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El Chaltén is situated in the Department called Lago Argentino, on the northen margin of Lago Viedma, in the confluence of rivers De las Vueltas and Fitz Roy, in the National Reserve Zona Viedma in Parque Nacional Los Glaciares.
In this landscape combine the magic of glaciers, hidden lagoons, estancias, Lake Viedma, and the magnetic presence of mount Fitz Roy. The summit of its unmistakable majestic silouete is almost always covered in a cloud that the Tehuelche thought was smoke, mistake that gave origin to the nameChaltén, which means volcano.
Two hundred people live in this town, distant 220 km. from El Calafate on provincial route Nº11, national route 40, and provincial route Nº 23.
El Chaltén is contiguous to Lake Viedma and its reserve, and has been declared National Hiking Capital for the variety of activities performed by hikers and climbers. Most outings start in town, and it is not necessary to be an expert to follow the circuits if you walk on a current trail.
The granitic towers of mountsTorre and Fitz Roy compose spectacular panorama together with glaciers Viedma, Upsala and Moyano, which drain in Lago Viedma, with a surface of 106.000 has.
