El Calafate

El Calafate is a central tourist hub, providing tours of various parts of Los Glaciares National Park. As such there are a lot of restaurants, hotels, bars and shops, but less to do day-to-day.

My tour to Perito Moreno Glacier was cancelled, so I had the chance to explore El Calafate in more detail than I had planned. With only 6,500 permanent residents, even two weeks into the national lockdown, you could see the impact on local businesses.

Sights & Culture

Plazoleta Héroes de Malvinas

A statue commemorating the lives lost in the Falklands war. A lone woman stands, arm raised.

Anfiteatro Del Bosque

The tourist information centre and also the location for the bus to the Glaciarium.

Municipalidad de El Calafate

Small but cool looking municipal building.

Iglesia Santa Teresita del Niño Jesús

A low traditional church in a South American style with a terracotta coloured roof.

Firestation

A fire station, just before the bridge.

 

MUSEUMS & GALLERIES

GLACIARIUM MUSEO DEL HIELO PATAGÓNICO

A free bus runs from Anfiteatro Del Bosque to the Glaciarium if you don’t want to take a taxi or drive yourself. Focused on providing visitors with information on Patagonian glaciers and ice, it perfectly complements most people’s reasons for being in El Calafate; seeing the Glacier.

An Ice Bar is also on-site, though closed during my visit due to Corona.

CENTRO DE INTERPRETACIÓN HISTÓRICA DE CALAFATE

A small museum tracing the history of Southern Patagonia from dinosaurs to the first humans in the area to more modern history. Each room changes the epoch and models, artefacts and information is well provided. Surprisingly far from the main road, it is likely an overlooked location but one that’s worth finding.

MUSEO ARGENTINO DEL JUGUETE

The Argentine Toy Museum is right on the main road, and a large sign made of lightbulbs decorates the front and a classic car.

Inside is full of toys from South America, in colour-coded glass cases.

Museo Regional

A small closed museum just outside of town.

 

PARKS & GARDENS

INTENDENCIA PARQUE NACIONAL LOS GLACIARES

A good-sized park along the main road in El Calafate. A walking path around the garden shows off fauna and flora, and an easy trail with some of the first machinery used in the national park can be seen.

RESERVA LAGUNA NIMEZ

A large nature reserve on the edges of the water and home to a vast collection of birds. A circular path takes you around the park. Starting and Ending with the office building.

 

RESTAURANTS & BARS

KAU KALESHEN

A great local restaurant set back from the hustle and bustle of the main road. More traditional than the Argentine Steakhouses on the main road.

OLIVIA COFFEE SHOP

A great little cafe with lovely cakes.

ELBA’R

Local food in a colourful hippy venue. Popular with backpackers, it’s easy to understand why. No pretension but good options.

AMADO

Traditional wooden hotel on the main road. Friendly, helpful staff and a fantastic breakfast.

PIETRO’S CAFE

A pizzeria on the main road with good portions and good service.

CASIMIRO BIGUÁ PARRILLA & ASADOR-STEAK HOUSE

A little on the touristy side, the steaks were fantastic, and the menu was excellent. Tango dancers took to the floor for some local entertainment during the meal.

 

SPORTS & ACTIVITIES

LA ALDEA DE GNOMOS

A touristy shopping mall, just off the main road, the shops are all in faux-wood frames—a good place for picking up some souvenirs of local manufacture.

PERITO MORENO GLACIER AT LOS GLACIARES NATIONAL PARK

My reason for flying to El Calafate after Ushuaia was to see the Moreno Glacier. Unfortunately, all national parks were closed due to Covid during my visit.

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