El Calafate – El Chaltén transfer: how to get there
220 kilometers along Route 40 and Route 23, in about three hours
El Chaltén does not have an airport. The usual access is from El Calafate, whose airport receives direct flights from Buenos Aires and other cities in the country. We offer the transfer between the two locations in two modalities: door to door from hotel to hotel, or regular bus with reception at destination.
Transfer El Calafate ⇄ El Chaltén
Direct connection between El Calafate and El Chaltén in three hours: door-to-door transfer from your accommodation or El Calafate airport, with fixed departures, or regular bus with reception at destination.
The journey is part of the trip
The route skirts Lake Argentino, crosses the Patagonian steppe, and ends with the massif of Fitz Roy Appearing on the horizon. It is entirely paved.
The classic stop is the La Leona Inn, a historic post station on the river of the same name. Then comes the junction with Route 23, which is the one that enters El Chaltén.
The two modalities
| Door to door | Regular bus | |
|---|---|---|
| Where it takes you | At your accommodation in El Calafate | At the bus terminal |
| Where does it drop you off? | At your accommodation in El Chaltén | El Chaltén Terminal, with reception |
| Duration | About 3 hours | About 3 hours |
| Distance | 220 km via Route 40 and Route 23 | |
| Ideal for | Arriving without resolving anything else | For those who travel light and prioritize price. |
| Price from | Check availability | |
How it fits into the itinerary
The usual practice is to travel in the morning and arrive at midday, with the afternoon free for a short walk: Capri Lagoon or the Chorrillo del Salto can be easily visited in half a day.
For the return trip, the opposite is advisable: leave the last morning free and return after midday, because the weather in El Chaltén changes quickly and leaving early may force you to give up the activity that mattered most to you.
Look at the complete catalog of excursions to plan the days.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does it take to get from El Calafate to El Chaltén?
About three hours, for 220 kilometers of paved road: first Route 40 north and then the junction to Route 23. The classic stop is the La Leona rest stop.
Does El Chaltén have an airport?
No. The nearest airport is El Calafate, which receives direct flights from Buenos Aires and other cities in the country. From there, you continue by land.
What is the difference between door-to-door and regular bus?
The door-to-door service picks you up at your accommodation in El Calafate and drops you off at your accommodation in El Chaltén. The regular bus departs from and arrives at the terminal, with pickup at your destination. The travel time is the same.
Is it possible to go and come back in the same day?
It's possible, but we don't recommend it: it's a six-hour drive to see just a few towns, with no real time for hiking. A reasonable minimum is three days in El Chaltén, because the weather makes it necessary to allow for some flexibility.