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What to see in Argentina
El Calafate
Tourist attractions El Calafate
In the heart of Argentinian Patagonia lies El Calafate, on the shores of Lake Argentino, known for its large flocks of flamingos. Named after a prevalent bush berry in the region, many visitors travel to El Calafate to see its most famous attraction: the Perito Moreno glacier. As well as acting as a base for further exploration into the wilds of Patagonia, El Calafate is home to all the necessary traveler amenities, alongside charming Patagonian houses and a range of restaurants and souvenir shops.
Whether you’re visiting El Calafate on your way to Chile or using it as a base for expeditions into the amazing icy landscapes of the Los Glaciares National Park, you’ll be enchanted by its pretty streets, amazing lakeside location and tranquil surroundings. El Calafate is easily reached with daily flights connecting this Patagonian city with the capital of Buenos Aires and other popular destinations such as Ushuaia and Bariloche. Be sure to include a trip to El Calafate on your next tour of Argentina.
What to see in El Calafate
Of course, almost all visitors who travel to El Calafate will visit the Perito Moreno glacier, a bucket-list-worthy natural wonder and a highlight of many tours of Argentina. This huge glacier, which stretches for 250 square kilometers, is fed by the Southern Patagonian Ice Field and is the largest reserve of fresh water in the world. Unlike many of the world’s glaciers, the Perito Moreno is not retreating but, instead, maintains an equilibrium as it grows and retreats at an equal rate. Footpaths across the gigantic ice-mass are the most adventurous way to explore the Perito Moreno, although boat trips allow you to see the glacier from a different perspective and lucky travelers might even visit the Perito Moreno during its regular rupture cycle when huge blocks of ice fall from the glacier into the icy waters below; a thrilling sight indeed!
Los Glaciares National Park, the location of the Perito Moreno glacier, is a must-see whilst visiting El Calafate. As well as the showstopping Perito Moreno, the Upsala and Spegazzini glaciers are impressive in their own right and are accessible only by boat. Reached by sailing through the middle of two huge ice-fields, the dazzling white landscape is like something from another world.
There are also a handful of things to see in El Calafate itself, but the most exciting attraction is the Glacarium Ice Museum, a newly built museum complex that beautifully and accessibly explains how glaciers are formed. Here, you can learn about the importance of glaciers on the environment in Patagonia and enjoy high-tech exhibitions that guide you through the process of glacier formation. To top off your visit, you can even enjoy a drink at the on-site underground ice bar!
Finally, a stay in El Calafate, or in Argentina for that matter, is incomplete without a visit to an estancia, a traditional ranch where you can experience, first-hand, the ways of the gaucho. Expect horse-riding excursions and Argentinian hospitality on a quintessential estancia visit.
OUR BEST TRIPS TO EL CALAFATE
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Tourist attractions argentina
Points of interests
- Trips to Argentinian Patagonia
- Trips to Bariloche
- Trips to Barrio La Boca
- Trips to Buenos Aires
- Trips to El Calafate
- Trips to Iguazu Falls
- Trips to Mendoza
- Trips to Perito Moreno
- Trips to San Telmo
- Trips to Ushuaia
Other Points of interests
- Trips to Aguas Calientes
- Trips to Amazon
- Trips to Arequipa
- Trips to Atacama Desert
- Trips to Banos
- Trips to Baquerizo Moreno
- Trips to Bogota
- Trips to Buzios
- Trips to Cartagena de Indias
- Trips to Chilean Patagonia
- Trips to Christ the Redeemer
- Trips to Colca Canyon
- Trips to Copacabana Beach
- Trips to Cotopaxi National Park
- Trips to Cuenca
- Trips to Cuzco
- Trips to Easter Island
- Trips to Eduardo Avaroa
- Trips to Galapagos Islands
- Trips to Getsemani
- Trips to Guayaquil
- Trips to Iguazu Falls
- Trips to Ilha Grande
- Trips to Iquitos
- Trips to Islas Ballestas
- Trips to Islas del Rosario
- Trips to La Candelaria
- Trips to La Loberia Beach
- Trips to La Paz
- Trips to Lake Titicaca
- Trips to Lake Titicaca
- Trips to Lima
- Trips to Luna Valley
- Trips to Machu Picchu
- Trips to Manaus
- Trips to Medellín
- Trips to Middle of the World Monument
- Trips to Mindo
- Trips to Nazca
- Trips to Otavalo
- Trips to Paraty
- Trips to Potosi & Cerro Rico
- Trips to Praia do Forte
- Trips to Puerto Maldonado
- Trips to Puerto Natales
- Trips to Quilotoa
- Trips to Quito
- Trips to Rapa Nui National Park
- Trips to Reserva Nacional Los Flamencos
- Trips to Rio de Janeiro
- Trips to Riobamba
- Trips to Ruins of Ingapirca
- Trips to Sacred Valley
- Trips to Salar de Uyuni
- Trips to Salvador
- Trips to San Andrés
- Trips to San Cristobal Island
- Trips to San Felipe de Barajas Castle
- Trips to San Pedro de Atacama
- Trips to San Rafael Glacier
- Trips to Santa Cruz Island
- Trips to Santa Lucía Hill
- Trips to Santa Marta
- Trips to Santiago de Chile
- Trips to São Paulo
- Trips to Serrano & Balmaceda Glaciers
- Trips to Sucre
- Trips to Tayrona
- Trips to The Devil's Nose
- Trips to Tiahuanaco Ruins
- Trips to Torres del Paine National Park
- Trips to Valley of the Moon
- Trips to Valparaiso
- Trips to Vicente Perez Rosales National Park
- Trips to Viña del Mar
Countries Nearby
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