Recommendations for your trip to El Chaltén

Before you travel

Choose your season

The season runs from October to April, with the most visitors from December to March and the peak in January. During those months all tours and services operate and the days are long. From May to September most tours do not run and some lodgings and restaurants close, but the National Park stays open and many hikes can be done in peace and quiet. Month-by-month details are in The weather in El Chaltén.

Allow at least four days to explore the area, plus one or two spare days: the weather changes fast, 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.

Book your accommodation early

In high season (December to February, especially Christmas, New Year and January) it is best to book at least 3 months ahead; in October, November, March and April, 1 to 3 months is usually enough. In Where to stay you contact each host directly, with no middlemen or commissions.

Buy your National Park pass

Since October 21, 2024, there is an entry fee for the northern section of Los Glaciares National Park, where almost all of 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 sold online at the National Parks online ticket office. Some trails run through private land outside the park and charge their own entry fee.

If you plan to camp, book your campsite

The Poincenot, De Agostini and Laguna Capri campsites, inside the park, are no longer free or open access: spaces are limited and 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, bookings are non-refundable and cannot be rescheduled, and each campsite is booked separately. Children under 12 and El Chaltén residents camp for free.

Outside the park there are private campgrounds in the village and along the Río de las Vueltas valley: they are all in Campsites.

If you come by car

In Santa Cruz the distances between towns, ranches and gas stations are very long: fill up whenever you can, check your spare tire and, in winter, check road conditions and carry chains. As everywhere in Argentina, drive with your low beams on and your seatbelt fastened. Inside the National Park the speed limit is 40 km/h, and in winter, with snow, frost or ice, studded tires or approved link chains are mandatory on its roads. Routes, distances and road reports are in How to get to El Chaltén.

If you travel in winter

From June to August it is cold, the days are short, and snow or ice can close sections of the trails and slow down the road: allow extra time to get in and out of the village, and check in advance which lodgings will be open. Buses from El Calafate run every day of the year.

From May to September the trails have ice, mud and snow, and become much more demanding: the National Park requires trekking poles and crampons. Walking or skating on frozen lakes is forbidden: the ice is unstable and falling into the water can cause hypothermia.

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What to bring

Patagonian weather can change several times in one day, and it is colder and windier on the trails than in the village. Dressing in layers works best: a quick-drying base layer, a warm mid layer and a waterproof windbreaker. Even if you only plan short walks or tours, do not forget:

• Hiking shoes or boots with ankle support, waterproof if possible. They are also the right choice for the Perito Moreno Glacier boardwalks, whose floor is made of metal grating.
• A fleece or similar warm top and a waterproof windbreaker with a hood.
• A warm hat, gloves and warm socks.
• UV-filter sunglasses, a sun hat and sunscreen (SPF 30 or higher), even on cloudy days.
• A water bottle and some food for the trail.
• Spare batteries or a power bank: the cold drains them faster.

What to wear in each season is in The weather in El Chaltén.

You do not need to bring everything: in the village you can rent some or almost all of what you need for hiking and camping, from boots, poles and jackets to tents, sleeping bags and stoves. The shops are in Gear rental.

If you plan to camp

The park campsites are basic: there is no electricity, store, kitchen or gear rental, so you need to bring everything:

• A wind-resistant tent, a sleeping bag rated for low temperatures and a sleeping pad.
• A gas stove with enough fuel for your whole stay (fires are not allowed).
• Food for every day, cooking gear and bags to carry your waste back out.
• A headlamp and a first aid kit. Do not rely on your phone's flashlight: it takes up one hand, has a short range and its battery drains fast in the cold night; better save the battery for your photos and videos.

And if you would rather buy, the village has outdoor clothing and gear shops.

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When you arrive

Stop by the information centers

The municipal tourist information center at the bus terminal has details on the village's services. At the National Park Visitor Center you can ask about trail and campsite conditions. Addresses and contacts are in Visitor information centers.

Secure your return trip

If you do not have your return ticket yet, buy it as soon as you arrive, especially in high season. Schedules and fares are in Regular buses and shuttles, and if you would rather leave on your own schedule, there are private transfers.

Payments and staying connected

Virtually every business accepts credit and debit cards, digital wallets and bank transfers, and there are ATMs. There is cell phone signal in the village; there is no signal or internet at the park campsites.

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On the trails

Almost every hike is inside Los Glaciares National Park: all the trails, with their difficulty and length, are in Self-guided treks. Help us look after it, so that those who come after you find the same magic you are about to discover:

• Before you set out, know the difficulty and length of the route, choose it according to your fitness without overdoing it, and plan to be back in daylight.
• There are no shops on the trails: carry water, something to eat, an extra warm layer, sunglasses, sunscreen and a flashlight.
• If you can, hike with company, and tell someone your route and when you expect to be back.
• Stay on the marked trails, do not take shortcuts, and follow the park signs and the instructions of the park rangers: they are the authority in the area.
• If you plan to climb or trek off the marked trails, fill in the Remote Area Mountain Use Registry beforehand (or register at the Visitor Center): in case of an accident, the park will know who you are, where you are and what gear you carry.
• Even when it is sunny, carry a warm layer and a waterproof jacket.
• Never light a fire, anywhere, for any reason.
• Carry all your waste back to the village, and any litter you find on the way too.
• Do not feed or disturb wildlife, and do not take plants, rocks or other souvenirs from nature.
• Pets and drones are not allowed in the park.
• Enjoy the sounds of nature: do not use speakers or play loud music.
• Look after the park facilities: toilets, viewpoints, trails and campsites.
• Fishing is regulated: you need the corresponding permit (more in Fishing in El Chaltén).

At the campsites

• Camp only at designated sites and with your booking.
• Cook only with a gas stove, in the designated areas.
• Use the dry toilets and wash dishes only in the washing areas, never in rivers or lakes: do not throw soap, food scraps or waste into the water.
• Keep food out of reach of animals.
• Respect other campers' rest.

The puma

This area is puma habitat. Sightings are very rare, but avoid hiking alone on little-used trails and keep children close at all times. If you meet one, do not run or turn your back: stay calm, raise your arms to look bigger and back away slowly while facing it.