El Calafate travel guide

El Calafate sits on the south shore of Lago Argentino, a town existing almost entirely as a tourist centre for visiting the glaciers in the Parque Nacional los Glaciares, 50 km west. From here you can visit Glaciar Perito Moreno by bus and boat, and even go trekking on its surface. Alternatively, travel by boat along the western arms of Lago Argentino, between stately floating icebergs, to see the glaciers of Spegazzini and Upsala. Best of all, take the long day excursion by boat to Estancia Cristina, which gives you the chance to trek, or ride horses up to a spectacular viewpoint above Upsala Glacier. All are breathtakingly beautiful, and an unforgettable part of your trip to Patagonia. The town itself can be expensive, and at times in January and February, even the growing number of hotels, hostels and cabañas can’t quite accommodate the hordes, so it’s essential to book ahead. The town is empty and quiet all winter, but can be extremely cold and most tourist services close down, it’s best to come in March or April if you can. A small ski resort with just four pistes opened in 2006, 11 km away in the nearby hills: this is a brave attempt to keep visitors coming in winter, but has a long way to go. You can visit the Perito Moreno Glacier all year round, but weather close to the glacier can make it unpleasant. There are a couple of festivals worth seeing: Lago Argentino Day, on 15 February and Día de la Tradición, on 10 November. For more information on El Calafate, see http://www.losglaciares.com and http://www.todocalafate.com.