Top Activities on the Ground in El Calafate

Embark on an off-road adventure in Patagonia—and leave the driving and logistics to someone else—on this 4x4 tour leaving from El Calafate. Your guide drives your group in a 4x4 vehicle through the rugged landscape to a hilltop, where you’ll see panoramic views of Chile and Argentina, including Torres del Paine, Argentina Lake, Cerro Fitz Roy, and El Calafate from above. Enjoy lunch before returning to the city.

Check out the magnificent Perito Moreno Glacier, which can reach up to over 260ft (80m) high, on this full day trek, either guided or non-guided- your choice. You'll have a chance to walk along the glacier walkways, and get tons of photos from viewpoints along the way. This tour starts in Los Glaciares National park, which is about 50m (80km) from El Calafate.

Trekking on a glacier is a big adventure, but it doesn’t need to take up precious planning time or cause any stress. This guided tour to the Perito Moreno Glacier area in Los Glaciares National Park takes you on a hassle-free hike across some of Patagonia’s most stunning glaciers. All necessary equipment is included, plus your guides provide information about the area’s history and culture as you go.

Break less of a sweat than you would on traditional El Chaltén hiking tours on a gentle trekking day trip that’s ideal for less-experienced walkers. You’ll embark on two low-exertion walks that still reveal spectacular views of the landscapes, at a relaxed pace that’s tailored to the whole group.

Experience the majestic icy expanse of the Perito Moreno Glacier on this full-day tour from El Calafate. Enjoy views of the peaks of Los Glaciares National Park with a professional guide, and take an optional boat ride on Lago Argentino for an up-close perspective on the fantastic formation. You might even witness the glacier’s signature movement and cracking sounds from detaching icebergs.

Admire the UNESCO-listed Perito Moreno Glacier and the spectacular landscapes of Los Glaciares National Park from two different perspectives on a day trip from El Calafate. Not only will you enjoy ample time to see the glacier from the boardwalks, you’ll also get closer to the ice during a boat trip on Argentino Lake (Lago Argentino).

Travel to Torres del Paine in a rugged adventure truck, using an unpaved short cut to shave hours from your time in transit. That means more time in Torres del Paine National Park, where you’ll spend the morning hiking to viewpoints with spectacular perspectives on the mountain landscape. After a provided, picnic lunch, set out on a 2-hour hike to Lake Pehoé and Lake Nordenskjöld.

Our navigation will take you to know one of the most beautiful places in Los Glaciares National Park, which only a few people have the privilege of accessing: the May Sine of Lake Argentino. The Seno Mayo (or Brazo Mayo), is one of the wettest sectors of the National Park, that is why the vegetation that can be selected in the course of the two walks (which we will do in the Patagonian Andean forest) is totally different from the which observes in other places National Park. The "Mayo Spirit Trek" is the perfect combination of trekking in the forest, with a view of waterfalls, rivers, hanging glaciers and a visit to the Perito Moreno glacier (navigation + walkways). Suitable all-public, with low difficulty walks, makes our passengers fascinated with our excursion.

"Minitrekking 2" began operating in 2023 and is the best alternative for travelers wishing to hike longer on the Perito Moreno Glacier. This tour offers an intermediate-level hike (more demanding than the Minitrekking but not as difficult as the Big Ice). You’ll hike about 3 miles (5 km) instead of the minitrek’s nearly 2 miles (3 km). When you book, you can include pick-up in El Calafate or meet directly at Puerto Bajo Las Sombras. Starting with a boat tour along Perrito Moreno's south wall, you’ll reach the shore and then hike to the glacier´s moraine. Your group will continue until reaching the ice hike’s starting point, where you’ll put on your crampons before getting onto the glacier. Let´s begin!! For almost two hours, hike on the glacier using crampons. After, take a short walk to a waterfall and finally, get back onboard to return to the port. The package with pick-up also includes a one-hour visit to the footbridges of Perito Moreno before returning to El Calafate.

El Chaltén Express – Soft walks and unforgettable scenery The day begins at 7:30 am in El Calafate, and then travel 220 km to El Chaltén, crossing the Patagonian steppe. Along the way you stop at Estancia La Leona and, weather permitting, at the Viedma Glacier Lookout, overlooking the glacial valley and Fitz Roy and Torre hills. Already in El Chaltén, you have about 5 hours to tour the village inside the Los Glaciares National Park, making two low difficulty hikes with local guide : the first to the Mirador de los Condores (2 km, 100 m elevation), overlooking the Fitz Roy, Cerro Torre and the village; then, after homemade lunch (according to option chosen), you visit the Chorrillo del Salto, a waterfall accessible by a 500 meters trail. Return to El Calafate begins at 16:00, arriving at hotels between 18:30 and 19:00.

Relax on your Patagonian vacation by pre-booking this one-way transfer service to or from Comandante Armando Tola International Airport (FTE). You can bypass the long taxi lines at the airport and proceed directly to your El Calafate hotel in a comfortable shuttle with plenty of room for your party and all of your luggage. This transfer is also available from your hotel to the airport.

