In this article, we invite you to explore an exciting itinerary through El Chaltén in 2 days. The charming village, set amidst majestic mountains and dominated by the imposing presence of Mount Fitz Roy, is hailed as the epicentre of trekking in Argentina.
The history of the name El Chaltén goes back to the Tehuelche roots, who named it “smoking mountain” in their ancestral language. This name is attributed to the mysterious cloud cover that often envelops the majestic Mount Fitz Roy, leading local tribes to believe that it was an active volcano. Today, at an impressive 3405 metres high, Fitz Roy remains the epitome of beauty in this region.
El Chaltén, a small mountain village, is nowadays a complete tourist destination, offering all the necessary services for an unforgettable experience. This Patagonian jewel is the perfect getaway for those who wish to complement their adventure in El Calafate and immerse themselves in days of exploration and connection with nature.
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How many days are needed to visit El Calafate and El Chaltén?
If you are going to visit the two cities to see the Perito Moreno glacier, do the navigation in Los Glaciares National Park, and then visit El Chaltén to do the main trekking, you will need at least five to seven days.
El Chaltén can also be reached from El Calafate on a one-day excursion to trek to Laguna Los Tres, or a two-day excursion.
How many days are recommended to visit El Chaltén alone?
The number of days recommended to visit El Chaltén may vary depending on your availability, whether you are only visiting from El Calafate, or if you want to hike all the trails available from the town.
To fully enjoy the natural beauty, do some hiking and experience the relaxed atmosphere of the town, most people usually opt for a stay of at least 2 to 4 days in El Chaltén.
In this article we will focus on what not to miss in El Chaltén in 2 days.
What not to miss in El Chaltén in 2 days?
Day 1: trekking to Los Tres lagoon to contemplate the majestic Fitz Roy.
Day 2: Excursion to Desierto lake and Huemul Glacier
Day 1, the best trekking to do in El Chaltén in 2 days, los Tres lagoon
You will have to dedicate practically the whole day to this trekking in El Chalten, the ascent is a bit hard, especially the last kilometre, but the effort is worth it.
The trail to los Tres laggon, one of the highlights of El Chaltén, gives you the option of starting your journey from two different points: the “Senda el Pilar,” located about 17 kilometres from the centre of town, or the “Sendero Laguna Capri“. A recommended strategy is to start from the Senda el Pilar and return along the Sendero Laguna Capri, which will allow you to appreciate all the spectacular scenery that this trek has to offer.
The first stop is at the Piedras Blancas viewpoint, whose views of the Piedras Blancas glacier will dazzle you.
Continuing along the route, almost flat, you will reach the Poincenot Camp, a perfect place to stop, recharge your batteries and rest before continuing towards the lagoon.
📌 Important: from 2025 onwards, if you want to camp at the Poincenot campsite, you must book a reservation in advance and pay 20,000 pesos per person.
As you progress, the majestic spires of the hills will begin to reveal themselves in the distance, giving you the perfect motivation to tackle the last stage of the trail, which involves a medium-high difficulty ascent.
The final point of the trek is the arrival at the dazzling Laguna de los Tres. From here, the views of Mount Fitz Roy, weather permitting, are fabulous. Its eternal layers of snow and the crystal clear water lagoon reflecting the silhouette of the mountain are one of the most beautiful landscapes you will find in Patagonia Argentina.
From here, you also have a view of the Laguna Sucia, and you can even walk along a path to some waterfalls to get a better look at it.
The way back is along the same path, but this time more quickly as you go downhill.
Day 2: Excursion to Desierto Lake and Huemul Glacier
On the last day of the 2-day itinerary in El Chaltén you have to do the excursion to Desierto Lake and the Huemul Glacier.
Within the majestic Lago del Desierto Provincial Reserve, a protected area of great importance, lies the Lago del Desierto, a natural jewel that requires an entrance fee to access. This reserve has a fundamental role in the conservation of biodiversity, especially for the protection of the endangered huemul deer, native to the Patagonian forests.
There are two alternatives once you get to Lago del Desierto, for us it is advisable to do both.
The first is the navigation along the southern shore of the lake, a short walk to contemplate the mountains, the turquoise water of the lake and to see from afar the majestic Huemul and Crestón glaciers. Catamarans are available during the summer season for the excursion.
The navigation reaches its culminating point at the beginning of the path that leads to the Vespignani Glacier. In addition to observing the glacier up close, you will have fabulous views of the north face of Fitz Roy.
The second activity is a short trekking to the Huemul glacier through the Patagonian forests. Although the last part of the trail is a little difficult, the reward is the viewpoint to contemplate the glacier and the lagoon of light blue and green tones that lies at its feet.
📷Book a transfer to Laguna del Desierto to enjoy on your own and trek to the Huemul glacier.
How to get to El Chaltén from El Calafate
There are three options to get to El Chalten from El Calafate:
- Minibuses
- Renting a car
- Or book your transfer from El Calafate to El Chalten from here.
Price of access to Los Glaciares National Park for trekking in El Chaltén
As of 21 October 2024, an entrance fee must be paid to access the trekking area in El Chaltén, which is no longer free of charge. It must be booked through the official website of Parques Nacionales.
There are three access control gates, which will check that you have an access ticket:
- Portal Los Cóndores: located in the Visitor Centre of the park, access control for the trails Los Cóndores, De las Águilas, Loma del Pliegue Tumbado and Laguna Toro.
- Portal Base Fitz Roy: on San Martín Avenue, it gives access to the trails to Cerro Torre, Fitz Roy and Chorrillo del Salto.
- Portal Río Eléctrico: on Route 41, from there you can get to Piedra del Fraile and it is also another alternative to access the Piedras Blancas Glacier Viewpoint, Poincenot and Laguna de los Tres.
The entrance fee for hiking the trails in El Chaltén in Los Glaciares National Park is the same as the entrance fee in El Calafate to access, for example, the Perito Moreno Glacier:
- Foreigners: 45.000 pesos
- Argentines: 15,000 pesos
- Residents in the province of Santa Cruz: 5.000 pesos
- Residents in El Chaltén, El Calafate or Tres Lagos: free of charge
- Children from 0 to 5 years old: free of charge
- Pensioners and retired Argentinean residents: free of charge
Prices are per day. If you are going to do several treks, there is a promotional two-day pass, with a 50% discount for the second day’s entry (the first day is paid in full and the second day 50% of the value). Use of the ticket for the second day’s entry must be made within 72 hours of the first day’s entry.
There are also promotional passes for 3 days (you pay the value of 2 days and save one day) and for 7 days (you pay the value of 3.5 days and save 3.5 days). Multi-day passes must be used within 6 months of purchase, consecutively or alternately and within the same protected area.
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