How Many Days in El Chalten: My Complete Itinerary
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El Chalten is a magical place in Patagonia and in my heart. There are so many reasons why you should visit this small town in southern Argentina. When I crossed the border from Bolivia to Argentina, I knew one thing: I HAD to visit this town. From the many day hikes and multi-day treks to the food and the people, there’s something for everybody.
But how many days in El Chalten is enough?
I get this question about many destinations around the world. There’s no right answer, but I plan to answer it and many others in this guide.
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Is El Chalten Worth Visiting?
You’re doing something wrong if you’re going to Patagonia and not visiting El Chalten. Okay, not really. Everyone has their own preferences, but you should seriously look into them!
It’s worth visiting even if you can only stay a couple of days. There wasn’t much wifi throughout town, so I could go off-grid and fully immerse. I loved it.
It’s close to the popular town of El Calafate, where many travelers visit to do mini trekking on Perito Moreno Glacier. There’s so much adventure waiting for you in Patagonia!
Where is El Chalten?
El Chalten is located in the southern part of Argentina, near the border of Chile. Only a few hours from El Calafate.
This was our starting point for this area of Patagonia after we visited Bariloche. It’s an expensive town, so slow traveling here can be difficult.
We stayed for 5 nights before heading back down to El Calafate.
How to Get to El Chalten
There is no airport here, so you must first fly into El Calafate. There are many flights to here from Bariloche, Salta, Buenos Aires, etc.
Once arriving, you’ll have a few options:
- Rent a Car
- Take a Bus
- Ride in a Private Shuttle
Most people take the bus, and that’s what we did. It costs 25,000 pesos (March 5th, 2024), which is around $25.
We booked a ticket through Chalten Travel from the El Calafate Airport.
Choosing your transportation option is up to you. Some people love to be in control, and a road trip through Patagonia is a top-tier experience.
The buses are cheap (for Patagonia) and quite efficient.
Things to Know
I’m sure you have some questions about El Chalten before you fully commit to visiting this town.
Below, I’ll review some of the most popular questions and give you some helpful tips about what to do here.
How Many Days Do You Need in El Chalten?
I know many people who travel to Patagonia will have a tight schedule. It can become stressful when planning your El Chalten itinerary.
The absolute minimum number of days you should stay here is two. That said, I suggest three or four days because there’s so much to see and do.
We stayed here for five nights, but that didn’t seem enough. There are multiple-day hikes and multi-day treks available.
Things to Bring
Patagonia is known for its huge mood swings of weather, and I wouldn’t change that for the world. It’s what makes this area unique. But it’s a good idea to come prepared.
There will be warm, cold, and rainy weather between December and February during the peak season. It can be unpredictable, so it is best to come prepared!
Here are some things I suggest bringing.
Is 2 Days Enough in El Chalten?
I don’t think two days is enough time in El Chalten unless you have only one goal: to hike Laguna de los Tres to Fitz Roy. There are many amazing restaurants and coffee shops in town that you can visit in two days; it simply isn’t enough time.
Is Torres del Paine better then El Chalten?
I wouldn’t say one is better than the other. Torres del Paine is a national park with refugios located throughout.
El Chalten offers hikes for all levels, and you can return to your accommodation to relax in the comfort of your own bed.
You’ll also be in a small town which offers a lot and is growing.
What Multi-day hikes are Available?
There are more options available than just single-day hikes. If you’re up for an adventure, you can go on multi-day treks to see much more of this area than most.
I highly suggest completing the W Trek if you want to do just one multi-day trek in Patagonia.
1. 2-day Circuit Combining Laguna Torre with Laguna de los Tres
It’s possible to combine Laguna Torre with Laguna de los Tres. This allows you to camp near the top of each hike for early access. It’s recommended that you complete it as a two-day trek.
Here’s an example of how you can do this:
- Day 1: Hike to Agostini Campground from El Chalten. Set up camp here and get ready to wake up in the morning to view Laguna Torres for sunrise.
