Tips & Advice
We recommend visiting Calafate for at least 3 nights. This way you can visit the Perito Moreno Glacier and another attraction in the area. There are many full day excursions worthwhile.
The official high season of El Calafate and Perito Moreno runs from October to May. During the summer months, the temperatures are very pleasant and the days are usually sunny. For lovers of autumnal colors, the recommendation is to go in April. During the winter months, you can also visit El Calafate; and something positive about this time is that there are fewer tourists. However, there are many activities that are suspended at this time of year.
Flight: To visit the Perito Moreno Glacier you have to fly to the city of El Calafate via Buenos Aires, Bariloche or Ushuaia. From Buenos Aires there are daily flights all year round and frequencies increase during the Patagonia season (October/May). From Ushuaia there are 2 daily flights during the season and some weekly flights in the winter. With Bariloche there are direct flights some days of the week during the season.
Bus: You can go by bus to El Calafate from Bariloche (24 hours), Rio Gallegos (4 hours), El Chalten (3 hours) and Puerto Natales (Chile, 6 hours). The other cities are further away and we recommend taking a plane.
Self-drive: We recommend renting a car at this destination if you like to travel at your own pace on the road. It can be connected to El Chalten. To visit El Calafate and El Chalten by car we recommend at least 5 days. You can also connect this destination by car to Torres del Paine National Park in Chile and to Ushuaia.
ATMs are located in banks, most of them, but are open 24hs. Each bank has a different fee that will charge you to use their system, plus your bank fee. We recommend bringing a couple of US dollars and exchanging them, so you have some cash to move around and then pay with Credit cards or use an ATM whenever you run out of money.
In restaurants it’s customary to tip about 10% of the bill. Note that tips can’t be added to credit-card bills, so carry cash for this purpose.
Estimate around USD 10/15 per person for the guide, for a full day tour and half of it for the driver.
Tip hotel porters for handling bags. Calculate an amount of currency equal to about $1.00 for every two bags. Same amount is calculated for drivers if they help you with your suitcases. If you are happy with the housekeeping you may want to consider tipping the maid between US$0.50 – $1.00 per night. You might also tip the concierge staff if you have used them to arrange dinner reservations, transportation or leisure activities.
In Argentina we don’t regularly tip taxi drivers.
We estimate around USD 50/100 per day, per person for daily expenses like eating, shopping and transportation, depending on how much money you want to spend on these.
The weather in El Calafate is characterized by being quite unpredictable. Although the day is nice in the town, you should always bring a coat, a rain jacket, a wool hat, a scarf and gloves to visit the Perito Moreno Glacier as the weather can be very different within the National Park.
In addition to that, we recommend using a high-coverage sunscreen because the sun’s reflection on the ice can burn your skin. Finally, it is highly recommended to dress with several layers of clothing since you can go from being cold to hot in a short time.
Other useful items: Warm fleece, wind/waterproof jacket, comfortable walking shoes, lip balm and moisturizer cream, daypack for daily excursions, warm socks and pants, long sleeve t-shirt.
Remember that tickets to all national parks in the country are paid in Argentine pesos and are not included in the tours. As credit cards are not accepted, we recommend that you always carry change in local currency.
It is celebrated every year in February. During this week of celebration there are sports and cultural events, along with performances of national and international artists. The exact date and artists are defined a few months before.
If you like to run, do not stop exercising on the shore of Lake Argentino. They are approximately 8 kms bordering the lake.
There are different places where you can take paid classes, among them we recommend classes at La Usina. In case you want to meditate or practice yoga on your own, anywhere in nature where there is no wind!
Near the lake or from the base of Cerro Calafate (about 3km from the center). Take into account that in Calafate in summer the sun sets after 9:00 p.m.
We recommend visiting Calafate for at least 3 nights. This way you can visit the Perito Moreno Glacier and another attraction in the area. There are many full day excursions worthwhile.
Flight: To visit the Perito Moreno Glacier you have to fly to the city of El Calafate via Buenos Aires, Bariloche or Ushuaia. From Buenos Aires there are daily flights all year round and frequencies increase during the Patagonia season (October/May). From Ushuaia there are 2 daily flights during the season and some weekly flights in the winter. With Bariloche there are direct flights some days of the week during the season.
Bus: You can go by bus to El Calafate from Bariloche (24 hours), Rio Gallegos (4 hours), El Chalten (3 hours) and Puerto Natales (Chile, 6 hours). The other cities are further away and we recommend taking a plane.
Self-drive: We recommend renting a car at this destination if you like to travel at your own pace on the road. It can be connected to El Chalten. To visit El Calafate and El Chalten by car we recommend at least 5 days. You can also connect this destination by car to Torres del Paine National Park in Chile and to Ushuaia.
In restaurants it’s customary to tip about 10% of the bill. Note that tips can’t be added to credit-card bills, so carry cash for this purpose.
Estimate around USD 10/15 per person for the guide, for a full day tour and half of it for the driver.
Tip hotel porters for handling bags. Calculate an amount of currency equal to about $1.00 for every two bags. Same amount is calculated for drivers if they help you with your suitcases. If you are happy with the housekeeping you may want to consider tipping the maid between US$0.50 – $1.00 per night. You might also tip the concierge staff if you have used them to arrange dinner reservations, transportation or leisure activities.
In Argentina we don’t regularly tip taxi drivers.
The weather in El Calafate is characterized by being quite unpredictable. Although the day is nice in the town, you should always bring a coat, a rain jacket, a wool hat, a scarf and gloves to visit the Perito Moreno Glacier as the weather can be very different within the National Park.
In addition to that, we recommend using a high-coverage sunscreen because the sun’s reflection on the ice can burn your skin. Finally, it is highly recommended to dress with several layers of clothing since you can go from being cold to hot in a short time.
Other useful items: Warm fleece, wind/waterproof jacket, comfortable walking shoes, lip balm and moisturizer cream, daypack for daily excursions, warm socks and pants, long sleeve t-shirt.
It is celebrated every year in February. During this week of celebration there are sports and cultural events, along with performances of national and international artists. The exact date and artists are defined a few months before.
There are different places where you can take paid classes, among them we recommend classes at La Usina. In case you want to meditate or practice yoga on your own, anywhere in nature where there is no wind!
The official high season of El Calafate and Perito Moreno runs from October to May. During the summer months, the temperatures are very pleasant and the days are usually sunny. For lovers of autumnal colors, the recommendation is to go in April. During the winter months, you can also visit El Calafate; and something positive about this time is that there are fewer tourists. However, there are many activities that are suspended at this time of year.
ATMs are located in banks, most of them, but are open 24hs. Each bank has a different fee that will charge you to use their system, plus your bank fee. We recommend bringing a couple of US dollars and exchanging them, so you have some cash to move around and then pay with Credit cards or use an ATM whenever you run out of money.
We estimate around USD 50/100 per day, per person for daily expenses like eating, shopping and transportation, depending on how much money you want to spend on these.
Remember that tickets to all national parks in the country are paid in Argentine pesos and are not included in the tours. As credit cards are not accepted, we recommend that you always carry change in local currency.
If you like to run, do not stop exercising on the shore of Lake Argentino. They are approximately 8 kms bordering the lake.
Near the lake or from the base of Cerro Calafate (about 3km from the center). Take into account that in Calafate in summer the sun sets after 9:00 p.m.
