Add dates

Things to do in El Calafate

Our most recommended things to do in El Calafate

El Calafate: Perito Moreno Glacier Trekking Tour and Cruise

1. El Calafate: Perito Moreno Glacier Trekking Tour and Cruise

Discover Patagonia on this trek in Los Glaciares National Park. Explore the park on foot, and trek on glaciers with crampons. Learn about the flora and fauna from your guide along the way, and sail in front of a glacier on Argentino Lake. This unmissable experience begins at the “Bajo de las Sombras” Port, within Los Glaciares National Park. Take a boat to cross the Brazo Rico, to the west coast. After crossing, take a rest stop and meet your guides who will brief you on the activity. Strap on your crampons and trek along the glacier, following along with your licensed guides. See unique ice formations and learn about glacier ruptures and the natural life of the region. Return to the refuge through the Magellan forest where you can enjoy your lunch (not included) with a view of the Perito Moreno Glacier. Return through the Brazo Rico of the Argentino Lake, sailing in front of the glacier. You can also enjoy the view of the Perito Moreno from the catwalks: another way to see and appreciate its immensity.

El Calafate: Perito Moreno Glacier & Optional Boat Cruise

2. El Calafate: Perito Moreno Glacier & Optional Boat Cruise

Depart from your hotel in El Calafate at around 10:30 AM and set off for the Perito Moreno Glacier located inside the Los Glaciares National Park. Travel to the west end of the Magallanes Peninsula and enjoy plenty of time to explore this natural ice formation. Begin your tour of the national park by strolling along a 4-kilometer (2.5-mile) network of boardwalks. Admire the glacier from multiple perspectives as you climb up to different levels and balconies. Spend 2 hours exploring the runways and use this time to eat a packed lunch or make a stop in at one of the restaurants. Go on an optional 1-hour boat ride in front of the northern wall of the glacier. After the tour, return to El Calafate via the same route and arrive in the evening.

El Calafate: Todo Glaciares Boat Trip

3. El Calafate: Todo Glaciares Boat Trip

Start the tour with a pickup from your hotel in El Calafate around 7:00 AM to undertake the 47km route to the Punta Bandera Port where your boat departs at 9:00 AM.  The first part of the trip takes place in the north arm of the Argentino Lake before crossing into the Boca del Diablo, the narrowest part of the lake. Then, go to the Upsala and Spegazzini channels where you can view the respective glaciers. The Upsala Glacier is the largest on Argentino Lake and can be seen from about 20km away. The Spegazzini Glacier is the highest and you can also see the Dry, Heim Sur, and Peineta glaciers. After entering the Spegazzini Channel, a 300-meter path will be crossed without difficulty through the forest along the coast of the lake making stops at viewpoints overlooking the entire Bay of Glaciers.  Arrive at the Spegazzini Refuge where you can enjoy an optional 3-course lunch with drinks, visit the shop, and contemplate the landscape from the terrace.  For those who enjoy walking, the mountain path offers a 700m trek of medium difficulty through a wooded path with natural viewpoints of the Spegazzini Glacier ending at the landing point. Return to the boat and head back to El Calafate where you’ll be dropped off back at your hotel.

From El Calafate: Full-Day Tour to El Chaltén

4. From El Calafate: Full-Day Tour to El Chaltén

Discover the National Capital of Trekking on a private or shared guided day trip from El Calafate El Chaltén. Let yourself be amazed by this mountain town as you discover incredible landscapes and walk part of its trails. Start the morning with pickup from your hotel in El Calafate. Relax on the trip to the town of El Chaltén which is 220 km from El Calafate. Cross the Santa Cruz River and make a rest stop for a few minutes at Estancia La Leona where you can buy homemade cakes and a hot drink. Continue to El Chaltén, bordering Lake Viedma with its homonymous glacier. Take in stunning views of Cerro Chaltén (also known as Fitz Roy) and Torre on clear days, as well as the Viedma Glacier with its impressive icebergs. Upon arrival at Chaltén, have 5 hours to explore and enjoy this small mountain town. Enjoy a 700-meter guided walk to the Mirador de Los Cóndores viewpoint and visit the Chorrillo del Salto with a 300-meter walk over flat terrain. From September to April (subject to weather conditions and the presence of ice and snow), have the option to cover part of the trail to Fitz Roy Laguna de Los Tres and reach Laguna Capri, where you can have lunch on its beach. Return on a self-guided road that has no detours (8 km round trip). To return, meet at a previously arranged meeting point for the drive back to El Calafate, arriving at approximately 8 PM.

