El Calafate

The view of town

Overview

El Calafate is not a great destination in and of itself, but it’s a great jumping off point for trips to see Perito Moreno Glacier and the rest of Parque Nacional Los Glaciares.  The town itself is quite underwhelming, and its existence is because of its proximity to the park.

Getting there/Arriving

Airplane- The airport is about 14 miles (22 kilometers) from town, and there is both bus (~$7US) and taxi (~$10US) service into the center.  Daily flights go to and from Buenos Aires,  Bariloche, Ushuaia, and Trelew (more available in summer months).  We flew one-way from BsAs and paid $165US/person.

Bus- The bus station is located right smack in the center of town.  Buses go to and from El Calafate from all over Argentina and Chile.

Getting Around

Walking- El Calafate is a small town, and your own two feet are about all you need to get around town.  The bus station is centrally located and easy to find, and most hostels/hotels are within easy walking distance.  If flying, you will have to take a cab or bus into town.

Where to Stay

As already stated, the town itself is pretty small, but if you come in summer months (December-February), you may want to have your accommodation taken care of already, as things book up fast.  The hostels and hotels are kind of all over the city and not necessarily located all in one place.  There are a few several blocks up from the bus station that aren’t really near the main drag, but there’s a grocery store nearby, and the main drag is within easy walking distance.

View from I Keu Ken Hostel

Where we Stayed- I Keu Ken Hostel wasn’t the nicest or cheapest place we have stayed during our travels, but the owners and workers offered some of the best and friendliest customer service we have ever encountered.  Everyone who worked there went out of their way to help with anything we needed, they offer all types of service to the surrounding areas without being pushy at all, and the place itself is quite nice and offers plenty of amenities.  Free wifi, computer stations, a book exchange, a television, a kitchen, and a really nice common area with wonderful views all make this a top notch place to stay. We stayed in a 4-person dorm room (with communal bathroom) for $14US/person, including breakfast.

Food and Drink

El Calafate is a pretty touristy town, and since we started our Patagonian adventures here, with the high prices, we were looking to save a few bucks.  We were only in town for a few nights, so we cooked all our meals ourselves.  The hostel had a pretty nice kitchen, and a grocery store was practically next door, so we took advantage.  We also made some sandwiches for a small lunch to bring with us to Perito Moreno to save some money on food while there.

While we didn’t eat at a restaurant while in town, there are plenty of restaurants down on the main drag.  If you’ve been traveling around other parts of Argentina, you may be in for some sticker shock, but it’s still quite a bit cheaper than restaurants in the US and Europe.

Things to Do

A major highlight of a trip to Patagonia-Perito Moreno Glacier

The town of El Calafate is there solely as a jumping off point for Perito Moreno Glacier and the rest of the Parque Nacional Los Glaciares.  There honestly isn’t a whole lot to do while there other than explore the surrounding areas.

• Perito Moreno Glacier- One of the largest glaciers in the world, and one of a select few that are still growing, Perito Moreno is all it’s cracked up to be and more.   Be sure to check out the tips and recap post and the photo post to find out more about this amazing world wonder..
• Estancias- There are a good amount of estancias (farm or ranch) that offer a day on a working farm, horseback riding, and accommodations.