El Calafate
Table of Contents: Travel to El Calafate, visa requirements / Get around / El Calafate attractions and sightseeing / City tours / Shopping, El Calafate souvenirs / Good restaurants and cheap meals / El Calafate nightlife, bars, clubs and pubs. / Hotels, youth hostels, lodging / Get out More from Santa Cruz (Argentina): El Calafate, Rio Gallegos More from Patagonia (Argentina): Chubut, El Chalten, Neuquen, Rio Negro (Argentina), Santa Cruz (Argentina) More from Argentina: Andean Northwest (Argentina), Chaco (Argentina), Concepción del Uruguay, Cuyo, Mar del Plata, Mesopotamia (Argentina), Pampas, Patagonia (Argentina), San Juan (city, Argentina) More from South America: Amazonia, Andes, Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Falkland Islands, Guyana, Los Roques, Pantanal, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, Tierra del Fuego, Uruguay, Venezuela |
El Calafate is a small town that has grown due to the tourist influx into the Patagonia region of Argentina. It is set on the glacial blue Lago Argentina and is full of eager trekkers.
Travel to El Calafate, visa requirements
Aerolineas Argentinas has got daily flights to/from Buenos Aires and Ushuaia. On-line booking and e-tickets are available. During peak season flights are usually fully booked with tourist groups. Make sure you book your flight well in advance.
There are also charter flights between Puerto Natales and El Calafate operated by DAP. These flights from the tiny airport of Puerto Natales can be very scenic and let you cross the Andes in about 90 minutes and no road travel hassle (which however in right doses is something not to be missed in Patagonia).
The only other possibility is to arrive by bus. But this means that you will spend quite some time in the bus on rough roads. Due to the dirty streets, especially when it rains, views from buses vanish fast...
Quite remarkable can be the bus connection between El Calafate and Bariloche along Ruta 40. It is mainly operated for tourists by the Agency Chaltentravel (directly only the Calafate-Perito Moreno stage), since people of Calafate and Bariloche have very small ties between each other, which does not sound strange after you have made the journey and seen the state of the road. Views, if the weather is good, are in places stunning, especially between Calafate and Perito Moreno city, less between Perito Moreno and Bariloche. You must however be prepared to a long (10+ hours for 2 1/2 days) and rough trip in a small van. If you are not the kind of person enjoying slow changes in the landscape and the beauty of lonely places, do not attempt or you will regret it. Of course, if you really like this sort of things, you will never forget the trip. The bus trip will let you pass (and most likely stay and enjoy) through El Chalten and give an opportunity to stay in Perito Moreno from where you can organise a (long) ride to visit the "Cueva de las manos pintadas".
Get around
Make sure you book your bus ticket out of this town, when you get there, or you can get stuck there for a couple of days.
El Calafate attractions and sightseeing
A must, the Perito Moreno Glacier, 80km (50miles) away from El Calafate. You can see the enormous glacier just meters away from you, and listen all the sounds that the cracking ice makes 24 hours a day. And when a front wall of the glacier falls down, well, it is just amazing! It is the main point of tourism. Viewing platforms and easy trails (with quite a number of steps, though) make the visit and the observation easy and pleasant. You can visit many ranches (estancias), where you can enjoy the wild nature, perfect meals, and stay there in the middle of nowhere, relaxing from the big cities rush. Or take a boat excursion and see many of the glaciers and places in the National Park Los Glaciares. The colors and shapes of the ice-bergs floating in the lake are really awesome and inspiring, making a boat ride in a sunny day a fantastic day out. Another perfect point, is Onelli Bay, one of the most romantics sites here. Just bring your lunch box, a bottle of champagne, and chill it in the lake, or just add a piece of pure crystal ice. Wild nature can be seen just walking a few blocks away from main street, like in El Cañadón, or at Laguna Nimez, where you can see all kind of patagonic birds feet away from you. Wildlife and views, especially at dusk, make Laguna Nimez a must see, perfect if you have just arrived in town, settled your next days excursion and eager to go see some real Patagonia. At night, grab a chair and go outside. The non polluted sky shows stars like you will never see again, and don´t be surprised by satellites passing by!
City tours
Excursions to Moreno glacier, by bus. Don´t miss "Chacho´s", the restaurant where you can eat and see the glacier!
