El Chalten
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The small outdoorsy town of El Chalten is not nearly as complicated as its location insinuates; located in the province of Santa Cruz, Patagonia in the local department of Lago Argentino, in the northern sector of Lago Viedma, in the national reserve Zona Ciedma, in Los Glaciers National Park. In reality, this beautiful mountain side town is only 40km from El Calafate and should not be missed for anyone who loves a morning hike, afternoon mountain trek, and late night cold beer watching the stars above.
This area of Argentina is absolutely breathtaking as it seems that everywhere you look there is either a mountain, lake, glacier, or park just waiting to be discovered. This area sees cold snowy winters and refreshingly warm summers. El Chalten is open from November until March during the fall, spring, and summer season, and closed from April until October, during the winter season when conditions do not permit activities in the area.
The city of El Chalten, considered Argentina’s youngest town, is surrounded by the mountain peaks of the Andes, ancient glaciers, national lakes and lagoons, and thick green forests, attracting adventure enthusiasts from all over the world. From the town you can see the famous Cerro Torre and Monte Fitz Roy, some of the most incredible peaks of the Andes that seem to always have a thick white cloud around the top peaks. In the winter, El Chalten only has a few hundred residents unlike in the summer when thousands of visitors invade the small town to take advantage of the world class trekking, mountain climbing, and other outdoor activities in the area. This being said, the town offers very minimal amenities and still lacks things like newspapers, cell phones, money exchange, and credit cards, and visitors should be well prepared and knowledgeable about what they will need during their stay.
Once you get settled in El Chalten there are dozens of activities to enjoy; on clear and wind-free days, hikers can make the 3-5 hour hike up Mount Cerro, discovering incredible views, peaceful forests, and crisp fresh air along the way. For experienced hikers, Mount Cerro can be a once in a lifetime mountain trek; from the base up to Mirador Laguna Torre is a stiff hike with incredible views of snow capped mountain peaks, from there, hikers can head the route passing Lagunas Madre and Hija that takes you to the Laguna Torre, offering up stunning views of Mount Fitz Roy and a path to the base camp, located lakeside.
An unbelievable and unforgettable visit is to the Glaciers Piedras Blancas; about 6-8 hours from the town, a designated trail leads hikers to these incredible glaciers, reached after climbing over enormous boulders leading to a turquoise lake and dozens of ancient floating glaciers. For those hikers who want more, the trail continues on until it reaches Refugio Los Troncos, a camping spot in the middle of the mountains.
Ice climbing and lake cruises are also offered in the area and are best booked from the town as destinations and availability depend on the month and season. Camping is a big summer activity when temperatures are agreeable for hikers to sleep outside, and for most, is one of the most memorable moments when visiting El Chalen and the surrounding area.
Other great destinations areas are of patagonia are described in this Argentina travel guide.