El Calafate & Chalten

About the destination:

El Calafate is a small and charming town lost in the immensity of the Patagonian steppe, it is the main doorway to the wonderful Glaciers Park, a beautiful landscape of icy waters, white-capped mountains and windswept heathlands, of awe-inspiring glaciers and silent moss-clad woods. Set down on the edge of a vast lake, the town is a touristic base for the Parque Nacional Los Glaciares. The town, surrounded by the beautiful Lago Argentino and snow-capped mountain scenery, is full of cute tourist shops and restaurants that line the main street. Perito Moreno Glacier, 80km away from the town, is a magnificent must-see. It is considered one of the world’s most stunning glaciers. El Calafate as a town might not have much to offer, but it is the gateway to a magical enchanting spectacle which you just can't stop admiring.

About the destination: In addition to being the youngest town in Patagonia, El Chaltén is a dreamed-of place with cultural diversity. A great deal of foreigners visits this site due to its ideal natural conditions for lovers of outdoor activities, especially hiking. Considered the Argentinian capital of hiking, several trails start at its very streets and get deep into the impressive surrounding mountains, such as the Fitz Roy, the Poincenot or the very particular Mount Torre. The latest national census has established that there are over a thousand steady denizens but the number multiplies remarkably from November thru May, due to the huge amount of visitors who come along to enjoy the summer months. It lies 212 kilometers away from El Calafate, a distance covered in less than 3 hours, as the new road is in excellent condition. During this journey, visitors will get past some sites worth photographing. The surroundings of El Chaltén combine the magic of nearby glaciers, the hidden ponds, sky-blue Lake Viedma and the mystical presence of Mount Fitz Roy. From the village, visitors may spot its imposing unmistakable summit, almost always covered by a cloud the Tehuelche people misread as smoke, a slip that gave origin to the native name of the hill: “chaltén”, which stands for “volcano” or “smoking mountain”.