El Chaltén Planning

Information about El Chaltén

• Overall: El Chaltén is a tiny, idyllic town of 1,500 people set between mountains with spectacular hikes. The trails begin from town. Expect the weather to be varied, the wifi to be slow, and the phone signal to be non-existent, but the experience to be unforgettable.

• Wifi: The wifi is as slow as molasses

• Hiking: El Chaltén is absolute paradise for hikers. Not only are some of the best and most beautiful hikes in Patagonia located in El Chaltén, but the town serves as a trailhead. It’s amazing that you can wake up, put on your gear, and just start hiking, no matter where in town you’re staying. Popular hikes include Laguna Torre, Laguna Capri trail on the Laguna de los Tres hike (with stunning views of Mount Fitz Roy along the way).

• Book hotels, flights, buses and car rental in advance during peak season (December through March) is generally necessary.

• Overall, accommodation in El Chaltén tends to cost 50-100% more than what a similar property costs in El Calafate

• Good resource about El Chaltén

• Good article that compares and contrasts El Chalten and El Calafate as of March 2024 and referenced when pulling some of the info above.

Accommodations for Consideration

The following are some accommodations available from March 3 - March 7, 2025. If you find one you are interested in, make sure to check other booking portals for a better price or refund policy.

Given it is a very small town, most hotels only have one or two rooms remaining, we should consider booking at separate hotels. But, it would be nice if the hotels aren't on opposite sides of the town. Many of the accommodations below are near the Fitz Roy trailhead, on the north side of town.

Airbnb Tiny Home in El Chaltén

• $437 total on Airbnb for the tiny house for four nights ($110/night)

• Rated 4.9 by 99 guests. Sounds like a nice tiny eco house in a great location, 2 minutes from Fitz Roy trailhead, and next to the "best" grocery store in town.

• Read the reviews. If you are open to a tiny house, and a loft set-up, this sounds cool. Cons noted are lack of privacy when blinds are open (given it is in a popular area), one person noted a loud door that slams nearby, and water that gets warm from solar (thus not warm until end of day)

Infinito Sur

Cozy accommodations with wooden flooring, free Wi-Fi and spectacular views of imposing mountains and glaciers. The hotel is located in El Chaltén. A daily Argentinean buffet breakfast with local specialties, fresh yogurts and cereals is served in the restaurant. The rooms are large have private bathrooms have a separate bath and shower.

Pros:

• $560 for a non-refundable room for 4 nights or $751 for a refundable reservation 4 nights through Booking.com ($140 - $209/night, depending on if refundable)

• Located in El Chaltén

Cons:

• Only 2 refundable reservations are available on Booking.com

• Not as nice as other places

Other:

• 3 start hotel with 8.4 rating on Booking.com

• Free (sketchy) wifi

• Breakfast included, but not particularly special

• One review: This was a nice little place off the main street and in a quiet neighborhood. Rooms were fair sized, beds comfortable, bathrooms were good sized, clean, water was hot enough. There was a nice view of Fitz Roy from the dining/breakfast/lounge area. Loved the wood construction. Well maintained. Cons: Wi Fi was sketchy, Breakfast was nothing to write home about. Liked it that they had tea and coffee in the afternoon.

Hotel Poincenot

• Basic accommodations at a low price point for reasonably nice rooms. Rated 8.5

• $867 total for the Superior Double or Twin Room including breakfast. $214/night

• Located in El Chaltén, probably less than 5 minutes to Fitz Roy trailhead. Across the street from Indomita (below).

La Farfalla Aparts

• Has 3 "new" one-bedroom apartments that are available. Each apartment is $920 for four nights ($230/night)

• Rated 9.6 by 122 reviewers.

• Clean, modern apartments with comfortable beds, and good breakfast.

• The wifi is rated 8.8 which is unusually high versus other hotels. But one reviewer noted "Many reviews mention slow wifi which is true but not at all the fault of the apt. It’s the whole town and honestly, not a big deal when you’re there to enjoy nature!"

• Located on the main road, so it can be a bit noisy at times.

Indomita Apartment

• No longer available, because I reserved it (it is refundable, in case we decide to book something together as a group). It looks like a fun adventure waiting to happen.

Airbnb Loft with View in El Chaltén

• $1,141 total on Airbnb for entire loft, and its views, for four nights. That's $285/night. (Update: Check to see if more than one loft is available.)

