Here is a complete guide to travel to El Calafate. On the shores of Lake Argentino, this small town serves as a base for discovering beautiful landscapes and making excursions around the area.
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Orientation, travel to El Calafate
El Calafate is one of the major tourist destinations in Patagonia, mainly because it’s very close to the famous Perito Moreno glacier.
The city of El Calafate is located in the southwest of the province of Santa Cruz, on the shores of Lake Argentino and with the background of the Andes Mountains. It stands out, above all, for its glaciers, mountain hiking and the beauty of the lakes that surround it.
Getting there and away El Calafate
– Getting to El Calafate by plane
Firstly, if you are a foreigner arriving through Buenos Aires, there are direct flights to El Calafate from the Argentine capital with Aerolíneas Argentinas, FlyBondi and Jetsmart. Also, there are direct flights from Ushuaia and Bariloche, perfect to combine and see two of the main tourist destinations in Patagonia Argentina. During high season, there are flights from Trelew, a city near Puerto Madryn.
From December 2024, there are also direct flights from Santiago de Chile to El Calafate with Sky Airlines.
The airport is about 16 km from the city. The journey between El Calafate airport and the city center by road can be made by rental car, taxi, remis, or express minivan, the latter being the cheapest option to get to the center of El Calafate.
✈️ Check here for cheap flights to El Calafate.
🚘 Check here for transfers from the airport to your hotel in downtown El Calafate.
– Getting to El Calafate by bus
Another option is to travel to El Calafate by bus, you have services from the Patagonia Andes area such as El Chaltén and San Carlos de Bariloche. There are also direct buses from Rio Gallegos, the capital of Santa Cruz province, and from Puerto Natales in Chile, to combine with a visit to Torres del Paine. From Buenos Aires, it will certainly be worth flying, as the bus trip takes a day and a half. El Calafate Bus Terminal is located in the city center, and you may even walk to the hotel.
– Rent a car to travel in Patagonia
El Calafate is located on Provincial Route 11, about 30 kilometers from the mythical Route 40.
If you are traveling from Río Gallegos, you can get there by Route 5, which is paved.
But if you are coming from the north of the country (Bariloche, San Martín de los Andes or Esquel), you can get there along Route 40. Distances are big and the road is rarely traveled. However, most of the road is paved (only a little part is gravel road) and improvement works are being carried out.
To rent a car in El Calafate, it can be done at the airport or directly in the city center.
🚗 Check here if you want to rent a car in El Calafate.
Best time to travel to El Calafate
Calafate has a dry weather, with cold temperatures and some snowfalls during the winter.
Summer (November to March) is the best time to visit El Calafate, with daytime temperatures around 15-20 degrees, ideal for visiting the Perito Moreno glacier, walking along the Argentino lake shore and hiking in the mountains. At night the temperature drops drastically and certainly you will need a good coat. During this time of the year, daylight lasts for a long time, at 11pm there is still clarity in the sky.
Winter is the low season with very cold and short days. It doesn’t usually snow much in the city because it has a dry climate and temperatures drop below 0 degrees.
Getting around El Calafate
The city itself is small, you can easily walk and walk along the shore of the lake, as the distances are short. If you want to visit Los Glaciares National Park you have to do it by rental car or taxi, as there is no public transport available to get from the city to the Perito Moreno Glacier.
How many days are necessary to visit El Calafate
Many tourists come to El Calafate only to visit the imposing Perito Moreno glacier. The reality is that there are many activities and a large number of glaciers to see. At least 2 days in El Calafate is the minimum time to visit the Perito Moreno and do the navigation of the rest of the glaciers.
If you want to combine with El Chalten or Torres del Paine in Chile, you will need at least 4 days in El Calafate.
Is it possible to go to El Calafate with children?
The reality is that they will surely enjoy nature from the age of six or seven. Seeing icebergs floating on the lake and the ice wall of the Perito Moreno glacier is something they will never forget.
What to pack to El Calafate
Being on the Andes Mountains and in the south of the country, the weather in El Calafate is cold at any time of the year, so we recommend taking warm clothes, mackintoshes, and even gloves and a scarf.
Also, due to the sun’s reflection on the ice, sunglasses and sunscreen are a must. If you are going trekking in El Chaltén, don’t forget your hiking shoes.
In the summer you can have days above 20 degrees Celsius, so you can even stay out until the sun goes down in T-shirt.
Accommodation in El Calafate
We have write an article with recommendations for accommodation in El Calafate, with options for all budgets.
🏨 Check here where to stay in El Calafate.
Must see sights and attractions in El Calafate
If you want to know the must-do activities in El Calafate, check out our article on the top 5 places to do in El Calafate.
In addition, there are other possible activities to do in the surrounding area such as sport fishing, mountain biking and horseback riding.
📷 Take a look at these tours in El Calafate with a local agency. Book your place!
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