EL Chalten is a great place to visit in Patagonia Andes. You definitely want to have a little stop over. If you can, sleep a minimum of 2 nights in El Chalten but one can be enough if you are pressed by time.
We took the late bus from El Calafate (8:30, 12:30 and 18:30) and arrive at El Chalten at around 10PM. The road was paved on 70% of the way with just a little part missing in the middle (go figure!!!). We booked our bus and hotels in El Calafate on the same day but be careful in hi season as there might not be space left. The regular bus to go there is 130 pesos while the tour we booked was 150 pesos including the hostel in dorms… It was quite cheap but the hotel was great. It was no more than one years old.
On arrival the restaurants where still open and so were the bars. On the next morning, we bought food for lunch in some of the stores (they open at 8AM) and went for the 4 hour hike to Fitz Roy. The hike starts rough for the first hour, then flattens for another 2 and then the last part is fairly steep. At the top, you have a great view on thee Lago de los Tres and the Fitz Roy. The little lunch on the lake side can be very rewarding. The hike down takes another 4 hours but you can make it in time for the last bus to El Calafate (8:30, 12:30 and 18:30).
I hope this information will help you.
