Location: El Calafate
Top Things to do in El Calafate
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Things to do in El Calafate, Patagonia: The Best Bus Tours
Building on its must-visit location, the once-tiny El Calafate has grown quickly to cater to and profit from the visitors to nearby Los Glaciares National Park. Many visit to see such natural wonders as Perito Moreno Glacier, a massive glacier that’s actually composed of many other pieces of shifting ice. Yet travelers will find that El Calafate is much more than merely a gateway to the Patagonian wild—it’s a fun town offering all sorts of outdoor adventures.
Restaurants in El Calafate
1. Calafate Balcony
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 2 reviews
The track takes you to marvelous landscapes with an incredible variety of vegetation in high altitudes. Reaching 1050 m over the sea level, our first stop is a natural viewpoint where you will enjoy the most stunning sights of El Calafate and the central part of the Lake Argentino. You will also enjoy sights of the magnificent Andes mountain range at the back and at certaintimes, the area of accumulation of the glaciers, towards Boca Del Diablo, (the narrowest part of the lake, on the road to the Upsala arm).
Inclusions: Local taxes, Local guide, Hotel pickup and drop-off
Exclusions: Food and drinks, Gratuities
Reviewed By V3155FJlisak
Fun day! The hike was fun and once we were at the top the views were amazing. It was a long drive from El Calafete but our guide was terrific providing a lot of great history and info. The 4x4 part of the excursion was a bit misleading as there was not a true 4x4 adventure as we were expecting (four wheeling) but rather a 40 min ride in a van over some rough terrain to get to the start of the hike. Overall we would do this trip again!
2. Full Day El Chalten
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 5 reviews
The idea is to provide those who do not have a lot of time, with an option to visit El Chaltén, the youngest town in Argentina, National Capital of Trekking. It will allow us to admire the Fitz Roy Mount (3405mts); Torre Mount (3102 mts) and the natural beauties of its surroundings. FULL DAY CHALTÉN WITH TREKKING TO MIRADOR DE LOS CÓNDORES AND CHORRILLO DEL SALTO • “Navigation Viedma Light” is not included. • Departure Time: 07:00 HS • Duration: 13/14 HS • The tour begins and ends in El Calafate. • CHILDREN'S POLICY: EXCURSION NOT RECOMMENDED FOR CHILDREN UNDER 5 YEARS OLD
Inclusions: Lunch, Pick up and drop off at the El Calafate hotel
Exclusions: Alcoholic drinks, Soda/Pop
Reviewed By danielarK9287UF
Worst experience in Calafate. Rude tourguides Abusive with animals No respect for the visitors or for the animals Sad to see these kind of experiences are still running Went there for the horses, there were not to much to see on the ride
3. Best of Argentina 2 weeks
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 1 reviews
The best of Argentina in 2 weeks proposes a tour from North to South Argentina. On this trip you will visit Buenos Aires, Salta, Jujuy, Iguazú Falls to end the trip in El Calafate, in southern Patagonia. After visiting the capital, you will depart to one of the 7 Natural Wonders of the world: the Iguazú Falls! On both sides (Argentine and Brazilian), you will be surprised with its exuberant flora and its varied fauna. Then, you will discover the andean North by private car. On a road trip, you will be able to explore its magnificent routes, its hidden treasures, its towns, its inhabitants and its culture. Besides, you will have a cultural exchange experience with a rural community living in Salta, at la Quebrada del Toro. Lastly, the glacier region awaits you, you will enjoy hiking through the national park, appreciating the legendary trees and snow-capped peaks, navigating through the Argentino lake and the incredible experience of visiting the famous Perito Moreno Glacier.
Inclusions: Breakfast, Breakfast, Breakfast, Lunch, Breakfast, Breakfast, Breakfast, Breakfast, Breakfast, Breakfast, Lunch, Breakfast, Lunch, Breakfast, Lunch, Breakfast, Breakfast, Breakfast, 14 nights accommodation in a double room., Meals when mentioned "included" , Entrances to the National Parks., Transfers to the airport (in private service when mentioned)., Private transportation from day 6 to day 10 (4×4 vehicle with English speaking driver-guide) , Guided tours and excursions mentioned in the itinerary, with an English / Spanish speaking guide
Exclusions: Meals (except when mentioned) and additional personal expenses, Air transport (national and international), optional., Excursions indicated as optional.
Reviewed By mfsungoddess
My group of 14 people visited with the local family for a great dinner and empanada cooking session. everyone enjoyed the opportunity to try many of the local dishes and to even make one. the hosts were fantastic. as this was our first day in Argentina and it set the tone for the reminder of the trip.
