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 Marcelo Sola  Revista Lugares |
This is a typical young mountain village protected by the phenomenal figure of mount Chaltén in an overwhelming geography with glaciers, snowed peaks, crystalline lakes and absolute Patagonian atmosphere.
El Chaltén village was created by law 1771/85 at the foot of this Mecca of climbers which is Mount Fitz Roy or Chaltén, as it is called in the region, next to mounts Torre and Puntiagudo.
A hundred and fifty people live in this village next to the frontier in Argentina, strategically situated in Los Glaciares National Park, with a touristic profile evidenced in its 400 beds supply.
At present there is a school, a sanitary post, a food store, telephone service, registry and post-office, as well as a clear vocation for sovereignty. |
The rivers De las Vueltas and Fitz Roy converge at the foot of mount Dos Cóndores. An important number of climbers and hikers from all over the world are attracted by the most difficult granite towers in the planet and the ice on its high summit.
The pebble roads of the village are carpeted by dandelion flowers with their yellow touch, while the histories of dreamers are multiplied in lodges, picturesque food and coffee shops, and lamb asados are as usual as cereal bars.
El Chaltén is 220 kilometers from El Calafate along a debris road.
We recommend you assign at least three days to this circuit, since hiking and viewing outings are worth the effort. |
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Waste is classified into organic and non-organic, electric cables are buried, all trees planted are native species, and in general caring for the environment is a constant attitude. A true oasis in the confines of the country complemented with homely made beer, chocolate, cakes, smoked cuts, and a whole universe where terms like "regional", "home-made", or "ellaborated by its owners" refer specifically to products made far away from the rest of the civilized world.
This picturesque little village offers its touristic profile with innumerable options to get close to Nature.
Hiking presents many options, and if you wish to go for a long hike, you should evaluate fitness and previous experiences. |
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If you go on north from El Chaltén via provincial route 23, you drive 37 km. on a debris road in the middle of a forest to the south end of Lago del Desierto, a territory disputed by Chile and Argentina. This lake is also navigated in two-hour outings to Huemul Glacier and Vespigiani range. |
Another alternative in the National Park is to navigate Lake Viedma, a long water span with a length of 78 km. and an average width of 15 km., which receives the melting from Viedma Glacier, Ice Field, and mounts Torre, Puntiagudo and Fitz Roy. This half-day lake outing leaves daily from the Tunnel Bay dock and includes watching Viedma glacier, La Cascada Amphitheatre, Moyano Channel, and landing in Estancia Helsingfors, recycled as an inn offering fishing, hiking and expedition outings.
This excursion may also be hired only to the glacier, with lunch in the camp-site and a hike to Viedma glacier and its ice caves. |
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Horseback ridings are an easy option, some outstanding trails are Lake Torre, an ascension to the lake at the foot of mount and glacier Torre; Río Blanco and Laguna de los Tres, a splendid lagoon just in front of Mount Fitz Roy, 3405 m. high; Inter-lake Crossing, two-day ride to lakes Capri, De los Tres, Madre e Hija and Torre including sleeping in a tent; and guided ascensions to the mirador of Mount Fitz Roy. |
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