The Best Boutique Hotels in El Chaltén, Argentina

Set just off San Martin Avenue, the main strip, this larger-than-average hotel is in a prime location. Rooms have a light, airy feel and comfortable king-size beds. Stone, wrought iron and warm wood feature in the design of the public spaces. After a hard day of hiking, pull off your boots and warm your toes by the big stone fireplace in the sitting room, or nip to the spa for a swim and a soak in the jacuzzi. Breakfast on a buffet of buttery pastries, bread and preserves.

Contemporary cube-like spaces with rustic rock exterior detail nod to the region. Inside, you’ll find a restaurant and a bar, plus a warming open fireplace. Wooden cabins in the garden feature fully equipped kitchens, bathtubs and a splendid view of the valley and hills of the Los Glaciares National Park. The continental breakfast includes juice, yogurt, cereal, bread, butter, jam and cheese. After a day of hiking, try the indoor barbecue area.

Patagonicus is set above a pizzeria on the edge of town, so there are no prizes for guessing what dinner will be. Breakfast on continental-style dishes and sip your coffee in a deckchair on the terrace while admiring the jutting peaks before you. Ecotourism is a priority, with recycling and provenance key here. The three rooms, decked out in brick and wood, are named after the members of the Trentine expedition to Cerro Torre in 1959: Maestri, Egger and Fava – and you can see the names brought to life in the atmospheric black-and-white photos that line the walls.

Set in a charming house overlooking Mount Fitz Roy, Hostería Kau Si Aike offers rooms and self-catering bungalows just 1,969ft (600m) from Los Glaciares National Park – the reason most travelers come to El Chaltén. Smartly tiled floors and olive-colored walls create a calm atmosphere, the self-catering bungalows feature microwaves and refrigerators and there are desks for penning those postcards home. Start the day with a complimentary breakfast, and quell hunger pangs between meals at the snack bar.

What could feel closer to nature than staying in a geodesic eco dome with circular ceiling windows revealing the starry night sky? Layers of timber flooring, rugs and a warming wood stove keep things cozy at this sustainable complex offering fantastic views across to the iconic Paine Massif. Socialise in the community domes, with terraces with views, a chill-out area and a welcoming bar for high-altitude cocktails. The three-course dinner menu includes beautifully presented stews, soups and salads, and changes daily.