Travelling In El Calafate

Tourist information of El Calafate
El Calafate is situated to the south of Argentino Lake, in the southwest of the Santa Cruz province. Its name comes from a typical thorny shrub in the south of Patagonia. During the spring, this shrub bloom in yellow flowers and in summer, in purple fruits. The tradition says that who eat this fruit will come back to Patagonia.
In El Calafate you will discover that you are in front of the entrance door to the majestic world of glaciers. And the most important one is Perito Moreno Glacier.
The “Los Glaciares National Park” covers a surface of 600.000 hectares. From this big piece of ice 47 glaciers come off. Some of them are: Marconi, Viedma, Moyano, Upsala, Agassiz, Bolado, Onelli, Peineta, Spegazzini, Mayo, Ameghino, Moreno and Frias, all them belong to Atlantic basin.
Some other things to do in El Calafate are the horse riding tours in a typical Patagonia ranch. Have a look at all the tours we offer and discover what to do in El Calafate.
Travelling In El Calafate

Travel Packages In El Calafate

Day Tours In El Calafate

Transfers In El Calafate

Passes And Tickets In El Calafate

Best Hotels in El Calafate

The best time to travel to El Calafate is from October to March, especially during the 3 summer months (21 / December to 21 / March), since during these months, the weather is much more benevolent. The days are also longer, so you can take much more time to do outdoor activities.
Even when you visit the Perito Moreno Glacier during the summer months, it is also advisable to always wear warm clothing, since the weather can be very windy and cool if the sky is cloudy. It is advisable to always have a raincoat or windbreaker in case of rain.
People usually by traditional artisan fabrics. Among the great offer you will find Parkas and ponchos made of pure hand-spun wool and loom fabrics, as well as ruanas, cardigans and other industrially processed wool fabrics.
El Calafate is a city in the Province of San Cruza, located in Argentine Patagonia. The name of the city is derived from a small shrub with yellow flowers and dark blue berries that is very common in the region: El Calafate (Berberis buxifolia). The word comes from the word "calafate", which in Spanish means "caulking".
It is advisable to stay in El Calafate for at least 4 days and 3 nights, in order to have 2 full days in the city, allowing you to carry out the 2 main full-day activities: Minitrekking on the Perito Moreno Glacier and "Rios de Hielo" boat tour. The other half days can be used for activities such as horseback riding, panoramic city tours, etc.

Reviews and experiences in El Calafate

Check what our customers say about us!

Epic Glacier Sailing and Estancia Adventure—Nature, Good Food, and Awesome Patagonian Vibes

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Stay Tour With Lunch And Glacier Sailing

Wow, what an unforgettable day! The whole experience was super smooth and well-organized. Loved chilling at the estancia, tasting delicious Patagonian food, then cruising so close to the breathtaking glaciers. Seriously, take your camera—you’ll want a million pics. Our guide was friendly and knew his stuff. Totally worth it if you’re in El Calafate, highly recommend!

Review validated by Alex Thompson - 17/03/2026

Unforgettable Hike to Cerro Castillo Summit

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Cerro Castillo

Wow, Cerro Castillo was absolutely stunning! The views from the summit are just breathtaking – glaciers, mountains, and wide open skies everywhere you look. The hike was a proper challenge but our guide made it super enjoyable and safe. If you’re up for adventure and some jaw-dropping Patagonia scenery, I totally recommend this tour. Bring good boots and your camera, you’ll thank me later!

Review validated by Jake Peterson - 13/03/2026

Easy, Scenic Ride Between El Calafate and El Chaltén

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Transfer From El Calafate To El Chalten

Awesome service! The transfer from El Calafate to El Chaltén was super smooth. The minibus was comfy, the scenery out the window was breathtaking, and our driver was friendly and on time. Perfect way to get to one of Argentina’s coolest trekking towns without any worries. I’d definitely recommend Tangol Tours for this trip!

Review validated by Jake Morgan - 09/03/2026

Stress-Free Glacier Adventure With Awesome Tangol Transfers

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Round Trip To The Perito Moreno Glacier

Honestly, this tour totally exceeded my expectations! The pick-up and drop-off service was smooth and worry-free, and Perito Moreno Glacier is just stunning. Our guide was super friendly and knowledgeable, making everything really enjoyable. Highly recommended for anyone visiting El Calafate—just pure natural beauty and great company!

Review validated by Jessica Miller - 09/03/2026

Fun Argentine Cooking Class Experience

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Cooking Experience

Honestly, this cooking class was a blast! Super fun hosts, hands-on lessons, and the food was absolutely delicious. Loved making empanadas and meeting fellow travelers. The vibe was relaxed and everyone was so welcoming – definitely more than just a meal. Highly recommend for anyone wanting a cool culinary experience in El Calafate!

Review validated by Jake Anderson - 07/03/2026

Epic Adventure! Stunning Patagonia Views & Mind-Blowing Cave Art in One Unforgettable Day

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Premium Plane Flight With Cave Of Hands

Absolutely loved this Premium Plane Flight with Cave of Hands tour! Flying over Patagonia was breathtaking, and the Cueva de las Manos is just incredible to see up close. Our guides were super friendly and full of interesting info. This is a once-in-a-lifetime adventure if you love natural wonders and unforgettable landscapes. Can't recommend this enough if you visit El Calafate!

Review validated by James Parker - 26/01/2026

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