Calafate is the closest tourist village to the glaciers. Thousands of tourists reach Calafate every year attracted by the beauty of the lakes, forests and glaciers.

The Calafate Name:

El Calafate is a thorny shrub with yellow flowers and small blue edible fruits, typical of southern Patagonia, especially in the transition area between the steppe and the mountains. The word Calafate comes from the Tehuelche (natives of Patagonia) and its scientific name is Berberis Microphylla. The legend tells that those who eat Calafate fruit will return to Patagonia.

Location:

Coordinates 50 ° 16 '49 "S, 72 ° 3' 12" W

Calafate is located 315 km from Rio Gallegos, capital of the Province of Santa Cruz, in the Argentinean Patagonia.

The city lies on the southern shore of Lago Argentino and 80 miles from the Perito Moreno Glacier (Los Glaciares National Park).

Phone calls:

To call Calafate, the area codes are:

- from anywhere in Argentina: 02 902
- from abroad: +54 02902

The town of Calafate has over 10,000 inhabitants.

A variety of activities are organized in the vicinity of Lake Argentino, such as visits to touristic farms, 4x4 off road trips in the Huyliche and Frias hills, horseback rides of varying lengths, trips to the Nimez lagoon ecological reserve and hiking in Roca Lake.

Another advantage of Calafate's location are full day tours in 4x4 vehicles to outstandingly beautiful sights, crossing the Patagonian plateau and back on the same day. The most visited are: Chalten, Torres del Paine and Monte León. Another place of interest to be visited is the Cave of the Hands.