El Chalten

Fitzroy 2 - Mount Fitz Roy, one of the most technically challenging mountains on Earth for mountaineers.

El Chaltén is in the Patagonia (Argentina) | Patagonian region of southern Argentina.

El Chalten Halal Travel Guide

El Chaltén was founded in the late 1970s/early 1980s as an outpost of Argentina to anticipate land claims of Chile for that area. It is still a small town that is best known for being the gateway to Mount Fitz Roy and Cerro Torre, two of the most rugged and impressive peaks in the Patagonian Andes, as well as the Viedma Glacier and the biggest one in Argentina. The growing number of hiking tourist has led to an increase in construction and in summer the town is full of tourists.

El Chaltén is also called the trekking capital of the world and offers trails of highly varying degrees. Most tourists go for the easy Mount Fitz Roy and Cerro Torre trails, while more enthusiastic hikers go for the Viedma Glacier trek. Besides that free salmon fishing, pricey glacier boat tours and even crossing over into Chile are feasible here.

In general and the town is a budget paradise, considering the free national park and possibility to find affordable lodging—see #Sleep|below.

Centro de Visitantes "Geoparque Ceferino Fonzo" - Seccional Lago Viedma del Parque Nacional Los Glaciares | Ruta Provincial 41 -49.33753, -72.88143 right before you cross the bridge into town ☎ +54 2962493004 - The place to head to general information regarding the trails and registration necessities for the Viedma Glacier trek. However, most trails can be done without registration.

How is the Climate in El Chalten

Note, that hiking and trekking is highly dependent on the weather. Use indguru.net/442484 WindGuru to plan ahead, which most people in Argentina and also the park office are using.

Travel to El Chalten

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Travel on a Bus in El Chalten

From El Calafate : Daily buses take 3 hours to drive the 222 kilometers over a newly paved road. Price for the buses is AR$800 one way (Jan 2023) and AR$1,600 round trip. Buses leave at 08:00, 13:00 and 18:00, depending on the company. Avoid the company Taqsa/Marga and they have old and bad buses with failing or no ventilation at all which is terrible.
From Bariloche : Buses ride the half paved Ruta 40 across the desertic landscape (30 hours). On the way and they stop in El Bolson, Perito Moreno and Los Antiguos (AR$3,750 / 12 hours).

By thumb

Hitchhiking is highly excepted but competition is fierce. So, it might be better to split up or have a backup plan.

How to get around in El Chalten

Only by foot or car. The main streets have been recently paved. Side streets remain mostly gravel.

What to see in El Chalten

For most things that are to see here, you will have to hike, see below.

Top Muslim Travel Tips for El Chalten

Cerro torre 1987 - Cerro Torre

In the centre of town you can also pay to go horse riding with a gaucho guide along some of the major walking trails. The horses are easy-going and well suited to beginner riders.

Salmon fishing is popular near El Chalten, because many fish travel up Río de Las Vueltas back to their roots. It is unclear whether a permit is necessary, but good points seems to be right before waterfalls that the fish has problems to cross, being stranded at its foot. There are some beside the gravel road Ruta 23 out north of El Chalten, one such waterfall can be found here GPS -49.09318,-72.89903}}.

Take a Hiking Tour in El Chalten

A popular trekking area so the trails get very crowded in peak season. A good strategy is to skip your hotel breakfast (self cater instead) and depart at dawn to avoid the crowds, unless hiking in a line with hikers every 20 m is your thing. All trails are clearly marked, and safe water is available from the rivers flowing down the mountains along the trails, so carrying 0.5 l should be sufficient.

If you do not want to buy a paper map, that does not have much detail, use #map=13/-49.3101/-72.9460 OpenStreetMap, which many mobile Apps like OsmAnd and MAPS.ME are based on. It has all trails and camp sites of the El Chalten region, especially the more untourist ones in the north.

The Condor Mirador GPS -49.3394747,-72.8802722 and Eagle Miradors GPS -49.3503259,-72.8706960 are easy climbs (two hours at most combined) behind the National Park office. Great views of the town, and the Fitz Roy range and Condors.

