You're Going to Love El Calafate
Set on Lago Argentino, El Calafate in Patagonia attracts hikers and climbers drawn to the breathtaking Perito Moreno Glacier in Los Glaciares National Park.
This once modest town has grown due to the influx of tourists, and now offers lodging, restaurants, shops, and recreational services, including horseback riding and quad bike rentals.
Top 5 Reasons to Visit El Calafate
1. Witness the Glaciers
El Calafate serves as a starting point for tourists visiting Los Glaciares National Park to witness the stunning 97-square-mile Perito Moreno Glacier and the Cerro Chaltén and Cerro Torre mountains.
2. Saddle Up!
La Estela Ranch, overlooking the glacier, provides horseback rides that circle the shore of Lake Viedma.
3. The Food
El Calafate is home to La Tablita, a steak restaurant specialized in Patagonian lamb and bife de chorizo, as well as an exquisite dessert menu.
4. Explore the Caves
The Walichu Caves, dating back 4,000 years, still preserve paintings attributed to the pre-Tehuelche people of the Upper Paleolithic period.
5. The Crafts
El Calafate shops sell hand-spun parkas and ponchos made with pure sheep wool, as well as crafts featuring unique Mapuche and Tehuelche designs.
When to Visit El Calafate
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January and February, during Patagonia's summer, are popular months to visit, but are also more expensive. November to mid-December and March to April are less crowded and more comfortable.
How to Get to El Calafate
Plane
There are daily flights to El Calafate International Airport (FTE) from Buenos Aires, Ushuaia, Bariloche, and Trelew. From the airport, a short taxi ride to downtown El Calafate averages AR$155, and the Aerobus shuttle is AR$62.
Car
By car, El Calafate is 1864 miles from Buenos Aires and 195 miles from Rio Gallegos along National Road 3.
Bus
From Buenos Aires, you can take a bus to Rio Gallegos and then to El Calafate. The trip to Rio Gallegos is approximately 36 hours and then four hours to El Calafate. From Puerto Natales in southern Chile, the trip to El Calafate is five hours.
Airports near El Calafate
Airlines serving El Calafate
Where to stay in popular areas of El Calafate
Most booked hotels in El Calafate
How to Get Around El Calafate
Public Transportation
El Calafate can be explored on foot. Some hotels on the hill offer free shuttle service.
Taxi
Though taxis are available, most sites are accessible on foot.
Car
Rental cars in El Calafate start at AR$744 a day.
Where to Eat in El Calafate
La Zaina Restaurant & Wine Bar specializes in regional Patagonian cuisine and showcases an extensive selection of Argentinian wine. Entrees average AR$341. Cerveceria Artesanal Chopen serves tapas and picadas. Dishes average AR$93.