El Calafate

Gateway to Patagonia’s Glaciers

El Calafate is a small town in Argentina’s Patagonia region, known for its proximity to the Perito Moreno Glacier. This massive ice formation advances and retreats seasonally, creating dramatic views from viewing platforms and walking trails. Visitors often travel by bus or tour buses that pass through rugged steppe landscapes dotted with hardy shrubs and grazing animals like guanacos. The town provides basic lodging, simple restaurants serving hearty meals and guided trips to explore the glacier’s towering walls and icy blue crevasses up close.

Add to list Map view

Town in Argentina

$$$

$	Cheap
$$	Medium
$$$	Expensive, upscale
$$$+	Very expensive, luxury

See price details

Safety: 7.5

General Safety:	9
Health & medical:	5
Accessibility:	5
Tap water:	7

Read details

3/5

English is spoken in most hotels, tour agencies, and restaurants, but less so in small shops or with older locals. You’ll get by with basic English and a few Spanish phrases, especially in tourist areas.

Highlights Attractions Getting there Hotels Tips Travel costs Safety Articles

Last update: 30 Oct 2026

* We earn a commission from some links on this page.

El Calafate Summary

These place ratings give you a quick overview of how well a destination matches different types of trips.

‘Best for’ scores:
The specific interest scores show where this place really shines – whether it's ideal for hiking, food & drink experiences, museums or other activities. These highlights help you understand what makes the destination special at a glance.

‘Your personal’ scores:
This reflects how well a place matches your personal preferences. You can adjust the importances of travel topics or other personal requirements categories in your account settings.

‘Suited for’ badges:
These give you a quick overview of how well a destination suits specific types of travellers, to help you find the places that match your lifestyle, preferences or travel situation.

Read how our scores work

Gateway for glaciers and Patagonia adventure. Walk glacier viewpoints, take boat tours among icebergs, hike windy steppe trails and photograph dramatic ice fields.

Place score

6.6

Best at:

Lakes

Natural sites

Guided tours

Glaciers

Spotless

Personal score

Suited for

👶 8

Families

🧓 8

Seniors

🛡️ 8

Travel Beginners

❤️ 8

Couples

Argentina – Quick facts

Guide Etiquette Holidays Other

Power Grid:	220 V, 50 Hz Plug: Type C , Type I Type C: Type I: Read about power adapters
Currency:	Argentine Peso (ARS) £1 ≈ ARS 2,048.06
Cashless info:	Rating 4/5 Cashless payments are widely accepted in larger cities, especially with credit and debit cards. However, cash is often preferred in smaller towns. Save with a travel credit card
eSIM providers:	Best value: Saily Flexibility: Airalo Read our in-depth comparison

Tipping:	In restaurants, a 10% tip is standard. Tipping in taxis is not required, but rounding up is common.
Public drinking:	Public drinking is legal but should be done responsibly. It is common in parks and beaches.
Public smoking:	Smoking is prohibited indoors in public spaces, but allowed in outdoor areas.

Argentina Independence Day (July)	Expect public celebrations and some business closures.
Christmas (December)	Expect closures and holiday events.

Emergency contact:	Emergency Numbers: 911 (Police), 107 (Ambulance), 100 (Fire)
Taxi apps:	Cabify, Uber, BA Taxi
Other:	Argentina is known for its vibrant culture, tango, and excellent cuisine, including steaks and wines.

Best times to travel

The best times to travel section shows how the months compare for a visit, so you can find the time of year that fits what you want to do.

Background colours of the months:
The colour shows the typical temperature: yellow (hot), green (mild) and blue (cold). How strong the colour is shows the travel season: full colour means high season, soft colour means shoulder season and soft-striped means off season.

Weather symbols:
Each month has one symbol showing what the weather is typically like, such as hot and sunny, freezing or a rainy or snowy season. Use them to quickly spot months that match the weather you want, or to avoid the ones that don't.

Crowdedness:
The people icon shows how busy the place usually is. The more people, the more crowded it gets.

Additional notes:
The grey info boxes point out special things worth knowing, like recurring weather issues or seasonal events.

for El Calafate, Argentina

🌤️

Jan

🌤️

Feb

🌤️

Mar

🌤️

Apr

🌤️

May

🌥️

Jun

❄️

Jul

🌤️

Aug

🌤️

Sep

🌤️

Oct

🌤️

Nov

🌤️

Dec

High season:	Jan. - March, Nov. - Dec.
Shoulder season:	April, Oct.
Crowdedness:	9 (Very crowded)

Tap on a month for more info Hover over a month for more info

Climate details

Many hotels, restaurants and tours close from May to September, boat trips to glaciers reduced

Strong winds possible year-round; Perito Moreno Glacier can be visited all year, but best November to March

Book flights, hotels and Perito Moreno tours well ahead for December to February

Don't miss

❄️ Visit Perito Moreno Glacier and watch ice calving
🐦 Explore Laguna Nimez birdwatching nature reserve
🧊 Tour Glaciarium Museum to learn about Patagonian ice
🥾 Experience glacier trekking with crampons on Perito Moreno
🛍️ Relax in town and shop at El Calafate artisan market

You've been here?

Why travel to El Calafate?