4. "Nibepo Aike" Ranch visit with lunch & Optional Horse Back riding
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 2 reviews
Estancia Nibepo Aike is far from mass tourism but readily accessible from El Calafate. This place retains the essence of the old Patagonian estancias. The estancia is reached after travelling along the edge of Lago Roca and having entered Los Glaciares National Park. The host guide welcomes you to the Estancia and takes you to the Quincho where you will be invited to have a hot drink accompanied by home-made cakes and pastries. A good moment to pause and enjoy a magnificent view of the Andes mountain range.Later, we will take a a good long walk during which there are excellent views of the Southern Arm of Lago Argentino, discovering the diverse rocky outcrops eroded by glacial action and the changes of water level in the lake By noon, we will then have an exquisite lamb grilled on a traditional Patagonian cross stake (or veggie option) and some free time to enjoy or an optional horseback riding ( Around 45 min) in these amazing landscapes.
Inclusions: Lunch, Transportation/pick up from hotels, Rural activities and guided tour of the Estancia, OPTIONAL Horse Back ridding (45 minutes)
Exclusions: Tips, Drinks during lunch
Reviewed By Dee B
The opportunity to see the glaciers up close and to trek on them was definitely a bucket list activity! From the moment you strap on those crampons, you know you are in for a once in a lifetime experience. The guides were great and you even finished the trek with a glass of whisky on glacier ice. This was not a strenuous trek so I think anyone could take it on - we even saw a man who seemed to have cerebal palsy and he had two guides assist him and was able to complete the trek.
5. 9-Days discovering the Best of Argentina: Buenos Aires, Iguazu and El Calafate
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 2 reviews
This is the best option if you want to discover and explore the most important highlights of this marvelous country! Get to know these three amazing destinations and its unique highlights. Do not miss on this opportunity!
Inclusions: Breakfast, Breakfast, Breakfast, Breakfast, Breakfast, Breakfast, Breakfast, Breakfast, Dinner, 3 Nights Accommodation at a 4* Hotel in Buenos Aires, 2 Nights Accommodation at a 4* Hotel in Iguazu, 3 Nights Accommodation at a 4* Hotel in El Calafate, All excursions are done in small groups with English-speaking Guide, All transfers from airport to hotel at all destinations
Exclusions: Gratuities, Domestic Flights
Reviewed By juliasU2939EQ
We really enjoyed this virtual live experience all together. And even-though we decided to "only" watch, due to the time difference (after dinner for us), we had a great time learning more about how to properly cook Empanadas. Thanks again to Camila for making it very interesting, "tasteful"and fun and giving us the chance to discover the world of Empanadas and also sharing insights about Argentina with us.
6. La Lioness Petrified Forest
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 1 reviews
This is a whole day excursion very different from the rest in the area. The site is located in the middle steppe just halfway between El Calafate and El Chaltén. Throughout the walk you can see a large number of petrified logs that lie on the surface, some 70 million years old, some with a diameter of 1.20 m. These remains are testimony to ancient times where the weather was very different from today and allowed the support of a large and abundant flora. Occasionally fossil remains of different types of dinosaurs are discovered.
Inclusions: Air-conditioned vehicle, The lunch offered is a Box Lunch
Exclusions:
Reviewed By megabrain22
The horses do the leading, your just a passager. The scenery is picture worthy on the 5pm route when I went. If you dress like a Gaucho, it would add a little more flare to the picture:)
7. Perito Moreno Glacier Mini-Trekking Day Trip
Overall Ratings
4.9 based on 28 reviews
After the disembarkation we access the refuge where the guides organize the groups that are composed each up to 20 people. Then we start a walk along the lake shore for approximately 20 minutes to the glacier. Upon reaching the edge of the ice the guides place the crampons to the participants, who receive instructions on how they should move on the ice. The tour on the glacier is done in about 2 hours, and during the course of it you can see a variety of ice formations such as cracks, seracs, sinkholes, small lagoons. The walk is moderate. The ice surface on which you walk is irregular, but firm and safe. Explanations will be received about the flora, fauna and general glaciology of the region as well as the particular phenomenon that occurs in the Perito Moreno glacier and eventually produces its rupture. At the end of the walk, you will return to the refuge through the exuberant Magellan forest, and then take the catamaran back to Puerto Bajo de Las Sombras.
