El Calafate
El Calafate is the main base for visiting Perito Moreno Glacier, about 80 km away in Los Glaciares National Park. The town also gives access to Lago Argentino, wildlife reserves and excursions around the region.
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El Calafate is a city in Santa Cruz province, Argentine Patagonia, on the southern shore of Lago Argentino. Most visitors come to see Perito Moreno Glacier, about 80 km away in Los Glaciares National Park. At the glacier, you can walk on paths with wheelchair ramps, sail or kayak near the ice, or take a walk on the glacier itself.
For wildlife, visit Laguna Nimez nature reserve, or look for Chilean flamingos in Lago Argentino near Estancia La Querencia. Four-wheel-drive excursions go to Cerro Frías, Cerro Huyliche, La Leona petrified forest and Punta Walichu, where archaeological sites can be seen. Farms near town introduce rural life through activities such as horseback riding and sheep shearing. Glaciarium is a museum about ice and glaciers, with a focus on the Southern Patagonian Ice Field. El Calafate is also a base for trips to El Chaltén, about 220 km away, where many trekking routes begin. Summers are very dry, with cool to warm temperatures; winters are cooler to cold and slightly wetter.
El Calafate in five
- Give Perito Moreno most of a dayThe glacier is about 80 km from town. The catwalks face the ice, and calving is easier to catch if you stay a few hours.
- Pay the national park feePerito Moreno is in Los Glaciares National Park, with an entrance fee on top of any tour. Foreigners pay more than residents, and the catwalks are included.
- Take a boat or ice trekBoats run close to the ice face, and guided treks walk on the glacier. Book in summer; places are limited.
- Budget for the windPatagonian wind can gust hard, especially in spring and summer. Pack a windproof layer even on sunny days.
- Book the El Chaltén bus ahead in summerBuses run about 3 hours to the trailhead town. Seats and rooms get tight from December to February, so lock in both before you arrive.
Things to do in El Calafate
See all attractions in El Calafate
Need to know
- Airport
- El Calafate (FTE), about 20 min from town
- Getting there
- Flights from Buenos Aires, Bariloche and Ushuaia
- Getting around
- Tours and shuttles to the glacier; buses to El Chaltén
- Best base
- The town center along Avenida del Libertador
- Time needed
- 2–3 days, plus El Chaltén
Weather by month
- Rainy days
- Snowy days
- Best
- Good
- Mixed
- Poor
- JanuaryPartly cloudy10 rainy daysHigh15°Low9°Long days, busyJanuaryPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 15°
- Low
- 9°
- Precipitation
- 40 mm
- Rainy days
- 10
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Long days, busy
- FebruaryPartly cloudy9 rainy daysHigh15°Low9°SummerFebruaryPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 15°
- Low
- 9°
- Precipitation
- 47 mm
- Rainy days
- 9
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Summer
- MarchPartly cloudy11 rainy daysHigh12°Low7°Autumn colorMarchPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 12°
- Low
- 7°
- Precipitation
- 57 mm
- Rainy days
- 11
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Autumn color
- AprilPartly cloudy10 rainy daysHigh9°Low4°Cool, quietAprilPartly cloudy
Good
- High
- 9°
- Low
- 4°
- Precipitation
- 54 mm
- Rainy days
- 10
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cool, quiet
- MayPartly cloudy9 rainy days1 snowy dayHigh5°Low2°ColdMayPartly cloudy
Mixed
- High
- 5°
- Low
- 2°
- Precipitation
- 43 mm
- Rainy days
- 9
- Snowy days
- 1
- Days with storms
- 0
Cold
- JunePartly cloudy8 rainy days2 snowy daysHigh2°Low-2°WinterJunePartly cloudy
Poor
- High
- 2°
- Low
- -2°
- Precipitation
- 37 mm
- Rainy days
- 8
- Snowy days
- 2
- Days with storms
- 0
Winter
- JulyPartly cloudy9 rainy days2 snowy daysHigh1°Low-2°ColdestJulyPartly cloudy
Poor
- High
- 1°
- Low
- -2°
- Precipitation
- 45 mm
- Rainy days
- 9
