El Chaltén is about 220 km north of El Calafate along Ruta 40, a journey of approximately 3 hours by bus or car. Regular bus services run between the two towns in the hiking season. The road passes across open steppe with dramatic mountain views and occasional guanaco herds.
The nearest airport is in El Calafate (FTE), which has daily flights to Buenos Aires and connections to other Argentine cities. There is no airport in El Chaltén. Flying into Calafate and continuing by bus is the standard approach; book accommodation in both towns before the season peaks.
Some travellers arrive via Ruta 40 from the north, coming through the lake district near Bariloche. This involves multi-day bus journeys through some of Patagonia's most remote country — a worthwhile adventure if you have the time, but not practical for a short trip.