Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Lake Cruises
Patagonia Aventura (
Click here
)
offers cruises (per person AR$300, plus AR$90 trans-
fer) on Lago Viedma with impressive views of the 40m Glaciar Viedma, grinding from
Cerro Fitz Roy. Boat trips leave from Puerto Bahía Túnel and last 2½ hours.
Rock Climbing
one-day rock-climbing workshops for beginners. Experienced climbers can go on the
Glaciar Laguna Torre with certified guides.
Sleeping
Free backcountry campgrounds have one pit toilet. Some sites have dead wood for wind-
breaks but fires are prohibited. Water is pure as glacial melt; only wash downstream from
the campground and pack out all trash.
Getting There & Away
Parque Nacional Los Glaciares is just outside El Chaltén, which is convenient if you're
driving your own car; otherwise, most excursions offer transfers in and out of the park
for around AR$60.
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El Calafate
02902 / POP 16,700
Named for the berry that, once eaten, guarantees your return to Patagonia, El Calafate
hooks you with another irresistible attraction: Glaciar Perito Moreno, 80km away in
Parque Nacional Los Glaciares. The glacier is a magnificent must-see, but its massive
popularity has encouraged tumorous growth and rapid upscaling in once-quaint El Cala-
fate. However, it's still a fun place to be with a range of traveler services. The strategic
location between El Chaltén and Torres del Paine (Chile) makes it an inevitable stop for
those in transit.
Located 320km northwest of Río Gallegos, and 32km west of RP11's junction with
northbound RN40, El Calafate flanks the southern shore of Lago Argentino. The main
strip, Av del Libertador General San Martín (typically abbreviated to Libertador), is dot-
