Budget route
Transfer into town
Then the bus north
- Transfer30 minutes
- ThenScheduled bus
- ReviewsWell rated
Your stop on the map
How to get from El Calafate airport to El Chalten on landing day
Short answer
To get from El Calafate airport to El Chalten, take a door-to-door shuttle or a private van straight there, or a short transfer into El Calafate and then one of the daily buses north.
Arrival essentials
See 26 route stops
El Chaltén, its trails and the roads in and out
First pick a route, then tap any pin or stop for details and Google Maps.
El Calafate is the base for the park's south zone, and buses leave here for El Chaltén every day.
Google MapsComandante Armando Tola airport, 22 km from El Calafate and 200 km from El Chaltén on paved road.
Google MapsThe roadside inn where the El Chaltén day tour takes its 30-minute break.
Google MapsViedma Glacier boats sail from this pier: 10 km on Route 23, then 8 km on the bay road from El Chaltén.
Google MapsFounded in 1985 on land the national park gave up, and now the base for its north zone.
Google Maps
The park's visitor center sits just before the first houses; climbers and remote-area hikers register here or online, and the Los Cóndores path leaves from its door.
Google MapsThe park leaflet puts it 45 minutes and 1 km up from the trailhead, looking down on the village; condors and black-chested eagles often ride the wind here.
Google MapsA branch beyond Los Cóndores, about 1 hour and 2 km on the park leaflet, facing the steppe and Lake Viedma.
Google MapsA 20 m waterfall in lenga forest: 40 minutes on foot by the leaflet, or drive Route 41 to the car park and walk 10 minutes.
Google MapsAn open bend of the Fitz Roy trail, 1 hr 30 min and 4 km out on the park leaflet.
Google MapsThe first lake on the Fitz Roy trail, 1 hr 45 min one way on the leaflet; its campsite needs a booking.
Google MapsThe closest trail viewpoint to Fitz Roy: 5 hours one way and 750 m of climb on the leaflet, steep at the end.
Google MapsA ridge view up the Fitz Roy river valley, 1 hr 15 min along the Laguna Torre trail.
Google MapsThe glacier lake below Cerro Torre (3102 m), 3 hrs 30 min one way on the park leaflet.
Google MapsA 360-degree summit view of Lake Viedma, Cerro Torre and Fitz Roy: 4 hours up and 1000 m of climb.
Google Maps
Buses from El Calafate pull in here, and the town's tourist information desk works inside the terminal.
Google MapsThe park's visitor center sits just before the first houses; climbers and remote-area hikers register here or online, and the Los Cóndores path leaves from its door.
Google MapsWhere the trail to Laguna Capri and on to Fitz Roy begins.
Google MapsStart of the path up the valley to Laguna Torre, 11 km away by the tourism office's count.
Google Maps
Founded in 1985 on land the national park gave up, and now the base for its north zone.
Google Maps37 km north of El Chaltén; the lake runs 12 km, and a 1-hour walk leads to the Huemul glacier.
Google MapsAcross the border on Lake O'Higgins: the walk from Lago del Desierto takes about 6 hours, open November to March.
Google MapsComing from the north, drive 35 km past Tres Lagos on Route 40, then 90 km on Route 41.
Google MapsEl Calafate is the base for the park's south zone, and buses leave here for El Chaltén every day.
Google Maps80 km from El Calafate on Route 11; from September to April the access corridor opens 8 to 18 h.
Google MapsThe Puerto Natales park buses run by way of Laguna Amarga, Pudeto and the park administration.
Google MapsChile lists it open to every kind of vehicle, with Puerto Natales the nearest town; Torres del Paine's Sarmiento gate is 52 km away.
Google MapsChile lists it open to every kind of vehicle, at 605 m, with Puerto Natales the nearest town.
Google MapsTorres del Paine buses leave at 7:30 and 14:30, and Route Y-290 reaches the park in 80 km.
Google Maps
Base map © OpenStreetMap contributors
Your plane lands a long way south of the village. Here is how to get from El Calafate airport to El Chalten: straight there by shuttle or van, or via town and the bus.
Editorial team, elchaltendaytrip.top · Updated November 9, 2026 · Quick read: 7 min
Quick look
- DistanceThe airport is 200 km from El Chalten on a paved road.1
- Direct shuttleA door-to-door shuttle runs from the airport to El Chalten.2
- Via townTransfers into El Calafate start from $12, then take the bus.
