Visit El Calafate

Set on the edge of the Southern Patagonian Ice Field, El Calafate is the gateway to one of Argentina’s most extraordinary natural sights – the Perito Moreno Glacier. This small, lively town has grown into a base for exploring the surrounding wilderness, but it still retains a relaxed, frontier feel.

Most visitors come for the glacier, and it’s worth the journey. Perito Moreno is vast, alive with creaks and crashes as huge slabs of ice calve into the turquoise waters below. You can view it from walkways, take a boat trip up close, or even strap on crampons for a guided ice trek across its surface.

But there’s more to El Calafate than just ice. Nearby Lago Argentino offers scenic boat trips to hidden glaciers and floating icebergs. Estancias in the surrounding steppe give you a glimpse of traditional Patagonian life, with hearty food, warm fires, and wide open skies.

With its mountain backdrop and crisp, clean air, El Calafate is a great place to pause, explore, and soak up the magic of Patagonia. Whether you're after outdoor adventure or quiet moments in nature, it’s a memorable stop on any southern Argentina journey.