# El Calafate: map, what to do and when to go

A town of 22,844 on the shore of Lago Argentino, El Calafate is the base for the Perito Moreno, 80 km away, for cruises to the Upsala and Spegazzini glaciers and, 220 km away, for the El Chaltén trails.

Canonical: https://nilopelomundo.com/en/place/el-calafate/
Language: en. Extended author commentary and itinerary notes may remain in Portuguese. Dates below belong to individual sources; this is not live availability.

## Direct answer
- **El Calafate: How do you get from the airport to the center?** Comandante Armando Tola International Airport (FTE) is 23 km east of the center; the shared transfer by Chaltén Travel cost ARS 14,000 per person, at a rate valid from January 2026 to April 2027, and there are also taxis and remises at the exit.
- **El Calafate: How much is the entrance to Los Glaciares National Park?** Since June 1, 2026, the day pass costs ARS 50,000 at the general rate, and the second day, within 72 hours of the first entry, is 50% off.
- **El Calafate: How many days should you stay?** Four days, five if you can: two in El Calafate, for the Perito Moreno and the cruise to the Upsala and the Spegazzini, and the rest in El Chaltén.

## The Perito Moreno from the walkways
Buy the park ticket at ventaweb.apn.gob.ar before you leave and bring the ID used for the purchase.
- Perito Moreno Glacier
- Laguna Nimez Reserve

## The cruise to the Upsala and the Spegazzini
Go to Puerto Punta Bandera, 47 km west, by car or on the transfer sold with the tour.
- Spegazzini Glacier
- Upsala Glacier
- Glaciarium

## The Laguna de los Tres at the foot of Fitz Roy
Leave early on the Fitz Roy trail, which starts in the village.
- Laguna de los Tres

## The Laguna Torre or the Viedma, and the way back
Walk to the Laguna Torre: 10 km and about 3 h 30 min each way, with 250 m of elevation gain, which is about 7 h round trip. With less time, stop at the Mirador Torre (3 km, 1 h 15 min each way).
- Laguna Torre
- Viedma Glacier

## Perito Moreno Glacier
https://nilopelomundo.com/en/place/el-calafate/#g-lugar-glaciar-perito-moreno
Lago Argentino (departamento) · Half a day or more
With 254 km² and a front about 70 m above the water, the Perito Moreno is seen head-on from the walkways, a set of six paths at different levels on the Magallanes Peninsula, 80 km west of town. The Senda Central (600 m, about 1 h) and the Senda Accesible (565 m, about 30 min) suit those with little stamina; the Senda Inferior (1,100 m, about 2 h, the most demanding) descends to the balcony closest to the front, and the Senda de la Costa (1,117 m, about 1.5 h) follows the Canal de los Témpanos. Ice falls are frequent and throw splinters dozens of meters, so going past the railings is forbidden. The rupture of the Brazo Rico ice dam happens from time to time and has no predictable date. The park ticket is paid separately, and the sector has hours: 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. from September to April, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. from May to August.
Check access

## Spegazzini Glacier
https://nilopelomundo.com/en/place/el-calafate/#g-lugar-glaciar-spegazzini
Half a day or more
The glacier with the tallest front in the park, up to 135 m, descends from the Southern Patagonian Ice Field to the Brazo Spegazzini of Lago Argentino. It can only be reached by boat from Puerto Punta Bandera, 47 km west of town, on the full-day cruise that also passes the Upsala; on the Todo Glaciares tour, from Solo Patagonia, there is a landing at the refuge and the Spegazzini walkways.
Check access

## Upsala Glacier
https://nilopelomundo.com/en/place/el-calafate/#g-lugar-glaciar-upsala
Half a day or more
The third-largest glacier of the Southern Patagonian Ice Field, named for Uppsala University in Sweden, which funded the first studies in the area. It is also one of those retreating fastest: the retreat sped up from 2008, and the cruise passes among the icebergs it sheds. It is visited by boat, on the same cruise as the Spegazzini.
Check access

