With the influx of travelers arriving in El Chaltén over the last several years, this small town has developed a fairly strong tourism infrastructure catering to hikers and climbers, with several shops to rent and buy outdoor gear (mainly located on Avenida San Martín, one of two central streets). However, it’s important to know that there is still no mobile phone service, and most businesses don't have addresses. Most buses coming into town stop by the Los Glaciares National Park Information Office for a short presentation in English and Spanish about the national park (Tel: (02962) 493004). Here you can get up-to-date reports on hiking trails and campsites, acquire fishing permits, or register your expedition before you go trekking.

Police / Fire department: dial 101.

Tourist Information Office: Comisión de Fomento Centro de Informes. Avenida Guemes 21. From October-April, open daily 8 a.m. - 9 p.m. / From May - September, open Monday - Friday 8 a.m. - 4 p.m. Tel: (02962) 493011, E-mail: comfomelChalten@yahoo.com, URL: www.elchalten.com.

APN (National Park office): TP-23, at the village entry. From October - March, opendaily 9 a.m. - 6 p.m. / From April - September, open daily 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. Staff speaks English; in high season there are volunteers who handle other languages. APN accepts summer volunteers. Basic Spanish is needed. For more information, write to: voluntariosglaciares@apn.gov.ar.

Hospital: dial 107. Puesto Sanitario: Avenida de Agostini 70, $4.50 (15 pesos) are charged for a doctor’s consultation. Tel: (02962) 493033.

Gendarmaría Nacional (immigration): Madsen 66, Tel.: 49-3140.

Post Office: Open Monday - Friday 9 a.m. - 4 p.m., Saturday 9 a.m. - 1 p.m. Madsen s/n, between Avenida Güemes and Halvorsen.

Police Station: Av. San Martín 14, Tel: (02962) 493003.

Banks / ATMS: Banco Santa Cruz—P. Moreno and Avenida Güemes, near tourism office—ATM only: Accepts MasterCard, Cirrus, Visa, Plus, American Express; some travelers report their cards not being accepted, or that the machine is out of money. Few businesses accept credit cards, amd those that do add a high surcharge.

Pharmacy: FarmaciaElCerro, Río de las Vueltas y Halvorsen 41, Tel: (02962) 493253.

Internet: Internet is expensive and slow (especially if quite a few people are online at the same time), costing $3 - 3.50 per hour for foreigners. The only café with Skype is ChalteNet (Avenida Güemes 77).

Other providers are: Chaltén Travel servicio de Internet (Avenida Güemes 127); Locutorio Boulevard (Avenida Güemes 127) is the cheapest.

Phone (locutorio): Boulevard (Avenida Güemes 127), Boulevard II (Avenida San Martín 624), Javier (De Viedma 52).

Laundry (lavadero): Sheuen (Cerro Solo 117, Tel.: 49-3222), Wash & Go (Avenida Rojo and Riquelme).