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El Calafate and El Chalten

Probably the most famous ice flow on earth...

El Calafate and El Chalten - Monte Fitz Roy
El Calafate and El Chalten - Monte Fitz Roy

Possibly the most famous area of Argentina, El Calafate, and the neighbouring El Chalten, sit right on the edge of the Southern Ice Field, the second largest body of ice on the planet. Recently the area has seen a huge surge in interest (due, in part, to the presidential legacy of the Kirchners) with new hotels and facilities springing up all over the place. For most, the reason to come is to see the stunning glaciers that lie just outside El Calafate, but we also highly recommend spending a couple of nights in the sleepier El Chalten to take in mount Fitz Roy and walk in the pristine wilderness that surrounds.

Just a stone’s throw from the Parque Nacional Los Glaciares (and the infamous Perito Moreno Glacier), El Calafate is the larger of the two towns, having recently boomed from a population of around 6,000 in 2000 to around 27,000 today. This meteoric rise in fortune has been prompted by a couple of deciding factors. While its location close to the stunning ice flows that run of the Southern Ice Shelf has certainly helped, it has been more the fact that the president, Cristina Kirchner and her husband, the former president, are from the region that has prompted an international airport and increased infrastructure.

Today the town is a relaxed and interesting place, if, at times showing the makeshift manner in which it has grown (the old runway has now been consumed and is used as one of the main roads in the centre of town!) The central focus is on the main road that runs east to west and has the feeling of an Alpine resort, lined with good restaurants and bars that come alive in the evenings.

As mentioned, with this surge in interest and investment has come a range of hotels to choose from, some out of town, in the wide Patagonian expanses, and some located right in the heart of the bustle. For us, we are fans of the sweeping expanses that are typical of this area and of Patagonia as a whole and so tend to recommend the hotels that are more rustic and wild, but there are plenty of options to suit all tastes.

Click here to view some video footage of the El Calafate area.

Click here to view some video footage of the El Chalten area.

Best time to visit El Calafate and El Chalten:

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    At a glance…Western Patagonia

  • Size: 250,000 sq kms
  • Location: Southern Argentina
  • Recommended time: 3 to 5 nights
  • Time to visit: September to April
  • Go here for: Walking, the southern ice shelf, The Perito Moreno glacier
  • Further reading...

  • › Nature and wildlife
  • › Walking
  • › El Chalten
  • › What to do in El Calafate
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    Our recommended top hotels and lodges for El Calafate and El Chalten:

    1. Eolo Hotel - Environs

      Eolo Hotel

      The Eolo Hotel, Patagonia, is one of the select group of hotels in Argentina that have been awarded membership of the Relais and Chateau group, it is easy to see why. Set outside of El Calafate, Eolo is perched on the side of a sweeping, Patagonian landscape that, due to the clever design of the... More...

      Our rating:
      5
      User rating:
      5
      Price:
      4
    2. Aguas Arriba Lodge - External View

      Aguas Arriba Lodge

      One of the most special places in Argentinian Patagonia, Aguas Arriba Lodge is a remote mountain lodge offering guaranteed peace and isolation. With views of hanging glaciers and the impressive Mount Fitz Roy from its windows, it’s an idyllic spot for relaxing and doing some superb walking.

      Our rating:
      5
      User rating:
      5
      Price:
      5
    3. Don Los Cerros Boutique Hotel - Mountain view

      Don Los Cerros Boutique Hotel

      Positioned atop a small hill, right in the centre of town, the Don Los Cerros Boutique Hotel is, arguably, the best accommodation in El Chalten. At around 45 rooms, all with wide windows and comfortable furniture, it certainly offers a quiet haven to relax and unwind after one of the many walks in... More...

      Our rating:
      5
      User rating:
      4
      Price:
      4
    4. Estancia Cristina - External View

      Estancia Cristina

      A secluded lodge with exclusive access to the Upsala Glacier and Los Glaciares National Park, Estancia Cristina is one of the more difficult places to get to in and around El Calafate but is more than worth the effort once you do. Offering a range of activities and an insight into the history of... More...

      Our rating:
      5
      User rating:
      5
      Price:
      5
    5. The Esplendor - Bedroom

      The Esplendor

      Centrally located in the town, on a small hill, the Esplendor El Calafate is another of the good quality hotels that has opened in downtown. The cavernous entry hall is the first thing that impresses, along with the comfortable dining and sitting area, all with superb views. Designed in a... More...

      Our rating:
      4
      User rating:
      4
      Price:
      3

    Our recommended top travel itineraries for El Calafate and El Chalten: