Frequently asked questions

The season runs from October to April, but you can visit at any time: the National Park is open all year round, buses arrive every day and most self-guided hikes can always be done.

• Season (October to April): from December to March is when most travelers arrive, peaking in January. Days are long and mild, and all tours and services operate.
• May and September: in-between months, not so cold. You can do many self-guided hikes in much greater peace, although most tours do not run and some lodgings and restaurants close.
• Winter (June to August): cold, short days and snow. Tours do not operate and some trail sections may close due to snow or mud. Some lodgings, markets and grocery stores stay open. It is for those seeking a more intimate experience of Patagonia.

More month-by-month details in The weather in El Chaltén.

From 4 to 10 days, depending on how much you enjoy the mountains:

• Beginner, 4 days: for a few short or medium hikes, a half-day or full-day tour, and time for the restaurants, tea houses and shops.
• Enthusiast, 5 to 7 days: where most travelers fall. Enough for several trekking routes, a night at a campsite or refuge and the most popular tours.
• Mountain lover, 7 days or more: if trekking is your thing, you will find it hard to say goodbye.

Always add one or two spare days: the weather changes quickly, and Fitz Roy and especially Cerro Torre do not show themselves all the time. A day that dawns clear can cloud over by the afternoon, and if you did not reach the viewpoint early, you missed it.

It is a cool, windy mountain climate that can change several times in a single day. In January and February, the warmest months, the average temperature is 13.3 °C (56 °F); in July, the coldest, it is around 0.5 °C (33 °F), with snow in the village. The west wind blows hard mostly from October to March; winter is calmer.

Current weather, monthly data and what to wear are in The weather in El Chaltén.

Yes. Since October 21, 2024, there is an entrance fee to the northern sector of Los Glaciares National Park, where El Chaltén’s trails are. The pass costs AR$ 50,000 for foreign visitors and AR$ 25,000 for Argentine residents, with reduced rates for students and Santa Cruz residents, and free entry for children under 6, retirees and residents of El Calafate, El Chaltén and Tres Lagos, among others. It is bought online on the National Parks online sales site.

Some trails are outside the park, on private land, and charge their own fee: Laguna Azul and Laguna Diablo at Estancia Los Huemules, or the Huemul Glacier at Lago del Desierto.

No. The northern sector of Los Glaciares National Park is open all year round. From June to September some trail sections may become impassable due to snow or thaw mud, so before setting out it is best to check their condition at the park’s Visitor Center or at the visitor information centres.

No. Most activities are on the self-guided trails, well signposted and in good condition, which require no trekking or mountaineering experience. For long or demanding hikes, good physical fitness is advisable.

The same goes for tours: kayaking, horseback riding, rafting or the via ferrata are done with guides who provide the gear and instructions you need, with no previous experience. Only ascents or expeditions require climbing or trekking experience.

Of course. Depending on their age, keep a few things in mind:

• Babies: with a baby carrier, the whole family can enjoy short or medium, easy hikes.
• Preschoolers: they can join you on easy trails, respecting their rest and hydration times and never leaving them alone. The Los Cóndores viewpoint and Chorrillo del Salto are ideal.
• School-age children: they can do almost all hikes and tours. If they are not used to the mountains, make sure they follow the safety rules and respect the park.

Some tours have a minimum age, such as rafting.

It depends. Many do not, but for those with limited places it is best to book ahead, especially in January and February. You can check availability directly with each provider on the tours page.

Yes, there is something for everyone: horseback riding, fishing trips, kayaking, car rides, mountain biking and boat trips such as the one to the Viedma Glacier, among others.

No. Organized activities stop from April or May until September or October. You can still do the open hikes in the National Park (with the entrance pass), bearing in mind that snowfall may close some trail sections. Some lodgings stay open, mostly cabins, hostels and apartments, as well as markets and grocery stores; most restaurants close from May to September.

If you love walking surrounded by nature, winter offers a different and unforgettable experience.

