El Chalten

The hikes to the viewpoints of Mount Fitz Roy and Cerro Torre are the most popular in the park. At 20 km they are both full day hikes but the rewards are worth it!

For those looking to escape the crowds, consider going off-the-beaten-track treks to places like the Electrico Valley, the Los Huemules Reserve and the Tunel Valley where few other hikers venture to. The landscape around El Chalten has been carved out by ancient glacial formations to form deep valleys so the approach hiking here is relatively easy compared to the steep mountainous main trails.

Linking together the day hikes with overnight camping means you can spend longer in the mountains with the added reward of evening sunsets and early morning sunrises. For those seeking a more remote trek, the Huemul Circuit leads you further south to a distant corner of the Park.

The ultimate multi-day hike in El Chalten is the Ice Cap Expedition which loops around the back of Mount Fitz Roy and involves snowshoeing and dodging crevasses on the South Patagonian Ice Cap - the perfect choice if you want to take your hiking to the next level.

Given it's proximity to the South Patagonian Ice Cap and the many large granite rock faces, El Chalten is the perfect launchpad for climbers and mountaineers. Cerro Madsen (1806m) is a suitable introductory climb for beginners, whilst Cerro Vespignani (2146m) is a good glacier-level introductory climb further north. Gorra Blanca (2910) stands guard over the Ice Cap, and although it is a physically demanding climb, it is also one of the less-technically challenging peaks. For a more technical challenge, Cerro Solo (2221m) or Cerro Electrico (2257m) are perfect choices.

Experienced rock climbers have a whole host of routes to choose from and there are plenty of equipment shops in town to rent gear if required.

El Chalten is 3 hours north of El Calafate. There's a direct public bus service that departs both ways three times a day. The bus station in El Chalten is on the edge of town whilst the bus station in El Calafate is more centrally located. Alternatively you can take a shared shuttle service that takes you door-to-door to your hotel.

You can break the journey up with a stop at the petrified forest, a collection of fossilised trees.

You can fly from Buenos Aires to El Calafate in three hours, or if you're coming from Chile and from Torres del Paine, you'll need to take a bus across the border which takes around five hours.

There are a range of different accommodations to choose from in El Chalten including basic hosterias, homely B&B's, alpine style lodges and upmarket hotels.

For a more unique experience, the Fitz Roy Adventure Camp north of town is a great choice whilst the Aguas Arriba Lodge offers luxurious seclusion on the edge of Lago del Desierto.