El Calafate Travel Forum

Does anyone know how best to do this and how long it should take?

Hello there,
We are planning to go to Argentina in August - the height of winter. We are getting conflicting information from friends and travel agents regarding El Calafate - one says that it is fine to go in August, some hotels will be open, and we will be able to visit the glaciers, and the other says that everything will close down and it might get down to -10 degrees (celsius) and it would be impossible to visit the glaciers.
HELP! Has anyone been there at that time of year? What was your experience?
Many thanks.

I'm heading to Argentina in June for my honeymoon. My fiancee and I would like to go to El Calafate, but I understand a lot of services and tours aren't available in winter. We'll probably still go for a day or two if we can take the All Glaciers boat tour. I've read in other forums that the tour is available year round, but the Fernandez Campbell web site seems to suggest it only runs October-April. Anyone have any info?

Here's the link to the web site -- note my spanish sucks, so if I'm misreading, please let me now.

http://fernandezcampbell.com.ar/puntosventa1.html

Trying to lighten the load of baggage, because of heavy camera equipment. Is there a place in El Calafate to buy trekking clothes/shoe?
Thanks,
EG

Hi, I will be hiking in Patagonia soon and want to take my 1-person
Jetboil stove/mug with me. You are not supposed to
bring the small 100 g. fuel cannister on-flight, and I know
that Jetboil has no distributor in that region.

Does anyone here have any experience with how to obtain or
get such a fuel cannister in El Calafate? Are similar cannisters
(the Jetboil rep told me the cannister is pretty standard,
though they use an 80% isobutane and 20% propane mixture)
Is it possible to mail my fuel cannister ahead down to my
hostel in Calafate by USPS?

Thanks, Joe

Hi, I'm going to be in El Calafate in late February for 3 nights. For the two ful days we have there, we are planning to do the "Big Ice" and the Upsala Explorer / Estancia Cristina excursion.

I've been trying to book space for these ahead of time, but I haven't been getting responses from the emails I've sent to Hielo Y Aventura and via the Estancia Cristina website.

- Do I need to get advanced booking for these, or can I just safely take care of this when I arrive in town the afternoon before?

- If I need advance booking, does anyone know the best way to go about it? Do I need to go through a separate agency or something?

Any help much appreciated, thanks.

Hello,
I have read that in high season it is possible to take a bus directly from Torres del Paine NP to El Calafate. Can anybody tell me if thatīs true and if itīs true if I can book in advance?

Iīm travelling thru the christmas holidays. Does anybody know if there are busses in general on 25th an 26th december from Torres del Paine to El Calafate or Puerto Natales?

Thanks for your help!

My friend and I are wanting to fly from El Calafate to Mendoza (preferably without going back through Buenos Aires). Does anyone have any information on flights that might go directly between the two cities?

Also, we're looking to stay in El Calafate the 28th-30th. Any recommendations on accomodations that are nice but not overly expensive?

Thanks!!

Hi there,

I am planning to visit Argentina in January for a wedding in Buenos Aires. After the wedding, my goal is to fly down to the Santa Cruz region and to see: a) the Perito Moreno Glacier (and hike on it) and b) to hike and preferably camp out in the Parque Nacional Los Glacieres (and see Mount Fitz Roy and Cerro Norte). I would also like to see these (as secondary goals) if possible: Alta Vista Estancia, Lago Viedma/Viedma Glacier, Lago Azul. Here are my questions:

1) My plan so far is to fly out from Buenos Aires and arrive at El Calafate on Tuesday, January 15th. I would return from El Calafate to Buenos Aires on Friday January 25th (I will leave to head back to U.S. on Sunday the 27th). Can anyone suggest a realistic itinerary that would cover seeing the above?
I would *greatly* appreciate it!!

Also, is it possible to get in Torres del Paine (or alternatively, to reserve a few days to fly out to see Bariloche before returning to Buenos Aires), or are these additions just too ambitious given my time allotted?

2) As I said, I would preferably like to camp out (with tent, backpack, etc.) and 'rough it' in Parque Nacional los Glaciers rather than stay in hostels for my entire stay there (unless this is heavily recommended), but one concern is that so far I am going solo with no other companions. I have read the park is relatively safe (I mean in terms of robbery and other human-based crimes) and that it is easy to hook up with other English-speaking campers and hikers once there? Is there any way to safeguard against robbery, etc., while there?

Thanks for reading, and any other tips/helpful hints would be appreciated, especially if you live in the region or have done what I'd like to do...Also, if you are going to be in the area at the same time as me, would love to hear from you!

Thanks, Joe

Hi
travelling to Argentina in 2 and half weeks for 3 weeks
the plan is to go to Salta (fly return), then down to El Calafate (fly one way)
and then get to Bariloche for a week before getting a night bus or flying back to Buenos Aires.
The part we are having trouble with is getting from El Calafate to Bariloche the flights are coming for that stretch alone are around 400 euros. Is this possible to bus? has any one done it - roughly how much and how long does it take?
thanks

PATAGONIA travel information
Posted: Sat September 15, 2007 11:21 AM UTC
Hi,

i plan to travel early december for 20 days to argentina and patagonia.
How is the weather in PATAGONIA this time?
Is it too windy?, what clothes shall i take?
Is December a nice period for Patagonia.?

