El Calafate is the closest thing to a city in Argentine Patagonia, but if you’re looking for skyscrapers and skinny lattes, you’re in the wrong place. Although it’s grown a lot in the past decade, El Calafate is still much as it ever was: a small town with an almost village-like atmosphere, sat by the still, cold waters of the glacial lake. That said, as the largest town in the region by some distance, it is well provided with hotels, shops, restaurants and all the other facilities you’re likely to need on your trip to Patagonia.
| Population | 22,000 |
| Area | 20,000 |
| Timezone | UTC-3 |
| Currency | Argentine peso |
| Airports | Comandante Armando Tola International Airport |
There is a wide range of hotels and hostels available in El Calafate, from budget beds to 5-star luxury, but across the board you’ll see huge difference between high and low-season prices. In fact, many hotels close completely over the winter months (June-August), while prices from December-February will often be literally double those for the rest of the year.
Hotels are clustered by the lake shore and in the downtown area, while most shops and restaurants are also to be found downtown. Eateries tend to be low-mid range, with only a couple of high-end restaurants, but the quality (as everywhere in Argentina) and value is uniformly good, particularly if you stick to classic Argentine steak and pasta dishes, or some of the local Patagonian specialties: lamb and trout are both generally good choices here.
The high season for hotels in Calafate is December through February, as the area is at peak crowded in its summer season. Many hotels are closed from June through August (winter), and you can get good deals at the ones that stay open. The remaining months are shoulder season, and also much cheaper than the peak summer rates.
| Rating | Price(USD) |
|---|---|
 | 27.00 - 35.00 |
| 38.00 - 47.00 |
| 41.00 - 74.00 |
| 83.00 - 95.00 |
| 105.00 - 125.00 |
| Type | Price(USD) |
|---|---|
| Hostel Bed | 10.00 - 24.00 |
| Location | Description | Type | Price(USD) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Glaciers National Park, Argentina | The premier national park in Argentine Patagonia, this includes among others, the colossal Perito Moreno glacier. | Entrance fee | 1.79 |
| Torres del Paine National Park, Chile | Arguably the single biggest attraction in Patagonia. | Entrance fee | 20.94 |
| Car hire | A 4x4 is optimal but not generally necessary, particularly in the summer months. This price is based on a 4x2 'soft' off road type. | Per day | 1.05 |
| Food Type | Description | Price(USD) |
|---|---|---|
| Budget breakfast | Coffee, medialunas and juice | 2.49 - 3.99 |
| Budget lunch | Empanadas, chorripanes and sandwiches | 2.99 - 4.49 |
| Budget dinner | 2-course daily special: often fish, beef or lamb. | 3.99 - 6.98 |
| Beer | A 0.5L bottle in the supermarket or in a restaurant. | 1.20 - 1.99 |
| Type | Price(USD) |
|---|---|
| Taxi from El Calafate airport to city centre | 1.05 |
| Shuttle bus from Punta Arenas airport to Puerto Natales | 0.35 |
| Taxi from Torres del Paine NP to El Calafate | 3.79 |
| Coach from Puerto Natales to El Calafate or v.v. | 0.90 |
| Coach from El Calafate to El Chalten or v.v. | 0.90 |
| Month | High F | Low F | Precip (inches) |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 66 | 46 | 0.5 |
| February | 65 | 46 | 0.3 |
| March | 61 | 42 | 0.5 |
| April | 55 | 38 | 1.0 |
| May | 46 | 32 | 1.2 |
| June | 41 | 28 | 0.8 |
| July | 40 | 27 | 1.0 |
| August | 44 | 30 | 0.8 |
| September | 51 | 33 | 0.6 |
| October | 57 | 37 | 0.5 |
| November | 61 | 41 | 0.4 |
| December | 64 | 44 | 0.5 |
As you’d expect, El Calafate has all of its best weather in the summer months, from December through February. These are the driest months in addition to being the warmest months, and of course the months with the longest days. The shoulder seasons here can be pleasant, if a bit rainy, and at least hotels are far cheaper. As an outdoor destination, the winter months (June through August) can be brutal with chilly temperatures and lots of precipitation.
| 21 Mar | 7:53 am | 7:58 pm |
| 21 Jun | 9:50 am | 5:52 pm |
| 21 Sep | 7:39 am | 7:46 pm |
| 21 Dec | 5:35 am | 10:00 pm |