The city is serviced by El Calafate International Airport which is located 13 miles east of the city which is around 20 minutes. How do I get from the airport to my hotel?

There are taxis and rental cars at the airport. A taxi will cost the equivalent of USD$10 one way, taxis disembark from outside the airport. The rental car office is also found outside the airport. How do I get around the city using public transportation?

El Calafate is a small town and there are some buses for local and long-distance transportation. The bus station is located on Julio A. Roca and can be reached via the stairs up from the main street, Avenida del Libertador.

There are quite a few unique opportunities to take a boat ride in El Calafate to see the spectacular glaciers. Many of the popular day tours in the region offer visitors a boat ride to disembark at Base Spegazzini and other locations. There are boat tours to visit five glaciers in one day including Upsala, Spegazzini, Perito Moreno, Heim, and Seco glaciers.

If you are staying in town and visiting the popular attractions nearby then a car is not necessary as many tour operators provide transportation. If you plan to explore the surrounding area then a car may be a good idea, it's a 30-minute drive from the airport to the center of town. There are a few rental car agencies in town.

There are a few taxis around town, many can be found outside the bus station. Taxis can be ordered over the phone by your hotel or at a restaurant.

El Calafate is a walkable town, the main part of town is easily navigable on foot with many of the main attractions including shopping, dining, accommodation, and entertainment. El Calafate is also considered the National Trekking Capital.

There are some options for cycling in El Calafate with rental opportunities found along the main street to explore the town. Cycling along the scenic shores of Lake Nimez and the surrounding area is a pleasant ride with some of the most magnificent views.

El Calafate is considered a very safe destination to visit. Take the necessary precautions when sightseeing, use common sense, and keep your valuables out of sight from pickpockets, especially in crowded areas like markets, and tourist attractions. At night stay in well-lit and populated areas, and use reputable transportation companies instead of taking rides from strangers.

There are some good shopping options to find in El Calafate there are many local authentic products and souvenirs. There are many products sold in El Calafate made around the Patagonia region and the rest of the country, shoppers can expect to find wool and knitted items, exquisite jams, and handmade arts and crafts as well as parkas, ponchos made from pure sheep wool as well as clothing like cardigans, ruanas, and other garments. There are many large shops and souvenir shops found along the main street Avenida Libertador in town where visitors can pick up a wide selection of great items. The El Calafate Artisanal Market is a vibrant bustling marketplace and an excellent destination to shop for a piece of Patagonia while on vacation here. This market is conveniently located along the main shopping street of town and features amazing handmade works of art by local artists. The Paseo Shopping Center is a modern retail mall located in El Calafate and a vibrant hub for shoppers to pick up local and international brands from clothing to accessories. The mall is set amongst breathtaking surroundings of the mountains and there's a wide range of dining options to choose from with local cuisine and international fare on offer in a friendly ambiance and inviting atmosphere.

The official languages spoken in El Calafate are Spanish and English. Many people speak fluent English, especially in hotels and restaurants. We recommend getting a good English/Spanish guidebook and learning the basic questions like please, thank you, and numbers 1-10.

El Calafate experiences a cold semi-arid climate with cool to warm and very dry summers and cold wet winters. The weather here is heavily influenced by Lago Argentino, with the city’s waterfront located on a large shallow bay that often freezes in the winter. The highest temperature recorded in El Calafate was 87F and the lowest on record was 7F. The summer in El Calafate is high season extending from October to March when the temperatures average between 40-60F degrees. The high season is when prices reach their peak with airlines and accommodations, it's a busy time of year due to a more temperate climate with clear sunny days. The most popular time of year to visit El Calafate is between December and February when temperatures are at their highest and the town and surrounding areas are perfect for outdoor activities and adventures. It can be extremely windy in El Calafate throughout the year. Many hotels close between June to August in the winter. March and April offer a beautiful time when the autumn colors are changing.

The currency of El Calafate is the Argentine peso. US dollars are not accepted. Please be sure to have the correct currency on hand or be prepared to exchange your dollars for Argentine pesos upon arrival. Currency exchange desks can be found at the airport and many locations throughout the city.

The cuisine in the Patagonia region of Argentina is heavily influenced by the region's natural surrounding rivers and forests from algae, clams, trout, salmon, strawberries, blackberries, raspberries, and red, white, and game meats. Lamb is the show stopper that can be found on most menus in the city and can be cooked several different ways including on the grill, on the cross, on the disk, or in stews, either way, the lamb is succulent and tender, and some of the most flavorful in the world. Argentina is world famous for steak and many restaurants in El Calafate offer excellent cuts of beef on their menu. Trout is another top menu item that comes from the many lakes of the Lake District region with both brown and rainbow trout offered. Trout can be served grilled or fried and accompanied by seasonal vegetables and potatoes for a hearty meal. Guanaco is a relative of the llama, and a unique delicacy served up in this region, the meat is served in this region, it has a lean texture with a gamey flavor, very authentically Patagonian. King Salmon is Argentina’s own local salmon found in the Patagonian rivers particularly the Santa Cruz River which is famous for its Salmon runs, the delicious fish is a local delicacy, it is however seasonal.

Some other Argentine favorites are the Empanadas con carne (fried or baked), Milanesa a la Napolitana (breaded and fried meat covered with tomato sauce, mozzarella, and ham), Chimichurri (Argentine pesto used to marinate meat or as a dipping sauce), and Choripan (sausage). If you want to try something different, the Pacu fish is delicious as long as the human-like teeth don't unnerve you according to National Geographic, Argentina is one of the 5 places in the world to have the best hilado (Ice cream). We suggest you try the dulce de leche or the tiramisu. Alfajor de Maicena (dulce de leche cookies) is another Argentine favorite. Malbec wine makes a great complement to every steak meal. If you're looking for something softer, Yerba Mate the national drink of Argentina is a herb placed in a mate pot - it is a focal point for social gatherings.

The quaint town of El Calafate has a diverse selection of things to do after dark, there are some laid-back excellent nightlife offerings, with cozy pubs, local authentic bars, and some casual lounges to sit back and relax with a glass of the country's famous wine Malbec by a cozy fire. The downtown area is the place to be in the evenings with plenty of places within walking distance, including trying your luck at the casinos.

There are two Ice Bars in El Calafate where everything is made of ice, the bar, the glasses, and the seats, it's quite the experience. Yeti Ice Bar is found right in town and Glacio Bar is located at the Glaciarium, they are made with ice from the Perito Moreno Glacier. There is an entrance fee and an allotted amount of time (30 minutes) that you can spend inside the bar, which is an “open bar” so technically you can drink as much as you want. You get to dress in special jackets, and gloves with crampons for shoes as you can imagine it's very cold inside.

In case of an emergency dial 911 or 107

Hospital:

Dr. Ramon Carrillo Regional Hospital tel. 54-294-442-6100