They are two of the most visited destinations in Patagonia Argentina. We have prepared this article so that you have all the information about how to get from El Calafate to Ushuaia and back.
Both Patagonian destinations are a must-see if you are touring Patagonia. Although the ideal is to dedicate several days to each one and make two separate trips, many tourists choose to combine both Patagonian beauties in the same trip.
If you are planning a trip to Ushuaia and El Calafate, here you have all the information to see how to get from one place to another by different means of transport.
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What is the best time to travel to Ushuaia and El Calafate?
The best time to travel to El Calafate and Ushuaia is in the summer (November to March) when daytime temperatures are mild, reaching 15 degrees Celsius, and drop significantly at night. During this time of the year, the duration of sunlight is extended to midnight.
It is in the summer months, spring and part of autumn when you can hike over the Perito Moreno glacier, although the walkways and navigation on the lake can be done all year round. In Ushuaia, from october to march it is ideal for hiking in the Tierra del Fuego National Park.
Winter is very cold, with heavy snowfalls, especially in Ushuaia. But if you like skiing, this is the ideal season to do it at the Cerro Castor ski centre.
🔎 Take a look at the travel guide to El Calafate and the travel guide to Ushuaia.
How many days in El Calafate and Ushuaia
You should book at least 3 days in El Calafate and 3 days in Ushuaia to see the must-see sights in each. Visiting the walkways of the Perito Moreno glacier, hiking on top of it and the excursion to the Upsala and Spegazzini glaciers are must-dos in El Calafate.
In Ushuaia you can’t miss sailing the Beagle Channel, visiting the Tierra del Fuego National Park, the Train to the End of the World and the former prison.
But there are many other activities to do, such as visiting Patagonian ranches, trekking through the hills and mountains, and of course visiting El Chalten, although the latter is worth a trip in itself.
How to travel from El Calafate to Ushuaia or viceversa
How to get from El Calafate to Ushuaia by car
Going from El Calafate to Ushuaia by car is a total of 880 kilometres on fully paved roads. From El Calafate you have to take route 11, then route 40 to the south and take route 5 to Río Gallegos at the fork in the road. In total it takes about three hours to get to Río Gallegos.
From Río Gallegos, take route 3 south to the Chilean border, where the road changes to number 257. A few kilometres after crossing the border, you have to cross the Strait of Magellan by ferry (about 30 minutes in total).
Then you cross the border back into Argentina, pass through the town of Rio Grande and finally arrive in Ushuaia on Route 3. The drive from El Calafate to Ushuaia can take about 12 hours, including the border crossing and the ferry across the Strait of Magellan. Of course, the scenery around you will be beautiful.
🚗 Check here if you want to rent a car in El Calafate o Ushuaia.
How to get from El Calafate to Ushuaia by plane
There is a daily direct flight between the two cities by Aerolineas Argentinas, without the need to return to Buenos Aires. The flight time is only 1 hour and 20 minutes. The low cost airline FlyBondi also flies four times a week from El Calafate to Ushuaia.
✈️ Check here for cheap flights to El Calafate and cheap flights to Ushuaia.
If you want to fly from El Calafate to Buenos Aires or vice versa there are daily flights by Aerolineas Argentinas, and several weekly flights by JetSmart and FlyBondi airlines. If you want to fly between Ushuaia and Buenos Aires, there are daily flights by Aerolineas Argentinas, and also several weekly flights by JetSmart and FlyBondi airlines.
📷 You can book transfers from El Calafate airport to your hotel o city centre or from Ushuaia airport to your hotel or city centre.
How to get from El Cafalate to Ushuaia by bus
To go by bus you have to make a combination in Rio Gallegos, and you may even have to spend a night there, as there is no direct transfer between El Calafate and Ushuaia and the frequency is reduced.
The company Marga Taqsa makes the four-hour trip from El Calafate to Río Gallegos and the twelve-hour trip from Río Gallegos to Ushuaia, passing through Chile and including the ferry crossing the Strait of Magellan.