort Collins, Colorado
Fantastic hike, fairly straightforward until the final kilometer which is a steep climb with lots of rocky steps. But as always, the end goal is well worth the effort. We got a ride to Hosteria Pilar to start the hike there, then walked back to El Chalten via Laguna Capri. Fantastic weather and views the entire day. Hiking poles are very helpful on the final kilometer, both up and down. On a busy day, there will be many other hikers on the trail, so at times you may need to wait for other walkers coming up or down at a faster pace than you. Everyone was very patient and polite.
2. Laguna Torre
Overall Ratings
5 based on 1 reviews
Reviewed By rfetty613 - Valparaiso, Indiana
My husband and I have done a lot of traveling and we were blown away by the views!!! We would tell people to put this at the top of your bucket list!
3. Sendero Loma del Pliegue Tumbado
Overall Ratings
5 based on 218 reviews
Reviewed By gwamp43 - Marquette, Michigan
We've hiked most of the trails around El Chalten and this hike was especially nice due to the fact the trail was uncrowded, the slope was gentle (but pretty consistently upward), and the vista at the end was fantastic. We ran into a herd of cattle on the trail in both directions which seemed a bit intimidating at first (especially since we saw sign that we translated roughly to advise about the "savage cattle", but they pretty much seemed to ignore us as we passed. The last stretch (if you go to the very top) is a steep climb - but the vistas below that last stretch are great - it's not necessary to make the last ascent. Big winds!!
4. Glaciar Huemul
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 533 reviews
Reviewed By Boris T - Placerville, California
There are couple nice hikes to the Glacier after a slow bumpy ride on a gravel road full of potholes. One can drive or take a shuttle bus there but hitchhiking is another option since there is a fair amount of traffic on this road.The first trail starts at a private property and leads up a well maintained trail after paying about US$15 per person for the privilege. It takes less than half an hour to reach the lake. However, there is another hiking trail starting near the same (public) parking lot just a hundred meters up the road. This trail (numerous trail markers are later still visible) enters a nice forest and eventually starts following a lake which is not visible from the main road. After few hundred meters from the start of this trail many faint trails start branching off to the left throughout the forest and at least one leads up the hill to the main trail. It is 10-15 minutes longer if you find the right branch on the first try. If you do not hit the right branch right away enjoy exploring other branches until you find the right one ( just keep going left to the base of the hill). It is a nice peaceful area and you will probably not see many people here. Once you reach the lake that is fed by the glacier you will be rewarded with great views of the glacier Lago Del Desierto and the Fitz Roy peaks in the distance.
5. Viedma Glacier
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 594 reviews
Viedma Glacier is located in Los Glaciares National Park in the Province of Santa Cruz and is the largest in Argentina. It flows directly from the Southern Patagonian Ice Field to the lake. Its front is 40mt from the level of the lake. Their risings are located in the heart of the ice field between 1.500 y 2.200 msnm. It has some dark, deep lines on the surface that are volcanic ashes strips mixed with ice. Also, it has suffered many repressions but not as important as the rest of the glaciers. Viedma Lake was discovered by Antonio de Viedma, in 1877 when Francisco Pascacio Moreno and Carlos Maria Moyano where on an expedition and discovered is location and characteristics. It belongs to the hydric basin of the Santa Cruz River.
Reviewed By lyndac91754 - Los Angeles, California
We visited El Chalten in February. We booked the Viedma Pro through Patagonia Aventura. This excursion included a boat ride through Lago Viedma, ice trekking and ice climbing. There is an additional fee of $225 pesos for the bus ride to the dock. We rented...MoreThank you so much for your fantastic review The Viedma Glacier offers really amazing experiences and our guides are deeply involved whith what they do! Kind Regards Viedma Glacier - Patagonia Aventura
6. Laguna Capri
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1 reviews
Reviewed By Shirley K
I hiked the Laguna Capri and Mirador Fitz Roy (there's a beautiful short trail connecting them) and it was a great half a day tour. The view is amazing, changing along the way.
The Laguna is a peaceful beautiful place, very nice for picnic, Reading or just staring at the view... There is a toilet near by, and it's the first one along the trail.
Although not steep at all, the first 2 kilometers are uphill, so the walking/hiking sticks/poles made it easier for me.
7. Glaciar Piedras Blancas
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 223 reviews
Reviewed By Rashmi S - Brazil
We walked past Piedras Blancas en route to Laguna de Los Tres (we started out from Hosteria El Pilar specifically so we could see more) and it was quite spectacular. The Mirador for Piedras Blancas is in a forested area - so its quite nice to walk amongst the trees and see the glacier getting closer and closer on the other side of the river. A wonderful view and a wonderful walk. I cannot recommend it enough!
8. Road to El Chalten
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 513 reviews
Reviewed By Gene J - Silver Spring, Maryland
At 7:15 AM, an Always Glacier van picked us up at Hostel Schilling, and after a few more passengers, proceeded to the new El Calafate Terminal. Here we boarded the 8 AM double decker Chalten Travel bus($33 each) for its 3 hour drive to El Chalten. First we went east along Lago Argentino, then north crossing and following rivers, stopping for 20 minutes at La Leona Hotel for restroom and snacks. We spotted a small herd of guanaco, several horses, and more sheep among the few but large estancias in the rolling Patagonian steppes. After turning west along Lago Viedma the distant Andes became dramatic, focusing on 11,171' Mt Fitzroy. The best view was at Mirador al Chaltén, 2.5km from the El Chaten Terminal, where many vehicles were stopped for photos. Here the naked peaks were glistening in the morning sun far above the snowpack and glaciers.
Entering the small town, we were enclosed by the surrounding hills, encumbered by the reality of civilization, and distracted with odd buildings, visitors and cars. The bus stopped at the National Park for a 10 minute talk in either English or Spanish that introduced the trekking and camping possibilities and warnings. Many people exited the bus here. We proceeded to the bus terminal to find our hostel.
9. Mirador del Torre
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 397 reviews
Reviewed By Ken P - Reno, Nevada
Yes, the view is priceless on a clear day and that is what we were blessed with. The winds grew stronger and stronger, however, making it hard to even stand up when got to the laguna.
10. Amanecer en El Chalten
Overall Ratings
5 based on 59 reviews
Reviewed By Mauricio U
A little big dot in the map of Argentinean Patagonia... Fitz Roy peak the river and the town are magic, on the boreal spring (austral autumn) everything change of colour... intense colours!
It is very important arraive early in the morning to get the most beatiful tours, all of them are walking hours along these wonderful landscapes. There are a few hostel or you can stay in Calafate and rent a car... there are buses but they arrive late in the morning and the last one leave early in the afternoon.
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