Cheap flights to El Calafate
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Quick summary
Country
Argentina
Continent
South America
Airport
FTE
Currency
Argentine peso
Time zone
UTC-3
Deals already spotted to El Calafate
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Airport and transfer
An international airport about twenty kilometres from town
Comandante Armando Tola International Airport (El Calafate)
The airport, opened in 2001, lies about 20 to 23 km east of town according to Wikipedia (FR, ES, EN). It has daily flights from Buenos Aires and, depending on the season, from other Argentine cities such as Ushuaia or Bariloche, according to Wikivoyage (EN) and Wikipedia (ES). Outside the terminal, shuttles serve the town's hotels and taxis (remises) wait for travellers; for three or more people a taxi can work out about the same as the shuttle.
Distances taken from Wikipedia (FR, ES, EN) and Wikivoyage (EN); values vary slightly between sources. We give neither precise times nor fares, which change.
El Calafate lies in Argentine Patagonia on the south shore of Lake Argentino, in Santa Cruz province. It began in the early twentieth century as a supply point for wool transport and was officially founded in 1927. Its name comes from a thorny Patagonian shrub, the calafate, with yellow flowers and blue-black berries. Today the town lives mainly from being the gateway to Los Glaciares National Park.
Perito Moreno
The Perito Moreno glacier and its walkways
A glacier about 80 km away
The Perito Moreno is about 80 km from El Calafate (Wikivoyage EN, ES; 78 km according to Wikivoyage DE), in Los Glaciares National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1981. Its ice front is roughly 5 km wide and rises more than 60 m above the water, according to the local tourist office as relayed by Wikivoyage (ES). You can hear it cracking constantly, and when a slab collapses into the lake the sight is impressive.
The walkways
Large networks of walkways and viewpoints let you follow the glacier front from a few dozen metres away, with many steps; a shorter circuit is possible. Tourist buses leave El Calafate in the morning and take about an hour and a half, according to Wikivoyage (EN); you can also go by taxi, rental car or with an agency.
The southern forest and the walkways
The walkways descend through a forest of southern beech and conifers. The foliage colours change with the seasons, and the view of the glacier opens up gradually between the trees.
The wall seen from the side
Seen from the side, the ice wall shows all its shades of blue. The national park charges an entry fee, higher for foreign visitors: check the current rate with the park administration.
Lake Argentino and boat trips
Icebergs, boat trips and ice excursions
Icebergs in front of the glacier
Pieces broken off the glacier float in Lake Argentino. Depending on the day, their colour ranges from white to intense blue, and the light changes the water from milky green to bright turquoise.
Sailing at the foot of the glacier
Boats leave the park's harbour and follow part of the glacier front, for a trip of about an hour, according to Wikivoyage (DE, EN). Some operators also offer kayaking and mini-trekking, a guided walk on the ice with crampons; conditions and minimum ages depend on the operator, and we give no fares or details.
Lake Argentino and the Andes
Lake Argentino is ringed by mountains and steppe. Trails and 4x4 excursions offer broad views, notably from the heights above town.
Other glaciers and El Chaltén
Upsala, Spegazzini and the Fitz Roy area
Upsala and Spegazzini
Full-day boat excursions leave from Puerto Bandera, about 45 to 50 km from El Calafate, and sail up the north arm of Lake Argentino to the Upsala and Spegazzini glaciers, whose walls are among the highest visited in the park, according to Wikivoyage (ES). Some of these trips run only in high season, roughly October to May.
El Chaltén and Fitz Roy
North of the lake, the village of El Chaltén (about 220 km by paved road, according to Wikipedia EN) is the starting point for hiking trails to Fitz Roy and Cerro Torre. This excursion takes a day or more, by bus or rental car.
The Perito Moreno front
The Perito Moreno is one of the Patagonian glaciers whose front visitors can approach on foot. Its turquoise colour comes from light absorbed by very dense ice.
Ice wall and mountains
Photographed from the lakeshore, the ice wall stands out against snow-covered peaks. Bring warm clothes even on clear days: the wind can chill the air strongly.
Museums and culture
Glaciarium, local history and a nature reserve
Glaciarium
The Glaciarium, about 5 km west of town (Wikipedia ES), is a museum devoted to glaciers and Patagonian ice, with scientific exhibits; a bar made entirely of ice completes the visit. Check opening hours and access conditions before going (to be verified with the tourist office).
Centro de Interpretación Histórica
This small museum tells the local story over many millions of years, from dinosaurs and megafauna to the native peoples and the founding of the town (Wikivoyage EN).
Laguna Nimez reserve
A short walk from the centre, the Laguna Nimez nature reserve lets you watch Patagonian birds. It suits a first stroll after arriving. We have no photos of these places.
