Argentina

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El Calafate

Gateway to Patagonia's glaciers

Visa & entry checker Plan a trip to El Calafate Plan a trip around Argentina

Best time to visit: Nov, Dec, Jan, Feb, Mar
Currency: ARS
Time zone: UTC-3
Country: Argentina

Photo: Luca Galuzzi ( Lucag ), CC BY-SA 2.5

El Calafate is a small Patagonian town on the shore of Lago Argentino, the base for visiting the Perito Moreno Glacier and Los Glaciares National Park. People come for the ice, the steppe scenery, wildlife and trekking day trips.

Largest cities

Buenos Aires
Córdoba
Rosario
Mendoza
La Plata

Quick facts

Figures are rounded recent official estimates.

Country: Argentina
Capital: Buenos Aires
City population: 22,844
Population of Argentina: 47.3M
Country area: 2,780,400 km²
Official language: Spanish
Currency: Argentine Peso (ARS) · 1 USD ≈ 1,516 ARS
Time zone: UTC-3
Calling code: +54
Drives on the: Left
Elevation: 195 m
Plugs: C / I · 220V
Emergency numbers: 911 · 100 (fire) · 107 (ambulance)
Best time to visit: Nov, Dec, Jan, Feb, Mar

Temperatures through the year

Average daily high and low for each month in °C. Months marked with a drop are often rainy.

Temperatures through the year

Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
High	17°	17°	13°	11°	7°	4°	3°	4°	7°	9°	13°	16°
Low	11°	11°	8°	6°	3°	0°	-1°	0°	2°	4°	7°	10°

Best time to visitOther months

Approximate daily cost

Per adult per day: food, local transport and half a double room, without activities or flights.

ConservativeSimple stays, free and low-cost sights first.$46
HighComfortable hotels, a balanced mix of sights and trips.$110
LuxuryLuxury hotels, more paid experiences and day trips.$275

Plan a trip to El Calafate

Top things to do

≈ $45
Perito Moreno Glacier
Walk the viewing platforms and trails metres from the cracking ice wall, about 80 km from town; sit on the left side of the bus for the best views and bring a picnic.
- Full day
- Lago Argentino waterfront
- Good for kids
≈ $8
Laguna Nimez Reserve
A short walk from the main street to a lagoon full of flamingos and Patagonian birds, best at dusk; bring binoculars and wind protection.
- Half day
- Laguna Nimez reserve
- Good for kids
- Good in the evening
≈ $20
Glaciarium
A museum on the Southern Patagonian Ice Field with a free hourly shuttle from the tourism office; the ice bar costs extra and can be booked combined.
- Half day
- Glaciarium area
- Good for kids
- Indoors
≈ $6
Centro de Interpretación Histórica Calafate
A small museum on Av. Brown covering 100 million years of local history with dinosaurs, megafauna and original peoples; a good rainy-day option.
- Half day
- Town centre (Av. del Libertador)
- Good for kids
- Indoors
≈ $64
Lago Argentino boat excursion
A 1.5-hour boat trip past floating icebergs and several glaciers, booked at the wharf or near the end of the main road; go on a clear day for the colours.
- Half day
- Lago Argentino waterfront
- Good for kids
≈ $70
4x4 excursion to Cerro Frías and Cerro Huyliche
A rough ride into the hills above Lago Argentino for views of the lake, Fitz Roy and Torres del Paine on clear days, with stops at glacial formations.
- Half day
- Lago Argentino waterfront
≈ $60
Estancia visit
Spend a few hours at a working sheep ranch for shearing, horseback riding and an Argentine barbecue; book through a local agency and confirm transport.
- Half day
- Road to El Chaltén
- Good for kids
≈ $40
El Chaltén day trip
A 220 km paved drive to Argentina's trekking capital for day hikes toward Fitz Roy and Cerro Torre; leave early and book the return bus in advance.
- Full day
- Road to El Chaltén

Before you go

Entry and visas

Many visitors, including British citizens, can enter Argentina visa-free for tourism for up to 90 days, but rules depend on nationality and some nationalities pay a reciprocity fee on arrival at Ezeiza. Passports must be valid for the planned stay, and immigration no longer stamps passports, so contact the Argentine Migration Office if you need proof of entry or exit. Check the official Argentine migration site or your nearest Argentine consulate before travelling.

Official website

From the airport

Comandante Armando Tola International Airport (FTE) sits about 20 km east of town; remises, taxis and a VES bus to hotels meet arrivals, roughly 20–30 minutes into the centre. Long-distance buses also connect El Calafate with El Chaltén, Río Gallegos and Puerto Natales in Chile.

Getting around

The town centre is walkable, but the glacier, Glaciarium and trailheads need a tour bus, taxi or rental car; Hertz and Avis have offices on the main road.

Local tips

Pack layers and a windproof jacket: Patagonian wind makes cool days feel much colder, and snow can fall from May to September.
Bring cash in Argentine pesos; cards are widely taken but airport ATMs are often out of service, so use ATMs in town.
Book Perito Moreno tours, buses and El Chaltén seats as soon as you arrive, especially in peak summer when flights and buses fill up.
Expect high prices for food and fuel because of the remote location, and carry a picnic if you want to avoid the expensive restaurant at the glacier.