El Chaltén Things to See and Do

El Chaltén bills itself as the National Trekking Capital – and for good reason. This northern part of Parque Nacional Los Glaciares has many trails winding around the bases of the great massifs to lagoons and lakes. Wildlife is plentiful. For budget travelers, it’s a dream destination, as no entry is charged into the park and these trails can be done without a guide. Climbing Torre and Viedma Glaciers, horseback riding, and kayaking down Río de las Vueltas are just a few more ways to fill the days. Many climbers aspire to summit Cerros Torre and Fitz Roy, considered two of the world’s most difficult peaks to scale.

By Lorraine Caputo

Upon re-declaring her independence at age 29, Lorraine Caputo packed her trusty Rocinante (so her knapsack's called) and began traipsing throughout...

Created: 15 Jul 2009

Updated: 21 Aug 2009

Top Things to Do in El Chaltén

Filter By:

Activity Type

Hiking

Trekking

Other Activity

Horseback Riding
Kayaking

Order By :

Writers Favorite

Traveler Rating

Price

Please Wait...

On a Rainy Day

Whether the weather is keeping you from hitting the trails, or an injury has rained on your parade, El Chaltén’s community offers a few activities to fill the hours. The national park service, APN, has an interpretive center at its headquarters. One room covers the natural and human history of...

Types: Other Activity
Location: El Chaltén, Argentina

Hiking in El Chaltén

The biggest attraction in El Chaltén is the wide web of hiking trails that weave around the base of the two giant massifs, Torre and Fitz Roy. There are three main circuits, each...

Types: Hiking
Location: El Chaltén, Argentina

Miradores de los Cóndores y de las Águilas

The Miradores de los Cóndores and de las Águilas trails begin from the park office. At first, the main trail passes through the compound, to the trailhead to the left. The path then rises steadily and easily up. Near the top of the hill, the trail forks. The left route heads up to ...

Types: Hiking
Location: El Chaltén, Argentina

Lago Toro Hike

The trail to Lago Toro, not to be confused with Laguna Torre, makes for a long, but relatively easy, hike. Starting at the signposted trailhead on the grounds of the national park headquarters, the path hugs the Río Tunel valley before crossing some hills and then descending into a forest. The...

Types: Hiking
Location: El Chaltén, Argentina

Piedra del Fraile Hike

Piedra del Fraile is a gigantic boulder that sits on private land in the Río Electrico valley. To get to the site, you must set off from the Puente del Río Electrico, a low bridge accessible by public transportation from El Chaltén. The path, which can be difficult to follow at times, winds...

Types: Trekking
Location: El Chaltén, Argentina