One of Patagonia's premier traveler magnets, El Chaltén, is a small, homely yet fast-growing village set in a pretty river valley. Travelers come here for the extraordinary snowcapped towers of the Fitz Roy range, which offer plenty of world-class hiking and camping along with some of the most stunning mountain scenery you'll ever see.
Climbers from around the world are drawn here for their chance to climb Cerro Fitz Roy (3441m/ 11,290ft), as well as other peaks. Pack for wind, rain and cold temperatures, even in summer, when views of the peaks can be obscured. If the sun is out, however, El Chaltén is paradise on earth; come see it soon, as the road to El Calafate is being paved and changes are sure to come. All water sources in the area are potable, so help keep them clean. Note that El Chaltén is within national park boundaries, and rules must be followed.
