El Chaltén & Fitz Roy Day Trip
Argentina’s trekking capital, reachable as a day trip from El Calafate with short, guided walks.
Quick facts
220 km / ~3h north of El Calafate. The town sits beneath Cerro Fitz Roy and Cerro Torre. Day trips include easy walks (no big trek required) with panoramic views. The El Chaltén trails have required a paid park ticket since October 2024.
What the day looks like
- Mirador de los Cóndores — short walk with valley and peak views.
- Chorrillo del Salto — gentle path to a waterfall through lenga forest.
- Estancia La Leona — historic stop on the drive up.
For every walk in the area compared side by side — distances, times, ascent, park fees, permits and what is actually worth booking — see our day trips from El Chaltén guide.
Book the trip
Live prices & availability via GetYourGuide
Alternative tour GetYourGuideSources we checked
Everything dated on this page was checked in September 2026 against the body that sets it, not against another travel site:
- The El Chaltén ticketing rule and its rate — Argentina’s Administración de Parques Nacionales (APN), through its own ticket portal at ventaweb.apn.gob.ar. The northern sector of Los Glaciares has required a paid ticket since 21 October 2024, at the general daily rate in force (ARS 50,000 since 1 June 2026). Tickets are sold online only — there is no cash desk at the portals.
- Trail distances, walking times and the drive from El Calafate — the published route notes of the operators running the day trip, plus APN’s own trail information. The 220 km / ~3 h drive sits with the other gateway legs on travel times and distances.
If a figure here disagrees with APN’s own page, the authority is right and we are wrong: tell us and we will correct it and move the reviewed date.
FAQ
Do I need to hike hard to enjoy El Chaltén?
No. Day trips use short, accessible trails (Mirador de los Cóndores, Chorrillo del Salto) with big views. The famous long treks (Laguna de los Tres) need an overnight or very long day — not part of the standard day trip.
Are the El Chaltén trails free?
No longer. The northern sector of Los Glaciares National Park has required a paid ticket since 21 October 2024, at the same general daily rate as the Perito Moreno sector (ARS 50,000 from 1 June 2026). There are three entry portals — Los Cóndores, Base Fitz Roy and Río Eléctrico — and they are online-only: there is no cash desk, so buy ahead at ventaweb.apn.gob.ar. The full table is on our El Chaltén day-trip guide.
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