Thanx for your info

Ilias

is august a good time of year to visit el calafate or is the weather bad?

Hi All,
I'm planning to fly into PA from BA to then have roughly one week to cram as much into it as possible. I appreciate there is a wealth of things to do. I am able bodied though not an experienced mountaineer so I'm aiming to do as much as I can with the time I have. Advice, suggestions or similar would be greatly appreciated. Personally I hope to visit glaciers, do some hiking and horseriding. Rather than arrive and plan from fresh I would really appreciate some tips to pre-arm myself with so as I can hit the ground running when I get there so to speak.

Cheers

Russ

Are there any Irish that are going to be in El Calafate for Paddy's day? I know it's the most remote place to celebrate it but what can you do?! With a great day of rugby as well it's going to be a messy day. If anybody (Irish or otherwise) is up for celebrating on Saturday, let me know!

Does a flight exist that goes from El Calfate to Mendoza?

I'm trying to find out what is the ebst way to go from Perito Moreno city (not glacier) to El Calafate.
My itinerary is coming from Chile through the carretera austral and cross to Argentina from Chile Chico arriving to Perito Moreno City. I want to find out what is the fastest and cheapest way to arrive to El Calafate. Ideally by plane...?
Any help? Many thanks,

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

Hello,

Me and my husband is about to travel to Argentina on Feb 07 for 3 weeks, and I am trying to assemble a course.
We have desided to visit Buenos Aires for 3 days and than take a flight to the south- Calafate area. than we would like to continue by bus to Bariloche area.
Than we will rent a car at Esquel area ,travel to the north, return the car at Zapala area, where there is an airport and we can tack a flight to Igwaso.
My qustion - is this sound logic? is there a bus from Calafate to esquel, how many houres by car ? Thanks

Does anyone know if I would have enough time to do the mini trekking on the same day that I fly out of El Calafate? My flight is at 7:40 at night. The airline moved the flight time up on me so I am scrambling to make do. I think that the mini trekking returns to El Calafate at 6:30, which may be just enough time to get to the airport for my flight if I can get a taxi. Does the mini trekking return you to their tourist office or to each person's hotel?

Also, if anyone knows what time the "All Glaciers" boat tour returns passengers to El Calafate and how much this tour costs I would really appreciate the information!!

Thanks in advance!

Hello:

My wife and I will be in El Calafate, for 2 days---we are getting there on Sat afternoon and leaving on a Monday evening (7 pm flight). We really want to do the mini-trekking tour and probably will do it on Sunday. Our question---what should we do with Monday? Sat eve we'll probably just hang out in Calafate.

Thanks!

I did the Minitrekking on Perito Moreno Glaciers in November 2006. I am writing and article and want to get in touch with the guides. Their names were Carlos and Martin. Both spoke very good English. Can anybody assist?

Hola-

I've looked at all the posts on this and need some more help:

Wife and I are flying into BA on Dec. 3.Is it necessary to arrange All Glacier Tour before we arrive? If so, any good travel agents in BA?


How much are these glacier tours? Sounds like the All Glaciers is the best. Would you agree? Is one day of boating around glaciers enough? What else is a must-see?

Cheers,

Sam

Who knows the NEW e-mail address of Cootra (bus company) in El Calafate.
Tried to mail them on cootra@cotecal.com.ar but it failed.

What is the best option for travel from El Calafate to Torres del Paine?
1. Are there public buses that cover this route?
2. Are there rental car agencies that will rent 4 wheel drive vehicles (affordable) that I could drive back and forth?
3. Are there other options?

I'm spending 9 nights in Argentina. I'm hoping to get 3 days in El Calafate, but I'm finding the cost of flight to El Calafate prohibitive especially the 2x cost of flight for non-Argentina residents (~$550+). Is there any cheaper flights?

Does anyone have any more detail on the specific boat or tour group that offers the all glaciers, all day trip. We are most interested in the trip that offers the upstairs VIP area. There seems to be a number of boats that offer this trip and I would like to reserve the one that has been recommended. Thanks.

What are the options and how much do they cost?
Does anybody have experience of Hostel Lago Argentino - they offer airport pick-ups, but do not mention cost.

If I reach El Calafate around 2pm and fly out the next day at 4pm, will I have enough time to see the Perito Moreno Glacier. All the tours I looked at were full day excursions. Does anyone know if half day tours or excursions lasting a couple of hours are available? I am also thinking of renting a car and driving the 80kms from El Calafate to the Parque Nacional Los Glaciares.

If I reach El Calafate around 2pm and fly out the next day at 4pm, will I have enough time to see the Perito Moreno Glacier. All the tours I looked at were full day excursions. Does anyone know if half day tours or excursions lasting a couple of hours are avaiable? I am also thinking of renting a car and driving the 80kms from El Calafate to the Parque Nacional Los Glaciares.

I have about 4.5 dayas in Buenos Aires, any recommendations as for what I should in that amount of time?

I also have 4 days for El Calafate (which includes travel time to and from BsAs). So basically I have 2 full days, any suggestions as to what to do? I was thinking one day for Perito Moreno and the other for Upsala Glacier and Onelli Glacier. Anyone have a recommended tour company for glacier tours. I have the afternoon in El Calafate, anything to do there or is that just a stop point for the glaciers? When do most tours start/end and how much to they cost?