• Clean and modern with beautiful panoramic view of the mountains. Looks like a keeper.

• Appears to be in good location on north side of town, near Fitz Roy trailhead

Destino Sur Hotel & Spa de Montaña

Mountain views from many rooms, and just 1640 feet from Los Glaciares National Park. Alpine style rooms with wood furnishings, private bathrooms. Some rooms have elegant dark wood furniture and flat-screen TVs.

• $1,248 per room for 4 nonrefundable nights thru hotel (that is $312/night), or $1,404 via Booking.com or Expedia ($351/night) for the Superior Double refundable room with mountain room (but only two such rooms are available).

• There is a Economy Double and a Basic room for $936 - $1,170 that can be fully refundable; price varies by site (e.g., $1,018 fully refundable on Expedia) but it isn't anything to write home about. There is a larger triple room that probably doesn't make sense either.

• Located in El Chaltén, probably less than 5 minutes to Fitz Roy trailhead

• 4 start hotel with 9.0 rating on Booking.com

• Free wifi doesn't work well in rooms (but someone noted they were able to get wifi in the bar)

• Breakfast included

• Reviews: The rooms are generally very spacious and comfortable. Breakfast is basic but good. Hallways aren't quiet, and walls are thin. Poor wifi.

Chaltén Suites Hotel

Comfortable rooms with chic decor and free Wi-Fi in El Chaltén. Has a spacious breakfast area with plenty of windows and views of the surrounding mountains and garden. Rooms have a private bathrooms.

• Located in the middle of El Chaltén

• Superior triple room for $1,434 refundable on Booking.com (1 double bed + 1 twin bed) ($358/night). $1,382 on Expedia for the non-refundable version

• Hotel is mostly sold out. Only 1 refundable reservations remains. Other rooms are sold out.

• 3 to 4 start hotel with 8.9 rating on Booking.com

• Free wifi

• Breakfast included

• Reviews: Spacious room, very clean, new and modern building, great breakfast and really helpful and friendly staff. Cons: Not quiet on ground floor; thin walls and can hear everything.

Hosteria El Puma

• Good location in El Chalten near Fitz Roy trailhead. Rated 9.1 Three 'Deluxe Suite' rooms are available. $397/night per room

Los Cerros del Chaltén Boutique Hotel

This rustic-chic hotel has views is located in the heart of El Chaltén. Featuring mountain or valley views, the warmly decorated rooms come with Wi-Fi access, flat-screen TV and minibars, as well as whirlpool tubs. A breakfast buffet is included. Other amenities consist of an upscale restaurant/bar, a guest lounge, and a spa with a sauna, a hot tub and valley views

• 9.6 rated. Very nice hotel in the heart of El Chaltén

• $1,858 for four nights ($465 per night) through Experia. Refundable. Premium Room, valley view, for up to three people.

• More costly non-refundable option: $1,891 for four nights ($473 per night) through the hotel's website. Looks like the room as above.

• Free wifi

Houses Outside Chaltén (we've basically ruled out)

Airbnb Home 11 miles outside of El Chaltén

A large great room with open beamed ceilings, a large hearth and floor to ceiling windows looking out at the Andes. The kitchen, which faces a glacier, opens to the great room and dining table which seats eight.

Pros:

• $3,538 for home for 4 nights, 4 bedrooms, 6 beds, 3 baths. Holds up to 6 guests.

• 4.85 star rating on AirBNB. House repeatedly described as clean and beautiful. Superhost

• Quick access to alternative Rio Electrica trailhead for Lago de Los Tres trail. Also very close to the prettier northern trailhead for the Laguna de los Tres hike (from El Pilar Hosteria).

Cons:

• 11 miles from El Chalten in Los Huemules natural reserve (about a 30+ minute drive from El Chalten)

• No phone or wifi

• 1 king bed in master, others are twin beds. 2 bedrooms share a bath.

Other:

• Remote, quiet, hiking nearby, dark skies, water pressure might be low

Airbnb Cottage 10 miles outside of El Chaltén

Pros:

• $1,923 for 4 nights, 3 bedrooms, 3 baths. Holds up to 6 guests.

• 5.0 star rating on AirBNB. Superhost

Cons:

• No wifi, basically

• 10 miles from El Chaltén in Estancia Los Huemules natural reserve

• Small for our group, and doesn't look particularly special

Other:

• Remote, quiet, hiking nearby, dark skies