El Chalten

Where to stay

Most hostels sit along Av. San Martin and Av. Lago del Desierto, the two parallel streets that make up the core of town. The northern end, closest to the Sendero al Fitz Roy trailhead, is worth prioritizing so you can roll out of bed and be on trail before the afternoon wind hits.

Getting around

• Start hiking before 9am. Patagonian wind typically builds hard by midday and can force you off the upper sections of the Fitz Roy or Torre trails well before the viewpoints.
• Self-cater as much as possible. The small grocery stores on Av. San Martin stock enough for packed lunches and simple dinners, and restaurant prices in town run 3 to 4 times what you'd pay cooking for yourself.
• Entry into Los Glaciares National Park from El Chalten is free, unlike the paid southern access near El Calafate. Put that money toward the 3-hour bus on RN40 from El Calafate, which fills up in high season and should be booked in advance.

When to go

Beds are easiest to find and cheapest in November and March; January and February are the crunch months when dorms book out weeks ahead and prices climb sharply.