Inclusions: Hotel pickup and drop-off hotels located at Calafate downtown areas, Crampons to the participants, Guide for all the tour, Pick up time could be at 8 AM or at 1 PM depending on the availability in high season
Exclusions: Gratuities, National Park fees, Take a lunch box to have a meal in the woods at the side of the lake, before embarking., Transfers Calafate airport to Calafate Hotel are not included, Food or Drinks
Reviewed By silviapoli
Not worth it, I'm afraid. Too expensive to get to see just one of the glaciers, the Spegazzini one. (The Upsala glacier can only be seen from afar, as it's deemed too risky to approach). The journey was too long and quite uncomfortable (the ferry I took was the Quo Vadis). Too many people travelling. The ferry was 80% full in Covid times, which I found unsensible and irresponsible. We could not choose where to sit or change seats afterwards. The Spegazzini refuge is partly open. You can take a (rather short) walk in the woods, but the café/restaurant/toilet area is (still) closed and looks quite derelict. I've taken other tours in the area (Perito Moreno Glacier/ Canal Beagle/Full day at Chalten) and they were less expensive, better organised and far more enjoyable than this one.
8. Full Day Perito Moreno Glacier Park with Optional Boat Safari ride
Overall Ratings
4.9 based on 10 reviews
Join this full day tour departing from Los Glaciares National Park, which is an area of exceptional natural beauty. With rugged, towering mountains and numerous glacial lakes, explore the National Park as well as Lake Argentino which is 160 km long. At its farthest end, three glaciers meet to launch massive igloo icebergs into the lake with thunderous splashes. Its most famous glacier, the Perito Moreno, awaits us with all its splendor and power.
Inclusions: Hotel pickup and drop-off, Transport by air-conditioned vehicle, Guided tour
Exclusions: Entrance fees (national park), Lunch
Reviewed By Dee B
The opportunity to see the glaciers up close and to trek on them was definitely a bucket list activity! From the moment you strap on those crampons, you know you are in for a once in a lifetime experience. The guides were great and you even finished the trek with a glass of whisky on glacier ice. This was not a strenuous trek so I think anyone could take it on - we even saw a man who seemed to have cerebal palsy and he had two guides assist him and was able to complete the trek.
9. 5-Days Discovery Ushuaia and El Calafate
Overall Ratings
4.8 based on 4 reviews
Travel to the end of the world! Join us in this adventure and get to know the most southern capital city in the world, Ushuaia. Be astonished by its landscape littered with dense forests, snow-capped mountains, lakes and millenary glaciers.
Inclusions: Breakfast, Breakfast, Breakfast, Breakfast, Transfers in Ushuaia and Calafate, 1 Night at a 4* Hotel in Ushuaia, 3 Nights at a 4* Hotel in El Calafate, English-speaking Guide, Excursion to Tierra del Fuego National Park, Excursion to Beagle Channel and Sea Wolf Island, Excursion to Punta Bandera and Ice Rivers, Excursion to Perito Moreno Glacier
Exclusions: Plane Tickets, Transfers in Buenos Aires, Meals, excepting breakfast at the hotel, Air tickets Buenos Aires – Ushuaia – El Calafate – Buenos Aires
Reviewed By JohnVandeDam
Be sure to book only with Piratours - ideally directly at their office in the centre of Ushuaia. We had a terrible experience with cancellation of our trip (booked here!) via Grey Line - despite paying in full for a trip on a date shown online here as available. Luckily, that was not the fault of the actual operator Piratour and they were able to fit us in when we went there in person. However, although quite expensive, it was well worth the experience and the tour is respectful of nature & the environment.
10. Full-Day Tour to the Perito Moreno Glacier including Boat Safari
Overall Ratings
4.6 based on 305 reviews
Be seduced by the fascinating landscape of the Perito Moreno glacier on this full-day tour from El Calafate. Admire the mesmerizing beauty of the spiky glacier walls, its crevasses and the immensity of its ice formations while touring this renowned national park. Enjoy a 1-hour boat ride to get a different perspective of this natural wonder that rises 240 feet above Argentino Lake. On this tour, you’ll also learn about the general glaciology of the region, as well as the formation of an ice bridge, a particular phenomenon that happens every few years in the Perito Moreno Glacier.
Inclusions: Professional Bilingual Guide, Boat ride, Hotel pickup and drop off, Air-conditioned vehicle
Exclusions: Gratuities, Lunch, Entrance fees (around USD 17.00) payable only in cash and local currency
Reviewed By Dannysupersonic
I was a little concerned as I read in many reviews that this tour is too long, and yes, I found it long. But you are in Patagonia, distances are supposed to be huge and the landscape is a big reward, so the distance is in the end acceptable. If you are afraid of distances don't come to Patagonia! The guide and driver (Matias and Mauro) were highly professional and let us experience the park from many beautiful places, so in only 1 day we have been able to get the most out of the national park. Border crossing didn't present any problem, and even the lunchbox was tasty and abundant. Not a lot of toilets during the trip, but this is nobody's fault so just be prepared. Unmissable!
