Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Sights & Activities
The streets of El Chaltén are empty at noon when travelers are out hiking, rock climbing
and horseback riding in the surrounding mountains.
Capilla de los Escaladores
CHAPEL
A simple chapel of Austrian design memorializes the many climbers who have lost their
lives to the precarious peaks since 1953.
Reserva Los Huemules
NATURE PRESERVE
( satellite phone 011-4152-5300;
www.loshuemules.com
;
admission AR$60)
This private
5600-hectare reserve has 25km of marked trails, and offers a quiet alternative adjacent to
Parque Nacional Los Glaciares. Stop in at the the visitor center first. It's located 17km
beyond El Chaltén, just after Río Eléctrico.
Festivals & Events
Fiesta del Pueblo
FESTIVAL
On October 12, on the wet heels of winter while streets are still mired in mud, El Chaltén
celebrates the town anniversary, with dancing in the school gym, barbecues and live mu-
sic.
Fiesta Nacional de Trekking
FESTIVAL
In the last week of February, this event brings a circus of outdoor freaks for rock climbing,
bouldering and woodcutting competitions, as well as running and mountain-bike races.
Sleeping
Reservations should be made at least one month in advance for the January to February
high season - demand here is that great. Plus it would be particularly depressing to arrive
in the dark with the wind howling and no bed waiting. One solution is to bring a bomb-
proof tent - there's always space in the campgrounds.
Dorm beds fill up fast in summer. Unless otherwise noted, thin walls, cramped dorms
and insufficient shared facilities are the norm.
Albergue Patagonia
HOSTEL $