Tucked away in the mountains of Patagonia, the small town of El Calafate started life as a remote mountain outpost and is now gatekeeper for the nearby Los Glaciares National Park. Surrounded by rough peaks, gargantuan glaciers, lakes and pine trees, the outdoor activities in El Calafate are the town’s main draw. However, you will also find plenty of tourist amenities in this quaint spot. While it is undeniably touristy, El Calafate very much retains the small community charm you would hope for from a small Argentine mountain town.
Areas & Neighbourhoods in El Calafate
Los Glaciares National Park — The exquisite scenery, unpolluted air and relative solitude of Los Glaciares National Park are just a few of its main features, not to mention the immense aquamarine splendour of the Perito Moreno glacier. Meanwhile, those who prefer to avoid the cold should head to the park’s excellent modern museum, the Glaciarium.
Libertador — El Calafate’s main tourist street Libertador is chock full with fun souvenir shops, chocolatiers, tourist information offices and great places to eat. El Calafate is also bedecked in charming wooden houses, which perfectly illustrate the architectural style of this small Argentinean mountain town.
Lago Argentino — Argentina’s largest lake, Lago Argentino lies at the heart of Los Glaciares National Park, with El Calafate right on its shores. Come for the exquisite views of icebergs and mountain peaks, and be rewarded with a wide array of wildlife, from elegant flamingos to majestic condors and countless species of fish.
La Leona Petrified Forest — Venture out on the Patagonian Steppe to discover what was once home to the dinosaurs. This unique and mesmerising landscape contains petrified logs that have laid here undisturbed for 70 million years. Occasionally, visitors even uncover the odd dinosaur fossil, so keep your eyes peeled!
Things to See in El Calafate
Almost 100 square miles of sheer ice, the Perito Moreno glacier is the most magnificent in the Patagonian ice fields. To explore the ice flows from the safety of a nearby catwalk, set off from El Calafate with a Perito Moreno glacier full-day tour. If you’re feeling adventurous and want to get out on the ice itself, book a trek on the nearby Viedma glacier. Grab your camera, don some crampons and take an unforgettable hike along the crystalline blue ice that makes up this colossal geological feature.
Things to Do in El Calafate
While the things to do in El Calafate tend to revolve around the great outdoors, that doesn’t mean you can’t also get to grips with the town itself. Head out on a guided city tour to explore the history of this beautiful region. You’ll get to see and learn all about the charming mountain dwellings that have stood in the town since its founding in the early 20th century, before heading out to see the nearby Cuevas del Gualichu archaeological site. Surrounded by picturesque meadows, this site dates back to the region’s earliest inhabitation around 4,000 years ago.
