El Chaltén: The realm of Fitz Roy and Cerro Torre

Nestled at the foot of Patagonia’s most impressive granite giants, the small town of El Chaltén is the gateway to Argentina’s most magical and remote glacial valley. Situated on the banks of the Río de las Vueltas, at the foot of the mountain massifs of Los Glaciares National Park, this peaceful settlement with just over 1,000 inhabitants is now a magnet for mountaineers and outdoor enthusiasts from all over the world.

The Patagonian dream valley

The attraction of El Chaltén lies in its strategic location at the foot of some of the most sought-after and spectacular granite peaks in Patagonia. Just 18 km from the village, the peaks of the mythical Cerro Torre and the unmistakable peaks of Mount Fitz Roy rise up, forming a dream landscape worthy of the Himalayas.

This remote and narrow Patagonian glacial valley is surrounded on all sides by high peaks of bare rock, permanently covered with snow and vast masses of hanging ice. Only the Río de las Vueltas with its rushing, turquoise waters interrupts this amalgam of granite and eternal ice.

Cerro Torre, the mountain of challenges

Just 3 km from the village, Cerro Torre rises imposingly, its sharp, ice-covered edges constantly threatening to fall down on any climber. This symbolic, 3,102-metre-high granite peak is considered one of the most difficult peaks in the world to climb.

The characteristic and dangerous formation of the hanging ice cap on the summit as well as the vertical rock faces and ledges have challenged generations of extreme mountaineers. Only a few expeditions have succeeded in planting their flags on the summit after risky ascents in extreme weather conditions.

Mount Fitz Roy and its striking towers

But the king of the mountains around El Chaltén is undoubtedly the unmistakable Mount Fitz Roy with its huge granite walls jutting out in all directions. This 3,375-metre-high peak is one of the great icons of Argentinean Patagonia due to its spectacular mountain formation.

Trekking fans visiting El Chaltén have the opportunity to undertake an intensive 4-day hike to the most famous viewpoint of the Fitz Roy: the Rio Blanco Camp. From there, you can admire the imposing western front in all its splendor, which rises vertically from the glacier base for almost 2 km, forming a landscape reminiscent of the Alps or the Canadian Rocky Mountains.

A town of mountaineers and climbers

As the gateway to the Fitz Roy and Cerro Torre valleys, the town of El Chaltén is a magnet for sports enthusiasts and mountaineers of all kinds. The quiet streets and main avenue are lined with stores selling mountaineering, climbing and camping equipment.

Groups of mountaineers of all nationalities can be seen everywhere, making final preparations for their expeditions, checking their equipment, studying maps and exchanging information about the conditions of the routes. The central square is the obligatory meeting point for this transient community of high-altitude enthusiasts.

The magic of the Patagonian hiking trails begins in El Chaltén

But not only extreme mountaineers have their place in El Chaltén. This place is also the gateway to an extensive network of trekking routes that lead deep into the valleys and up the slopes of the surrounding mountain massifs, allowing you to enjoy this Patagonian natural wonder at different levels.

Trails such as the path to Monte Torres, the path of condors and water or the famous Fitz Roy trek allow you to spend days immersed in this world of glacial lakes, ancient forests of lengas and ñires, vast pastures and panoramic views of endless granite walls.