El Chalten - The Eldorado for hikers

The small town of El Chalten is located in the middle of nowhere in Patagonia and is the starting point for hiking and climbing tours in the Los Glaciares National Park.

Once again, I was lucky with the weather and the time of my trip. In Patagonia, the weather can change very quickly, they even say that you can experience all 4 seasons in just one day.

My first hike took me 10 km to Laguna de los Tres, a high alpine lake with an incredible view of the rugged Cerro Fitz Roy (3405). The hike was very pleasant until the final ascent to the lake. Then, it was a steep half-hour climb over scree and snow at the end (according to the sign, the ascent should take an hour). As always, the effort was worth it and was rewarded with a great view of the snow-covered mountains and the valley.

The next day, under similar beautiful weather, I went to Laguna Torre, 9 km away, with a view of Cerro Torre. The hike was not as challenging as the day before, but just as beautiful. The weather was also perfect, with bright sunshine and almost clear skies. As a reward, I enjoyed beer and apple pie with ice cream when I returned to El Chalten, what a combination!

The following day was all about relaxation. I took a leisurely 7 km walk to Chorillo del Salto, a small waterfall, and spent the rest of the day sleeping, reading, planning my trip, and drinking coffee.

On my last day, I headed back to the mountains, a steady uphill climb of 10 km to the viewpoint Loma del Pliegue Tumbado. From here, I could admire Cerro Torre, Cerro Fitz Roy, the valley around Chalten, and countless other snow-covered peaks. On the final stretch to the viewpoint, I had to trudge through the snow, sinking knee-deep at times. I had to make the return journey with wet socks and shoes, but it was all worth it.