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IMPORTANT: Some data, image or video may be from 2018 or before.
1. By bus: there is a bus terminal where buses arrive from El Chaltén, Esquel, Los Antiguos, Río Gallegos and San Carlos de Bariloche. There is also public transport from the Chilean town of Puerto Natales.
2. By car from Argentina: following Avenida Libertador General San Martín towards the east, it becomes Provincial Route 11. If you drive about 32 km, you will intersect National Route 40:
- Taking route 40 northwards, this road links El Calafate with other destinations in the western part of Argentina, such as Esquel, Malargüe, Mendoza, San Carlos de Bariloche, San Juan, San Martín de Los Andes, etc.
- Taking Route 40 south for about 62 km, you will intersect Provincial Road 5. This road leads to Río Gallegos and also intercepts National Route 3, which leads to the coastal cities of Bahía Blanca, Buenos Aires, Comodoro Rivadavia, Las Grutas, Puerto Madryn, Puerto Santa Cruz, San Julián, Trelew, etc.
3. By car from Chile: before travelling, find out if the Cancha Carrera border crossing is open. From El Calafate, taking Libertador General San Martín Avenue eastwards, it becomes Provincial Route 11. If you continue for about 32 km you will intersect National Route 40. 171 km along Route 40 southwards, and just before the village of Cancha Carrera there is a road to the right. This road leads to the border crossing, and in 9 km you reach Cerro Castillo in Chile. This is the shortest way to get to Torres del Paine and Puerto Natales from El Calafate and vice versa.
4. By plane:
- Comandante Armando Tola International Airport is about 20 km from the city centre.
- Direct flights arrive daily from Buenos Aires and Ushuaia. There may also be direct flights (to be confirmed) some days of the week from Comodoro Rivadavia, Córdoba, Río Gallegos and San Carlos de Bariloche. Connecting flights are available from many other places.
- From the airport you can take a taxi immediately, or there are buses that drop you off at the door of the hotel or at the bus terminal, as the case may be. To go to the airport, there are some companies that pick you up at the door of your accommodation.
- There are 2 or 3 car rental offices at the airport itself. Note that in high season it is advisable to book in advance because there can be a lot of demand and vehicles may not be available.
2. By car from Argentina: following Avenida Libertador General San Martín towards the east, it becomes Provincial Route 11. If you drive about 32 km, you will intersect National Route 40:
- Taking route 40 northwards, this road links El Calafate with other destinations in the western part of Argentina, such as Esquel, Malargüe, Mendoza, San Carlos de Bariloche, San Juan, San Martín de Los Andes, etc.
- Taking Route 40 south for about 62 km, you will intersect Provincial Road 5. This road leads to Río Gallegos and also intercepts National Route 3, which leads to the coastal cities of Bahía Blanca, Buenos Aires, Comodoro Rivadavia, Las Grutas, Puerto Madryn, Puerto Santa Cruz, San Julián, Trelew, etc.
3. By car from Chile: before travelling, find out if the Cancha Carrera border crossing is open. From El Calafate, taking Libertador General San Martín Avenue eastwards, it becomes Provincial Route 11. If you continue for about 32 km you will intersect National Route 40. 171 km along Route 40 southwards, and just before the village of Cancha Carrera there is a road to the right. This road leads to the border crossing, and in 9 km you reach Cerro Castillo in Chile. This is the shortest way to get to Torres del Paine and Puerto Natales from El Calafate and vice versa.
4. By plane:
- Comandante Armando Tola International Airport is about 20 km from the city centre.
- Direct flights arrive daily from Buenos Aires and Ushuaia. There may also be direct flights (to be confirmed) some days of the week from Comodoro Rivadavia, Córdoba, Río Gallegos and San Carlos de Bariloche. Connecting flights are available from many other places.
- From the airport you can take a taxi immediately, or there are buses that drop you off at the door of the hotel or at the bus terminal, as the case may be. To go to the airport, there are some companies that pick you up at the door of your accommodation.
- There are 2 or 3 car rental offices at the airport itself. Note that in high season it is advisable to book in advance because there can be a lot of demand and vehicles may not be available.