- Day 2: Wake up for sunrise and begin the trek to Campamento Pointcenot. Head back down from Laguna Torre like you’re going back into town. Where there’s a bathroom, there’s a left turn. Take a left here and stay left until you reach Pointcenot.
- Day 3: Wake up early and head to Laguna de los Tres to view Fitz Roy for sunrise. Afterward, hike back into town.
2. Huemul Circuit
This 4-day trek around Cerro Huemul isn’t for the faint of heart. It should only be attempted by experienced backpackers who know what they are doing.
You need to register with the visitors center first. Below are some important things to know before completing this hike.
- Make sure the weather is good. Some mountain passes are completely impassable if the wind is too strong.
- Gather up the gear for Tyrolean traverses. This is where you’ll have to pass across cables to get to the other side.
- Heavy-duty stakes and guylines for your tent. The wind is extremely strong.
This trek is 40 miles long, and the trail starts next to the visitor center. I personally didn’t do it, but if you want a guide, check it out on Operation Adventure.
Day Hikes
Many people came for this. Day hikes are magical here, as you get to see the beauty of the surrounding area and then hang out in town later on.
Nothing is better than completing a long hike and then celebrating with a great meal and wine afterward. Below are all the day hikes that I have completed.
Laguna de los Tres (Fitz Roy)
This is the hike that most people visit El Chalten to do. It’s the hike to Fitz Roy called Laguna de los Tres.
Laguna de los Tres can be started at the northern end of town, where many restaurants and bars are located.
It’s not an easy hike, especially in the last hour or so. It’s a straight incline in the last part, but it’s well worth the struggle!
Unfortunately, the lake was frozen for us. We hiked here during the first week of December. I was told the lake completely melted the following week.
- Distance: This is a 13.7-mile out-and-back hike.
- Duration: This hike takes an average of 8 hours to complete, depending on how long you stay at the top.
- Difficulty: I’d rank this hike as easy because of the minimal elevation gain.
- Incline: The elevation for this hike is around 3,503 feet or 1,067 meters.
- Hiking Guide: A guide is not needed for this hike and is easily accessible by the public
Laguna Torre
Laguna Torre is the 2nd most popular hike in El Chalten. Personally, I liked the views during the hike more than the end. I think we got unlucky with the views.
Patagonia weather can be unpredictable, but we chose the best weather window for the Fitz Roy hike.
I’ve seen photos of this when it’s not cloudy and looks stunning!
The views of the mountains to the side while hiking along the trail will blow you away. I wouldn’t do this hike over the Fitz Roy one, but it should still be added to your itinerary!
- Distance: This is a 10.9-mile out-and-back hike.
- Duration: On average, it will take people 5 – 7 hours to complete this hike. This depends on how long you stay at the top and your fitness level.
- Difficulty: I’d rank this hike as moderate to difficult because of the increased elevation gain and length of hike.
- Incline: The elevation for this hike is around 1,643 feet or 500 meters.
- Hiking Guide: A guide is not needed for this hike and is easily accessible by the public
Mirador de Los Condores
For how popular and easy this hike was, I was surprised how much I liked it. Mirador de los Condores is a perfect hike for beginner hikers, but even experienced ones will love it!
It offers panoramic views of El Chalten below and must be added to your itinerary. The hike won’t take longer than an hour but there’s a 2nd mirador if you wanna make it a longer trek.
There’s a good chance you’ll see condors flying above the top of the hike. We saw a few as we were arriving at the trailhead but none while we were at the top.
- Distance: This is a 3.3-mile out-and-back hike.
- Duration: On average, it will take people 1 – 2 hours to complete this hike. This depends on how long you stay at the waterfall.
- Difficulty: This hike is easy to moderate because of the minimal elevation gain but increased distance.
- Incline: The elevation for this hike is around 705 feet or 215 meters.
- Hiking Guide: A guide is not needed for this hike and is easily accessible by the public
Chorrillo del Salto
Chorrillo del Salto is a hike different from the rest on this list. This is a perfect hike if you want to see a waterfall and not exert too much energy.
I suggest going as early as possible because the crowd will show up around lunchtime or a little before. We arrived around noon and almost couldn’t find a spot to sit.