- Private vanFrom $297, with an airport pickup option.
- Flying outBe at check-in 2 hours before your flight.3
Where you land, and how far the village is
Flights into this corner of Patagonia land at Comandante Armando Tola International Airport, which serves El Calafate. The town tourism office of El Chalten places it 22 km from El Calafate and 200 km from El Chalten, on a road that is paved all the way.1 It is the nearest airport to the village, so this is where a trip to Fitz Roy by air usually begins.
Plenty of planes use it. According to the national park, flights arrive every day from across Argentina, with international routes added in some seasons.4 The tourism office lists Aerolineas Argentinas, Flybondi, JetSMART and LADE, with Sky Airline in the high season, flying in from Buenos Aires, Cordoba, Bariloche, Ushuaia, Trelew and, at some times of year, Chile.5,6
That leaves a ground journey of several hours after you land. Knowing how to get from El Calafate airport to El Chalten before you board saves a confused hour in the arrivals hall, especially if your flight arrives in the afternoon and the light is already going. Decide in advance whether you want to reach the mountains tonight or treat landing day as a travel day and start fresh tomorrow.
Your options
Airport to El Chalten, option by option
| Option | From | Legs | Good for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Door-to-door shuttle | Operator fare | Airport to village2 | Bags and late flights |
| Private van | $297 | Airport to village | Groups |
| Transfer and bus | $12 | Transfer, then bus7 | Budget travelers |
| Hire car | Rental rate | 200 km of paved road1 | Families staying long |
Listing prices are starting fares; shuttle and bus fares are set by each company.
Straight from the arrivals hall to El Chalten
The neatest answer is a shuttle that does the whole journey. Transporte Las Lengas has run a door-to-door service from El Calafate and the airport to El Chalten since 2004, alongside private trips.2 It is the closest thing to a bus from El Calafate airport to El Chalten, and it spares you the transfer into town and the walk to the terminal.
A private van is the other direct option. One private transfer between El Calafate and El Chalten lists the airport among its pickup points, takes 2.5 hours on the road and starts from $297. It has no reviews yet, so read its terms carefully, but for a group with luggage the price per head can be reasonable.
Direct services suit late arrivals best. If your plane lands in the evening, a booked pickup removes the risk of missing the last bus from town. Give the operator your flight number at booking and find out their policy for late planes; a good one waits or rebooks without drama. Keep the operator’s phone number written on paper too, in case your phone battery gives out after the flight.
Track records
Airport transfers by number of reviews
- Hotel transfer154
- Transfer into town114
- Shared hotel shuttle100
- Private in town27
Review counts of airport transfer listings in El Calafate.
Via El Calafate: a transfer into town, then the bus
The cheaper route breaks the journey in El Calafate. Airport transfers into town are plentiful: one transfer starts from $12 and takes 30 minutes, another airport-to-hotel service starts from $30 and has 154 reviews averaging 4.7. Chalten Travel also lists its own airport-to-hotel transfer at ARS 14,000 per person at the time of writing.9
From town, scheduled buses take over. The village tourism office lists 3 daily departures, and the park also mentions regular buses every day.7,10 Both towns have their bus terminal, and the one in El Chalten houses the municipal information centre.8 Ask your airport transfer to drop you at the El Calafate terminal rather than a hotel if you are heading straight on.
The catch is timing. Separate legs mean more chances to wait, and if your flight lands late you may reach El Calafate after the last bus north. In that case, a night in El Calafate is no hardship: it lets you see the glacier town, sleep well and take a morning bus with the whole day ahead. Book that bed with a free cancellation option so you can drop it if the plane is early.
Which way from the airport
Pick your landing-day plan
Choose the line that matches your flight and bags to see the plan that works.
If My flight lands in the morning
Transfer, then the bus
Transfers into town start from $12.
If My flight lands in the evening
Sleep in El Calafate
Avoid racing the last bus; ride north next morning.7
If We are a group with big bags
A private van
Airport pickup and 2.5 hours on the road.
