Excursions

Absolutely. elchalten.com isn't a booking call center based in some far-off country — we live in El Chaltén and know each operator personally, since they first started their business. When you send an inquiry or booking request to any of them, you're reaching a real, verified person.

For most of them, no. Rafting, kayaking, the via ferrata, horseback riding, fishing and the Ice Trek require no technical experience: the guides provide the safety gear and instruction. The exception is mountain biking, which requires basic bike skills. What some of them do require is good fitness: the Neumeyer Glacier Ice Trek is very demanding, and the Full Day Laguna de los Tres and the Via Ferrata of the Canyon are demanding.

Aventura Viedma (a boat trip to the Viedma Glacier and a short walk with no slopes), horseback riding at Estancia Bonanza, kayaking on Lago del Desierto (calm water, in a tandem kayak) and the El Chaltén Foodie Tour, a walk through town. The table above lists them from easiest to most demanding.

Each excursion has its own minimum age. As a guide: Aventura Viedma has a child rate for ages 3 to 12; on the horseback ride, children under 10 ride with an adult; the Petrified Forest is from age 6; fishing, from 8 with an adult; mountain biking and Chaltén Kayak, from 12; the via ferrata and both OVO experiences, from 14; the Ice Trek, from 15; and rafting, from 16. Always confirm when you ask, as it may change.

Half day: rafting, Chaltén Kayak, the via ferrata, horseback riding, mountain biking, OVO Visit, Aventura Viedma and kayaking on Lago del Desierto (plus the round trip to the lake); the Foodie Tour takes 3 hours in the evening. Full day: fishing, the Ice Trek (with the night before at the Puesto Cagliero refuge) and the Full Day Laguna de los Tres. Several days: OVO Night (you sleep in the capsule) and the autumn photo tours, from 2 to 4 days.

Almost all of them run in the summer season, from October or November to April; the exact dates are on each page. Aventura Viedma runs year-round, although its transfer from town runs from November to March. The photo tours are only in late March and April, for the autumn colors. In winter almost all excursions close.

Rain or cold don't usually cancel an excursion: rafting, Chaltén Kayak and fishing go ahead anyway. Strong wind, however, can cancel or change them, especially on the water (kayaking and rafting) and at OVO. The guide makes the call, for safety, and what happens to your payment depends on each operator: Comarka refunds the full amount if it cancels, and OVO offers to reschedule or leave a credit. Ask when you book.

In high season (December to February) it's best to book as soon as you have your dates, especially the ones with few spots: the Ice Trek depends on a bed at the refuge the night before, OVO Night sleeps two people per capsule, and the photo tours have fixed dates. For the rest, a few days ahead is usually enough, but ask anyway: groups are small.

It depends. The Estancia Bonanza excursions (via ferrata, horseback riding and mountain biking), both OVO experiences and fishing, which picks you up at your lodging, include the transfer from El Chaltén. Chaltén Kayak and rafting leave from Comarka's base in town, without lodging pickup. On Aventura Viedma and the Lago del Desierto kayak the transfer is optional, and on the Ice Trek it isn't included. The Foodie Tour starts at the operator's office in town. The Full Day Laguna de los Tres and the Petrified Forest leave from El Calafate.

Only on excursions that use the Park's trails. The Full Day Laguna de los Tres doesn't include it, so you have to buy it separately; the photo tours already include it. Each excursion's page details what is and isn't included.

Always layered clothing and a waterproof jacket, because the weather changes fast. The operators provide the technical gear: dry suits for kayaking and fishing, a neoprene suit for rafting, helmet and harness for the via ferrata and OVO, and crampons for the Ice Trek. Each page has the list of what to bring.