Argentina
About the Experience
El Chalten, Argentina
We recommend a minimum of four nights
Six nights are also a good option to really immerse oneself in the forests, mountains, and glaciers of the Argentinean Patagonia.
With views to the Electric Valley and the Marconi Glacier, explora El Chaltén will open its doors in 2021. 17 km away from El Chaltén –in the Argentinean Patagonia– the lodge is a headquarter from where to explore a world-renowned destination by those who love nature and trekking.
Patagonia is not a country nor a place. It is a vast territory shared by Chile and Argentina, whose remarkable geography –shaped by mountains, glaciers, lakes, and rivers– offers countless exploration opportunities.
Trip Itenarary
GEOGRAPHY
The explorations at El Chaltén are as varied as the surroundings we are about to know. The area’s geography has towering mountains and different landscapes open to be discovered through treks, overland trips, ice hikes, and even rock climbing, depending on the preferences and skills of each traveler.
PATAGONIA, A VAST TERRITORY SHARED BY CHILE AND ARGENTINA
Patagonia is located in the southernmost tip of America and is shared by Chile and Argentina. It is mainly formed by two large geographical areas: the Pampa and the Patagonian Andes.
The Pampa or Patagonian steppe is formed by extensive pasture land ideal for grazing and cattle ranching.
The Patagonian Andes is the final section of the Andes Mountain Range cut by numerous transverse valleys, lakes, fjords and tectonic and glacier channels. Part of the Andean relief is occupied by ice masses, many of which are found in the Southern Ice Field, one of the world’s largest reserves of fresh water.
LOS GLACIARES NATIONAL PARK
Declared a world heritage site by UNESCO, will be one of the places to be explored. Other attractions to be discovered are the Southern Patagonia Mountain Range, Mount Fitz-Roy, the towering heights of the area, and the surroundings of the Los Huemules Natural Reserve, in addition to the Patagonia forest and its rich wildlife.
Los Glaciares National Park was created to protect some of the remnants of the last glaciation, glaciers, native forests, lakes, part of the steppe and abundant native biodiversity. Mount Fitz Roy is one the milestones at the northern border of the National Park, while the famous Perito Moreno glacier is located south.
Based on its beauty and diversity of living species, in 1981 the Park was declared a Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO.
NATURAL RESERVE
LOS HUEMULES NATURAL RESERVE
The hotel is located in this natural reserve, 11 miles away from the town of El Chaltén. This private effort started under the mission to preserve and protect the region’s environmental, historical, and cultural heritage. It spans over 5,800 hectares and one of the main concerns is to protect its magical and unique surroundings. For this reason, the forests and wildlife has developed in perfect harmony with the reserve’s growth.
Los Huemules Natural Reserve has about 16 kilometers of marked trails and a view to the area’s most luring attraction: Mount Fitz Roy. In addition, it houses the Gorra Blanca and Marconi glaciers, with the latter providing an access route to the Southern Patagonian Ice field, the world’s third largest freshwater reserve after Antarctica and Greenland.
The wildlife that lives here includes condors and huemules, torrent ducks, Magellanic woodpecker, the Andean fox, and even the puma (cougar). Surrounded by lengas and native forests, travelers can follow the trails and see amazing natural lagoons, a typical landscape of this pristine place.
USEFUL INFORMATION
How to get there?
From the Buenos Aires, Argentina Airport: Take a connecting flight to El Calafate. From there, a 137-miles land route takes you to El Chaltén, with a 3-hour traveling time.
From the Santiago de Chile Airport: Take a connecting flight to Punta Arenas or Puerto Natales, and cross the border to Argentina through the Río Don Guillermo border crossing to Calafate. The team will pick you up here and take you to explora El Chaltén in a van.
Flights from Argentina
The nearest airport is the Comandante Armando Tola International Airport at El Calafate, located at 137 miles from El Chaltén. Landings are mainly from Buenos Aires, with a non-stop travel time of approximately 3.5 hours. Operating lines are Aerolíneas Argentinas, Austral and LATAM Airlines.
Partners
