El Calafate – Glacier Gateway and a Surprisingly Cool Town

El Calafate is probably on every Patagonia itinerary because of Perito Moreno Glacier—and fair enough, it’s one of the most jaw-dropping things you’ll ever see. But what surprised us was how much more this little town had to offer. We ended up spending an entire week here, and it was the perfect mix of wild nature and wine bars, epic sights, and slow mornings.

It’s touristy, yes, but a much bigger town, and after a few days in the middle of nowhere (looking at you, El Chalten), it was actually kind of nice to come back to a place with real grocery stores and proper cheese.

How many days in El Calafate?

If you only want to see Perito Moreno, you can get away with two nights. But if you want to do a glacier trek, kayak, or explore more of the area, plan for 4–5 days. We had seven, and honestly, it was exactly what we needed to recover from the O trek. The tours are very expensive, so keep this in mind as you are choosing the length of your stay.

Important things to know before your visit to El Calafate

El Calafate is a much larger town. That means you’ll find everything you need—proper grocery stores, ATMs, pharmacies, shops, fancy chocolate, overpriced sweaters.

It is an excellent place for a recovery week. The grocery stores are a dream if you’re coming from El Chalten, and there are great restaurants if you want to treat yourself.

It is a much bigger town, so getting around is easier if you have a car. If not, you will need to book more tours to see the sites around.

The Best Things to Do in El Calafate

Perito Moreno Glacier

The main event. If you’ve seen photos of a bright blue glacier towering over a lake, it was probably this one. The cool part is that you don’t have to hike to get to it—just walk the boardwalks and stare in disbelief. It’s incredibly accessible and absolutely stunning.

You’ll hear the glacier groaning and cracking as it calves into the water. It’s nature’s fireworks show. We stayed for hours, just walking from platform to platform.

Cost: Around $45 dollars for park entry (if you are going to El Chalten, the park is the same, so book the ticket with three entrances to save)

Getting there: Easy day trip with any tour or your own rental car

Tips: Go early in the morning to avoid the crowds. We got there right when it opened, and we had the park to ourselves before the tour buses started rolling in. The Red Trail always has fewer people, so go there first. There’s also a surprisingly decent café in the park if you don’t want to pack lunch, but of course it is very expensive.

Mini-Trekking on the Glacier

If you want to walk on Perito Moreno, this is your chance. It’s a half-day tour in which you strap on crampons and hike over the ice with a guide.

It’s not a challenging hike, but it’s surreal—blue crevasses, meltwater streams, and silence, except for the crunch of your crampons. They even give you a glass of whiskey with glacial ice at the end. Because Patagonia.

If you are on a budget, there are guided hikes that take you right next to the glacier instead of on top of it.

Cost: About $400 dollars (book in advance, especially in high season)

Company: Hielo & Aventura and Patagonia Chic are the two main companies that operate the tour.

Note: There’s also a more extended version called Big Ice if you’re feeling extra adventurous (and have the extra budget).

Boating/Kayaking Lago Argentino

For a different view of the area, there are boats and kayaks that get pretty close to the glacier.

For boating, there are two types of boat tours: a quick one to see Perito Moreno and a longer one that will sail up through the other glaciers. Both vary wildly in price, from about 70ish for the shorter one to about 180ish for the longer one. The pricing also varies by season so check the latest prices below:

Solo Patagonia also offers a kayaking tour. It will cost around 400 dollars.

Walk the Waterfront

One of our favorite things to do in town? Just walk along the lake at sunset. The sky does ridiculous things here—pinks, golds, purples—and the air feels so clean it almost hurts.

The best restaurant for the sunset was Parrilla Don Pichon. The views were incredible and they are famous for the Patagonian lamb.

Where to Stay in El Calafate

There are tons of options, from hostels to boutique hotels. If you want a kitchen to cook your meals, you’ll have no trouble finding an apartment-style place.

Best Budget Choice—We stayed with HomeExchange here, which made our stay free. Given the budget-busting cost of the tours, it was super helpful to stay for free.

Best Budget Stay: Calafate Hostel – Social, clean, great views.

Best Mid-Range Stay with a Kitchen: Patagonia Hope Suites – Would definitely recommend something with a kitchen so you can use your budget for the tours.

How to Get to El Calafate

There’s an airport outside town with regular flights from Buenos Aires, Ushuaia, and Bariloche. You can also take a bus from El Chalten, Puerto Natales, Punta Arenas or Torres del Paine.

If you’re driving, El Calafate is one of the few towns in Patagonia where you can actually fuel up, get groceries, and feel semi-civilized again. Especially if El Chalten is your next stop, buy all the groceries in El Calafate that you will need for your time in El Chalten.

Final Thoughts on El Calafate

Most people think of El Calafate as just a stopover for the glacier—but it’s more than that. It’s a town that knows how to welcome you. You’ll eat well, sleep well, and stare at things that make you feel tiny in the best way.

Whether sipping wine by the lake or trekking across the ice with crampons, El Calafate delivers. Don’t just rush through—stay a while.

You’ll be glad you did.