From El Calafate: Laguna de los Tres Trekking Tour

5. From El Calafate: Laguna de los Tres Trekking Tour

Embark on a guided hike to the spectacular Laguna de Los Tres. Hike from El Chaltén along the popular trail. Start with pickup from your hotel in El Calafate. Travel along Route 40 bordering the Argentino Lake to the town of El Chaltén. Once here, start on your trek to Laguna de los Tres. You will have approximately 8 hours to complete the trek. Walk through a variety of landscapes, enjoying the scenic views all around you. Hike through beautiful woodland and enjoy the beautiful views of the Río de las Vueltas Valley, crossing forests and streams, until you arrive at Laguna Capri. Make your way to Camping Poincenot and the Rio Blanco. Admire the views of the imposing mountain Fitz Roy at the Mirador del Fitz Roy. Afterward, head back on the same path to the start point, where your transportation will be waiting to take you back to El Calafate.

El Calafate: Perito Moreno Glacier Big Ice Trek

6. El Calafate: Perito Moreno Glacier Big Ice Trek

The trip begins with pickup from El Calafate and travels 1 hour and 30 minutes to Bajo de la Sombras Port. From here, sail across the Rico Channel and descend on the southwestern coast of Patagonia to reach Perito Moreno Glacier. Upon arrival at the glacier, enjoy a 1 hour and 30 minute hike with your mountain guides along a path next to the glacier. Arrive at a magnificent view point and marvel at the vast frozen landscape that stretches out before you. From here, attach the iron crampons to the ground and begin your hike walk across the ice. Trek across the ice for around 4 hours, admiring the fascinating ice formations from start to finish. From your expert guides, learn about the flora and fauna that thrive in this unique environment, and listen to interesting facts about the glaciology of the region, and in particular about the phenomenon of glacier rupture. Finally, return to Bajo de las Sombras Port to gaze at the view of the glacier from the walkways and balconies, and then return to the city of El Calafate.

Gourmet Glacier Cruise & Footbridges of Perito Moreno

7. Gourmet Glacier Cruise & Footbridges of Perito Moreno

Enjoy a full day experience aboard the María Turquesa Cruise that travels to the most impressive glaciers, sailing with the highest comfort. Begin with the transfer from your hotel to the Private Port La Soledad. After traveling 47 KM enter the National Park and board the boat. Cross a peninsulas encounter called "Boca del Diablo" to enter the North Arm of the lake. Navigate between icebergs through the Upsala Canal where you can observe the Upsala Glacier about 10 km away. Go to the Spegazzini Channel to see hanging glaciers such as Dry Glacier, Heim Sur, Peinetta and disembark at Las Vacas Post where you will make a 30-minute walk through a lovely forest. Continue to the front of the highest glacier in the National Park, the Spegazzini Glacier (135 meters above the lake level/440 ft above the lake level). Take advantage of the time, take pictures and contemplate in silence with the surrounding natural beauty. Head to your final destination at Perito Moreno Glacier, where you will disembark on the walkways to culminate a day full of magic and surprises. Finally, take a bus in which you will return to your hotel in El Calafate at the end of the day.

From El Calafate: Torres del Paine Full Day Tour

8. From El Calafate: Torres del Paine Full Day Tour

Embark on a fascinating excursion to Torres del Paine, departing from El Calafate. Hike through a stunning national park, surrounded by glaciers, lakes, and waterfalls. Take in mesmerizing landscapes, explore a variety of natural landmarks, and enjoy an included lunch. Get picked up from your hotel and take the road to the Republic of Chile border crossing. After the customs and immigration procedures, meet your guide and begin to travel the last 80 kilometers to the National Park. Gaze at the Mirador del Lago Sarmiento de Gamboa, the Saltos del Río Paine, the upper viewpoint of Cerro Almirante Nieto/Cuernos del Paine, and the entrance to Laguna Amarga. Once inside the Torres del Paine National Park, dive into the different trekking trails and receive your packed lunch. Follow a trail from the Salto Grande and enjoy a low-difficulty walk towards the Mirador de Los Cuernos del Paine, on the shores of Lake Nordenskjold. Then, back in the vehicle, begin the ride to Lake Pehoé, the last viewpoint, overlooking the Cuernos del Paine and the French Valley. Continue exploring and getting to know the southernmost part of Chilean Patagonia. Learn about its flora and fauna on your return to Calafate.

