El Calafate is a central town in the Southern Patagonia region of Argentina that acts as a hub for a number of destinations in the area. It is known for being the gateway into the Perito Moreno Glacier. This article will talk about what to do in El Calafate and how to make the most of your visit to this beautiful part of the world.
The town is also close to El Chalten, the base of the Mount Fitz Roy, and one of the most popular places to hike in the region. You can read this article to learn about visiting El Chalten and reaching one of the most iconic views in the Patagonia region.
You can fly into El Calafate from most major towns within Argentina. Look into various flight options for visiting El Calafate here.
What to Do in El Calafate: The Perito Moreno Glacier
The Perito Moreno Glacier is many people’s top reason for visiting and discovering what to do in El Calafate. Infrastructure has been built around this glacier because of some unique qualities that make it even more exciting to visit than others. There are a few ways you can visit the glacier:
With Hielo Y Aventura Tours, you can hike on the glacier in various capacities, all to learn about the amazing features of glaciers and how to protect these masses.
While Hielo y Aventura is the only company that can get you on the glacier, there are other companies that can guide you to kayak near the glacier, another experience you may want to consider when we were deciding what to do at Glacier Perito Moreno. MilAdventura provides this excursion and you can learn more about their offerings here.
You can also visit the Perito Moreno Glacier without a tour group. This is great if you have a car and only want to visit the walkways (pasarelas) that take you along amazing viewpoints of the different facades of the glacier. Spending additional time here will give you the best chance to observe different breakages, an unforgettable experience to have while visiting El Calafate.
There are a number of walks that you can do with panels of descriptions of the glacier and different phenomenon that are happening in front of you.
Town Activities of What to Do in El Calafate
The Glaciarium
Another popular place to visit when considering what to do in El Calafate is the glacier museum located on the outskirts of town. If you do not have a car to get there, the museum provides a free shuttle that leaves hourly from Calle 1 de Mayo, between Avenida Libertador and Roca.
The museum itself is a historical recount of the discovery and understanding of glaciers along with the science and unique attributes behind glaciers. The panels are in both English and Spanish with guided tours in Spanish that give overarching information. Each panel within the museum is truly informational and will make you feel prepared for visiting the Perito Moreno Glacier in person.
At the end of the museum is an auditorium where they play a video regarding a truly unique feature of the Perito Moreno Glacier when its end connects to land, creating a dam within the lake.
The museum also has an ice bar made from ice from the Glacier Perito Moreno and for an increase in the price of admission, you can visit the ice bar and get two drinks.
Nature Reserve: Reserva Laguna Nimez
If you have more time to spend and are wondering what to do in El Calafate to have a peaceful walk in nature, we recommend heading to the Reserva Laguna Nimez. This nature preserve is a 3 kilometer loop through a lagoon and along the Lago Argentino. As you walk along, you will see different bird species in their natural habitat. You will also have the opportunity to go to the beach along the Lago Argentino where, weather permitting, you can see kite surfers playing in the waves of the lake. Cost of admissions to the reserve can be found here and is cash only. They also offer the opportunity to rent binoculars to better appreciate the birds found throughout the reserve.
Other Activities Around El Calafate
Besides visiting the glacier, there are other experiences in the region that could enhance your time in El Calafate.
Horseback Riding at an Estancia
This is something that you can do all around Argentina but there are some large estancias (ranches) in the El Calafate area that could provide this experience for you. Today, many estancias allow people to stay on the property and include different activities, including horseback riding, fishing and hiking. If you are not staying overnight many also offer the opportunity for a day trip. The following estancias provide some different experiences when considering what to do in El Calafate:
4x4 Adventure
You can also experience the Patagonia region by going off-roading to explore this beautiful landscape. These tours are typically half-day excursions, allowing you to combine this excursion with other town explorations (such as the glacier museum). This is one of the companies that provides these adventures. You may also be able to find others in town that have similar offerings. The main street of El Calafate is lined with tour operators.
Visiting El Chalten
Finally, if you are visiting this region of Patagonia, you may have heard about the Fitz Roy mountain and the town of El Chalten. This mountain is the inspiration behind the logo of Patagonia (the U.S. apparel company) and there is a famous hike that leads you to an incredible lagoon with the iconic views of the mountain. We recommend visiting the town over a few days because weather is unpredictable and you may want flexibility for when to do the hike so that you can see the peaks. However, it is definitely possible to visit El Chalten and do the hike in just a day trip, if that is your only option and you are looking for what to do in El Calafate then it will still be worth visiting.
You will want to take the first bus between El Calafate and El Chalten at 8 AM. Time is of the essence and you will have the best chance of completing the hike if you get there as soon as possible. It takes about 3 hours to get between the two towns. Since you will be arriving with all of the other day trip visitors, your hike will be the most crowded time on the trails. This is another reason to spend a few days in El Chalten because you will have more flexibility with your start and end times so that you can take in the nature without the large quantities of people.
From the bus stop, you can walk about 30 minutes through the town to the trail head to start the hike. The hike itself is very straightforward and easy to follow. You can find it here on AllTrails. It took us 8 hours to complete the hike with a 30 minute break for lunch. You may have to walk even faster to complete the hike during a day trip. The final bus leaving El Chalten for El Calafate is at 7 PM.
The overall hike is 14 miles (22.5 kilometers). It is an out-and-back hike with over 3,500 feet (1067 meters) in elevation gain. The last few kilometers to the turn-around point are the most challenging with uphill scrambles. In addition, the trail gets crowded throughout the day, causing back-ups, which may make the hike even more challenging.
The Blueprint Travelers Hiking Staples
If you are worried about making the bus, you can also hire a taxi or car service to drive you to the trailhead and back to El Calafate.
If weather is not ideal for your day in El Chalten, you can read more about the other things to do in the town. You can also use the article to build out a longer stay in El Chalten.
