The Best Hiking in El Chaltén

This hike, while quite long, is a fairly easy & flat hike and can be done in a day with no problem. We hiked out and back in 5.5 hours with a moderate pace, including a lot of photo stops along the way. The route starts close to the start of El Chalten, and you'll cover the around 200 of the ...

Mount Fitz Roy is one of the most iconic mountains in the world and is still relatively undeveloped, allowing visitors to experience the landscape without the massive hoards of people. The best place to start the trek is in the town of El Chalten. I would recommend coming to the town with plenty ...

When you drive in to El Chalten, you will see the visitor's center directly on your left. Park here, and there are signs to the lookout from the parking lot. It's an easy 1.2 mile round trip hike, but the views of Fitz Roy and Cerro Torre are magnificent. Give yourself about 30-40 minutes though...

This is one of the more popular hikes in El Chalten.  There are two trailheads with the main one being on the west side of town at the end of Avenida Charito.  There is plenty of parking along the road.  The trail ascends quickly from the road and once cresting the hill there are great views of t...

If you're reading this article you've probably contemplated escaping the daily grind to walk the W or O trek around Torres del Paine. Do it. You won't regret it. But you'll be cheating yourself if you don't head north to Los Glaciares National Park in Argentina.  No crowds, no fees, and no online...

Start this hike from the ranger station in El Chalten. Over the first 3 miles of the hike, you will gradually ascend 1000 feet. The terrain is mostly fields. After about 2 hours of walking, you will reach a field with cows in it. You will reach a fork. Follow the path on the right towards the mir...

Begin this hike from the ranger station in El Chalten. You will need to register (they will send out search and rescue if you do not return within 48 hours of the anticipated date) and show the park ranger your mandatory gear (more details in packing list). If you do not have these items already,...

This 13 mile roundtrip hike begins in El Chalten, at the end of Avenida San Martín, the main street in town. Within the first 10-15 minutes, you should encounter a clearly marked sign for "Senda al Fitz Roy" ("Path to Fitz Roy") with park rules and information about points of interest.From there...

This trail has awesome flexibility whether you're looking for a day hike or looking to stay a few nights. You head North/West out of El Chaltén on the Sendero al Fitz Roy trail. It’s a big pull out of the valley. Depending on what you’re carrying, some will find it easier than others. With a full...

 The head of the trail begins at the north end of town, at the end of San Martín Ave. During the first hour, the trail is a steep slope until entering the valley of Del Salto river, towards Mount Fitz Roy. After 30 min. walk from El Chaltén you'll have access to a natural viewpoint with panora...

There are admittedly more dramatic hikes to more impressive locations in the El Chalten area, but most of them require a fairly significant time commitment and some stamina.  At only 4 miles roundtrip with little elevation change, this adventure can be done in a couple of hours if necessary and y...

The parking area is about 1 mile from the Laguna de los Tres trailhead to Fitzroy.  Follow the dirt road to the right.  If you have a car, you can drive all the way to the Chorillo del Salto trailhead where there is a good parking lot. The initial half mile is a flat well maintained trail to the ...

From El Chalten, the trail starts Avenida San Martín, where El Chaltén town ends. There you can park your vehicle in a designated parking area, or just walk from your hotel. The slope is steep to begin with, but levels off after the first kilometer. In about 4 hours (with pack), you will reach th...

The trailhead to Piedra Del Fraile is on the right side of Ruta 23 just before the road crosses Rio Electrico.  There is signage a few yards into the trail that initially is easy to find.  There is a short section where the trail is difficult to find but it is marked with small cairns. After abou...