El Calafate
The gateway town to Los Glaciares National Park, where the roar of Perito Moreno Glacier calving into the lake is right in front of you.
El Calafate lies in southwestern Santa Cruz Province, Argentina, on the south shore of Lago Argentino. It is the gateway town to the southern part of Los Glaciares National Park (a World Heritage Site). The town is named after a local purple-black berry, and legend has it that anyone who has eaten the calafate berry will surely return to Patagonia. With a population of about 30,000, its main street is lined with outdoor gear shops, chocolate shops, lamb asado restaurants and travel agencies.
Highlights: ① Perito Moreno Glacier, about 78 km west of town: watch the ice wall calve from the walkways, or join a glacier trek; ② Lago Argentino glacier cruises from Puerto Bandera, to see the Upsala and Spegazzini glaciers and floating blue icebergs, with a landing at Estancia Cristina; ③ In town, the Glaciarium glacier museum, the Laguna Nimez bird sanctuary and the Walichu cave paintings; ④ Estancia experiences nearby, such as Cerro Frías and Nibepo Aike, with horseback riding, sheep-shearing demonstrations and whole-lamb asado; ⑤ Hiking at Lago Roca and the La Leona Petrified Forest.
Climate and seasons: October–April is peak season, with long days and a full range of cruises and treks. January–February is warmest but also windiest. May–September is cold winter: Perito Moreno can still be visited, but cruises and glacier treks are fewer and prices are lower.
Getting there: El Calafate Airport is about 20 minutes from town, with flights to Buenos Aires, Ushuaia and Bariloche. El Chaltén (Fitz Roy) is about 3 hours north, and Puerto Natales, Chile (Torres del Paine National Park) is about 5–6 hours southwest across the border; each is a separate trip.
Recommended stay: 2–4 days. Note: Argentina's inflation is high, so admission and tour prices change frequently. National park tickets are often cash-only or local cards only, so confirm before you go. Patagonia is windy, and windproof, warm clothing and sunglasses are needed in every season.
Top sights
- Perito Moreno Glacier – One of the few glaciers in the world that is still advancing. A wall of ice about 5 km wide and 70 m high rises right across from the walkw…
- Upsala Glacier Cruise – One of the largest glaciers in South America. Boats sail into the north arm of Lake Argentino, weaving among huge blue icebergs while you g…
- El Calafate – A glacier-gateway town on the southern shore of Lago Argentino, where boat trips to Perito Moreno Glacier and Upsala Glacier depart and fla…
- Spegazzini Glacier – The tallest ice-wall glacier in the glacier national park, with its front rising 80–135 m above the lake. Boats stop before the ice wall fo…
- Glaciarium – A museum devoted to glaciers, using multimedia to explain how the Patagonian Ice Field formed. It also has an underground ice bar at -10°C.
- Laguna Nimez Ecological Reserve – A wetland reserve on the edge of town where a lakeside trail brings you close to more than a hundred bird species, including Chilean flamin…
- Estancia Cristina – A century-old ranch reachable only by boat, in a remote valley on the northern arm of Lago Argentino. Off-road vehicles take visitors up to…
- Lake Argentino – Argentina's largest freshwater lake. Glacier-fed rock flour gives its water a milky turquoise hue, and the Moreno and other glaciers all fl…
- Punta Walichu Caves – Rock caves on the shore of Lago Argentino, holding ancient rock art left by Indigenous peoples, with a small museum on the early human hist…
- Lago Roca & Cerro Cristal – A quiet lake area in the southern part of the glacier national park, with campsites and trails. Climbing Cerro Cristal offers views of both…
- Cerro Frías – A ranch about 25 km from town where you can ride off-road vehicles or horses up a roughly 1,000-metre peak, overlooking Lago Argentino and…
- Estancia Nibepo Aike – A century-old ranch inside the national park on the shore of Lago Roca, offering horse riding, sheep shearing and sheepdog demonstrations…
- La Leona Petrified Forest – Colourful hills, petrified tree trunks and dinosaur fossil remains in the wilderness. Dating back tens of millions of years, it is a rare '…
Where to eat
- La Tablita – An old-school parrilla in business since 1968; its charcoal-grilled Patagonian lamb sets the standard for the whole tow…
- Mi Rancho – A small restaurant in a house dating from 1944, known for excellent guanaco and roast lamb; seating is limited, so book…
- Pura Vida – A cozy bar-restaurant on the western stretch of the main street, known for slow-cooked Patagonian home cooking, soups a…
Itineraries
- Classic Argentina: Waterfalls, Glaciers & the End of the World – Connect Buenos Aires, Iguazu, the glaciers, Fitz Roy, and Ushuaia using domestic flights.
- Southern Patagonia Glaciers & Torres del Paine – Cross Argentina and Chile to experience Perito Moreno Glacier, Fitz Roy trekking, and the Torres del Paine towers.
- Tierra del Fuego, Glaciers & Torres del Paine Cross-Border Route – From Ushuaia through El Calafate to Torres del Paine, linking the three most classic sections of Southern Patagonia.
- Ruta 40: Bariloche to El Calafate – Drive south along Route 40 for about 1,600 km, crossing from the Lake District through the steppe to the Cave of the Ha…