If I want no changes at all
The door-to-door shuttle
One booking from the airport straight to El Chalten.2
If I fly home from El Calafate
Allow a wide margin
The airport wants you at check-in 2 hours ahead.3
Ways from the gate
Shuttle, van or town first
Hotel drop
Hotel transfer
Airport to your lodging
- Length1 hour
- Rating4.7
- ThenBus or tour
Direct
The private van
Airport to El Chalten
- Road time2.5 hours
- PickupAirport
- ReviewsNone yet
Hiring a car at the airport
Some travelers collect a hire car on landing and drive straight north. The provincial tourism board describes exactly that option: fly into El Calafate, then take a bus or rent a car for about 220 km to El Chalten.51 Chalten Travel, for example, includes airport taxes in its rental price and charges ARS 200,000 to return the car in El Chalten.52
Driving straight from a long flight deserves a second thought. The road is paved, but it crosses open steppe where wind and fatigue combine, and the park asks visitors to plan their outings so they are back before dark.53 If you land late, collect the car, sleep in El Calafate and drive in the morning.
Bring the right documents to the rental desk, because Argentina wants foreign drivers to show a passport stamped on entry, plus a licence that meets its conditions.54 Our page on the drive covers the route, fuel and winter rules in full, including the stop at La Leona and what the hire company may ask you to sign at the counter.
Price the first leg
Airport transfers for your group
Set how many are landing and compare the opening fares into town.
Compare 3 choices
Airport transfers for your group
Set how many are landing and compare the opening fares into town.
- Transfer into town30 minutes · starts at, per person $12
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View - Hotel transfer1 hour · starts at, per person $30
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View - Shared hotel shuttle1 hour · starts at, per person $32
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View
Starting prices from GetYourGuide, converted at the ECB reference rate. You will see the exact price when booking.
Landing day
From the gate to the village
Landing
El Calafate airport
Daily flights from around Argentina land here.4
Into town
Short transfer
One transfer takes 30 minutes, from $12.
Bus north
Terminal departure
One of 3 daily departures to El Chalten.7
Or direct
Door-to-door shuttle
Airport to El Chalten in one booking.2
Arrival
Village terminal
Pick up the trail map at the information centre.8
El Chalten to El Calafate airport: timing the flight home
Going the other way, from El Chalten to El Calafate airport, is where careful timing pays off. The airport asks passengers to be at the check-in desks 2 hours before the scheduled departure.3 Add 200 km of road from the village and a buffer for wind or a slow bus, and a last night in El Calafate starts to look sensible.1
If you prefer to leave from the village on flight day, book a service that goes straight to the terminal. The door-to-door shuttle covers the airport as well as the town, and the private van can drop you at the airport too.2 Make sure the booking says airport, not town, in writing, and that the pickup time leaves room for the 2 hours the airport asks for.3
Winter adds another reason for margin. The El Chalten tourism office warns that snowstorms can close the roads, so you may have to wait to leave the village.50 Never plan a winter departure from El Chalten on the morning of an international connection; leave a day early and enjoy El Calafate instead. The glacier town has plenty to fill a spare day, and the airport is close by.
Video
A transit day: flying into El Calafate and the bus to El Chalten
Sara Dhooma on YouTube · Tap play to load the video; not before.
The nearest airport is in El Calafate, the Comandante Armando Tola International Airport (FTE), 22 km from that town and 200 km from El Chalten, and the road is fully paved.
Arrival checklist
Before you land
Planning a same-day arrival
A same-day arrival works best with a morning or early-afternoon flight. Land, take a short transfer into town or a direct shuttle, and you can reach the village while there is still light for a first walk. The park leaflet notes that the Condor viewpoint is short and suitable even for people not used to mountain walking.55
Keep the first evening simple. The El Chalten information centre in the bus terminal gives out a services guide, a plan of the streets and a trail map, which is all you need to plan the next morning.8 Supermarkets in the village let you buy breakfast and a packed lunch on the way to your lodging.56
If the flight arrives late, do not force it. A night in El Calafate turns a tense dash into an easy morning bus, and you arrive fresh. The town tourism office recommends 3 to 4 days in El Chalten, so a calm start is a small price for a better stay.57 Use the evening in El Calafate to buy supplies and check the forecast for the mountains.
Short on time? Base yourself in El Calafate
Not every itinerary has room for nights in the village. If you fly in for a few days built around the glaciers, you can keep your bed in El Calafate and see El Chalten on a guided day. The day we book starts from $117, collects you from your hotel and returns you the same evening. Pickup works only from lodgings with a reception, so check that before you book the room.
