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City in Santa Cruz Province, Argentina
Photo: Christof Berger, CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons
El Calafate is a town of 29,000 people (2020) in the Patagonia region of Argentina.
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A newly built museum dedicated to glaciers, stands several kilometers outside of El Calafate. This museum provides exhibitions and detailed information on the makeup, history, and importance of the glaciers found in this region.
Calafate Interpretation Center
A museum telling 100 million years of local history, with dinosaurs, megafauna and originary peoples as main characters.
Tour operator offering guided excursions to the Perito Moreno glacier. Specializes in ice trekking (Minitrekking and Big Ice), boat glacier tours (Safari Azul), and kayak expeditions on Lago Argentino.
The premier attraction in the area. Visit the Perito Moreno National Park where you can see the enormous glacier just meters away from you, and listen to the various sounds that the cracking ice makes 24/7. When a front wall of the glacier falls down, well, it is simply breathtaking! The glacier attracts huge crowds, but despite the numbers, the viewing platforms and easy trails (with quite a number of steps, though) make the visit and the observation comfortable and pleasant. Excursions to Perito Moreno glacier by bus, or use a recommended Argentine travel agency to arrange private trips for ice walking, drinking whiskey with glacier ice (best done in that order), among many other possible activities.
Up into the mountainous area surrounding El Calafate, these provide stunning views of Lake Argentino, and, on a clear day, the top of Fitz Roy as well as the Torres del Paine. They also stop for refreshments and visit geological formations caused by glaciers known as the "Mexican hats".
Spanish: estancias
You can visit many of them here and enjoy the wild nature, perfect meals, and stay there in the middle of nowhere. They are perfect to relax away from the hustle and bustle. On most estancias you can ride a horse. Ask your travel agency where to go. Recommendations: El Galpon del Glaciar Ranch, Nibepo Aike Ranch, Rincón Ranch, Alta Vista Ranch.
At night, grab a chair and go outside. The unpolluted sky shows a rare number of stars, and don't be surprised by satellites passing by.
Pizza and empanadas. It turns into a disco after 01:00. The pub of El Calafate.
A very good grill and restaurant.
A colourful joint with tasty dishes and nice lake views managed by four youngsters with a 'vision'.
Ask for the stuffed beef, or Bife de Lomo relleno.
Ask for brochettes. One brochette is enough for two average persons.
English: The tied cow
Ask for the "milanesa completa". If you like meat, don´t even ask what it is, just surprise yourself. It is a delight.
Named for a Patagonian owl. Try the great empanadas, pizza and different kinds of milanesas.
The first restaurant that locals mention when you ask where to eat. It receives mixed reviews but provides steaks and grilled Patagonian lamb.
A small beautiful place run by its owners, in the center of the Calafate, to eat homemade food and listening excellent music.
A great restaurant in El Calafate, possibly the best. It is a cozy place that is normally packed. Making a reservation is advisable. Try the bife de lomo or the risotto, you won't regret it. For dessert, try the apple or chocolate tart.
Huge portions. A nice view on the lake.
A rustic-style Patagonian restaurant. Try the mushroom risotto!
This is a parilla restaurant. Like a number of other restaurants in the town lamb is cooked on an upright rack in the front window as you walk in. The lamb is delicious and so is the Malbec. The restaurant often has a couple dancing the tango. The plates are as generous as they are tasty. This is not a cheap restaurant but it's not stuffy either.
A small beautiful place in the center of the Calafate to have good drinks, sandwiches and pizzas while listening to excellent music. The best parties in the city take place there.
Wine shop with a bar allowing you to taste a variety of interesting wines in various sizes, with staff eager to tell you about them.
Calle 202 N°608 frente a Laguna Nimez. The hotel has a free shuttle to the Dawntown, Bar, Restaurant, WiFi, Internet, DDI, DDN and Laundry.
Puerto Desador (near La Bamba). 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.
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. 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).
Ruta 11 km 22.
A good view of calafate, and warm attention. The hotel has a restaurant for dining. Internet facilities, comfortable beds and hot water.
Facing the Perito Moreno Glacier.
Great staff (one traveler reports they took care of sending their postcards for them), gorgeous rooms, delicious breakfast (don't miss the hot chocolate!) and overlooking the Lago Argentino, where you can go ice-skating in the winter. They have computers with free Internet access, a good restaurant and it's located only meters from the downtown area.
Hot water, electricity, Wifi near entrance only
One of the cheapest hostels in Calafate, with 6 bed dorm. About 15 min walk from the center/bus station. Relaxed and clean, in terms of atmosphere more like a guesthouse than a hostel.
Has a view of the Lake Argentino on Bahia Redonda. Rooms are equipped with king size beds, business desks, mini bar, LED cable TV, climate control, and safe deposit box.
Bed & Breakfast with noted exceptional service. Family-run.
By bus
Buses run regularly from Chile (Puerto Natales) to Calafate and beyond (El Chalten, etc). They are comfortable, air-conditioned, and travel on paved roadways.
By car
Arriving by car from Chile (Puerto Natales) is a fairly straightforward process. The road (Ruta 40) is paved the entire way—avoid any instructions by Google Maps, etc.
Many agencies have car rental options. The international brands Hertz and Avis have offices in town, on the main road.
Read in the guideChoose an airport to see hotels, stations, taxi ranks and car rental desks around it.
El Calafate · Regional · FTE
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