Torres del Paine & El Chaltén
This is leg 2 of 2, the final leg.
Travel leg · Patagonia Peaks
Torres del Paine to El Chaltén
Torres del Paine and El Chaltén sit about 183 km (114 mi) apart in a straight line, with El Chaltén to the north. It is leg 2 of 2 on our Patagonia Peaks itinerary, a 10-day trip. It crosses from Chile into Argentina. Here is how long it takes by bus, what to see on the way and where it fits in a real itinerary.
- Straight-line distance
- 183 km · 114 mi
- Est. road distance
- 219–256 km
- Est. drive time
- 2 h 15 min – 4 h
- Direction
- Heading north
- Curated routes
- 1 itinerary
Road distance is estimated as 1.2–1.4× the straight line; drive time assumes average speeds of 65–95 km/h with no stops or traffic. These are rough estimates — check a maps app for the actual route.
Ways to get there
We don't have live routing data, so the figures below are labelled estimates built from the straight-line distance. Use them to plan the day, then confirm in a maps app.
By bus or car
Our Patagonia Peaks guide points to buses for getting around, and a car works too: an estimated 219–256 km of road and 2 h 15 min – 4 h of driving.
Travelers usually combine buses and shuttles, and many use the long road crossing between Chile and Argentina. Within the parks, trails are on foot with some boat or shuttle links. Plan the border leg with extra time and check schedules in advance.
Open Torres del Paine → El Chaltén directions in Google Maps ↗
Worth stopping for
Picks from our curated guides at both ends.
When you arrive in El Chaltén
Stay three days so weather windows give you both Fitz Roy and Cerro Torre; trails start at the edge of town.
Mirador de los Cóndores y las Águilas
Short climb above town with views of Fitz Roy and Lago Viedma.
Viedma Glacier ice trek
Boat across Lago Viedma and crampon walk on the glacier.
La Cervecería
Small brewpub serving house beers and hearty locro after a hike.
La Tapera
Cozy restaurant for lamb, trout and steak.
Laguna de los Tres
Classic day hike to the glacial lake at the foot of Monte Fitz Roy.
Laguna Torre
Moderate hike to a glacier lake beneath the Cerro Torre spire.
Before you leave Torres del Paine
Plan at least two full days for the Base Torres hike and the lake-and-glacier side of the park; four or more to walk the W.
On this curated route
Where Torres del Paine → El Chaltén sits in the full itinerary. Highlighted stops are this leg.
Going the other way? El Chaltén to Torres del Paine is the same 183 km in a straight line, heading south. Reverse directions in Google Maps ↗
Weather at each end
The biggest gap comes in April, when El Chaltén averages highs 8°C warmer than Torres del Paine.
| Measure | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Torres del Paine high | 3° | 3° | 2° | 0° | -3° | -5° | -5° | -4° | -2° | -1° | 1° | 2° |
| El Chaltén high | 11° | 11° | 10° | 8° | 5° | 2° | 2° | 3° | 5° | 7° | 8° | 10° |
| Torres del Paine rain | 175 | 144 | 165 | 163 | 140 | 157 | 129 | 133 | 119 | 131 | 150 | 159 |
| El Chaltén rain | 156 | 125 | 154 | 160 | 154 | 156 | 130 | 134 | 116 | 130 | 143 | 153 |
Temperatures in °C, rain in mm per month. Long-term monthly averages from NASA POWER satellite climatology — a guide to typical conditions, not a forecast. Month headings link to El Chaltén month guides.
Torres del Paine to El Chaltén: questions travelers ask
How far is Torres del Paine from El Chaltén?
Torres del Paine is about 183 km (114 mi) from El Chaltén in a straight line, with El Chaltén to the north. By road, we estimate 219–256 km (136–159 mi), or 1.2–1.4 times the straight line. Check a maps app for the exact route.
How long does it take to drive from Torres del Paine to El Chaltén?
An estimated 2 h 15 min – 4 h, assuming 219–256 km of road at average speeds of 65–95 km/h with no stops or traffic. It is not a routed time, so check a maps app on the day.
Which itineraries include the trip from Torres del Paine to El Chaltén?
Our Patagonia Peaks itinerary includes this leg. Patagonia Peaks runs about 10 days across 3 stops, best in Nov – Mar.
Getting to Torres del Paine
Guides for both ends
- Torres del Paine travel guide
- Torres del Paine weather best time to visit
- El Chaltén travel guide
- El Chaltén weather best time to visit
El Chaltén by month
Plan Torres del Paine → El Chaltén with your crew
Add this leg to a shared itinerary, poll the group on where to stop, split fuel and tickets, and keep everyone's packing list in one place in TripsCircle.