El Chaltén was founded in 1985, largely to settle a border dispute, and has since become Argentina's trekking capital. Its greatest asset is simple: the trails start in the village. No shuttle, no permit, no entrance fee.
Laguna de los Tres
20km return, 6–9 hours, hard. The signature walk, ending at a glacial lake directly beneath the Fitz Roy massif. The route is gentle for two-thirds and then climbs 400m in the final kilometre on loose rock.
Go early for light and for the chance of a clear summit; Fitz Roy is famously cloud-covered. If the forecast is bad, walk to Laguna Capri (a third of the distance) instead and turn back.
Laguna Torre
18km return, 5–7 hours, moderate. Flatter and easier than de los Tres, ending at a lake often scattered with small icebergs beneath the improbable spire of Cerro Torre. Excellent when the weather is marginal, because the payoff does not depend on a summit being clear.
Loma del Pliegue Tumbado
19km return, 6–8 hours, moderate. The best overview walk in the area, climbing a broad ridge that faces both Fitz Roy and Cerro Torre at once. Fewer walkers than the other two, and the only one that shows you how the whole massif fits together.
Chorrillo del Salto
8km return, 2 hours, easy. A flat walk to a waterfall, ideal for an arrival afternoon or a rest day.
Practical notes
The village has ATMs that regularly run dry — bring cash from El Calafate. There is no fuel station open at all hours. Buses to El Calafate run several times a day and take three hours.
For the Chilean side, see the W Trek guide.