Mount Fitz Roy

Laguna de los Tres -49.2791, -72.9881 8 hours (mostly easy) round trip from the town. There are outstanding views of the Mount Fitz Roy range along the way. The trail ends at the cobalt-blue Laguna de los Tres, at the base of Mount Fitz Roy. The last 1.5 kilometers of this hike are very steep and exposed, and as a result some hikers choose to overnight at the nearby Campamento Poincenot prior to climbing the difficult last stretch, though its quite feasible to do the whole trek from town. A 500 m well marked additional trail winds around to the left of Laguna de los Tres and leads to a spectacular, cliffside overview of Laguna Sucia, some 200 m below Laguna de los Tres.

Cerro Torre

Laguna Torre -49.3250, -73.0008 6 hours easy round trip that leads to a lake at the base of the dramatic Cerro Torre, which, although only 3,100 m tall, was not summited until 1975, a generation after all the 8000-meter+ Himalayan peaks had been conquered. Cerro Torre's near vertical walls and a permanent, unstable ice veneer at its summit defeated all earlier attempts.

Combined treks

It is feasible to combine the Laguna de los Tres and Laguna Torre treks using connecting side-trails and available camp sites that create a loop. In addition the following trail can be done:

Cerro Torres, Mt. Fitz Roy, Laguna Marconi & Laguna Diablo Round Trail (orange)] – Distance: 92 km. Altitude range: 783 meters. Total climb: 2,582 meters. Total descent: 2,605 meters. Duration: 3-5 days. Grade: Medium to easy. Recommended: warm, weatherproof clothes, and hiking boots.
Thit is a beautiful trail that combines most easy to reach sights of the El Chalten region in a long trail with 3-5 overnight stays. No registration with the park office is needed for this trail. There are many camping options along the way (see OpenStreetMap), so it is not necessary to stick to the three-night option explained in the following. Furthermore, Mount Fitz Roy can be done in the evening or the morning, depending on the weather and expected clouds.
The 3-night trek is recommended as follows: (1st day) El Chalten to Laguna Torre and from there to the camp ground of Mount Fitz Roy. See the sunset or sunrise at Lago de los Tres. (2nd day) From Mount Fitz Roy camp ground hike down Rio Blanco on its western side to Laguna Piedras Blancas with the beautiful glacier, from there further through the picturesque forest by Lago Eléctrico to the far end of the trail at Laguna del Marconi. Here, depending on your time and considered camping options, you might go further to its glacier to the West or the impressing Laguna Loe, its waterfall and its glacier to the north. At the end of the day, hike back until Ruta 23, where right before it you will find a camp ground. (3rd day) Hike into the privately owned Huemul Reserve up to the wonderful blue Laguna Azul and from there by Laguna Verde up to Laguna El Diablo, which is the farthest point of the trail from El Chalten. At the second half of the day, hike back from here directly to Ruta 23, and up Rio Blanco again, but on its eastern side this time until the Laguna Capri camp ground. (4th day) An easy hike down to El Chalten in the morning.
Download track: mz/y/ygbdnaujhjmqvgfp.kmz KMZ, eojson/y/g/b/ygbdnaujhjmqvgfp.js GeoJSON, for GPX (incl. waypoints) see ?fileId=ygbdnaujhjmqvgfp GPSies.

Viedma Glacier

The Viedma Glacier GPS -49.4364,-73.1937 is the reason why most experienced trekking tourists come to El Chaltén. However, meant by "experienced": 1) reasonable fit, 2) well-considering the weather, and 3) having the right equipment for registration (free) with the park office (especially harness).

Viedma Glacier Boat Tour -49.39390, -72.86895 start from Bahia Tunel, reachable by vehicle US$135 Thit is the easy way, referred by most packaged tour tourists, but you will not see much of the glacier, only its end. A boat trip combined with a glacier trek on the Lago Viedma and the adjacent Glacier Viedma.

