Experience El Calafate

Overview

El Calafate also called Calafate is an appealing destination close to the edge of the Southern Patagonian Ice Field and the gateway to fantastic attractions like Los Glaciares National Park which is home to the massive, awe-inspiring Perito Moreno Glacier. The town is surrounded by the Lago Argentino area and a plethora of exciting outdoor adventures and activities like hiking Cerro Chalten, and Cerro TorreFitz Roy mountain range, and thrilling boat rides on the edge of the Southern Ice Field, which is the second-largest body of ice on the planet. 

The once quaint quiet town has converted into a magnificent must-see chic destination boasting new hotels and facilities springing up all over, and a huge surge in interest and popularity. The town was founded in 1927 and is home to around 8,000 residents, the Perito Moreno National Park was established in 1937 by the government of Argentina. 

Things to see and do

Stroll along the main street of Avenida del Libertador San Martin brimming with great restaurants, cute cafes, bustling bars, and unique shops. Stop into one of the eateries and enjoy some lunch and refreshments, then do some shopping and grab an ice cream or some fresh chocolates at one of the many shops. 

Rent a bicycle explore the town on two wheels and check out some of the sights. Cycle along the picturesque lakefront promenade and take in the spectacular surroundings of the nearby mountains and glaciers. 

Make your way to El Calafate Mountain Park, which stands at 3,444 feet above the city on top of Cerro Huilliche. Take a thrilling ride in the cable car to the summit for outstanding panoramic views of the region below, the scenic panoramas of Los Glaciares National Park, and the magnificent Mount Fitz Roy in the distance. The park is popular for outdoor activities like mountain, quad biking, skiing, and snowmobiling in the winter. The lakes in the region are great for kayaking and rafting tours.

Visit the beautiful Laguna Nimez Nature Preserve, an important conservation area with local flora and fauna, and an excellent birdwatching location where over 80 species of birds can be seen. Look out for the fantastic Argentinian Flamingos and black-necked swans, walk or cycle along these scenic trails that run for about a mile through the reserve and lead to beautiful blue lagoons.

Visit one of the two interesting museums in town; El Centro de Interpretacion Historica is filled with plenty of information on the natural and human history of Patagonia with great displays and exhibits that include fossils, dinosaurs, glaciers, and other archaeological discoveries.

The Glaciarium is a fun museum and research center on ice and glaciers, here visitors will find all the basic knowledge necessary to understand and enjoy the great glaciers of the region. There are videos and displays explaining how the glaciers formed along with geology, the fascinating region, and climate change. Head to the `Ice Bar` located in the museum`s basement with an actual ice bar, ice furniture, and drinks served in real ice glasses.

Head out today and explore the amazing Glaciers of the Patagonian region, there are many tour groups offered with half and full-day excursions taking visitors to the fascinating glaciers with walking, trekking sightseeing, kayaking, and boat rides options. Perito Moreno Glacier is the most popular glacier measuring 19 miles long, and 3 miles wide it soars 240 feet above the surface of the lake and has a total depth of 558 feet. This magnificent wonder is one of the few glaciers in Patagonia that is actually advancing and not retreating.

Spegazzini Glacier is the highest glacier in Los Glaciares National Park, it sits on Lake Argentino with glacial wall towers rising 440 feet making it quite the impressive sight.

Upsala Glacier is the largest glacier of its kind in South America, it measures 35 miles long and 6 miles wide, listed UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Visit La Leona Petrified Forest, a fascinating paleontological site in a huge natural depression. The forest features dinosaur fossils, odd rock formations, and petrified tree trunks that date back over 70 million years when volcanic activity and changing climate left the forest buried, and preserved underground, and erosion over the years has exposed the remains.

Take a stunning scenic helicopter tour over El Calafate to get a birds-eye view of the National Park and the stunning glaciers.

Shopping

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.

Cuisine

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 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.

Nightlife

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.