At the Los Glaciares National Park campsites, which since the 2024-2025 season must be booked and paid for in advance on the website of the Friends of Los Glaciares National Park Association, and at private campsites, both in the village and along the De las Vueltas River valley. They are all in Campsites.

Yes. It is one of the newest roads in the country: it was paved in 2003, has two lanes, no potholes and good signage. All the ways to get here are in How to get to El Chaltén.

• Banco Santa Cruz and Red Link ATMs.
• Municipal tourism and National Park visitor information centres.
• Health center with a general practitioner, an X-ray room and an ambulance for transfers.
• Pharmacy.
• Correo Argentino post office and laundries.
• Fuel (regular gasoline and diesel).
• Mechanic and tire repair shop.

Public administration: town hall, town council and municipal court; Police, Fire Brigade, National Gendarmerie and Coast Guard stations; justice of the peace and civil registry; preschool, primary and secondary schools.

Other: the Comisión de Auxilio, a volunteer mountain rescue team.

El Chaltén is a very young and growing town, and it does not yet have:

• A hospital: the nearest one is in El Calafate. There is a health center with a general practitioner and an X-ray room, so in an emergency such as a fracture, a diagnosis can be made in the village before a transfer to the hospital in El Calafate.
• Currency exchange offices.
• Cinemas, theaters, cultural centers or convention centers.

Yes, both public and private:

• Municipal gym, with an indoor court for soccer, basketball, volleyball and hockey.
• Centro Andino El Chaltén, with a large indoor sport climbing wall.
• Club Patagonia Austral.
• Club Social y Deportivo El Chaltén.

Yes. Tap water in El Chaltén is safe to drink.

Yes. Scheduled buses run between El Calafate and El Chaltén every day of the year (including all public holidays). In high season there are several departures a day in each direction, and in winter at least two a day. Up-to-date schedules are in Scheduled buses and shuttles.

Yes. From El Calafate International Airport there are shuttles to El Chaltén with several departures a day, and some scheduled buses pick up passengers at the airport. On the way back, all buses from El Chaltén to El Calafate stop at the airport, at fixed times.

The airport has no bus terminal: to catch a bus at the El Calafate terminal, 21 km (13 miles) away, there are minibus transfers after every flight. If you are traveling as a family or group, a private transfer gives you freedom of schedule and stops for photos; you can also rent a car.

Yes. Several companies in El Chaltén offer private transfers by car or minibus, to and from the airport, El Calafate and other towns in the region and in Chile. Unlike the bus, they leave and arrive at the place and time you agree on, and you can stop for photos along the way.

Yes: by bus, minibus, private transfer, or your own or a rental car. The most common route starts at El Calafate airport along Route 40 and Route 41, an attraction in itself with its views of steppe, lakes and mountains. You can also arrive from northern Argentina along Route 40 (for example, from Bariloche or Los Antiguos) or from the Atlantic coast along Route 3. More information in How to get to El Chaltén.

Yes. El Calafate International Airport (Comandante Armando Tola) is the closest: it is 200 km (124 miles) from El Chaltén and 21 km (13 miles) from the town of El Calafate. The province’s other airport is in Río Gallegos, about 460 km (286 miles) away, but there are no direct buses to El Chaltén: you have to change in El Calafate.

To enjoy the hikes, the right gear is best: good footwear, thermal layers, warm and waterproof clothing, and sun protection. What to bring for each season is in The weather in El Chaltén, and if you are missing something, the village has clothing and gear stores and gear rental.

Yes. 99% of shops accept credit and debit cards, digital wallets and bank transfers.

Yes. Since the 2024-2025 season the Poincenot, De Agostini and Laguna Capri campsites are no longer free or open access: you must book and pay before starting your hike on the website of the Friends of Los Glaciares National Park Association. The fee is per person per night, separate from the park entry pass. The other options are in Campsites.

Yes. On tours they take your diet into account if you mention it when booking. In the village there are restaurants, bars and takeaways with vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free options, and health food stores.

There is no RV park, but there is a designated parking area for these vehicles in the village, near the bus terminal. You can also stay at private campsites, in the village or in the valley.