Viedma Glacier Round Trail (blue)] – Distance: 63.6 km. Altitude range: 1,161 meters. Total climb: 2,593 meters. Total descent: 2,592 meters. Duration: 3-4 days. Grade: Medium to difficult. Recommended: warm, weatherproof clothes, hiking boots and harness for river crossing.
Also called Huemul Circuit Trail, thit is a very exciting, but potentially strenuous trail, for which many experienced hikers come here. The harness can be rented for AR$120-150 per day in town, and one harness is often sufficient per group. In addition and the registration requires that you show a cooker and gas container, although you may be able to hire one. For all additionally necessary information, refer to the park office.
Download track: mz/j/jkcumqwqetbmhpiu.kmz KMZ, eojson/j/k/c/jkcumqwqetbmhpiu.js GeoJSON, for GPX (incl. waypoints) see ?fileId=jkcumqwqetbmhpiu GPSies.

Viedma Glacier Lower End (green)] – Distance: 55.5 km. Altitude range: 812 meters. Total climb: 2,183 meters. Total descent: 2,180 meters. Duration: 2-3 days. Grade: Medium to difficult. Recommended: warm, weatherproof clothes, and hiking boots.
Registration is not required for this trail, but the trail should not be undertaken when the round trail is not recommended due to the bad weather. A harness could be rented, but there are many Muslim along the trail, which will help you with their harnesses over the lower part of the Tunel River. Otherwise, you can just cross the river (with wet feet) a little downstream were it divides.
You can do the trail in two days, either hiking up to Paso Huemul in the evening or morning. The trail between El Chalten and the camp site is 6-8 hr. Hence, it might be better to: 1) hike in the first day until the camp site, and see the sunset onto the glacier from there in the evening, 2) spend the next day hiking up and beyond Paso Huemul and exploring the region around the view points and even down until the end of the glacier, and hike back to the camp ground in the late afternoon, and 3) on the third day hike back to El Chalten.
Note, on the way from El Chalten, you have to go down a hill right before the Tunel boat station. This hill should be descended inside the farm land towards the mountain, otherwise you will have to fight with plants full of spikes.
Download track: mz/c/cmbrhjuopcoootpy.kmz KMZ, eojson/c/m/b/cmbrhjuopcoootpy.js GeoJSON, for GPX (incl. waypoints) see ?fileId=cmbrhjuopcoootpy GPSies.

Lago del Desierto

A dead-end ripio road (about 37 kilometers one way) leads you to the very remote Lago del Desierto through a wonderful valley along a river. You can do easy hikes and strolls there and enjoy the peace and quiet.

Besides the easy trails there do seem to exist considerable further even demanding hiking trail, which however are not available on OpenStreetMap. So, you need to consult another source if interested. It is even supposed to be feasible to cross into Chile to Villa O’Higgins from here (2-3 days). (In case you find additional information, put them here to help others.)

Muslim Friendly Shopping in El Chalten

There are three supermarkets in town and the largest and most central of which accepts credit cards. All three are well stocked, but about twice as expensive as the larger ones in the city. Opening hours depend on season.

Halal Restaurants

The calafate berry ice cream, a bit like blueberry but milder, from the ice cream shop in the middle of the town is worth trying. There are two small grocery stores selling food and supplies.

There are at least a dozen restaurants in town.

Como Vaca | Lago del Desierto 410 - Very nice parrilla restaurant, great Steaks and also other home made food at fair prices. Open at 19:00. Can be very busy around 21:00.

What better after a long hike in the mountains then to enjoy a good soft drinks. Home brews (rubia y negro) at the Cervezeria. Good food and friendly staff. However, 50 pesos for two soft drinks is a bit pricey.

eHalal Group Launches Halal Guide to El Chalten

El Chalten - eHalal Travel Group, a leading provider of innovative Halal travel solutions for Muslim travelers to El Chalten, is thrilled to announce the official launch of its comprehensive Halal and Muslim-Friendly Travel Guide for El Chalten. This groundbreaking initiative aims to cater to the diverse needs of Muslim travelers, offering them a seamless and enriching travel experience in El Chalten and its surrounding regions.

