El Calafate is a town of 29,000 people (2020) in the Patagonia region of Argentina.
Photos: Wikimedia Commons contributors.
El Calafate has grown due to the tourist influx into Patagonia. It is set on the glacial blue Lago Argentina and is full of eager trekkers. El Calafate's climate is cool and dry. Summers are mild and windy while winters are cold and slightly wetter. Temperatures can even drop to below freezing in the middle of summer while the strong winds, characteristic of the climate in Patagonia makes the temperatures feel colder than it should be. Snowfall occurs from May to September.
Many agencies have car rental options. The international brands Hertz and Avis have offices in town, on the main road.
1 Glaciarium (free hourly shuttle from Secretaria de Tourismo), ☏ +54 2902497912, info@glaciarium.com. 12:00–20:00. A newly built museum dedicated to glaciers, stands several kilometers outside of El Calafate. This museum provides exhibitions and detailed information on the makeup, history, and importance of the glaciers found in this region. AR$20,000 for either the museum or the glaciobar (as of January 2025), or 35,000 for a combined entrance to both, with 2 drinks in the ice bar included. (updated Jan 2025) 2 Centro de Interpretación Histórica Calafate (Calafate Interpretation Center), Av. Brown y Bonarelli. 10:00-20:00.
1 Calafate Tours & Adventure, El Calafate, Santa Cruz, Argentina, ☏ +54 9 11 2399-3429, hola@calafate.tours. Tour operator offering guided excursions to the Perito Moreno glacier. Specializes in ice trekking (Minitrekking and Big Ice), boat glacier tours (Safari Azul), and kayak expeditions on Lago Argentino. (updated Mar 2026) 2 Perito Moreno glacier (80 km (50 mi) away from El Calafate). The premier attraction in the area. Visit the Perito Moreno National Park where you can see the enormous glacier just meters away from you, and listen to the various sounds that the cracking ice makes 24/7.
Patagonic Lamb (Spanish: cordero patagónico) is the main dish. Typical barbecue (asado) is very good. La Toldería bar, Libertador 1177. Pizza and empanadas. It turns into a disco after 01:00. The pub of El Calafate. (updated Jul 2023) Don Pichón. A very good grill and restaurant. Pura Vida. A colourful joint with tasty dishes and nice lake views managed by four youngsters with a 'vision'. Don't miss: Sancho, 25 de Mayo 90. Ask for the stuffed beef, or Bife de Lomo relleno. La Chancha y los 20, Libertador 1250. Ask for brochettes. One brochette is enough for two average persons. La Vaca Atada (English: The tied cow). Ask for the "milanesa completa".
Loca Marimba Backpacker´s Bar, Av. Libertador 1315 (Galeria El Establo). A small beautiful place in the center of the Calafate to have good drinks, sandwiches and pizzas while listening to excellent music. The best parties in the city take place there. 1 La Tienda de Vinos. M-Sa 10:00-22:00, but unreliable. Wine shop with a bar allowing you to taste a variety of interesting wines in various sizes, with staff eager to tell you about them. (updated Mar 2018)
Guide content from Wikivoyage contributors (CC BY-SA) — abridged; the full article has much more.
Top-rated tours and tickets from €25 — book ahead for the popular ones.
Tours and tickets provided by Viator (a Tripadvisor company). Some links earn Stayonomy a commission.
In Jul, El Calafate typically sees ~3°C daytime highs and 10 rainy days.
Flight prices are real fares travellers found in the last 48 hours, refreshed daily — the booking site confirms the final price. Train, bus and ferry fares are shown on the operators' booking sites. Weather data by Open-Meteo; exchange rates: ECB reference. Data updated 2026-07-31. Some links earn Stayonomy a commission at no cost to you.
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