Destination
El Calafate & Los Glaciares, Argentina
El Calafate is the gateway to the Perito Moreno Glacier and the trekking trails of Los Glaciares National Park on the Patagonian steppe.
Trips to El Calafate & Los Glaciares from every city
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When to go
| Month | Season |
|---|---|
| January | best |
| February | best |
| March | best |
| April | fine |
| May | fine |
| June | avoid |
| July | avoid |
| August | avoid |
| September | fine |
| October | fine |
| November | best |
| December | best |
- October, November, December, January, February, March, April: Main season; glacier boardwalks and boat trips run all year but ice-trekking runs roughly mid-August to May.
- December, January: Nearly 17 hours of daylight around the summer solstice, but strong winds and the highest prices.
June, July, August: Patagonian winter: short days, snow and wind, with many excursions and lodges closed.
Where to stay in El Calafate & Los Glaciares
- Avenida del Libertador and the town centre: Restaurants, tour offices and bus pick-ups within a few blocks.
- Lago Argentino shoreline: Lodges with lake views a short taxi ride from the centre.
- Estancias outside town: Working sheep ranches with lamb asados and horseback rides toward the glacier road.
- El Chaltén: Trekking village under Mount Fitz Roy, three hours north, worth two or three nights of its own.
What to do in El Calafate & Los Glaciares
- Walk the boardwalks facing the Perito Moreno Glacier as ice calves into the lake
- Ice-trek on the glacier with crampons
- Boat cruise past the Upsala and Spegazzini glaciers on Lago Argentino
- Hike to Laguna de los Tres beneath Mount Fitz Roy from El Chaltén
- Lamb asado at an estancia near town
Good to know
| Airports | El Calafate Comandante Armando Tola International (FTE) |
|---|---|
| Passport for US citizens | yes |
| Price level | upscale |
| Time zone | America/Argentina/Rio_Gallegos |
| Kind of trip | nature, national-park, adventure, lake-mountain |
Questions about El Calafate & Los Glaciares
When is the best time to visit El Calafate & Los Glaciares?
November, December, January, February and March. June, July, August: Patagonian winter: short days, snow and wind, with many excursions and lodges closed.
Do US citizens need a passport for El Calafate & Los Glaciares?
Yes. El Calafate & Los Glaciares is in Argentina; bring a valid passport.
How expensive is El Calafate & Los Glaciares on the ground?
El Calafate & Los Glaciares is upscale by US standards: plan about $130 per person per day for food, getting around and tickets.