CARRETERA AUSTRAL
Day Thirty Three - North to El Chalten
Posted on 22nd Mar 2016
Photo: Jumping for joy with a backdrop of Cerro Fitzroy and Cerro Torre.
After a three hour leisurely drive north from El Calafate we arrived in the mountain village of El Chalten, famous for Cerro Fitzroy and Cerro Torre, two giant granite peaks rising up from the edge of the Southern Patagonia Icecap. We arrived to a windy reception but assumed that is common here. After a quick visit to the National Park office who gave some rather vague info on the trekking trails we set about find somewhere to stay.
As with most of our trip, we have just turned up at places and driven round looking for a nice (read economic) place to stay. After visiting about 8 different places we were beginning to give up hope until Gaby spotted a sign for a Hosteria with a swimming pool. It turned out not only to be one of the nicest but also cheapest options in town (we asked the price three time as we couldn't believe the answer each time....... they had just reduced their rates to maximise the season before closing after Easter). It was also the only place for with a swimming pool. Gaby spent the afternoon in the pool while I caught up on emails.