Reserved until a few years ago to climbers and expeditionaries, reaching El Chaltén -at the foot of the mythical Mount Fitz Roy- continues to be one of the most beautiful and awaited spectacles by travelers visiting Southern Patagonia. To get to El Chaltén from El Calafate we travel 220 km taking the mythical Route 40 and then Route 23, enjoying these adventure roads through the Patagonian steppe, bordering the La Leona River that joins the Argentino and Viedma Lakes, and keeping in sight the mountain range and the Viedma Glacier, we will arrive at this magnificent tourist village where you will enjoy a fascinating experience. Early in the morning you will start your search for the hotels in El Calafate and then head towards the mythical Route 40. This route borders Lake Argentino, crosses the Santa Cruz River and La Leona River, after 1.15 hours you will arrive at the Hotel de Campo La Leona, almost a museum of Route 40, where you can have a coffee with homemade cakes.
The route continues bordering Lake Viedma with the Andes Mountains in the background. Before arriving at El Chaltén, we will stop at the Viedma Glacier Viewpoint, from where a beautiful panoramic view of the lake and glacier of the same name and the emblematic Cerro Fitz Roy and Cerro Torre can be appreciated. After a 3-hour drive we arrive at the mountain village of El Chaltén. Once in the village, the guide will give each passenger their lunch and then indicate the start of the self-guided trails that leave from El Chaltén and lead to the main viewpoints: Laguna Capri, Fitz Roy Viewpoint, Cerro Torre Viewpoint, Mirador de los Cóndores, Salto del Chorrillo, Loma del Pliegue Tumbado (viewpoint of Laguna and Cerro Torre) for which they will be advised on the different options depending on their physical condition. Towards the end of the afternoon, at the agreed time, passengers should return to the meeting point for the return to El Calafate. Some of the mentioned trails such as Mirador Cerro Torre, Loma del Pliegue Tumbado are very difficult to do between the months of May and September due to soil conditions, weather and daylight hours available. In the winter months, snowshoes and clothing are required to hike the trails, including the trail to Laguna Capri. National Park authorities may require trekking poles and crampons. In the winter season our stay in El Chaltén is approximately 5 hours.
Stops at La Leona and Mirador del Glaciar Viedma may be on the way back, at the guide’s discretion. Does not operate on December 25th and January 1st.