That said, it’s a good “rest day” hike, but you shouldn’t feel the need to visit it.
- Distance: This is a 4.1-mile out-and-back hike.
- Duration: On average, it will take people 1 – 2 hours to complete this hike. This depends on how long you stay at the waterfall.
- Difficulty: I’d rank this hike easy because of the minimal elevation gain.
- Incline: The elevation for this hike is around 465 feet or 139 meters.
- Hiking Guide: A guide is not needed for this hike and is easily accessible by the public
Laguna Capri
This hike is part of Laguna de los Tres but is something I’d suggest doing if you don’t think you can complete the hike to Fitz Roy.
There’s a campground here and the lake is stunning with Mount Fitz Roy in the background.
You can download the map on Alltrails if you want to go here for a day hike.
Best Time to Visit El Chalten
It’ll be between December and April if you want to visit Patagonia for the best chance of good weather.
The weather in El Chalten can be unpredictable, but that’s the case with most of Patagonia.
We visited in Early December and the weather was really good for the most part. This was “technically” before the busy season but was still busy everywhere.
Below are some photos of the difference between temperature, sunshine, and precipitation months.
Photo credit goes to Weather and Climate.
Best Places to Eat and Drink in El Chalten
We cooked a lot here, especially for breakfast. We also tried out a few restaurants that I’d like to recommend.
Some of these are also great places to grab a beer or a bottle of wine with appetizers of course!
- La Cervecería Chaltén: This was our favorite restaurant during our stay. The food, service, and atmosphere are top-notch, but be prepared to wait for a table!
- Bourbon Smokehouse: I loved the atmosphere here and we enjoyed our beer and wings! If you want to meet other travelers, eat quality food, and chill, this is the spot!
- Restaurante Ahonikenk: Located closer to the beginning of town, Ahonikenk has some of the best food in town. I’m dreaming of their pasta as we speak.
Best Coffee Shops in El Chalten
There’s nothing better than enjoying an amazing cup of coffee in a mountain town. I love cappuccinos, and there’s none better than at PAISA High Mountain Coffee.
This is a Colombian-owned coffee shop that also has amazing pastries! There are many other coffee shops around town, but if you love coffee like me, you have to add Paisa High Mountain coffee to your itinerary in El Chalten.
Where to Stay in El Chalten
- Rancho Grande: This is one of the most popular hostels in the area. It’s large and has its own restaurant with a bar! I didn’t stay here, but we grabbed some beers and loved it!
- Kau Si Aike: Centrally located, this apartment also comes with free breakfast! The place is clean and has some great mountain views.
- Destino Sur Hotel & Spa de Montaña: Looking for a more luxurious experience? Check out this lovely spa located near many fantastic restaurants!
My 5-Day El Chalten Itinerary
This itinerary can be changed to your liking and easily edited to become a three or four-day itinerary.
I’ll go over each day quickly as it covers details I already discussed earlier in this blog.
- Day 1: We flew into El Calafate and got on the bus from the airport to El Chalten. We arrived at our airbnb, got dinner and then slept. Nothing special but it stays bright for a long time, which helps to see much of the town this first day.
- Day 2: To separate the two longest hikes by a few days, we decided to do Laguna Torre as our first hike. After this, we grabbed dinner at the Bourbon Smokehouse.
- Day 3: We slept in slightly (8 am) and went to get coffee in town. Afterwards, we went to go hike Mirador de los Condores before getting more coffee and making dinner at home.
- Day 4: Our goal today was to get some walking in, but nothing too strenuous. That’s why we decided to visit Chorrillo del Salto waterfall on day four.
- Day 5: Today we decided to do the Laguna de los Tres hike. The weather was perfect! Afterward, we celebrated all our hard work all week and enjoyed dinner at La Cervecería before leaving the next morning.
Final Thoughts
El Chalten was my favorite town we visited during our time in Patagonia. The easy-to-access hikes and being around like-minded people really made it for me. There’s so much to do in this town that I’ll have to come back and visit again. And I’ll definitely be returning to Paisa Mountain Coffee and La Cervecería.