El Calafate is a dream for anyone who loves raw nature and a sense of adventure. The star attraction is the Perito Moreno Glacier, one of the world’s few advancing glaciers, where you can witness thunderous calving events and even hike atop the ice. But there’s more: cruise past blue icebergs on Lago Argentino, birdwatch in the Laguna Nimez Reserve or explore Patagonian steppe and local ranches for a taste of gaucho life. The Glaciarium museum is a must for understanding the science and significance of these icy giants. The town itself is friendly and compact, with plenty of restaurants, shops and a laid-back vibe. Just be prepared: Patagonia’s weather is famously unpredictable-wind, sun and cold can all happen in a single day. Prices are higher than elsewhere in Argentina, especially for tours and food. In high season (November–March), book accommodation and excursions early. Some activities and trails may close in winter and distances between attractions can be vast, so plan your logistics carefully.

🏯Places worth seeing

1 Punta Walichu (Cuevas de
2 Glaciarium
3 Avenida del Libertador

🎡Places for activities

1 Yeti Ice Bar
2 Glaciarium Museum bus stop (to/from)
3 Centro de Interpretación Histórica
4 Paseo de Artesanos
5 Museo Argentino del Juguete

🏞️Natural landmarks

1 Perito Moreno Glacier
2 Bahía Redonda
3 Lago Argentino
4 Punta Walichu (Cuevas de
5 Estância Cerro Frias
6 Laguna Nimez

🎈Events

National Calafate Festival (February)
Patagonian New Year’s Eve celebrations
Glacier Marathon
Local gaucho festivals
Birdwatching events at Laguna Nimez
Winter sports events
Food and craft fairs
Photography workshops
Traditional music nights
Artisan markets in summer

Explore on map

Open map view

Knowledge before you go

Book Perito Moreno trips early; spots sell out fast.
Dress in layers; Patagonian wind and sun shift quickly, even in summer.
Use El Calafate as a gateway to Los Glaciares National Park and Perito Moreno.
Pair glacier day with Laguna Nimez at sunset for birdlife, calm views and lighter crowds.

How to travel to El Calafate

El Calafate is served by Comandante Armando Tola International Airport, with direct flights from Buenos Aires and other Argentine cities. Airport shuttles, taxis and rental cars are available. Long-distance buses connect El Calafate with El Chaltén, Río Gallegos and Bariloche, but distances are vast. Plan for travel delays due to weather, especially in winter.

Access summary

From El Calafate Airport (FTE): Shuttle or taxi to town, about 20–30 min.
From Buenos Aires: Direct flight to El Calafate, around 3–3.5 hours.
From Bariloche: Nonstop flights to El Calafate, usually about 2 hours.

Check your route from anywhere

Where to stay in El Calafate

El Calafate has a wide range of accommodations, from cozy hostels and family-run guesthouses to upscale lodges and boutique hotels. Most are within walking distance of the center. Book well in advance for summer, as the best places fill quickly. For a unique experience, consider staying at a Patagonian estancia (ranch) outside town.

Hotel recommendations

*by rating and popularity. Commissions have no influence on the rankings.

Tremun Calafate Parque Hotel

9.1

America del Sur Hostel Calafate

8.8

Tremun Mirador del Lago Hotel

Esplendor by Wyndham El Calafate

8.3

Hotel Posada Los Alamos

8.6

Rochester Calafate

8.6

Montano Boutique Suites

8.7

Hosteria Puerto San Julian

9.0

Explore more accommodations

How to get around El Calafate

The town is compact and walkable, with most hotels, restaurants and shops along Avenida del Libertador. Taxis and local shuttles connect you to the airport and main attractions. Buses and organized tours run to Los Glaciares National Park and Perito Moreno Glacier. For remote sites, guided excursions or car rental are best. Be prepared for wind and bring layers for outdoor activities.

Budget snapshot

Costs compared to home

We calculate the average costs when travelling to destinations and compare those with the living costs at your home. With this you can get an estimate of how expensive or cheap the destination is for you.

To customise this, you can set up which location and price level are used for the calculations in your account settings.

---

We can't detect your current location. Please log in and set your current location in the account settings to see a cost comparison.

Exchange rate trend

The exchange rate price factor shows how expensive or cheap a currency currently is compared to its historical average. It's a quick way to see if a country is currently more or less affordable due to exchange rate changes.

-80 %

Your exchange rate (GBP to ARS) is 80% better than in recent years. That means travelling now is a lot cheaper compared to the past.

Safety information overview

General safety

El Calafate is very safe, with low crime rates. Usual precautions apply: keep valuables secure, especially in crowded places. Weather is the main hazard — dress appropriately and heed local advice about wind and cold on tours.

Health & Medical

Medical care is good, with clinics and a hospital in town. Pharmacies are widely available. Bring any needed medication, as supplies can be limited. Sun and wind exposure are the main risks — use sunscreen and stay hydrated.

Accessibility

Most main attractions, hotels and restaurants are accessible, but some outdoor excursions (glacier trekking, remote sites) can be challenging for those with limited mobility. Boardwalks at Perito Moreno Glacier are wheelchair-friendly. Check accessibility before booking tours.

Tap water

Tap water is safe and clean. Public fountains are rare, so bring a refillable bottle. Hydration is important, especially in the dry, windy climate and during outdoor activities.