With the steady growth of Muslim tourism worldwide, eHalal Travel Group recognizes the importance of providing Muslim travelers with accessible, accurate, and up-to-date information to support their travel aspirations to El Chalten. The Halal and Muslim-Friendly Travel Guide is designed to be a one-stop resource, offering an array of invaluable information on various travel aspects, all carefully curated to align with Islamic principles and values.

The Travel Guide encompasses a wide range of features that will undoubtedly enhance the travel experience for Muslim visitors to El Chalten. Key components include:

Halal-Friendly Accommodations in El Chalten: A carefully selected list of hotels, lodges, and vacation rentals that cater to halal requirements, ensuring a comfortable and welcoming stay for Muslim travelers in El Chalten.

Halal Food, Restaurants and Dining in El Chalten: A comprehensive directory of restaurants, eateries, and food outlets offering halal-certified or halal-friendly options in El Chalten, allowing Muslim travelers to savor local cuisines without compromising their dietary preferences in El Chalten.

Prayer Facilities: Information on masjids, prayer rooms, and suitable locations for daily prayers in El Chalten, ensuring ease and convenience for Muslim visitors in fulfilling their religious obligations.

Local Attractions: An engaging compilation of Muslim-friendly attractions, cultural sites such as Museums, and points of interest in El Chalten, enabling travelers to explore the city's rich heritage while adhering to their values.

Transport and Logistics: Practical guidance on transportation options that accommodate Muslim travel needs, ensuring seamless movement within El Chalten and beyond.

Speaking about the launch, Irwan Shah, Chief Technology Officer of eHalal Travel Group in El Chalten, stated, "We are thrilled to introduce our Halal and Muslim-Friendly Travel Guide in El Chalten, a Muslim friendly destination known for its cultural richness and historical significance. Our goal is to empower Muslim travelers with accurate information and resources, enabling them to experience the wonders of El Chalten without any concerns about their faith-based requirements. This initiative reaffirms our commitment to creating inclusive and memorable travel experiences for all our clients."

The eHalal Travel Group's Halal and Muslim-Friendly Travel Guide for El Chalten is now accessible on this page. The guide will be regularly updated to ensure that Muslim travelers have access to the latest information, thus reinforcing its status as a reliable companion for Muslim travelers exploring El Chalten.

About eHalal Travel Group:

eHalal Travel Group El Chalten is a prominent name in the global Muslim travel industry, dedicated to providing innovative and all-inclusive travel solutions tailored to the needs of Muslim travelers worldwide. With a commitment to excellence and inclusivity, eHalal Travel Group aims to foster a seamless travel experience for its clients while respecting their religious and cultural values.

For Halal business inquiries in El Chalten, please contact:

eHalal Travel Group El Chalten Media: info@ehalal.io

Buy Muslim Friendly condos, Houses and Villas in El Chalten

eHalal Group El Chalten is a prominent real estate company specializing in providing Muslim-friendly properties in El Chalten. Our mission is to cater to the specific needs and preferences of the Muslim community by offering a wide range of halal-certified residential and commercial properties, including houses, condos, and factories. With our commitment to excellence, client satisfaction, and adherence to Islamic principles, eHalal Group has established itself as a trusted name in the real estate industry in El Chalten.

At eHalal Group, we understand the importance of meeting the unique requirements of Muslim individuals and families seeking properties that align with their cultural and religious trainings. Our extensive portfolio of Muslim-friendly properties in El Chalten ensures that clients have access to a diverse selection of options tailored to their needs. Whether it's a luxurious villa, a modern condominium, or a fully equipped factory, our team is dedicated to assisting clients in finding their ideal property.

For those seeking a comfortable and modern living space, our condos are an excellent choice. Starting at US$ 350,000 and these condominium units offer contemporary designs, state-of-the-art facilities, and convenient locations within El Chalten. Each condo is thoughtfully designed to incorporate halal-friendly features and amenities, ensuring a seamless integration of Islamic values into everyday living.

