El Chalten

El Chaltén lies in the Río de las Vueltas valley, where the Patagonian steppe meets the ice-carved Andes beneath the granite summits of Fitz Roy and Cerro Torre. Founded in 1985, the small town stands at the northern edge of Los Glaciares National Park and is a major base for hiking and climbing in this part of Patagonia. Trails begin directly from its streets, leading toward Laguna de los Tres, Laguna Torre and viewpoints facing the Fitz Roy massif; conditions can shift quickly in these exposed valleys. Its name comes from a Tehuelche word for “smoking mountain,” referring to Fitz Roy’s cloud-wreathed profile. Find related webcams across Santa Cruz Province to build a fuller picture of southern Patagonia.

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