That plan trades depth for simplicity. The guided day leaves you roughly 5 hours on the ground, with a guided stroll to the condor viewpoint and a second to a waterfall, and it leaves the long trails for another trip. The town tourism office is frank that a day visit cannot cover the classic circuits, so treat it as a first look rather than the full experience.58
Whichever plan you choose, the airport sits close to El Calafate and far from the mountains, and that geography decides everything. Short stays favour a base near the airport and a day trip north; longer stays reward the bus or shuttle, a few nights under Fitz Roy and an easy transfer back for the flight home.1
FAQ
Questions answered quickly.
How far is El Calafate airport from El Chalten?
About 200 km.
The El Chalten tourism office puts the airport 200 km from the village, on a fully paved road.1
Is there a direct shuttle from the airport?
Yes, door to door.
Transporte Las Lengas runs a door-to-door shuttle from El Calafate and its airport to El Chalten.2
How much is a transfer into El Calafate?
From $12.
Airport transfers into town start from $12 and take about 30 minutes.
Can I take the public bus from the airport?
Go via town.
Scheduled buses leave from El Calafate, with 3 departures a day to El Chalten.7
Which airlines fly to El Calafate?
Several domestic airlines.
Aerolineas Argentinas, Flybondi, JetSMART and LADE, plus Sky Airline in high season.5
When should I be at the airport to fly out?
2 hours before.
The airport asks passengers to be at check-in 2 hours before the scheduled flight time.3
Can I rent a car at the airport?
Yes, with your passport.
Hire desks need your passport, stamped on arrival, and a licence that Argentina accepts.54
Sources
- Secretaria de Turismo de El Chalten, the town tourism office (elchalten.tur.ar) · Avion (getting there by plane) ↩
- Transporte Las Lengas (lengas.com), shuttle operator, for its own service · El Calafate and airport to El Chalten ↩
- El Calafate International Airport Comandante Armando Tola (aeropuertoelcalafate.com) · Aeropuerto Internacional de El Calafate ↩
- National Parks Administration, Los Glaciares National Park (argentina.gob.ar) · Horarios / Como llegar ↩
- Secretaria de Turismo de El Chalten, the town tourism office (elchalten.tur.ar) · Avion (getting there by plane) ↩
- Secretaria de Turismo de El Chalten, the town tourism office (elchalten.tur.ar) · Avion (getting there by plane) ↩
- Secretaria de Turismo de El Chalten, the town tourism office (elchalten.tur.ar) · Omnibus (getting there by bus) ↩
- Secretaria de Turismo de El Chalten, the town tourism office (elchalten.tur.ar) · Recomendaciones (advice for visitors) ↩
- Chalten Travel (chaltentravel.com), bus, transfer and car rental operator, for its own services · Chalten Travel online ticket office ↩
- National Parks Administration, Los Glaciares National Park (argentina.gob.ar) · Horarios / Como llegar ↩
- National Parks Administration, Los Glaciares National Park · Recomendaciones para visitar el Parque Nacional Los Glaciares
- Secretaria de Turismo de El Chalten (municipal tourism office) · Mirador de Los Condores y Aguilas
- National Parks Administration, Los Glaciares National Park (North Zone trail leaflet, PDF) · Los Glaciares National Park North Zone trails leaflet (English PDF)
- Secretaria de Turismo de El Chalten (municipal tourism office) · Mirador de Los Condores y Aguilas
- National Parks Administration, Los Glaciares National Park (North Zone trail leaflet, PDF) · Los Glaciares National Park North Zone trails leaflet (English PDF)
- National Parks Administration, Los Glaciares National Park (North Zone trail leaflet, PDF) · Los Glaciares National Park North Zone trails leaflet (English PDF)
- National Parks Administration, Los Glaciares National Park (North Zone trail leaflet, PDF) · Los Glaciares National Park North Zone trails leaflet (English PDF)
- National Parks Administration, Los Glaciares National Park (North Zone trail leaflet, PDF) · Los Glaciares National Park North Zone trails leaflet (English PDF)
- National Parks Administration, Los Glaciares National Park (North Zone trail leaflet, PDF) · Los Glaciares National Park North Zone trails leaflet (English PDF)
