El Calafate is a city within the province of Santa Cruz in Patagonia, Argentina. It is located on the southern edge of Lake Argentino, in the southwest of the province of Santa Cruz, about 320 km northwest of Río Gallegos. There is El Calafate.
The name of the city derives from a small bush with yellow flowers and dark blue berries very common in Patagonia: el calafate (Berberis buxifolia); The word comes from the term “calafate”, which in Spanish means “calafate”.
El Calafate is an important tourist destination, since it is the nerve center for visiting the Glacier National Park, the Perito Moreno glacier and the Fitz Toy and Torre hills in El Chaltén .
Where to stay in Calafate
What to see in El Calafate
How to get to Calafate
Where to eat in El Calafate
Best tours and activities in El Calafate
What to do in El Calafate in 3 days
HOW TO GET TO EL CALAFATE
- By plane: El Calafate airport has regular non-stop flights to Buenos Aires and Ushuaia. During the tourist season (from September to March) there are also flights to Bariloche, Trelew, and Córdoba.
- By bus: from the El Calafate bus terminal there are regular services to Río Gallegos, Ushuaia, and Bariloche (the latter connecting El Calafate with El Chaltén, Los Antiguos, Perito Moreno, Esquel, and El Bolsón). There are also regular services to Puerto Natales.
1 – PERITO MORENO GLACIER
The undisputed King of Patagonia and a World Heritage Site. It is the pride of El Calafate, the province of Santa Cruz, and all of Argentina. It is about 75km west of El Calafate , within Los Glaciares National Park.
There are 3 ways to get to the glacier from El Calafate :
- in your own vehicle,
- in any of the buses that leave from the bus terminal in the morning and in the afternoon,
- hiring an excursion in any of the town’s tourism agencies (in this link you can see information about excursions to the glacier ).
If your intention is to get to know the glacier and visit the area of footbridges and viewpoints (which takes about 3 hours) but you do not have your own vehicle, my recommendation is to go to Los Glaciares National Park by bus . You can find out prices and schedules at the offices of the different passenger transport companies in the center and at the bus terminal. They all handle the same rates: about USD 21 per person (round trip).
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El Calafate is a small city in southern Argentina that is part of the famous Patagonia region. El Calafate is a very popular tourist spot because it is close to many places of interest in Patagonia. Hikers who end up in El Chaltén (an even smaller hiking town) often stop in El Calafate.
The town of El Calafate is very clean and charming. It can be explored on foot. You can find good restaurants, grocery stores and shops. You can easily find an ATM in El Calafate. This is not the same in El Chaltén, where you will find far fewer businesses.
The best time to visit El Calafate is summer, between December and February. Although any time between October and April is preferable. If you avoid the busiest months, you will see fewer crowds. No matter when you go, the weather will be unpredictable.
The altitude at which it is located is only 600 feet above sea level, so you won’t have to worry about altitude sickness.
How much time does it take? You should plan for at least 3 full days or more. Spend more time if you don’t plan to stay in El Chaltén.
Many of El Calafate’s main tourist attractions are within a 1-3 hour drive from the town, so many excursions last all day. If you want to have several different experiences in El Calafate, plan to budget for one day per activity (for the most part, but we will discuss which activities are faster).
Where is El Calafate
El Calafate has an airport. The flight to El Calafate is the easiest way to get there. One of the most popular routes from Buenos Aires to El Calafate.
You can also get to El Calafate by bus. This option is much cheaper, but it will take you much, much longer.
Things to Do
These are the best things to do. In no particular order, we have included all the exciting adventures that you should know before planning your trip.
1. Wildlife safari
Patagonian fauna is a unique beauty that you have to see for yourself! There are more than 100 native birds that inhabit this region. Among them are giants such as the Andean condor and the black-breasted buzzard.
The Andean condor is the largest bird in America. It has a 10-foot wingspan and incredibly sharp vision. In addition, it is not uncommon to see them in the skies of El Calafate.
Another of the most popular animals that you can see in the surroundings of El Calafate is the guanaco. Guanacos are herbivores that travel in herds. They are similar to flames. The natural predators of this region are cougars. They are the natural predator of the guanaco, and they are much more difficult to see!
BONUS NOTE: If you haven’t seen Seven Worlds One Plant, stop what you’re doing right now and watch Episode 3! There is a phenomenal part that captures a mother puma in Patagonia as she hunts tirelessly to support her young.
Anyone interested in learning more about the wildlife of Patagonia should go on a safari.
During this excursion, you will explore some rugged Patagonian landscapes in a 4 × 4. You will stop at panoramic viewpoints. You will learn about the history and ecology of the region along the way. This is one of the best tours for nature lovers and photographers.
2. Visit to Upsala Glacier
The Upsala glacier is the least known glacier in El Calafate, second only to the Perito Moreno glacier. The Upsala glacier is part of the Glacier National Park, declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.
Although Upsala and Perito Moreno are the most popular, there are more than 40 glaciers in the Parque Nacional de los Glaciares. These make up the Southern Patagonian Ice Field.
