Popular Topics
Trip Report
Travel to Patagonia, the Argentina side - a dream come true!
Traveling to Patagonia, I spend one week in Patagonia, split between El Calafate & El Chalten which are both great destinations.
+ 5
Highs & Lows
Hiking Fitz Roy - it was the hardest but one of the most rewarding treks I have done.
Buses from El Chalten to El Calafate were booked out far in advance
Itinerary Overview
Traveling to Patagonia, this trip was also one of the best plans I was waiting for. Argentina in general, a country I had heard a lot about, the food and especially the landscapes had me very anxious to arrive. From now on a recommendation, it is better to have many days available to be in this place, beauty is on another level and if you are a person who likes landscaping and adventure, you are where you should be.
I arrived in El Calafate at 6 am in the morning and took a taxi to my hostel. I was offered breakfast and early check-in, which allowed me to take a nap before venturing out to explore the town, its museums and plan my visit to the Perito Moreno Glacier, for the next day. Afterward, I took the bus to El Chalten for some once-in-a-lifetime hiking. I spend 4 days in El Chalten but could have easily spend an entire week there to complete all treks in the area.
Q & A
What would you have changed?
When traveling to Patagonia, I would have have more time to spend there.
Anything go wrong during the trip?
On the day I was supposed to depart, I went to the bus station and was told that all buses to Brioche were sold for the next days. I had to change my plans and spend significantly more money to get to my destination than anticipated. As El Chalten is a small, but popular town, make sure to book your bus in advance.
What tips would you give a friend?
Bring cash and groceries! There are no ATMs in El Chalten and groceries are super expensive.
Packing tips?
During my stay in March it was relativly cold in the morning and got warm during the day. For my hikes, I was wearing a t-shirt, fleece and down jacket. This was perfect as I could lose layers as it was getting warmer throughout the day.
Transportation Tips?
Uber and local buses
Booking details?
booking.com
Lodging
I stayed at Hostal Schilling. It was a nice hostel; I enjoyed the breakfast and got some great advice on what to do in town as well as help organising my day trip to the glacier.
During my time in El Chalten I stayed at Aylen-Aike Hostel. It was a nice hostel with a supermarket, coffee shop and bakery around the corner. Nice people to chat and hang out with and a stocked fridge to enjoy a cold beer after a long day of hiking.