- National Parks Administration, Los Glaciares National Park · Alojamiento
- National Parks Administration, Los Glaciares National Park (North Zone trail leaflet, PDF) · Los Glaciares National Park North Zone trails leaflet (English PDF)
- Secretaria de Turismo de El Chalten (municipal tourism office) · Laguna de Los Tres
- National Parks Administration, Los Glaciares National Park (North Zone trail leaflet, PDF) · Los Glaciares National Park North Zone trails leaflet (English PDF)
- Secretaria de Turismo de El Chalten (municipal tourism office) · Laguna Torre
- National Parks Administration, Los Glaciares National Park (North Zone trail leaflet, PDF) · Los Glaciares National Park North Zone trails leaflet (English PDF)
- Secretaria de Turismo de El Chalten (municipal tourism office) · Loma del Pliegue Tumbado | Laguna Toro
- National Parks Administration, Los Glaciares National Park (North Zone trail leaflet, PDF) · Los Glaciares National Park North Zone trails leaflet (English PDF)
- National Parks Administration, Los Glaciares National Park (argentina.gob.ar) · Actividades
- Secretaria de Turismo de El Chalten (municipal tourism office) · Laguna Torre
- National Parks Administration, Los Glaciares National Park · Actividades
- Secretaria de Turismo de El Chalten (municipal tourism office) · Lake Trips
- Municipalidad de El Chalten · El Chalten
- Municipalidad de El Chalten · El Chalten
- Secretaria de Turismo de El Chalten, the town tourism office (elchalten.tur.ar) · Vehiculo (getting there by car)
- National Parks Administration, Los Glaciares National Park · Horarios / Como llegar
- National Parks Administration, Los Glaciares National Park · Horarios / Como llegar
- Unidad de Pasos Fronterizos, Government of Chile · Complejo Rio Don Guillermo
- CONAF (Chile National Forest Corporation) · Parque Nacional Torres del Paine
- Unidad de Pasos Fronterizos, Government of Chile · Complejo Dorotea
- CONAF (Chile National Forest Corporation) · Parque Nacional Torres del Paine
- CONAF (Chile National Forest Corporation) · Parque Nacional Torres del Paine
- Secretaria de Turismo de El Chalten (municipal tourism office) · Scenic Route, Natural Protected & Recreation Area Lago del Desierto
- Secretaria de Turismo de El Chalten (municipal tourism office) · Scenic Route, Natural Protected & Recreation Area Lago del Desierto
- Secretaria de Turismo de El Chalten (municipal tourism office) · Scenic Route, Natural Protected & Recreation Area Lago del Desierto
- Secretaria de Turismo de El Chalten (municipal tourism office) · Lake Trips
- Secretaria de Turismo de El Chalten (municipal tourism office) · Lake Trips
- Secretaria de Turismo de El Chalten, the town tourism office (elchalten.tur.ar) · Recomendaciones (advice for visitors) ↩
- National Parks Administration, Los Glaciares National Park (argentina.gob.ar) · Panoramica ↩
- National Parks Administration, Los Glaciares National Park (argentina.gob.ar) · Tarifas ↩
- Secretaria de Turismo de El Chalten, the town tourism office (elchalten.tur.ar) · Recomendaciones (advice for visitors) ↩
- Secretaria de Estado de Turismo de Santa Cruz, provincial tourism (santacruzpatagonia.gob.ar) · El Chalten ↩
- Chalten Travel (chaltentravel.com), bus, transfer and car rental operator, for its own services · Chalten Travel online ticket office ↩
- National Parks Administration, Los Glaciares National Park (argentina.gob.ar) · Recomendaciones para visitar el Parque Nacional Los Glaciares ↩
- Ministry of Transport of Argentina (argentina.gob.ar) · Information on International Driver's Licenses ↩
- National Parks Administration, Los Glaciares National Park (argentina.gob.ar) · Los Glaciares National Park North Zone trail leaflet (PDF, English, 2024) ↩
- Secretaria de Turismo de El Chalten, the town tourism office (elchalten.tur.ar) · Recomendaciones (advice for visitors) ↩
- Secretaria de Turismo de El Chalten, the town tourism office (elchalten.tur.ar) · Recomendaciones (advice for visitors) ↩
- Secretaria de Turismo de El Chalten, the town tourism office (elchalten.tur.ar) · Recomendaciones (advice for visitors) ↩
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