Viedma Glacier district

El Chaltén, Argentina

Home to the Viedma Glacier, a must-see natural wonder showcasing the purity of Patagonia's landscapes.

Explore El Chaltén

El Chaltén — TL;DR

Argentina's Trekking Capital, where every Los Glaciares National Park hike begins in town and ends with a glass of Malbec.

El Chaltén overview

Where to eat, drink & do in El Chaltén

El Chaltén neighborhoods

Practical info for El Chaltén

Practical notes for El Chaltén

Best time to visit
November to March (Patagonian summer) offers the most stable weather for trekking, though conditions can change rapidly year-round.
Getting around
El Chaltén is barely a kilometre long and every hike starts right from town, with Hostel Cerro Torre closest to the Mount Fitz Roy and Laguna Torre trailheads.
Currency
Argentine Peso (ARS $)
Language
Spanish. English is spoken at hostels and guide outfits.
Timezone
ART (UTC-3)
Current trends
El Chaltén's hospitality scene continues to cater directly to its Trekking Capital identity, with Hostel Cerro Torre's proximity to the Fitz Roy and Laguna Torre trailheads and Aylen-Aike Hostel's party reputation reflecting a tiny town built entirely around hikes that start right from its kilometre-long centre.

Other neighborhoods in El Chaltén

Read the full El Chaltén guide