Welcome to Piedra Del Fraile in El Chaltén area!
Place of passage and meeting place. A classic in the area. Located in the Valle del Río Eléctrico, it has unique views and location. It is an ideal place to spend the night and regain strength before venturing towards the Marconi glacier or the Pollone glacier. It has a camping place and there is also the possibility of staying overnight inside the shelter.
In the area, we also have the Puesto Cagliero Mountain Refuge located in Estancia Los Huemules.
Services
Baths.
Meals.
Drinks.
Dorms.
Camping.
There is no hot water.
There is no shared kitchen.
Paths
Lago Eléctrico.
Laguna Pollone.
Glaciar Marconi.
Piedra Negra.
Paso Del Cuadrado.
Access
It can only be accessed on foot along a low-difficulty path that lasts approximately two hours.
The path begins from the bridge of the Electric River, 16 km from the town by the RP N°41.
You can get there with your own vehicle or regular transport that comes from El Chaltén.
Keep in mind
No prior reservation is needed for the campsite.
You must bring your sleeping bag.
There is no hot water and no shared kitchen.
As it is a remote area, all treks requires registration and recommendations provided by the National Park Administration. Contact Los Glaciares National Park Visitor Centre
What our guests say
Location
Valley of the Río Eléctrico - El Chaltén area - Santa Cruz province - Argentine Patagonia
In the area, we also have the Puesto Cagliero Mountain Refuge located in Estancia Los Huemules.
Distance from El Chaltén: 14,6 miles (10,6 miles by Provincial Route 41 + 4 miles walking in the path).
Distance from Comandante Armando Tola International Airport (El Calafate): 138.6 miles (2.5 hours by car or bus).
How to get from El Chaltén
From El Chaltén to Río Eléctrico bridge: 10,6 miles trough Río De las Vueltas Valley, hiring a taxi. From there, walk along the trail following the signs to Electric Lake for about two hours. See this trek.
How to get to El Chalten
Direct from the Airport
You can get there directly from the airport, without going through El Calafate, by booking a private transfer service in advance. The service will be waiting for you when you disembark from your flight and will bring you directly to El Chaltén at the time that suits you best. You can also take a bus, which runs all year round.
From El Calafate
Whether by bus or rented car (or your own), take Provincial Route 11 towards Río Gallegos and after 20,5 miles you will reach the junction with National Route 40, here turn left; 62 miles further and you will reach the junction with Provincial Route 41, where you turn left again until you reach El Chaltén after 55 miles.
Useful information
Argentina, the country
Official language: Spanish.
National currency: Argentine Peso.
Passport: minimum validity of 6 months.
Visas for tourism: authorized period of stay of is up to 90 days.
Vaccination for foreigners: Yellow Fever Vaccine is mandatory only in case of visiting forested areas of the north and northeast of Argentina, the borders with Brazil and Paraguay at altitudes below 2300 masl, including Iguazu Falls.
It is advisable to take out travel insurance to cover medical expenses abroad, including medical transfer.
Electric network: 220V / 50Hz.
El Chaltén
National Direct Dialing Code: 02962.
International Direct Dialing Code: 0054 2962.
How to get there: land route from El Calafate to 134 Km.
Nearest airport: El Calafate at 125 mi.
Climate in the austral summer: dry, windy and very variable.
Minimum average temperature: 33ºF (-1ºC) on winter.
Maximum average temperature: 59ºF (+15ºC) on summer.
Available services in El Chaltén
ATM (Red Link, Banco Santa Cruz).
Postal Mail: Correo Argentino.
Mobile network: 3G (Movistar and Claro companies).
On Bank.
Fuel: gasoline and diesel.
Services NOT available
Money Exchange agencies.