Food and drink
Patagonian lamb, asado and the calafate berry
The signature dish is cordero patagónico, Patagonian lamb cooked slowly over embers, often on a spit around a fire at the estancias; asado (grilled meat) is also everywhere, according to Wikivoyage (EN). Most restaurants line the main avenue, but we have no photo of the street. You will also find empanadas, pizzas and milanesas.
The calafate legend
The calafate, which gives the town its name, bears a blue-black berry used in jam, ice cream and liqueur. Tradition says that whoever eats a calafate will return to Patagonia. This is a local legend, not a fact.
Fresh produce often has to travel far: food is expensive, as Wikivoyage (EN) notes, because of the remoteness.
Getting around
On foot in town, excursions and rental cars for the rest
In town
The centre is walkable. For the glaciers there are no public bus lines: you use tourist buses, taxis or remises, a rental car (several agencies in town, according to Wikivoyage EN) or an organised excursion.
Going further
Buses link El Calafate with El Chaltén and Puerto Natales (Chile), according to Wikivoyage (EN, DE); a long route along Ruta 40 leads to Bariloche. Book well ahead in high season, as excursions are often full. A rental car needs extra paperwork to cross into Chile.
Stay careful
Dress in layers, protect yourself from the wind and check the official recommendations of your departure country before you go.
Budget
An expensive destination, especially in high season
El Calafate is one of the more expensive Argentine destinations: remoteness raises food and accommodation costs, and excursions (tourist bus, boat, mini-trekking, park entry fee) weigh heavily on the budget, according to Wikivoyage (EN, DE). The overall level is therefore above that of an average Argentine town. We give no figures, because prices change with the season and the currency. Outside peak season, between March and July, prices are generally lower (Wikivoyage DE).
The air fare remains the most variable item. SniperAir monitors prices to FTE and compares them with the route's history.
When to go
When to go to El Calafate? Cold, dry climate, reversed seasons
Austral summer (December to February)
Days are longest and mildest, averaging about 13 °C in January according to Wikipedia FR, but cold snaps and frequent wind occur. This is the busiest period.
Autumn (March to May)
Temperatures fall and the southern beeches turn russet. Prices are often lower (Wikivoyage DE).
Austral winter (June to August)
Cold and dry: about 1 °C on average in July and minima that can reach -12 °C, according to Wikipedia FR. Snow falls from May to September (Wikivoyage EN); some boat excursions are limited.
Spring (September to November)
The light returns and excursions reopen; the wind stays strong, as often in Patagonia.
The climate is cold and dry, with about 200 mm of precipitation a year (Wikipedia FR). The southern hemisphere reverses the seasons: summer starts in December. The Patagonian wind is frequent all year and makes the air feel colder than the thermometer shows. High season runs roughly from October to April.
By length of stay
How many days in El Calafate
The essentials
One full day at the Perito Moreno, with walkways and, if you wish, a boat trip or mini-trekking; half a day in town and at the Glaciarium.
Going deeper
Add a boat excursion to Upsala and Spegazzini, or a day by 4x4 and at an estancia.
Beyond
Add El Chaltén and Fitz Roy for hiking, with a night there if the weather allows.
In pictures
El Calafate in pictures
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FAQ
Frequently asked questions about flights to El Calafate
How do I get from El Calafate airport to the town?
The airport (FTE) is about 20 to 23 km east of town. Shuttles to the hotels and taxis or remises wait outside; a rental car is another option. We give no fares.
When is the best time to visit El Calafate?
Austral summer (December to February) is the mildest but also the busiest; autumn and spring are quieter. Winter is cold and dry, with snow from May to September. Wind is frequent all year.
Is El Calafate expensive?
Yes: the town is expensive, especially in high season, because of remoteness and the cost of excursions (bus, boat, park entry fee). We give no figures, as prices change.
How many days should I plan in El Calafate?
Two days are enough for the Perito Moreno and the town; three days allow a boat trip to Upsala and Spegazzini; four or more leave time for El Chaltén and Fitz Roy.
How do I get around El Calafate?
On foot in the centre; tourist buses, taxis, rental car or an agency for the glaciers, since there is no public transport to the park. Buses link El Chaltén and Puerto Natales.
What should I eat in El Calafate?
Patagonian lamb (cordero patagónico), asado, empanadas and, if you find it, something made with calafate berries, in line with the legend that promises you will return to Patagonia.
How much does a flight to El Calafate usually cost?
The price depends mainly on your departure city, the period and the booking date. The opportunities section above shows real examples of prices already detected by SniperAir to this destination.
How do I get alerted when a flight to El Calafate drops below my budget?
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