Calafate and El Chaltén
In the southern reaches of Patagonia, Calafate and El Chaltén offer two distinct but complementary ways to experience the raw drama of Los Glaciares National Park. One is centred on water and ice; the other on stone and air. Together, they give shape to one of the most iconic regions in South America.
El Calafate is the jumping-off point for the Perito Moreno Glacier — one of the few advancing ice fields on the planet. But it’s also a gateway to lesser-known corners of the park, accessible only by boat, horseback or foot. The town itself is well-developed, but the landscapes just beyond it are wild, cold, and elemental.
El Chaltén, further north, is smaller and more remote — a trekking village set in the shadow of the Fitz Roy range. Here the pace shifts. Days are built around trailheads, thermos flasks, and the weather. The light is clearer, the air sharper, and the scenery more jagged. There are few places better suited to long walks and quiet returns.
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Our Favourite Camps & Lodges
On the southern shore of Lake Argentino, deep within Los Glaciares National Park, Nibepo Aike is a working estancia surrounded by some of Patagonia’s most dramatic scenery — from granite peaks to glacier-fed valleys and open steppe. Originally settled by a Croatian family over a century ago, the estancia continues to raise Hereford cattle and sheep in a landscape that feels almost untouched.
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Set in a vast private reserve between El Calafate and Los Glaciares National Park, EOLO offers one of the most refined and contemplative stays in Argentine Patagonia.
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Tucked away in a remote arm of Lake Argentino and accessible only by boat, Estancia Cristina is one of the most extraordinary and isolated places to stay in Argentine Patagonia.
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Set within a private reserve just outside El Chaltén, Explora offers a more remote and considered way to experience one of Argentina’s most iconic trekking regions.
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Tucked into a quiet corner of El Chaltén, just a short walk from the main trailheads, Hostería El Puma is a warm and unpretentious base for exploring the Fitz Roy range.
Learn MoreBest Time To Visit Calafate and El Chaltén
The best time to visit both Calafate and El Chaltén is during the Patagonian spring and summer, from October to April.
November to March offers the longest days, clearest weather, and best access to trails and remote estancias. It’s also the best window for boat trips to Perito Moreno, Lago Frías, and other glacial arms of Lake Argentino.
October and April are shoulder months — quieter, cooler, and often very atmospheric, with shifting light and fewer people on the trails.
Travel outside this window is possible, but many properties and routes close during the May to September winter, when snow and harsh winds limit access.
Best Time To Visit Calafate and El Chaltén
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A print anthology of safari and wilderness travel with over 220 pages of travel inspiration.