The wild and windy town of El Chaltén was built in 1985 at the confluence of the Río de las Vueltas and Río Fitz Roy, at the base of the renowned Fitz Roy mountains, to support the growing numbers of tourists in the area who came to explore the famous icy peaks. Apparently Argentina also started developing the town to claim the increasingly popular area and avoid territorial disputes with Chile; later in 1994, an international ruling council declared that Argentina did indeed own the land.
The saw-tooth mountain range provides a dramatic backdrop for the town, which includes two of the toughest challenges for mountain climbers: Cerro Fitz Roy and Cerro el Torre. El Chaltén is the indigenous Tehuelche (Aónikenk) name for Fitz Roy, which in their language means “Smoking Mountain.” The name was given by Argentine scientist Francisco Perito Moreno.
El Chaltén has grown significantly since its recent founding, though there are still only 500 or so year-round residents. Situated just north of Los Glaciares National Park, this small village has earned the title of Argentina's national trekking capital, and now thousands of international outdoor enthusiasts come every year to summit Cerro Fitz Roy, the majority of which visit between January and March. It’s important to book accommodations well in advance (sometimes even up to a month) if you plan to visit then.
With plenty of hostels, restaurants, and outdoor supplies shops, El Chaltén is a good base for climbers looking to set out on multiple-day guided excursions into the National Park or on a simple day trips into the nearby valleys and foothills for stunning panoramic views of Fitz Roy. Basic tourist services operate from October until April or May, after which the town tends to shut down for the harsh winter season.
The village church, Nuestra Señora de la Patagonia, is a small, yellow tin chapel with a beautiful stained glass portrait of the Virgin within (Los Andeles, between Avenida Güemes and McLoed). Another chapel of interest is the Toni Egger Gedankkapelle, to commemorate climbers who have lost their lives on the peaks.
Pop: approximately 500; Phone Code: 02962