El Chaltén is Argentina’s National Trekking Capital, at the foot of Fitz Roy in Patagonia. Most places to stay are in the village, but not all of them. We wrote this guide — we run domes in the forest 15 km out — and tried to tell both options as they are.
· Patagonia Eco Domes
- The village
- Most places to stay: hostels, inns, cabins and hotels, all on foot.
- Outside
- A few lodges in the forest on Route 41, toward Lago del Desierto.
- Season
- November to April. January and February are the busiest.
- Nights
- At least three, because of the weather.
- Getting there
- El Calafate airport, then about three hours on paved roads.
In this guide ↓
Where to stay in El Chaltén: in the village or outside it
It is the first decision, and the one that changes the trip most. Almost every place to stay in El Chaltén is in the village: hostels, inns, cabins, apartments and hotels, a few blocks from the bus station, the restaurants and the trailheads.
Outside, there are few. On Provincial Route 41, which runs north from the village toward Lago del Desierto, there are a handful of lodges and estancias in the forest. No streets or lights there: lenga trees, rivers, and Fitz Roy in front of you. That is where we are, 15 km from the village.
- In the village
- Everything on foot: restaurants, shops, the bus station. The trails to Laguna Torre and Laguna de los Tres start in the village itself. Busier, especially in high season.
- Outside, in the forest
- Silence, dark skies, and the trails on the north side of Fitz Roy at the door. You need a transfer or a car, and it helps if meals are taken care of on site.
What kinds of places there are: hostels, inns, cabins, hotels and domes
El Chaltén is a small village, founded in 1985, and most places to stay are run by local families. This is what you will find:
- Hostels
- Shared or private rooms and a shared kitchen. For travelers on a budget who spend the day on the trail.
- Hosterías (inns)
- The classic Patagonian inn: a small hotel with breakfast and a homely feel.
- Cabins and apartments
- With their own kitchen. For families, groups or long stays.
- Hotels and boutique hotels
- In the village, some with a restaurant and a spa.
- Lodges and domes in the forest
- Outside the village, full board, nature all around. That is what we are.
Where to stay depending on what you want to hike
Almost everyone comes to hike. The two best-known trails, to Laguna de los Tres (at the foot of Fitz Roy) and Laguna Torre (facing Cerro Torre), both start on foot from the village.
Laguna de los Tres can also be reached from the north, through the Río Blanco valley, off Route 41. That is our side: from the dome it is about 9 km to the lake, without the walk out of the village. The Piedras Blancas Glacier viewpoint and Piedra del Fraile start on the same side, and Lago del Desierto lies further north.
- Laguna Torre
- Stay in the village: the trail starts there.
- Laguna de los Tres
- From the village, or from the north via the Río Blanco, leaving from your dome door.
- Piedras Blancas and Piedra del Fraile
- On the north side, off Route 41.
Luxury hotels in El Chaltén: what luxury means here
Many people search for "the best hotels in El Chaltén" or "five-star hotels". El Chaltén is not a city, and luxury here has nothing to do with marble or the size of the lobby.
For us it is this: waking up with Fitz Roy in the window, eating well without driving at night, the silence of a forest with no other buildings, a wood stove lit in your room and a hot tub waiting when you come back from the trail. If that is what you are after, look outside the village too.
Staying in the forest at the foot of Fitz Roy: Patagonia Eco Domes
We are eleven geodesic domes in a lenga forest, 15 km from the village on Route 41. Every dome has a private bathroom, a wood stove and a large window toward the mountains. Stays are full board: buffet breakfast, a packed lunch for the trail and a four-course dinner in the Dining Dome.
There is no signal and no wifi, on purpose. We have been here since 2014, and the team lives on site all season.
See the domes →A spa in El Chaltén? A wood-fired hot tub facing the mountains
Some hotels in the village have a spa. Ours is simpler: a wooden hot tub heated over a wood fire, with a cold plunge beside it, in the open air and facing the mountains. It is included in your stay.
With or without a car
Buses from El Calafate arrive at the village bus station after about three hours. Without a car, the simplest is to stay in the village, or somewhere that picks you up.
We pick you up: for stays of two nights or more, the transfer from El Chaltén is free, with check-in from 2 to 5 pm. From El Calafate we arrange a private transfer. If you drive, parking is free.
See the services →How many nights to stay in El Chaltén
At least three. Fitz Roy can stay hidden for days and clear in an hour, and the wind can close the last stretch of a trail. Three nights or more give you room to pick the best day for Laguna de los Tres.
When to book a place to stay in El Chaltén
The season runs from November to April. January and February are the busiest months: book early. In winter many places close, and so do we.
Book direct with the lodging whenever you can: that way the people who answer you are the ones who will welcome you.
Every place to stay in El Chaltén, on one map
If you want to see every option in and outside the village, with walking times to each trail and each one’s own website to book direct, there is Booking Directo, a Patagonia search site made in El Chaltén.
Places to stay in El Chaltén →Frequently asked questions
What is the best area to stay in El Chaltén?
It depends on how you want to spend your days. In the village everything is on foot, and the trails to Laguna Torre and Laguna de los Tres start there. Outside, on Route 41, you get silence, forest and the trails on the north side of Fitz Roy at the door.
Are there luxury hotels in El Chaltén?
There are boutique hotels in the village and a few lodges outside it. Luxury here is something else: the Fitz Roy view, good food without driving at night, silence, and a wood stove in your room.
What is the best place to stay in El Chaltén for couples?
For a couple after nature and quiet, we think a dome in the forest: a wood stove, a hot tub, a four-course dinner and no signal. That is what we do at Patagonia Eco Domes.
Is there a spa or a hot tub in El Chaltén?
Some hotels in the village have a spa. At Patagonia Eco Domes there is a wood-fired wooden hot tub and a cold plunge in the open air, included in your stay.
Where to stay near Laguna de los Tres?
The closest place to stay on the north side of the trail is Patagonia Eco Domes: from the dome it is about 9 km to the lake, through the Río Blanco valley.
Do I need a car to stay outside the village?
Not if the lodging picks you up. At Patagonia Eco Domes the transfer from El Chaltén is free for stays of two nights or more.
How many nights should I stay in El Chaltén?
At least three, to have room with the weather and see Fitz Roy clear.
When should I book?
For January and February, well ahead. The season runs from November to April, and many places close in winter.
Is there full-board accommodation in El Chaltén?
Yes. At Patagonia Eco Domes stays include a buffet breakfast, a packed lunch for the trail and a four-course dinner.
Is there wifi in El Chaltén?
In the village, most places do. At Patagonia Eco Domes there is no signal and no wifi, on purpose; each dome has solar power with USB to charge your phone.
How do I book at Patagonia Eco Domes?
Direct on this site, through the official booking engine. If you have questions first, write to patagoniaecodomes@gmail.com.
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