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.
El nombre de la ciudad deriva de un pequeño arbusto de flores amarillas y bayas de color azul oscuro muy común en la Patagonia: el calafate (Berberis buxifolia); la palabra proviene del término “calafate”, que en español significa “calafate.
El Calafate es un importante destino turístico, ya que es el centro neurálgico para visitar el Parque Nacional de los Glaciares, el glaciar Perito Moreno y los cerros Fitz Toy y Torre en El Chaltén
HOW TO GET TO EL CALAFATE
- En avión: el aeropuerto de El Calafate cuenta con vuelos regulares y sin escalas a Buenos Aires y Ushuaia. Durante la temporada turística (de septiembre a marzo) también hay vuelos a Bariloche, Trelew, y Córdoba.
- En bus: desde la terminal de ómnibus de El Calafate hay servicios regulares a Río Gallegos, Ushuaia, y Bariloche (este último conectando El Calafate con El Chaltén, Los Antiguos, Perito Moreno, Esquel, y El Bolsón). También hay servicios regulares a Puerto Natales.
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
Estas son las mejores cosas que hacer. Sin ningún orden en particular, hemos incluido todas las emocionantes aventuras que deberías conocer antes de planear tu viaje.
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 :
- en vehículo propio,
- en cualquiera de los micros que salen desde la terminal de buses por la mañana y por la tarde,
- contratando una excursión en cualquiera de las agencias de turismo del pueblo (en este enlace pueden ver info sobre excursiones al glaciar).
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).
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).
2. Safari de vida salvaje
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
El glaciar Upsala es el glaciar menos conocido de El Calafate, sólo superado por el glaciar Perito Moreno. El glaciar Upsala forma parte del Parque Nacional de los Glaciares, declarado Patrimonio de la Humanidad por la 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.
Donde dormir en El Calafate
El Calafate es conocido por tener una muy buena infraestructura hotelera, si bien el pueblo a crecido muy rápido y desordenado, al día de hoy cuenta con hoteles de lujo y alojamientos más económicos económicos. También cuenta con una gastronomía variada con distintos restaurantes donde comer en El Calafate.
