Estancia La Quinta

The old rooms were clean and the historic building has plenty of character. It’s a great, very quiet location away from town, quiet almost like a rest home. The beds and bedding were comfortable, but it felt expensive for what you get, especially with a cold shower and lukewarm coffee. They still have proper single rooms, which feel like staying in a kids’ room.

La Quinta is a ranch outside town, reached by a dirt road, and it was here long before the backpackers arrived. The owner is an affable, funny innkeeper who’s happy to share advice and local history. The WiFi is weak, as it is throughout town, and only works in the lobby. That turned out to be a good place to chat with other guests. Outside there were cattle, horses, a kitten, condors, and the Milky Way. There are quirks, like not washing clothes in the rooms, but this was one of my best experiences in decades of travel. I love El Chalten, though it’s a busy, noisy, dusty backpackers’ town, and I hadn’t realized how lucky I was to book this place sight unseen.

The upstairs reading room is beautiful, and we loved the restaurant too. It’s quiet, with only a few tables, and feels like a real frontier town. Prices were very reasonable for the area.

The restaurant food was very good, and it was interesting to talk with the owners about the area’s history. Their family has been here for more than 100 years. The hotel itself is fantastic, clean, comfortable, and cozy. I can’t recommend it enough.