Dubbed the national trekking capital of Argentina, El Chalten is a must visit town in Argentinian Patagonia. This little town has plenty of day, multi-day and short hikes that you can do. 3 days in El Chalten is just about enough time to cover some of the best hikes this town has to to offer. This post provides a detailed itinerary for 3 days in El Chalten, along with a mini travel guide to the town, which includes how to get there, where to eat and lots more!
Notes on this 3 Days in El Chalten Itinerary
- You can do this itinerary in any order, meaning you can do day 1 on day 3
- Save the clearest and least windy day for the Laguna de Los Tres hike
- Most weather apps do not do a good job of predicting the weather. I found Wind Guru to be the most accurate as it gives the wind speed and cloud cover by hour
- El Chalten is a very small town and extremely walkable
- If you need cash, exchange pesos in El Calafate or Buenos Aires. Don’t rely on finding places to exchange money in El Chalten
- If you are here during the holidays (i.e., Christmas, New Year etc.) or high season, make reservations at restaurants ahead of time
- All most all hikes are free!
- While most trails are open year-around, the best time to hike in El Chalten is in the fall, summer and spring months. The trails maybe snowy in the winter
- Book your accommodation early, especially if you are visiting during the peak summer months
3 Days in El Chalten
This 3 days in El Chalten itinerary will cover some of the best day and short hikes you can do from town.
Day 1
Start today early as you will have a few hikes to cover. The best way to get around on day 1 is if you have your own car or if you hire a taxi. This will ensure your day is efficient.
Huemel Glacier
Overview
- Location – Lago del Desierto
- Time – this really depends on you. The official guidance is around 2 hours
- Distance – 4 kilometers or 2.5 miles out and back
- Elevation gain –
- Difficulty – classified as moderate but I found it to be easy
- Cost – ARS $5000 (cash only)
- Reservations – no reservation needed
Located 37 kilometers from El Chalten at Lago de Desierto, this hike is one that has a huge reward for very minimal effort. To get to Huemel, you have to either drive on a gravel road, take an organized tour or take a taxi. If you take an organized tour, make sure to pick one that is half a day, so that you have time to do some other things on day 1 of this 3 days in El Chalten itinerary. Also, if you opt for an half a day organized tour, most start towards the 2nd half of the day, so you will have to reverse my suggestions below.
I go over this hike in this very detailed post that you can check out HERE.
It takes about an hour each way to get to Lago del Desierto from El Chalten and another 2 hours or so for the hike. Overall, with time for pictures and snacks, you will need about 5 hours for this trip. My recommendation is to start early, so that you have enough time to do a few other things on day 1.
Salto del Anillo
Santo del Anillo is a waterfall you will see on the back to and from the Huemel Glacier. It’s a quick stop.
Chorrillo del Salto
Chorrillo del Salto is also a waterfall about little over 3 kilometers from the end of Avenida San Martin. If you are driving back or taking a taxi from the Huemel Glacier, the best way to see Chorrillo del Salto is to stop on the way back. There is a parking lot just off Ruta Provincial 41 (the road to Lago del Desierto). From the parking lot, it is another half a kilometer or so on flat ground.
If you are already in town, then make your way to the end of Avenida San Martin. You will see two paths, one for Laguna de Los Tres and the other for Chorrillo del Santo. It is about a 7 kilometer out and back walk on mostly flat ground. This should take you about 3 hours to complete.
Mirador de Los Condores
This short hike starts at the visitor center, just before the start of town. You can park here if you have a car. If you are walking from town, cross the bridge over the Fitz Roy River. This hike and the one I have mentioned after are both free!
The hike is gradual and brings you to a view point where you can see the Fitz Roy mountain range and the entire town of El Chalten. You maybe able to see condors flying above here. I saw a couple but they were very high up.
Mirador de Las Aguilas
This mirador is on the same path as Mirador de Los Condores at the start but breaks off just after the initial climb. It brings you to a viewpoint of Lago Viedma. In all honestly, I didn’t think much of this viewpoint but the view of Fitz Roy (behind you as you hike towards Aquilas and ahead of you as you hike back) was so amazing! The fields of greenery and wild flowers add to the beauty!
Day 2
Laguna de Los Tres
Laguna de Los Tres is considered the crown jewel of the El Chalten hikes. This is one of the most difficult hikes but I will say, of all the hikes I have done, it is definitely my favorite!
Overview
- Time – this really depends on you. The official guidance is anywhere from 7.5-9 hours
- Distance – 22.5 km/~14 miles out and back
- Elevation gain – ~882m/2,894ft
- Difficulty – Laguna de Los Tres hike is categorized as a moderate to difficult hike
- Cost – free!
