El Chaltén is a municipality situated in the western region of the province of Santa Cruz, Argentina. This small tourist village is nestled within the confines of Los Glaciares National Park, in the southern reaches of the Andes Mountains at the southwestern edge of Argentine Patagonia. It lies at the foot of Mount Fitz Roy (also known as Chaltén) and along the banks of the De las Vueltas River.
In October 2014, El Chaltén garnered international recognition, securing the second position in Lonely Planet's ranking of the "best cities in the world to visit," slated for publication in 2015. It was surpassed only by Washington D.C., thereby holding the top rank within Argentina (as per Wikipedia).
The municipality derives its name from the adjacent mountain. It is widely understood that the name "Chaltén" originates from the Aonikenk or Tehuelche language, signifying either "smoking mountain" or "blue mountain." It is noteworthy that, within this same language, the term "Chaltén" carries a strongly obscene connotation. On March 2, 1877, Francisco Pascasio Moreno officially named the mountain "Fitz Roy" in tribute to Captain Robert Fitz Roy of the HMS Beagle, who explored the Santa Cruz River in 1834. While the name Fitz Roy was predominantly used throughout much of the 20th century, recent Argentine official cartography has favored the designation Chaltén. Conversely, Chilean official cartography continues to primarily use the name Fitz Roy.
For many years, avid trekkers have engaged in the El Chaltén Full Circuit, a multi-day trek typically completed over three to four days. This circuit, requiring the use of tents, encompasses notable landmarks such as Campamento Poicenot, Laguna de los Tres, Laguna Capri, Laguna Madre e Hija, and Laguna Torre.
More recently, trail running has emerged as an increasingly popular method of completing this circuit. It is advisable to commence the journey early in the morning, especially when traversing the ascent and descent to and from Laguna de los Tres, in order to avoid congestion and minimize any disruption to those traveling at a more leisurely pace.
This circuit is a perfect 38 K run, simply one of the most beautiful circuits in the world !
