El Chaltén

The city of El Chaltén is a small tourist ville, founded in 1985, declared NationalCapital of the Trekking. Is in the valley of the Rio de las Vueltas, in the SouthWest of the province of Santa Cruz, at 213 km of the city of El Calafate.
The main attractive one of this beautiful ville are the Hills Torre and Fitz Roy or Chalten, imposing needles that constitute a permanent challenge for all the andinistas of the world. The "Cerro Chaltén" was named like that by the Tehuelches, old habitants of these earth, which in its language means "mountain that smokes", because the clouds that are generally on their top give the impression of a volcano in activity. The places that are possible to arrived througt the different long walks are: Laguna Capri, Glaciar Piedras Blancas, Chorrillo del Salto, Laguna Torre and Laguna de los tres (in the base of the Cerro Fitz Roy), and others.
At just 32 kmtrs is the historic Lago del Desierto, a beautifull forest of lengas and ñire, with a great variety of fauna and vegetation, from there at just one hour you can arrive to the Huemul Glacier (Glaciar Huemul).

Recomendations:

If you are going to travel to El Chalten you must consider that in the city are no banks, automatics tellers or agencies of change.

The cellular ones of any company in the zone do not work either.

If you travel by car , is recommendable to take aid wheels, a map guide and to drive with precaution. because the route from El Calafate to El Chalten has kilometers in debris.
From El Calafate to El Chaltén are 230 km away, no need to carry extra fuel. Because if you come through the route 3, from Rio Gallegos to approximately 340 km, is located "La Esperanza", a place where you can find fuel and shelter. If you como from "Tres Lagos", about 100 km; and if you come from "El Calafate" at 230 km.

Is recommendable to travel between the months of August and May, since during this period all the services are working. Although during these months the climate begins to be warm, it is recommended to make the long walks with shelter since during the night the temperature descends.

Some dates to consider are:

12 of October: El Chaltén`s Day, roasting is made popular.
10 of November: Tradition Day, they do "jineteadas".
4 of February: Trekking National day, woodcutters, maraton, recitals, etc.

Telephone codes:

National Code: 02962,
International Code: 0054 2962.
Postal Code: 9301

Map of the city:

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