Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
recommended. The trail passes
through dense forests of lenga
and ñire before reaching the
glacier and the emerald-green
lagoon that sits at its base. From
the lake's southern bank, visitors
can also go to Punta Norte on
its northern bank, which offers
fabulous views of the lake and
the north face of awe-inspiring
Mount Fitz Roy.
From Punta Norte, tourists can
trek to the Chilean border post
on the coast of Lago San Martín.
Boats depart from the border
post, crossing the lake to the
Chilean town of Villa O'Higgins.
Brightly colored shops at the main shopping center, El Calafate
) Río Turbio
Road map B6. 160 miles (257km) S
of El Calafate. @ from El Calafate, Río
Gallegos. n Plazoleta Augustín del
Castillo, (02902) 422-850.
Situated in a remote corner of
Patagonia, 4 miles (6 km) from
the border with Chile, the gritty
mining town of Río Turbio was
known mainly for one thing -
coal. Due to Argentina's
ongoing mining industry
depression, the coal mines
lie abandoned at the edge of
town, a short distance from the
Villa Dorotea border patrol. A
small section, where miners
give demonstrations of their
work, can be visited by guided
tour, arranged at the tourist
information office in town.
The town's other highlight is its
narrow-gauge railroad line, laid
in the early 1950s to transport
Río Turbio's coal to Río
Gallegos on the Atlantic
coast. The ageing
locomotives that work
the line are a throwback
in time. Once the most
southerly line in the
world, the railroad
ceded this distinction
after the construction
of the new railroad line
in Ushuaia in 1994.
Turbio's other draw is
its attractive wooded
hillsides 2.5 miles (4 km)
south of the town. This
is where the Valdelén
winter-sports complex
is located. This ski center
has gentle slopes which
are ideal for beginners.
ranch activities at the estancia
El Galpón del Glaciar (see
pp310-11). Hostería Alta Vista, a
ranch built in the late 19th
century, is in the grounds of
Estancia La Anita. Excursions
across the estancia include
views of Glaciar Perito Moreno.
( El Calafate
Road map B6. 137 miles (220 km)
S of El Chaltén. * 17,000. k
@ from El Chaltén. n Terminal de
Omnibus, Ave Julio A Roca 1004,
(02902) 491-090. _ Fiesta de
Bautismo del Lago Argentino.
 turismo.elcalafate.gov.ar
E Museo Regional Municipal
El Calafate
Ave del Libertador 575. Te l (02902) 491-
924. Open 8am-7pm Mon-Fri. 7
E Centro de Interpretación
Histórica Calafate
Almirante G. Brown & Guido Bonarelli.
Te l (02902) 492-799. Open Dec-Mar:
10am-8pm daily; Apr-Nov:
11am-6pm daily. & - =
 museocalafate.com.ar
E Glaciarium
Camino al Glaciar Perito Moreno.
Te l (02902) 497-912. Open 9am-8pm
daily (May-Aug: 11am-8pm daily).
& =  glaciarium.com
Located on the shore of Lago
Argentino, El Calafate is the
area's biggest tourist center. The
town is the perfect base from
which to explore the southern
section of Parque Nacional Los
Glaciares, including the magni-
ficent Glaciar Perito Moreno.
With shops, restaurants, and a
mostly benign microclimate, El
Calafate comes as a welcome
relief to visitors arriving from the
barren Patagonian steppe to the
north. The city's main cultural
point of reference is the Museo
Regional Municipal El Calafate ,
which recounts the area's history
from the point of arrival of its
first indigenous groups. Centro
de Interpretación Histórica
Calafate also traces local history.
Its photographic and pictorial
displays explain the region's
human and environmental past.
Another fascinating place is the
Glaciarium , a rare glacier muse-
um. A short walk away is Reserva
Municipal Laguna Nimez , a
nature preserve on the shore of
Lago Argentino that protects
about 100 species of birds.
Environs
Several ranches near town
offer comfortable accommo-
dations. Guests can take part in
El Galpón del Glacier, a working sheep ranch, near the
town of El Calafate
View of the walkway that runs close to the astonishing Glaciar Perito Moreno
 
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