El Calafate is a city located in the province of Santa Cruz, in Argentine Patagonia. It is mainly known for being the gateway to Los Glaciares National Park and its famous Perito Moreno glacier.
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The city
With a population of around 22,000, the city is small and cozy. It has a good tourist infrastructure, with a wide variety of accommodation, restaurants and shops.
Regarding the climate, El Calafate has a cold and dry climate, with temperatures that can range between -2°C and 18°C, depending on the time of year. It is advisable to bring warm clothing, even in the summer months, as the nights can be quite cold.
Hotel Offer
Luxury Hotels: There are several five-star hotel options in El Calafate, such as the Hotel Los Cauquenes, the Hotel Xelena, and the Hotel Mirador del Lago, among others.
Boutique hotels: There are also smaller and more exclusive hotels, such as the Hotel Esplendor El Calafate or the Hotel Kosten Aike.
Budget hotels: If you are looking for cheaper options, there are several inns, hostels and cabins available, such as Hostería Los Fresnos or Hostel del Glaciar Libertador.
Gastronomic offer
Roast and meats: Patagonia, like the rest of the country, is famous for its cuts of meat, so don’t miss the opportunity to try a roast beef or try Patagonian lamb.
International cuisine: There are also options for those looking for international cuisine, such as the La Zaina restaurant, which offers Mediterranean cuisine, or the Casimiro Biguá restaurant, which specializes in signature cuisine.
Sweets and desserts: the city is famous for its delicious sweets and desserts, such as the famous “calafate” dessert, which is made with a typical fruit of the region, or dulce de leche, which can be found in many stores and cafes.
Los Glaciares National Park
This park was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1981. The main attraction is, without a doubt, the Perito Moreno glacier, which is located about 80 kilometers from the city.
The Perito Moreno glacier, first discovered in 1879, is visited by thousands of travelers each year (especially during spring and summer, that is, from September to March since winter in Patagonia can be harsh. This glacier is famous in the world because it is the only glacier that is not receding. You can visit it from the trails in front of its incredible frozen walls, but you can also take a hike on top of the glacier!
We recommend…
Walk the walkways of Perito Moreno
Next to the glacier you will find a system of walkways that allow you to get closer to the immense wall of ice and obtain views from different angles and heights. You can spend hours contemplating the shapes of the ice and listening to the sounds of landslides without ever getting tired.
Walk along the glacier
Doing the experience of walking on the surface of the Perito Moreno glacier is unmissable. It is a different sensation that allows you to peek into its grooves and touch with your hands every crack, hill or slope you find.
Sail between ice floes
There are several companies that offer excursions with different routes within Lake Argentino.
Other activities to consider…
Glaciarium
It is a modern center and museum dedicated to the dissemination of Patagonian Ice and its glaciers, one of the few glaciological interpretation centers in the world. Through visual and sound resources, a highly scenic, interactive and educational space was created. As it is 6km from El Calafate, the entrance fee paid includes the transfer that leaves from the provincial Tourism Secretariat every hour from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., both round trip.
Rock Lake
It is located 50 km from El Calafate along Provincial Route 15.
You can arrive with a private or rented car or with a remis or travel agency. During the high season there are also daily buses to this lake. This area offers quiet places protected from the wind, ideal for camping, hiking to nearby hills (such as Cristal) or discovering cave paintings. On a clear day, from the Rock Side you can see the Perito Moreno Glacier and the Torres del Paine (Chile).
Fossil Canyon
The Cañadón de los Fósiles is located in the Los Glaciares National Park. It is renowned for its ancient marine fossils, magnificently preserved by glacial activity. It is a medium-demand trek that runs through eroded terrain and will take about 3 hours to complete, until you arrive back at Estancia Cristina and from there board and return to Puerto Punta Bandera.
Nimez Lagoon
It is a nature reserve that is home to a great variety of birds. Among them, the flamingos stand out, which can be observed at various times during the year. Laguna Nimes is a quiet and green place on the coast of Lake Argentino. It is still not well known by tourists and that is why it maintains an atmosphere of peace and tranquility. Address: Av Costanera Presidente Néstor C Kirchner 2075, El Calafate
El Chalten
It is a wonderful mountain village a few kilometers from El Calafate. It is considered the National Capital of Trekking in Argentina.
Its trails cross forests and lead to dozens of viewpoints where you can contemplate mountainous landscapes and glaciers. To walk and walk until the body says enough. It is at the foot of Cerro Fitz Roye, named by Francisco Pascasio Moreno in 1877 in honor of the captain of the HMS Beagle, Robert Fitz Roy, who crossed the Santa Cruz River in 1834.
El Chaltén is located about 200 km from the El Calafate international airport and can only be accessed by land, traveling along the scenic National Route 40 and Provincial Route 41, completely paved, in a journey of approximately 3 hours.
El Calafate is a perfect place to connect with nature and the Perito Moreno glacier is a constantly changing natural spectacle: it constantly moves and transforms, which means that every time you visit it, you will have a different experience.
Créditos de la imagen:
• Caminando sobre el glaciar del autor Jorge láscar está licenciada como CC BY 2.0, Flickr.com
Créditos de la imagen destacada:
• Glaciar Perito Moreno del autor Carolina Mansilla, Todos los derechos reservados