Tripomatic

El Chaltén

Village · Santa Cruz Province, 🇦🇷 Argentina
Population 1,865
Area 7 km²
Time zone America/Argentina/Rio_Gallegos
Official website elchalten.gob.ar
El Chaltén

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Featured Lists

Liam Quinn from Canada / cc-by-sa-2.0

El Chaltén Essentials

El Chaltén, established in 1985 within Los Glaciares National Park, serves as the gateway to the Southern Patagonian Ice Field. This selection highlights accessible trails to viewpoints like Mirador de los Cóndores and Las Águilas, which offer vistas of Lake Viedma and the Fitz Roy massif. Historical sites, including the pioneer ranch of Andreas Madsen and the town’s first school, document the early 20th-century settlement. The list also includes local landmarks like the A-frame wooden chapel and established culinary spots.

10 places
M M from Switzerland / cc-by-sa-2.0

Editor's Choice

El Chaltén, Argentina's trekking capital, features a network of trails leading to vantage points over the Southern Patagonian Ice Field. These viewpoints offer direct lines of sight to the granite spires of Mount Fitz Roy and Cerro Torre, the meandering Río de las Vueltas, and the vast Viedma Lake. Most trails originate directly from the village, ranging from short 20-minute climbs to several-hour treks through beech forests and glacial moraines.

8 places
Liam Quinn from Canada / cc-by-sa-2.0

Viewpoints & Hiking

El Chaltén serves as Argentina’s trekking capital, offering a network of well-marked trails within Los Glaciares National Park. These paths lead to vantage points overlooking the Fitz Roy and Torre massifs, Viedma Lake, and the meandering Río de las Vueltas. Most routes start directly from the village edge, ranging from short ascents to multi-day valley treks. The terrain features southern beech forests, glacial moraines, and granite outcrops characteristic of the Southern Patagonian Ice Field.

8 places

El Chaltén — Map

El Chaltén — Map

Climate & when to visit

Select a month

Typical weather in January

Poor
  • 10° (feels like 3°) · extremes 2°–14°
  • 5° at night
  • 26 rainy days
  • 5 sunny days
  • 9 hours of sunshine per day
  • Dry air
  • Windy
  • UV index 8 · very high

Typical weather in February

Poor
  • 11° (feels like 5°) · extremes 2°–16°
  • 5° at night
  • 22 rainy days
  • 6 sunny days
  • 8 hours of sunshine per day
  • Dry air
  • Light breeze
  • UV index 7 · high

Typical weather in March

Poor
  • 10° (feels like 3°) · extremes 0°–14°
  • 4° at night
  • 25 rainy days
  • 6 sunny days
  • 6 hours of sunshine per day
  • Dry air
  • Light breeze
  • UV index 4 · moderate

Typical weather in April

Poor
  • 8° (feels like 1°) · extremes -1°–12°
  • 3° at night
  • 24 rainy days
  • 6 sunny days
  • 5 hours of sunshine per day
  • Dry air
  • Light breeze
  • UV index 2 · low

Typical weather in May

Poor
  • 5° (feels like -1°) · extremes -6°–9°
  • 0° at night
  • 23 rainy days
  • 6 sunny days
  • 4 hours of sunshine per day
  • Dry air
  • Light breeze
  • UV index 1 · low

Typical weather in June

Poor
  • 2° (feels like -4°) · extremes -9°–7°
  • -2° at night
  • 24 rainy days
  • 4 sunny days
  • 3 hours of sunshine per day
  • Dry air
  • Light breeze
  • UV index 0 · low

Typical weather in July

Poor
  • 2° (feels like -5°) · extremes -9°–6°
  • -3° at night
  • 24 rainy days
  • 7 sunny days
  • 4 hours of sunshine per day
  • Dry air
  • Light breeze
  • UV index 1 · low

Typical weather in August

Poor
  • 3° (feels like -4°) · extremes -8°–7°
  • -2° at night
  • 24 rainy days
  • 9 sunny days
  • 5 hours of sunshine per day
  • Dry air
  • Light breeze
  • UV index 1 · low

Typical weather in September

Poor
  • 5° (feels like -2°) · extremes -6°–9°
  • -1° at night
  • 22 rainy days
  • 7 sunny days
  • 6 hours of sunshine per day
  • Dry air
  • Light breeze
  • UV index 3 · moderate

Typical weather in October

Poor
  • 7° (feels like 0°) · extremes -2°–11°
  • 1° at night
  • 24 rainy days
  • 5 sunny days
  • 7 hours of sunshine per day
  • Dry air
  • Light breeze
  • UV index 5 · moderate

Typical weather in November

Poor
  • 8° (feels like 1°) · extremes -1°–12°
  • 3° at night
  • 25 rainy days
  • 6 sunny days
  • 8 hours of sunshine per day
  • Dry air
  • Windy
  • UV index 7 · high

Typical weather in December

Poor
  • 10° (feels like 3°) · extremes 1°–14°
  • 4° at night
  • 26 rainy days
  • 5 sunny days
  • 9 hours of sunshine per day
  • Dry air
  • Windy
  • UV index 8 · very high

Climate data: NASA POWER (MERRA-2) · 1996–2025

Practical information

Currency
Argentine Peso ARS $ · Card payments · Commonly accepted
Emergency numbers
117
Electricity
Type C / Type I
220 V · 50 Hz
Languages
Spanish
Tap water
Safe to drink
Driving side
Right
Calling code
+54
Learn more

Tours & Activities

Mirador Las Águilas
Drive
Mirador Cascada Margarita
Drive
Museo Estancia Fitz Roy Mad Madsen

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Related destinations

Santa Cruz Province

Other Destinations

Lago Argentino Department El Calafate Río Chico Department Los Glaciares National Park and Reserve Viedma Lake Perito Moreno National Park Jaramillo Petrified Forests National Park Reserva Natural Provincial Bosque Petrificado Estancia La Urbana Reserva Natural Provincial Ría de Puerto Deseado Posadas Lake Reserva Provincial Cabo Vírgenes Puerto San Julián Bajo Caracoles

Data: © OpenStreetMap contributors, Wikidata, Wikipedia, Tripomatic, Official websites.