- Snowy days
- 2
- Days with storms
- 0
Coldest
- AugustPartly cloudy10 rainy days3 snowy daysHigh3°Low-1°ColdAugustPartly cloudy
Mixed
- High
- 3°
- Low
- -1°
- Precipitation
- 51 mm
- Rainy days
- 10
- Snowy days
- 3
- Days with storms
- 0
Cold
- SeptemberPartly cloudy8 rainy days1 snowy dayHigh5°Low1°WindySeptemberPartly cloudy
Good
- High
- 5°
- Low
- 1°
- Precipitation
- 43 mm
- Rainy days
- 8
- Snowy days
- 1
- Days with storms
- 0
Windy
- OctoberPartly cloudy9 rainy daysHigh9°Low3°Spring windsOctoberPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 9°
- Low
- 3°
- Precipitation
- 48 mm
- Rainy days
- 9
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Spring winds
- NovemberPartly cloudy8 rainy daysHigh12°Low5°Season opensNovemberPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 12°
- Low
- 5°
- Precipitation
- 38 mm
- Rainy days
- 8
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Season opens
- DecemberPartly cloudy9 rainy daysHigh14°Low7°Long daysDecemberPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 14°
- Low
- 7°
- Precipitation
- 35 mm
- Rainy days
- 9
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Long days
Average daily high and low in El Calafate, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.
Right now in El Calafate
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
10
- Feels like
- 7°
- Humidity
- 58%
- Wind
- 12 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 0%
El Calafate
05:43 PM
Monday, November 2
- Today11°7°0%Monday: Cloudy. High 11°, Low 7°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Tue13°9°2%Tuesday: Cloudy. High 13°, Low 9°. Chance of rain 2%.
- Wed11°9°40%Wednesday: Drizzle. High 11°, Low 9°. Chance of rain 40%.
- Thu10°7°73%Thursday: Rain. High 10°, Low 7°. Chance of rain 73%.
- Fri13°7°0%Friday: Cloudy. High 13°, Low 7°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Sat14°10°10%Saturday: Cloudy. High 14°, Low 10°. Chance of rain 10%.
- Sun14°11°13%Sunday: Drizzle. High 14°, Low 11°. Chance of rain 13%.
Updated 02:12 PM local time · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Money
Mid-market rate1 USD = 1,537 ARS
Rates from Nov 2, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API
Day trips by train
- El ChalténAbout 3 hours by busTrailhead town for Fitz Roy and Cerro Torre; stay a few nights.
- Torres del Paine, ChileAbout 5–6 hours by road with the borderBetter as an overnight trip than a day.Read the guide
- Puerto Natales, ChileAbout 5 hours by road with the borderThe usual stop before Torres del Paine.
Before you go to El Calafate
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Plan around El Calafate
Entry rules, money and the regions
Read the guideTorres del PaineChile's park, 5 to 6 hours across the border
Read the guideTorres del Paine bookingsRefugios, campsites and park tickets
Read the guideChileThe country on the far side of the border
Read the guideBarilocheLakes and Andes, a flight north
Read the guideTravel insuranceWeather-delayed flights and trek cover
Read the guideEl Calafate FAQ
How do I get from El Calafate to Torres del Paine?
By bus or car to Puerto Natales in Chile, crossing the border at Cerro Castillo, in about 5–6 hours. Buy your park ticket online before you go.
Is El Calafate or El Chaltén a better base?
El Calafate for Perito Moreno and the glacier boats, El Chaltén for hiking. Most trips spend two nights in each.
When does calving happen at Perito Moreno?
All day, with no schedule. Warmer afternoons tend to bring more ice falls, so give yourself a few hours at the catwalks.
Is a boat trip or an ice trek worth it at Perito Moreno?
The catwalks give the best overview for no extra cost beyond park entry. A boat adds scale from the water, and an ice trek puts you on the glacier; choose one if time is short.
How many days do you need in El Calafate?
Two days cover Perito Moreno and a boat or trek, with a slack morning for wind or weather. Add two to three nights for El Chaltén's trails.