El Calafate

Information

It is a locality situated in a steppe area, in the west of the province of Santa Cruz. It is the usual place where most of the travellers visiting the attractions of the southern area of the Los Glaciares National Park stay.

It has a tourist information office, hotels of different prices, supermarkets, car rental agencies, petrol stations, automatic teller machines and banks. There is also a public hospital.

In the centre there is an office of Los Glaciares National Park that gives brochures and information about the activities that can be done in the protected area. There are also many agencies that offer excursions such as walking on the Perito Moreno glacier or seeing it from a boat. The park's attractions are 45 km or more away, depending on the place you want to visit. The Perito Moreno Glacier is 76 km away on a fully paved road. El Chaltén is 215 km away, also by asphalted road.

Regarding the attractions to see in the town of El Calafate itself:
- You have more than 5 km of shore road bordering Lake Argentino, with some descents with steps that allow access to the lake shore (be careful because there are swampy areas).
- The Laguna Nimez Reserve, which is very close to the centre of town, is a great place for those interested in natural environments and bird watching.
- Those interested in history and archaeology can visit the municipal museum and the historical interpretation centre, both located in the eastern part of town.
- Near the centre, on Libertador Avenue, there is an amphitheatre where events such as concerts and festivals are sometimes held.
- On the outskirts of town is Glaciarium, which is a glacier interpretation centre.