PYRTPlan Your Road Trips
Create TripMy TripsCommunityMerchandise
PYRTPlan Your Road Trips
Create TripMy TripsCommunityMerchandise
E
Destinations
Home›Destinations›El Calafate
South AmericaArgentinaSanta Cruz

El Calafate

Santa Cruz, Argentina · South America

About El Calafate

El Calafate sits on the route: 2 hours from Río Turbio.

El Calafate is a town located in Santa Cruz, Argentina. With a population of 8,000, it is an important destination in South America.

On a road trip, El Calafate sits in Argentina, where you drive on the right. It's in the America/Argentina/Rio Gallegos time zone. Below you'll find where to stay, things to do nearby, and everything you need to add El Calafate to your route.

About El Calafate

El Calafate, also called Calafate, is a city in the Argentine province of Santa Cruz, in Patagonia. It is located on the southern border of Lago Argentino, in the southwest part of the province (about 320 kilometres (200 mi) northwest of Río Gallegos). It is the seat of government for the Lago Argentino Department

Read more within the province. The name of the city is also the name of a small bush, with yellow flowers and dark-blue berries, that is very commonly seen in the region—the calafate (Berberis buxifolia). The word comes from the word calafate, which is Spanish for 'caulk'. El Calafate is an important tourist destination, serving as the hub for visitors of different parts of Los Glaciares National Park, Perito Moreno Glacier, Cerro Chaltén, and Cerro Torre, in addition to the area surrounding Lago Argentino.

Read more on Wikipedia

Where to Stay in El Calafate

Compare prices across Booking.com, Airbnb, Expedia, and more. Select your dates to see availability.

Filter presets

Pick your must-haves once: provider links open pre-filtered. Each filter lists which sites it applies to.

Booking.comExpediaTripAdvisorHotels.comAgodaAirbnb

Compare before you book!

Prices can vary significantly between platforms. We recommend checking at least 2-3 sites to find the best deal for your stay in El Calafate.

Explore the Area

Discover famous landmarks, scenic roads, and more near El Calafate.

Loading map...
Open in Google Maps

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the best things to do in El Calafate?

El Calafate offers many attractions including tourist sites, museums, parks, and local restaurants. Explore famous landmarks, scenic roads, and natural wonders on our interactive map and plan your visit.

How do I plan a road trip to El Calafate?

Plan your road trip to El Calafate with Plan Your Road Trips! Add El Calafate as a destination, and we'll help you find the best route and discover more amazing places along the way.

Where is El Calafate located?

El Calafate is located in Santa Cruz, Argentina, South America. The coordinates are -50.3407 latitude, -72.2768 longitude.

What is the population of El Calafate?

El Calafate has a population of approximately 8,000 people, making it a town in Argentina.

Plan a Road Trip

Add to your itinerary

Start planning your road trip with El Calafate as a destination. Create a custom route and discover more amazing places along the way.

Start Road Trip

What's Nearby?

Discover destinations like Tinder

Swipe through stunning destinations near El Calafate. Save your favourites and add them to your trip.

Explore now

Quick Information

Population
8,000
Continent
South America
Country
Argentina
Region
Santa Cruz
Timezone
America/Argentina/Rio_Gallegos
Coordinates
-50.3407, -72.2768

Emergency & Services

Essential numbers in Argentina

Police
911
Ambulance
107
Fire
100
Driving side
right
Full driving guide for Argentina

Tags

South AmericaArgentinaSanta CruzTown

Driving roads near El Calafate

  • 63 kmPerito Moreno Glacier ViewpointA network of walkways facing the 5-kilometre-wide face of Patagonia's advancing glacier, where bus-sized ice chunks calve into the lake.

Nearby Destinations

Other places to explore near El Calafate.

Río Turbio

🇦🇷 Argentina

133 km awayPop. 6,650

Yacimientos Río Turbio

🇦🇷 Argentina

133 km awayPop. 6,650

28 de Noviembre

🇦🇷 Argentina

138 km awayPop. 4,686

Puerto Natales

🇨🇱 Chile

155 km awayPop. 18,505

Gobernador Gregores

🇦🇷 Argentina

230 km away

Plan a Road Trip from El Calafate

Create your perfect itinerary with our calendar-based planner. Add stops, discover attractions along the way, and share your trip with friends.

Start Planning
PYRT

The ultimate road trip planning platform. Discover 150,000+ destinations worldwide, plan scenic routes, and create unforgettable adventures.

Inspiration

  • Discover Trips
  • Travel Guides
  • Community

The Product

  • Calendar Planner
  • Integrations
  • How It Works
  • Collaboration Mode
  • Get the App
  • Merchandise: PYRT Supply Co.
  • Become a Creator
  • Trip Marketplace

Plan Your Trip

  • Road Trip Planner
  • Famous Routes
  • Planners by Country
  • Best Road Trip Planner App
  • Discover Road Trips
  • Events
  • Travel Guides
  • How It Works
  • My Trips
  • Community Groups

Company

  • Terms of Service
  • Privacy Policy
  • Support
  • Contact Us
  • Sign In
  • Create Account

© 2026 Plan Your Road Trips. All rights reserved.

•[email protected]
Data sources:GeoNames (CC BY 4.0)•Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA)•Mapbox•Photography: George Lawrence