El Chaltén is a town in Santa Cruz and a base camp for experiencing some of Patagonia's most renowned trekking. The town, nestled beneath Monte Fitz Roy, serves as a gateway to the north of Parque Nacional Los Glaciares. What used to be a small mountain village has grown into a lively backpacker hub: if you're traveling solo, this is the place to meet (and mingle) with other adventurers. El Chaltén is easily accessible. Buses run daily from El Calafate and Aeropuerto Internacional Comandante Armando Tola, Santa Cruz's busiest airport.
The town has a wide range of accommodation options; yet during the summer, it can be tricky to find quality, reasonably-priced vacancies. Most campgrounds in El Chaltén are simply somebody's back-or-front yard and frequently jam-packed with tents. We recommend forming a group of four (or more) and renting a cabaña.
Those set on camping should arrive at a campground early (aim for ~1 hour before checkout), when other campers might be vacating their spots.
ATM Warning!
There is an ATM in El Chaltén; however, it is frequently empty of cash. When empty, the bank may take 5 days to restock its cash supply. Visit the bank early upon your arrival in El Chaltén. The nearest ATM to the north is in Cochrane and to the south is in El Calafate. In a pinch, consider trading any extra other currency you might have (likely Chilean pesos) for Argentine pesos. A good place to search for potential trading partners is at at the northern exit of town — those heading north are likely bound for Villa O'Higgins and may be seeking Chilean pesos.
Best in El Chaltén
Eat
Cúrcuma
Vegan restaurant serving hearty, healthy meals and smoothies — all 100% vegan. The menu is loaded with fresh fruits & vegetables and everything is prepared upon ordering. The staff are friendly and can even prepare lunch-boxes for treks. If you're dining at the restaurant, be advised that their indoor space is quite small (accommodating 4-6 people maximum).
Stay
Casa de Ciclistas
House owned-and-operated by cyclists, for cyclists. As you'd expect, the atmosphere is upbeat and friendly: guests are usually eager to share stories, advice, spare-parts and even help with repairs. The place has hot showers, a fully-equipped kitchen, and superb wifi (reportedly the fastest in El Chaltén). Space is limited inside and there is a backyard for tents.
Bike route from El Chaltén to El Calafate