El Calafate Travel Guide

El Calafate is situated on the shore of Lake Argentino in the southern part of  Argentine Patagonia. The city is named after a berry that grows in the area which is said that once eaten will guarantee your return to Patagonia. El Calafate is the gateway to one of Argentina’s greatest attractions, the Perito Moreno glacier. You can take a boat trip to watch huge chunks of ice breaking off the glacier and plummeting into the lake or even trek on top of the glacier itself. El Calafate is also the best place to base yourself for further explorations of the vast Patagonian steppe and traditional estancias.

El Calafate can be visited any time between October and April. The most popular time to go is between December and February which is summer and the high season. Although temperatures are their highest in these months, it is extremely windy and the weather is always unpredictable. March and April, whilst turning colder, can be a lovely time to go to see the Autumn colours. Most hotels close between June and August over winter.

A well thought out selection of hotels can make a good trip truely exceptional and here at The Latin America Travel Company we put a lot of resources into sourcing and visiting hotels. Below are our favourites in El Calafate.

With the incredible Los Glaciares National Park and the vast Patagonian landscapes, El Calafate is one of Argentina’s most spectacular destinations. Below are our top highlights in the area.

From El Calafate journey further south to Ushuaia, the southernmost city in the world, or head north to explore the Pampas and traditional estancia life. Use the links below to learn more about Argentina with our essential guides.