- Reservations – no reservation needed
- Other names – Fitz Roy hike
The hike brings you to a viewpoint of a blue lagoon, sitting beneath Mount Fitz Roy and the surrounding mountains. My jaw genuinely dropped when I saw it! The last bit of the hike is very steep and you will be scrambling over rocks to get to this viewpoint but trust me, it is worth every effort!
I have written a very detailed post about this hike, including what to expect in terms of terrain, what to pack and some of the other views you will see along the way.
You should definitely check it out HERE before you do this hike.
Tip – pick the clearest and least windy day for this hike!
Day 3
Laguna Torre
Laguna Torre is the second most popular hike in El Chalten, after Laguna de Los Tres. This hike is also a must do during your 3 days in El Chalten!
Overview
- Time – this really depends on you. The official guidance is anywhere from 7-8 hours
- Distance – 18 km out and back. 22 km if you add an optional side hike (see below)
- Elevation gain – ~500m/1,600ft
- Difficulty – Laguna Torre hike is classified as medium difficulty
- Cost – free!
- Reservations – no reservation needed
- Other names – Cerro Torre hike
This hike brings you to Cerro Torre and the glacier lagoon that sits right below it. The trail starts with a gradual climb and then flattens out for the most part. On a clear day, you will hike with Cerro Torre and Torre Glacier ahead of you. There is also an optional hike that brings you closer to the glacier.
I have also covered the Laguna Torre hike in great detail in this POST! Check it out before you go!
El Chalten Travel Guide
How to Get to El Chalten
El Chalten is a part of the Los Glaciares National Park and lies 214 kilometers North of El Calafate, which is the gateway to The National Park. El Calafate is the closest airport to El Chalten and has multiple flights a day from Buenos Aires. There are a few ways to get to El Chalten from El Calafate and I’ve listed them below.
By Bus
There are a few companies that offer a bus service from El Calafate to El Chalten. See HERE for these companies and a link to buy a ticket. The schedule is also displayed here. Note that some itineraries go through the airport at El Calafate, so you can easily be picked up directly from the airport or dropped off straight for a flight.
Also note that in addition to this big bus option, there are also private companies that offer mini bus services.
By Private Transfer
There are many companies offering this service. This link is a good start.
Self-Drive
You can rent a car in El Calafate (which I go over in this post) and self-drive to El Chalten. The road is paved all the way through and you will see some stunning views, especially as you get closer to El Chalten. My only word of caution is the wind. If you are not used to driving in windy conditions, then self-driving is probably not the best option for you.
If you are self-driving, then you have the opportunity to stop at two look out points just before El Chalten. On a clear day, you will see both Fitz Roy and Cerro Torre. It was one of the most spectacular views I have seen to date.
Fuel
There is only 1 fuel station between El Calafate and El Chalten. This station can be found right as you enter the town. It’s not your typical fuel station and is actually a container! Depending on your vehicle, you should be able to make the return trip from El Calafate to El Chalten and back without refueling, if you do not venture outside of El Chalten (like drive to Lago del Desierto). Again, this depends on your vehicle and driving speed etc. The fuel station sometimes has issues with the card machine so bring some cash if you think you may need to refuel.
Where I Stayed
I stayed at Kuntur Apart and I cannot recommend it enough. The place is walking distance to everything! Especially the Laguna Torre trail head. The Laguna de Los Tres trail head is also a short distance away. I walked everywhere, including to all the places I ate at. The room was very spacious and modern. It had a sitting area, a dining table and a full kitchen. If you have a car, you can also park your car there. Adrian the owner lives just next door and is very friendly and accommodating. I was so happy I stayed at Kuntur Apart.
Where I Ate
Maffía Trattoria
This place is very popular. So many people walked in and had to walk out as the place was full and they did not have any more space. Maffia is a Italian restaurant that serves hand-made, artisanal pasta. They have a good selection of wines as well.
La Vinería Grill
La Vinería Grill is a new steakhouse in El Chalten and is very good. They are a little pricey but worth it! They have an extensive wine menu from all over the country. Try their empanadas! They were delicious!
Other Popular Places
The Asadores
This highly rated parilla has a 5 course menu that includes empanadas and steak. Unfortunately they were closed when I visited. Highly recommend an advanced reservation. They are easy to contact over WhatsApp.
La Tapera
La Tapera is another popular spot in El Chalten. They serve Argentinian food and have a diverse menu.
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