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INFO

Santa Cruz, Patagonia Argentina

El Calafate


El Calafate is located on the southern border of the Argentino Lake, 315 km from Río Gallegos, the capital city of Santa Cruz province, and 80 km away from the Los Glaciares National Park.
Situated in the steppe region, the openness of its landscapes, the turquoise shade of the Argentino Lake and the vegetation characteristic of the desert area, amaze the visitors.
Since El Calafate is the last inhabited place before Los Glaciares National Park, this town must be crossed by in order to visit the park.


Activities

El Calafate is the capital city of Patagonian glaciers. Its main attraction is the Los Glaciares National Park, which includes a wide area with different climates and landscapes like no other in the world. From high mountains to the Patagonian desert landscape changes constantly: the always snowed high peaks of the Andes range turn into mounts covered by the typical southern Patagonian forest. Two of the largest lakes in the continent originate within the park, and to their left we can find the southern continental ice field, one of the largest ones in a continent, with the exception of Antarctica. Then, the steppe following the Andes range creates a special habitat for a great variety of mammals and birds, and it is hard to imagine the flora diversity of this isolated place.

Glaciers are its main attraction. In this almost uninhabited area, there also are many prehistoric samples, from rock paintings to animal, human and vegetable fossils, worth seeing.

Los Glaciares National Park is definitely a unique place in the world, and it is the reason why UNESCO declared it "World Heritage Site" in 1981.

It covers approximately 6,000 km2, and is located in the southwest region of Santa Cruz province. It occupies the area formed by the springs of Argentino and Viedma Lakes, and a western region that includes the Southern Continental Ice Field.


Location

El Calafate is located on the southern border of the Argentino Lake, 315 km from Río Gallegos, the capital city of Santa Cruz province, and 80 km away from the Los Glaciares National Park.

Situated in the steppe region, the openness of of its landscapes, the turquoise shade of the Argentino Lake and the vegetation characteristic of the desert area, amaze the visitors.

Since El Calafate is the last inhabited town before Los Glaciares National Park, this town must be crossed by in order to visit the park.

Distances from El Calafate
Perito Moreno Glacier: 78 Km
El Chaltén: 220 km
Roca Lake: 50 km
Río Gallegos: 320km
Punta Walichu: 7 km
Río Turbio (via Esperanza): 321 km
International Airport: 23 km
Río Turbio (via El Cerrito): 212 km
Puerto Natales: 335 km
Punta Arenas: 525 km
Torres del Payne National Park: 240 km
Neuquén: 2460 km
San Martín de Los Andes: 1835 km
San Carlos de Bariloche: 1667 km
El Bolsón: 1337 km
Esquel: 1166 km
Gaiman: 1418 km
Puerto Madryn: 1463 km

Nature:

The National Park's steppe shows a high adaptation to extreme dry conditions and protection against the cold and windy weather. The grass forms a short and compact bush with rigid and folded leave having a thick cutin that reduces evaporation. Circular bushes, as neneo, or crescent bushes are a common vegetation. Below the high Andes vegetation and up to the lakes level the Nothofagus forests dominate the landscape. The height of the top limit of the forest is between 1000 to 1100 meters.

There are three Nothofagus species in the Park: Lenga (Nothofagus pumilio), Ñire (Nothofagus antárctica) and Coihue or Guindo (Nothofagus betuloides)

Aromatic and tasty vegetation- Patagonian herbs and fruits give us all their properties and wisdom. El Calafate: is a native bush from Patagonia that has antioxidant properties due to its polyphenols. Also Canchalagua, maqui, elder tree, and juniper can be found. In the wide forests, cougars, guanacos, red and gray foxes, huemul, skunks, hares and dwarf armadillos can be found.


Climate:

The region's weather is cold and dry, with average temperatures of -2º C in winter and 18° C in summer; rains are scarce, mainly raining during the fall, and do not exceed 300 mm a year.
The ideal season to visit this destination is from October to April.


Other Activities:

Besides visiting Los Glaciares National Park and enjoying all its attractions, there are other interesting activities that can be done. From the historic La Leona Hotel to the different Estancias (ranches) native of the region. In these tours you can enjoy the typical food of the region, such as Patagonian lamb. Also, there are other activities that allow the tourists to enjoy the landscape, such as horse ridings, 4x4-vehicle excursions, fishing next to the glacier and birding.

Other activities include visits to the Regional Museum, the Walichu caves and the historical investigation center, which allow us to understand more than 14,000 years of history.


Artisan's Lane in downtown El Calafate


Perito Moreno Glacier seen from balconies


Glaciarium inside. Modern center dedicated to the dissemination of the Patagonian Ice and glaciers


Glaciarium: one of the few centers in the world glaciological interpretation.

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ACTIVITIES AT THE PERITO MORENO GLACIER