El Calafate : Capital of the Glaciers
El Calafate, a small town located at the boundary between the Santa Cruz plateau and the Andes, it is the gateway to Glacier Perito Moreno.
All the tours to the glaciers of the region begin from this small town located in the southwest of the province of Santa Cruz, on the southern shore of Argentino lake. Its main economic activity is the tourism industry, constantly expanding due to the proximity to the Perito Moreno Glacier. The tour to that glacier is one of the most impressive in all of Patagonia. There are experiences that mark a milestone in life, see the Perito Moreno Glacier is one of them. Once you arrive in the National Park you can also do the famous Minitreeking over the glacier which is an amazing experience because on this activity you will discover the unique feeling of walking on the ancient ice. The excurosion has got a full day duration and begins at Bay Harbor “Bajo de las Sombras”, located 22 km from the entrance to Glacier National Park.
El Calafate was founded on December 7th, 1927 , but growth only started after the 40s, with the establishment of Glacier National Park.
El Calafate has all the services necessary to serve a large tourist demand. There are 5 * hotels from international level, through warm and comfortable lodges to campsites with all the services that can be enjoyed during the summer.
Its name “El Calafate” is due to a typical southern Patagonia caulk giant bush that was in one of the oldest houses in the village. The caulk (Calafate) has yellow flowers in spring and purple fruits in summer. According to tradition, whoever eats this fruit will always return to Patagonia!
Note that the ideal time to visit this destination is from October to April season. But most tours can be done all year.
Be oriented in El Calafate is easy. Libertador Avenue divides the town into two: one part in this avenue and Lake Argentino and another to the south to the slopes of the neighboring hills.
All activity takes place on the strip: there are along about 600 meters and you can find the shops, the eateries, business souvenirs and regional products, and everything for the tourist. Note that, although El Calafate is a small town, it is very long, so you may need to take a taxi or remise to get downtown, depending of your hotel is located.