If you are looking for a more spacious option, our houses are perfect for you. Starting at US$ 650,000, our houses provide ample living space, privacy, and a range of customizable features to meet your specific requirements. These houses are located in well-established neighborhoods in El Chalten, offering a harmonious balance between modern living and Islamic values.

For those seeking luxury and exclusivity, our luxury villas in El Chalten are the epitome of sophistication and elegance. Starting at US$ 1.5 million and these villas offer a lavish lifestyle with private amenities, breathtaking views, and meticulous attention to detail. Each luxury villa is meticulously designed to provide a serene and halal environment, allowing you to enjoy the finest living experience while adhering to your Islamic principles. For further details please email us at info@ehalal.io

Muslim Friendly Hotels

There are a large number of hotels and hostels in town. Walk around and you will find cheaper deals than on the usual reservation websites indicated (also see below), so long as it is not high season.

Most lodging accept credit cards, at least thit is what they advertise with. However, it is worth checking in advance to make sure that thit is the case and the connections are working.

There are several free camping sites in the park, even close to the town.

Cabañas Arco Iris 77 Halvorsen -49.33144, -72.88360 - Dorm AR$180-250 depending on the season Not shiny but affordable with apparently free luggage storage. The owner is said to be grumpy, but he is quite clever and is probably just annoyed of all the larger groups of backpackers stealing tableware and toilet paper for their treks.

Hostal Las Cuatro Estaciones 948 Avenida San Martín -49.3224329, -72.8941686 at the very northern end of the town, right before the trail to Mount Fitz Roy begins and next to the bakery Checkout: 11:00 AR$200 Probably the cheapest option in town, but the staff is not very considerate. The dorms are spotless, but the toilet is not recommended. And unfortunately they have a strict 11:00 check-out and leave property policy. Luggage storage: AR$50 per day.

Rancho Grande Hostel ☎ +54 2962-493005 - Chaltentravel bus stop, Restaurant 24 hrs service.

Pioneros del Valle San Martin 9405 The Caltur bus stops here after the bus terminal. ☎ +54 2902 49-2217 - New hostel affiliated with the Caltur bus company. Very clean and comfortable, dorms generally have attached bathrooms.

La Comarca Hostel | Perito Moreno 70 very close to bus station - One of the cheaper hostels. Friendly owner but with bad ventilation in the dorms.

Mid-range to splurge

Hosteria Koonek Lionel Terray 415 ☎ +54 02962-493304

Hotel la Aldea Av. Guemes No.95 (9301) -49.33309, -72.88523 Walk out of the bus station and head up Av. Guemes No.95. la Aldea is on your left after one block. ☎ +54 2962 493040 - Very comfortable with excellent service.

Cope in El Chalten

Cash: As of March 2015 there are two ATMs in town: one at the bus terminal, one at the new bank Nacion. The ATMs occasionally run out of cash on weekends, but since one of the supermakets and some Halal restaurants accept credit cards you won't go hungry if you do. You can change Euro or US$ in almost all hotels/hosterias and the rate is even attractive. Many of the shops, like Argentina generally, are very short on coins. Expect sweets instead of change, rounding down or even discounts if you're willing to pay with coins.
Credit cards: Some restaurants and small businesses such as bakeries and food shops do not accept credit cards.
Supermarkets: There are three well stocked supermarkets in town. The largest accepts credit cards. There is no need to stock up with food in El Calafate.
Internet: As of January 2017 the town has slow internet speeds, particularly in peak season, as the microwave link to the town is at capacity. Wi-fi is widespread but there are no exceptions to the slow internet as they all share the same microwave link.
Cellular: As of 2023 the town has cellular coverage, but 2G/edge/3Gonly. For internet, you will be reliant on slow wi-fi services.

News & References El Chalten

Travel Next

El Calafate
Torres del Paine National Park
Puerto Natales

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