Pudu Lodge, El Chalten

Inspected By Experience Chile

Introduction

Pudu lodge is located in the northern sector of El Chalten village. This is useful for the northern trail heads. The lodge is simple in both appearance and construction. Rooms are reasonably spacious, but decoration of the rooms is at a minimal level, suggesting that this is more to the liking of those seeking a simple place for the night and not any luxury.

About

Pudu, which is the name of a small deer native to Patagonia, was created by a group of mountaineers who love the area and wanted to offer an accommodation base to like-minded people. Therefore, if you are more of a trekker and do not seek the homely luxuries of other hotels then this is the place for you.

The location of the lodge is excellent for the northern-start trails (northern sector of El Chalten, where the lodge is located).

There are 28 bedrooms, all reasonably spacious, with decent bathrooms, but interior decoration is almost minimalist. It offers good accommodation without the “frills”.

The communal dining hall offers guests an opportunity to meet and chat. There is also WiFi for those who wish to connect to the outside world.

Laguna Condor Lodge, El Chalten

Introduction

This is a small camp comprising 8 small, wooden cabins and a main lodge, located in the woods 20km north of El Chalten village and next to the River de las Vueltas.

About

The Laguna Condor is like a summer camp in the USA. Eight, small, wooden cabins offering comfortable accommodation with twin bed and matrimonial bed configurations along with private-en-suite bathrooms.

The main lodge is large and rustic with a wooden exterior and interior. Here is where guests congregate to eat their meals and relax in front of the fireplace.

The camp is located beside the Rio de las Vueltas as well as being nestled within a wood and offers a full outdoor experience, but with comfortable accommodation.

Facilities in the camp include an exterior hot tub and outdoor Patagonian barbecues, called “asados” in these parts.

In the main lodge there is Wi-Fi.

The point of being based at laguna Condor Camp is to enjoy nature and participate in hiking, mountain biking, kayak and ice hiking. If this is what you are after, then this is a good place to consider staying and we will include it in your itinerary.

Transfers

In order to get to and from the camp from El Chalten there is a transfer service that operates at these times:

  • From El Chalten to the Lodge: 08:00hrs and 17:00hrs from the Fitz Roy Expeditions office at Av. San Martin 56, El Chalten.
  • From Laguna Condor Lodge to El Chalten: 09:15hrs and 17:50hrs
  • Drop offs at Los Huemules Reserve, Hosteria El Pilar, El Chalten Hotel, the Bus Terminal and Fitz Roy Expeditions office.

Hosteria Pilar, El Chalten

Inspected By Experience Chile

Introduction

The Hosteria Pilar is a small, family, country house with ten bedrooms. It is located 17 km north of El Chalten village and ideal for the trail heads to Piedra del Fraile, Laguna de Los Tres and Piedras Blancas Glacier.

In order to get here you will need transport from El Chalten village, either a taxi or bus, or perhaps your own rent a car (which we can, of course, arrange from El Calafate).

About

Hosteria Pilar was built in 1994, in the style of a simple Patagonian house, after its owners arrived to El Chalten and loved the area and mountains so much that they decided to make this their home. In doing so they created a warm, homely and cosy atmosphere.

As passionate hikers and climbers they decided that the location where Pilar is today offered both the mountains and “countryside” combination, which they loved. The name Pilar is a recognition to the northern slope of Fitzroy called Pilar Casarotto or Pilar Norte. Casarotto is the climber, Renato Casarotto who climbed, in 1979, on his own, the northern side of Fitzroy.

Hosteria Pilar, although 17km north from El Chalten village, is idea for the treks to Piedra del Fraile, Laguna de Los Tres and Piedras Blancas Glacier because, in each case, you start on foot, from outside the Hosteria. The De las Vueltas river runs close to the lodge and behind there is a thick forest of native Patagonian trees.

Estancia La Quinta, El Chalten

Inspected By Experience Chile

Introduction

The Estancia La Quinta is located within the Los Glaciares National Park, just 2km outside of the entrance to El Chalten village. It is iconic due to its 100 year-old cattle ranching history.

Accommodation is homely, rooms are typical of being in a family home, with nice beds, simple furnishings, and en-suite bathrooms.

The Estancia offers trips to Viedma Glacier, bird watching, adventure activities, cultural tours and a chance to get close to the cattle!

This is an ideal base from where to enter to El Chalten and trek each day, yet return to a quiet place to relax and enjoy a great dinner.

About

The Estancia is a working cattle ranch with over 100 years of history. The buildings are styled in the traditional estancia way and reflect a war, homely environment. If you seek peace and quiet at the end of each, active day, then a stay here is just the medicine.

To illustrate the point about quietness and relaxing, there is a reading room, or area where you can select reading material from the historical library containing over 1,000 Patagonian-themed books.

El Puma Lodge, El Chalten

Introduction

El Puma Lodge is a modest 17-room lodge in the centre of El Chalten. Rooms are spacious and decorated in a country style.

There is a cosy communal living and breakfast room.

About

El Puma lodge is a modest accommodation option in the heart of El Chalten village. It has 17 bedrooms, a communal living room and breakfast room. Ideal for a no fuss place to rest after a heavy days trekking.