El Calafate Travel Forum

Wer are planning an extended tour of Southern Argentina and I would appreciate hearing from anybody who has travelled from Calafate to Esquel &/or Baririloche.

I know the "Ruta 40" is the main road but are there any coach services on this route. Alternatively is it possible to fly from Calafate to Esquel or Bariloche. I know of the LADE Airline but understand it can be very unreable. Has anybody tried them?

Best regards
bev Colson

The bus servicies from Calafate to Bariloche or Esquel must be "relatively" normal in number only during Jan-Feb. I dont think most of them run outside those months.
Yes, you can fly to Bariloche from Calafate. Check www.aerolineas.com.ar for Esquel.

There is a bus trip from El Calafate to Bariloche by El Chalten Travel (www.chaltentravel.com). Takes 2 days with a stay in a hotel.

We will be taking the Ruta 40 Chalten Travel bus from El Calafate to Bariloche in Mid February. If you send me a reminder email after the 15th I'll tell you all about it!

Hi there,

have just done the reverse trip - Bariloche to El Calafate. A company that does this without having to do the 2 day trip with night stop over is Don Otto. Much cheaper this way i found.
Hope that helps!!

'maggi 777": any idea where to find more information about this service ??
(couldn't find anything on their website)

We just took the Calafate to Bariloche Chalten Travel service. It was intersting!!
Day one begfins with a two hour journey to the middle of nowhere where you change buses to meet one that comes from El Chalten. The bus was comfortable, but a "servicion comun" which means there were no toilets and slightly reclingin seats. The bus stops every 2 hours for a loo break and a bite to eat or drink. After 14 hours you stop in Perito Moreno for the night in the hotel Belgrano - basic, but comfortable.
Day two was in a better bus with a loo and a coffee machine - only three breaks though and the toilet was an experience!!!!!!!!!!!!
We arrived in Bariloche two haours late due to rain. Drivers were good.
The scenery is never changing, not perceptibly anyway. Lots to see - guanacos (like llamas), condor, smal emus and endless sheep and cattle. At one stop a guanaco tried to get in the bus!!
The fare is around $890 pesos including the hotel - thatīs around $300US or 150 pounds for TWO
Would do it again, but probably wonīt as this wonderful country is too huge to repeat anythong - so much more to see
Hope this helps