El Calafate: Estancia 25 de Mayo Tour with Dinner & Transfer

9. El Calafate: Estancia 25 de Mayo Tour with Dinner & Transfer

Estancia 25 de Mayo is a half-day excursion in which you visit this typical Patagonian ranch located very close to the center of El Calafate, showing its historical connection with the birth and growth of the city. The ranch has 17,000 hectares of land that range from the shores of Lake Argentino in the north to the border with Chile in the south. It is an ideal place to rest and enjoy the landscape at the foot of Cerro Calafate, breathing the purest Patagonian air. After being picked up from your hotel in El Calafate at 5:30 PM, you will be greeted at Estancia 25 de Mayo with fried cakes (you can bring your own mate as well) while they recount the history of the estancia, the first settlers of Calafate. and how their activities were carried out at the beginning of the 20th century. There will be a demonstration of the typical Patagonian activity of herding sheep with dogs. We inform you that as of April 1st we change the hours: Afternoon in the Field and Afternoon in the Field with Dinner Show: Pick up from 4:30 p.m. Dinner Show: Pick up from 7:15 p.m. After the talk and the herding of sheep, the excursion continues with a walk around the ranch and next to the Calafate Stream while visiting the old shearing shed and the corrals. There they will have a demonstration of sheep shearing with scissors and they will also visit the organic garden that produces part of the vegetables that are used in the ranch's barbecue for dinner. After the tour of the ranch, they will guide you to the restaurant "El Quincho" where dinner is offered (depending on the option purchased). Starter: empanada criolla and an appetizer; main course (grilled Patagonian lamb with chorizo, black pudding and salad from the organic garden); the dessert is to choice. What differentiates Estancia 25 de Mayo from other tourist estancias is that after dinner you can enjoy a folkloric show and a tour of the typical dances of Argentina.

El Calafate: Perito Moreno Kayak Experience with Transport

10. El Calafate: Perito Moreno Kayak Experience with Transport

Enjoy the convenience of being picked up at your hotel in El Calafate. Drive 80 km to the Los Glaciares National Park, an approximately 2-hour drive. Meet your kayaking guide upon arrival and begin your Perito Moreno adventure. Get ready to paddle by gearing up with a dry Gore-Tex suit, thermal suit, boots, gloves, and life jacket. Receive safety instructions at the lakeshore. There, your guide will lead you through a few warm-up exercises in order to get you feeling comfortable and confident in you kayak. This tour is welcome to kayakers of all experience levels. Whether you’re a seasoned kayaker or this is your first time, you’ll be in good hands with your knowledgable guide. Explore the majestic icebergs floating in the water. Enjoy breathtaking views of this natural wonder. Take extraordinary pictures of these icy giants. Return to shore after 1.5 hours of paddling. Leave your kayaking guide and meet your original guide. Discover the circuit of footbridges facing the glacier. Hear the ice cracking in surroundings ice formations as you walk along the catwalks. Afterward, return to your hotel in El Calafate.

Top sights in El Calafate

Available activities

33 activities found
Sort by:
Page 1 of 3

Frequently asked questions about El Calafate

What top attractions are a must-see in El Calafate?

The must-see attractions in El Calafate are:

What are the best day trips and excursions from El Calafate?

The best day trips and excursions from El Calafate are:

Perito Moreno Glacier

Other Sightseeing Options in El Calafate

Want to discover all there is to do in El Calafate? Click here for a full list.

What people are saying about El Calafate

Overall rating

4.6 / 5

based on 963 reviews

The Perito Moreno glacier was absolutely incredible. We spent hours looking up and down the face from different vistas, hoping to witness the next ice block calving from the main glacier, which occurred with surprising frequency on the day we were there. To top it off we even had a Condor fly over at very close range while we were watching the glacier. Our ride there and back was one time and in a comfortable coach. Our guide, Sebastián, informative, helpful and professional. We could not have asked for anything better.

A great day. Camillla was a great guide with lots of information about the area, the flora and fauna and the glacier. The boat trip across the lake was amazing with lots of time to view the glacier. A good walk through the forest to the glacier and plenty of time for photos. At the board walks we were given suggestions on the best walks to take. Stunning views of the glacier. All in all a terrific day.

Perfect sunny day for Perito Moreno Glacier. Well organized tour pick up from hotel. Our guide Rebecca was great very friendly, helpful and knowledgeable. Driver Diego was also greet very funny and kept bus clean. Great driver. Spoke both English and Spanish. This tour on a sunny day was a highlight of Argentina for sure. Beautiful glacier well worth the trip.

Very nice place, the ideal time is at 9am because after that there are many travelers.

suggest to book with local agency. it is much cheaper