Is El Chalten expensive to visit?
El Chalten is a fairly affordable travel destination with an average daily cost of $92. Compared to the rest of South America, it is a moderately priced place to visit. It's ranked in the top 50% of cities in South America for its travel costs, comparable to places like Torres del Paine National Park and Temuco.

El Chalten, Argentina
How expensive is El Chalten?
On average, visitors spend about $92 per day when visiting El Chalten (U.S. Dollars). Two travelers together would spend an average of $184 per day. Prices vary dramatically by travel style and length of trip, but if you stay at moderately priced hotels, eat at affordable restaurants, and use public transportation when possible, you can expect to stay close to this budget. See more travel costs for El Chalten here.
How expensive is a weekend trip (three days) to El Chalten?
A weekend trip to El Chalten costs about $277 per person on average, based on the previous expenses of other travelers. This includes accommodation, sightseeting activities, transportation, food, and nightlife. For two people, a weekend trip costs $553.
How expensive is a one week (7-day) trip to El Chalten?
Based on the travel expenses of others, a one week trip to El Chalten costs around $645 on average, per person. This includes food, sightseeing, local transportation, accommodation, and nightlife. For two people, a one week trip costs $1,291.
Is it expensive to backpack in El Chalten?
With more than 10 hostels around town, El Chalten is a very popular backpacker destination. Hostels usually cost around $14 per night. There's a wide range in prices though, with the cheapest beds costing about $0 and the most expensive rooms costing about $31. (See hostel prices in El Chalten here.)
Here are a few sample prices from popular hostels in El Chalten.
- $0 for a dorm bed at Aylen-Aike Hostel
- $16 for a dorm bed at Rancho Grande Hostel
- $0 for a dorm bed at Hostel Los Viajeros
Are hotels expensive in El Chalten?
Hotel prices in El Chalten are somewhat more expensive compared to hotels in other cities. You can expect to spend about $106 per night for a room on average. There are around 1 five star hotels in the city and they average $270 per night. Three star hotels average $139 a night and two star hotels average $82 per night.
Hotels by star rating in El Chalten
Rating | Number of Hotels | Average Hotel Price |
---|---|---|
5 stars | 1 | $270 |
3 stars | 27 | $139 |
2 stars | 13 | $82 |
1 star | 9 | $69 |
No rating | 3 | $110 |
How expensive are sightseeing activities in El Chalten?
Activities and things to do in El Chalten can vary in price depending on the type of activity, length, and location. Below are a number of popular activities to give you an idea of what to expect when visiting. Generally, previous travelers have spent $39 per day on sightseeing activities and things to do when visiting, which is more than the country's average of $38.
- Rafting experience on the Rio de las Vueltas in Patagonia: $120
- Rio de las Vueltas Rafting Experience - El Chalten: $120
- 3 Hours Grilled Lamb Experience in Estancia Bonanza: $90
- Chalten Kayak Experience: $168
- Full Day Tour El Chaltén: Hike to Loma del Pliegue Tumbado: $180
Is food expensive in El Chalten?
Food in El Chalten can vary in price depending on the restaurant and food options available. Generally, other travelers have spent $9 on food per person per day, which is more than the country's average of $8. To save money, eat at less expensive restaurants, try street food, or cook your own meals when possible.
Is transportation expensive in El Chalten?
Local transportation in El Chalten can vary in price depending on the type of transit used. Generally, other travelers have spent $3 on local transportation per person per day, which is less than the country's average of $4. To save money, take public transit whenever possible, as it will almost always be cheaper than a taxi or private driver.
More for El Chalten
If you're planning a trip to El Chalten, Argentina, check out these other informative travel guides.
We've been gathering travel costs from tens of thousands of actual travelers since 2010, and we use the data to calculate average daily travel costs for destinations around the world. We also systematically analyze the prices of hotels, hostels, and tours from travel providers such as Kayak, HostelWorld, TourRadar, Viator, and others. This combination of expenses from actual travelers, combined with pricing data from major travel companies, gives us a uniqe insight into the overall cost of travel for thousands of cities in countries around the world. You can see more here: How it Works.