Camping Lago del Desierto

This established campground sits on the shores of Lago del Desierto, 37 kilometers north of El Calafate on a gravel road that dead-ends at the Chilean border. Basic facilities include pit toilets, fire rings, and picnic tables scattered among lenga beech trees with direct lake access. The setting is spectacular — glacier-fed turquoise waters backed by jagged peaks and hanging glaciers. Capacity runs about 20 sites with no reservations, so arrive early in peak season.

The access road is well-maintained gravel suitable for any vehicle, though it gets washboarded. This is the closest camping to Cerro Chaltén (Fitz Roy) on the Argentine side, making it popular with hikers heading to the border crossing. No drinking water — bring your own or treat lake water.

Lakeside base camp for glacier country exploration.