There is a mini trekking tour. The money is worth every penny and the views on and from the Glacier are breathtaking. Make sure you have excellent wind and sun protecting!
Excursion to "All Glaciers" by boat, all day long but worth the trip every single minute.
Visit a ranch. Ask your travel agency where to go. Recommendations ; Nibepo Aike Ranch, Rincón Ranch, Alta Vista Ranch. On most estancias you can ride a horse.
Don´t go dancing and drinking at night to "La Toldería". It´s not worth the effort.
Shopping, El Calafate souvenirs
Food is expensive mainly due to the remote location of the city. There is a supermarket at the end of main street with fair prices. Buy your food for your tours because on the routa 40 and in the glacie national park or almost no places to buy food.
Handicraft and souvenirs can be bought in large scale at the main street.
Good restaurants and cheap meals
- Patagonic Lamb "cordero patagónico" is the main dish. Typical barbecue (asado) is very good. But if you are tired of meat, just try pizza and "empanadas" at La Toldería bar, Libertador 1177.
- Don Pichón is a very good grill and restaurant.
- While some reported stomach illness after eating there, Pura Vida is a colourful joint with tasty dishes and nice lake views managed by 4 youngsters with a 'vision'.
Don´t miss:
- At Sancho, 25 de Mayo 90, ask for the stuffed beaf, or "Bife de Lomo relleno".
- At La Chancha y los 20, Libertador 1250, ask for brochettes.One brochette is enough for 2 normal persons.
- At La Vaca Atada (The tied cow:-), ask the "milanesa completa". If you like meat, don´t even ask what is it, just surprise yourself. It is a dely.
- At "Pizzeria La Lechuza" (A Patagonian Owl) on Ave. Libertador try the great empanadas and pizza. If possible, avoid the English-language menu as it makes no sense.
Avoid:
- La Tablita is the first restaurant that locals mention when you ask where to eat, but is utterly bad. A tourist trap.
El Calafate nightlife, bars, clubs and pubs.
Argentina´s wine is one of the finest. Take advantage of the exchange rate and enjoy yourself with them. Or drink whatever you want, like beer from all over the world, wiskeys, liquors, champagne, etc. Or a Diet Coke :)
Hotels, youth hostels, lodging
- America del Sur, Puerto Desador (near La Bamba) 02902-493525 [1]. Welcomed by a sign urging to take off your shoes. The helpful staff will help you with planning everything from your visit to the Perito Moreno Glacier till the remainder of your travel. With internet facilities, shared kitchen, floor heating and a panoramic view of the sunset over El Calafate. Dormbed Ar$30. Double room available. To reserve vinagura@cotecal.com.ar
- Cerro Cristal Hotel, Gregores 989, phone 02902-491088[2]. Note - the website is totally in Spanish. Hotel is very clean, WARM, well located (one block off the main drag), walking distance to the tourism office, and costs $40 pesos (usd$13) for 2 single beds, per night as of Aug, 2004. With internet facilities, a kitchen (breakfast provided at no charge), hot water, and comfortable beds. Day tours arranged to Perito Moreno (or the entire glacier national park, Monte Fitz Roy, etc). Email: cerrocristalhotel@cotecal.com.ar.
- Fuerte Calafate Hotel, 605 street n°1164 , phone 02902-492813/492-823.[3] . The best view of calafate, and the warmest atention. It cost U$S75 the double room and includes breakfast. The hotel has a restaurant for dining. Internet facilityes , confortable beds an hot water. Email: fuertecalafate@cotecal.com.ar
Get out
- Perito Moreno nearby is one of the few advancing glaciers in the world, which is 30km x 5km wide. Nature at its most awesome and intimidating.
- Nearby El Chalten provides excellent hiking possibilities.
More from Santa Cruz (Argentina): El Calafate, Rio Gallegos More from Patagonia (Argentina): Chubut, El Chalten, Neuquen, Rio Negro (Argentina), Santa Cruz (Argentina) More from Argentina: Andean Northwest (Argentina), Chaco (Argentina), Concepción del Uruguay, Cuyo, Mar del Plata, Mesopotamia (Argentina), Pampas, Patagonia (Argentina), San Juan (city, Argentina) More from South America: Amazonia, Andes, Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Falkland Islands, Guyana, Los Roques, Pantanal, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, Tierra del Fuego, Uruguay, Venezuela |
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