How to get to El Chaltén

El Chaltén is in northern Santa Cruz, 213.8 km from El Calafate on a paved road. The nearest airport is El Calafate’s Comandante Armando Tola (code FTE), about 20 km east of that town and right on the way. From there you have buses, transfers and rental cars. There is no train and no flights to the town itself.

By bus from El Calafate

It is what almost everyone does. Buses leave El Calafate’s terminal all year, several times a day in season, and arrive at El Chaltén’s terminal on Perito Moreno street, a few blocks from everything. The trip takes 2 h 40 to 3 hours, with one stop halfway. The companies on the route are Caltur, Chaltén Travel and Taqsa.

Flying in? Some companies and transfers pick people up at the airport or stop there, so you do not have to go into town. Ask when you buy the ticket: if your flight lands in the afternoon, it is often better to sleep in El Calafate and leave early the next day.

By car: the road, piece by piece

Route 11, 32 km

Head east out of El Calafate, past the airport, to the junction with route 40.

Route 40, 94 km

North across the steppe. Halfway is La Leona, the historic roadhouse on the river of the same name: nearly every bus stops there.

Route 23, 87 km

At the junction turn left, to the west. The road runs along the north shore of Lago Viedma with the Fitz Roy massif straight ahead. It is the stretch everyone photographs.

The whole road is paved. Fill up in El Calafate before you leave and, above all, mind the wind: on the steppe the gusts push the car around, more so with tall vans or campers. In winter there can be ice on route 23 early in the morning. Read more →

If you can, sit on the left side of the bus. On route 23 Fitz Roy is on that side, and you do not forget the first time you see it.

From Chile or Torres del Paine

From Puerto Natales there are buses to El Calafate, and from there you carry on as above. Some people also arrive on foot from Villa O’Higgins, in Chile, crossing at Lago del Desierto: it is a seasonal route, with border controls on both sides, and it ends 36 km from town on route 41. Read more →

When you arrive

Visitor Centre

The National Park’s centre is at the entrance to town, before the bridge. Rangers tell you how the trails are and what the forecast says.

Cash

There is a single ATM, Banco Santa Cruz, and in season it sometimes runs out. Bring some pesos with you.

Signal

There is 4G in town. On the trails, almost none: download your maps before you go.

Booking

In January and February the town fills up: book your bed, bus and guided hikes before you arrive.

First day in town? There are one or two hour walks that start right from the street: perfect for the afternoon you arrive. See →

And once you are here

• Laguna de los Tres18.3 km · +880 m · 8 to 10 h · from USD 228
• Laguna Torre16.6 km · +500 m · 7 to 8 h · from USD 203