A few bus rides later we were back in El Calafate, Argentina. From there it was a short (2.5hr) bus ride to El Chalten, dubbed 'the trekking centre of Argentina.'
As the bus approached the town the impressive Mt Fitz Roy and striking Cerro Torre became more and more awe inspiring.
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| From the moving bus. Yet again we wished we could stop! |
El Chalten is tiny, with about 1,000 permanent residents. It's nestled in a valley, right under the mountains. This does make it perfect for trekking as many trails start right from town. Which of course means it's a gringo mecca, with hundreds of backpacks and walking poles everywhere, and high prices for food and accommodation.
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| Cerro Fitz Roy towering abouve the town |
For New Year's Eve we cooked a nice dinner with a bottle of Argentinian vino tinto - the budget didn't want to stretch to the expensive set menus! Then we hiked up the viewpoint behind the ranger station, with all our warmest gear. Sunset was after 9:30 and it didn't get properly dark until well after 11pm! The weather was perfect; clear and still, the mountains sharply etched against the sky.
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| Viewpoint offered great views of the peaks in the setting sun |
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| The small town of El Chalten on New Years Eve |
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| Granite spires illuminated by both light from El Chalten and the rising moon |
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