## Glaciarium
https://nilopelomundo.com/en/place/el-calafate/#g-lugar-glaciarium
El Calafate · One to two hours
An interpretive center dedicated to Patagonian ice, opened in 2011 on a hill on the edge of town, with a view of Lago Argentino. With models, dioramas, screens, and a 3D film, it explains how a glacier forms, how the Perito Moreno's rupture works, and who the explorers of the ice field were. The visit takes 90 to 120 minutes. At the same address is the Glacio Bar, an ice bar.
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## Laguna Nimez Reserve
https://nilopelomundo.com/en/place/el-calafate/#g-lugar-reserva-laguna-nimez
Up to half an hour
A nature reserve on Avenida Costanera, at the edge of Lago Argentino, sought out for birdwatching. It is open year-round and is a walk from the center; it is the outing for the afternoon of arrival or the end of a tour day.
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## Avenida del Libertador
https://nilopelomundo.com/en/place/el-calafate/#g-lugar-avenida-del-libertador
Up to half an hour
The town's main street, with the Paseo de los Artesanos, the tour agencies, the national park office, and the Museo Regional Horacio Echeverría. It serves as a place to buy and to meet, but it is a commercial street, with no landmark that justifies a visit of its own.
Check access

## Punta Walichu
https://nilopelomundo.com/en/place/el-calafate/#g-lugar-punta-walichu
Up to half an hour
A site with rock paintings and an interpretive walk on Ruta 11, near town, open year-round and tied to the Aonikenk occupation of the region.
Check access

## Laguna de los Tres
https://nilopelomundo.com/en/place/el-calafate/#g-lugar-laguna-de-los-tres
Half a day or more
The glacial lagoon at the foot of Fitz Roy is the end of El Chaltén's best-known trail: 10 km and about 4 h one way, with 750 m of elevation gain, and the last stretch is very steep. The park brochure advises caution in rain and wind, and there is no cell signal on the trails. It is the closest view of Fitz Roy without climbing.
Check access

## Laguna Torre
https://nilopelomundo.com/en/place/el-calafate/#g-lugar-laguna-torre
Santa Cruz · Half a day or more
A glacial lagoon in the Cerro Torre valley, 10 km from the village, about 3.5 h each way and 250 m of elevation gain, with a view of the glacier and the mountain. Those short on time can stop at the Mirador Torre, 3 km and 1 h 15 min away.
Check access

## Viedma Glacier
https://nilopelomundo.com/en/place/el-calafate/#g-lugar-glaciar-viedma
Magalhães e Antártica Chilena · One to two hours
The largest glacier in Argentina descends to Lago Viedma, near El Chaltén. The Aventura Viedma cruise, from Solo Patagonia, leaves from Bahía Túnel, 18 km from the village, lasts about 4 h, and includes a short walk to a viewpoint; there is a full-day version with a bus from El Calafate.
Check access

**El Calafate: How do you get from the airport to the center?**
Comandante Armando Tola International Airport (FTE) is 23 km east of the center; the shared transfer by Chaltén Travel cost ARS 14,000 per person, at a rate valid from January 2026 to April 2027, and there are also taxis and remises at the exit.

**El Calafate: How much is the entrance to Los Glaciares National Park?**
Since June 1, 2026, the day pass costs ARS 50,000 at the general rate, and the second day, within 72 hours of the first entry, is 50% off. It is bought at ventaweb.apn.gob.ar, and no tour includes it.

**El Calafate: How many days should you stay?**
Four days, five if you can: two in El Calafate, for the Perito Moreno and the cruise to the Upsala and the Spegazzini, and the rest in El Chaltén. Those with three days must choose between the glacier and the cruise from El Calafate, or the glacier and two nights in El Chaltén.

**El Calafate: Can you do El Chaltén as a day trip?**
El Chaltén is 220 km to the north, the whole stretch paved, with regular daily buses. A day trip only reaches the short viewpoints; for the Laguna de los Tres and Laguna Torre, 10 km each, sleep there.

**El Calafate: When is the best time to go?**
October to April, when the cruise to the Upsala and Spegazzini runs every day. In El Chaltén, check trail conditions and snow at the Visitor Center. From May to August the glacier sector closes earlier, July’s average high is 5.2 °C and the cruise runs every other day.


## In the Nilo app
- Plan these 4 days on the map: https://nilopelomundo.com/en/app/guide/el-calafate/?utm_source=llm&utm_medium=markdown&utm_content=door-itinerary
- Mark your hotel on the map: https://nilopelomundo.com/en/app/map/el-calafate/?utm_source=llm&utm_medium=markdown&utm_content=door-stay

## Full editorial guide (Portuguese)
https://nilopelomundo.com/llm/el-calafate.md