See some of the world’s most amazing glaciers on this full-day tour of Lake Argentino. View multiple glaciers from the ship including Upsala and Perito Moreno, as you cruise down the Iceberg Canal. Choose between classic or gourmet options with enhanced viewing platforms, and packages that include hassle-free round-trip transfers.

Simplify arrival to El Calafate in Argentina with a private airport transfer and hotel pickup. Get picked up by your private driver in the airport arrivals hall and receive help with your luggage. Skip the stress of finding a taxi and travel directly to the address of your choice in El Calafate. Drivers are bilingual and a round-trip transfer option is also available.

Discover Chilean Patagonia without worrying about crossing the border between countries alone on a tour of Torres del Paine National Park from El Calafate. Take in the park’s magnificent scenery of alpine lakes, rugged peaks, and glaciers without having to worry about navigating. See the spectacular Grey Glacier and Grey Lake, and hike to the Salto Grande waterfall. Round-trip transportion from your El Calafate hotel and lunch are included.

Embark on a thrilling 4-hour hike across Patagonia's iconic Perito Moreno Glacier. Traverse crevasses, ice caves, and waterfalls more safely with the help of a professional guide. Experience breathtaking views from various vantage points and enjoy a 20-minute boat ride on Lake Argentino. A unique adventure for nature lovers and adrenaline seekers alike.

Go beyond the tourist trail and spend time in Estancia Nibepo Aike in Los Glaciares National Park and experience Patagonian rural life on this tour from El Calafate. Choose a full-day horseback riding option, marvel at rugged scenery, watch a sheep shearing demonstration, hike, and enjoy a local grilled-lamb lunch. Hotel pickup and drop-off at select El Calafate hotels are included for convenience.

Discover the Perito Moreno Glacier with Patagonia Dreams. Visit the walkways of the imposing Perito Moreno Glacier at your own pace or accompanied by our expert guides, who will help you interpret every detail of this unique landscape. Complete the experience with a one-hour sail in front of the majestic glacier walls, which reach up to 80 meters high above the lake. Hopefully, you’ll be able to witness spectacular icefalls while capturing unforgettable photos. An unmissable experience in one of the most impressive natural icons on the planet.

Spend an afternoon hiking and exploring outside of El Calafate on a visit to La Leona Petrified Forest. Along the way you’ll stop at Hotel La Leona, an old roadhouse that once housed Butch Cassidy, and travel past some of Patagonia’s most alluring scenery, including Mt Fitz Roy and Argentino Lake. Then enjoy an easy guided trek through La Leona’s moon-like forest, keeping an eye out for fossilized dinosaur bones and petrified trees. Your day-long tour includes round-trip air-conditioned transport and a boxed lunch.

The Perito Moreno Glacier is one of Patagonia's top attractions, but reaching the rural landmark alone can be tough. Visit the glacier with ease on this full-day trip from El Calafate, which includes convenient coach transportation to Los Glaciares National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, to explore the park's scenic lookouts and walkways to see the glacier from a multitude of different angles. Opt for a boat ride along Perito Moreno's dramatic front side for close-up views of the icy giant.

Unique activity in nature, exclusive landscapes, ranch animals. One of the longest zip lines in South America, with a total length of 2000 meters.

Spend a full day trekking the Perito Moreno Glacier on this tour from El Calafate. Leave the city life behind to explore the glacier's balconies and some hidden corners of the glacier with your guide. Navigate the area more efficiently with a guide and avoid the hassle of organizing transportation as you travel aboard an air-conditioned coach.

Discover a side of Patagonia that’s different from the usual mountains and lakes on a day trip to La Leona Petrified Forest, home to trees said to be more than 70 million years old. Letting someone else drive you from El Calafate saves you the hassle of navigating, while your guide provides insight that puts the fossils and ancient trees into context.

Get ‘wild’ on your visit to El Calafate by enjoying this full-day trek to El Chalten in Los Glaciares National Park. Marvel at the rugged peaks of the Andes and Argentino Lake as you drive along the famous Route 40. When you reach El Chalten, you’ll get to enjoy a range of independent or guided hiking trails within this scenic area. A boxed lunch is also included to help fuel the adventure.

In this activity you will really get to know the traditional Patagonian culture. Upon arrival at the ranch you will be welcomed with fried cakes and coffee, listening to the story of how the first settlers lived. You will learn about the traditional sheep herding, you will see the corrals and constructions of the ranch, observe the work of the corrals and a shearing demonstration, then a walk on the banks of the Calafate stream, observe the flora according to the time of the year. You will taste a wine from Montañes and a lamb confit. We continue to a room of the estancia to see a projection of recognition to the pioneer families. To end this spectacular afternoon/evening, you will enjoy dinner together with a folkloric show of various typical dances of our country.