Destination of the Month
(April ’10)

The small Southern Patagonian city of El Calafate has grown dramatically over the last few years following the opening of an airport in the region in 2000. It is now the main tourist hub in Southern Patagonia. The amazing Perito Moreno Glacier dominates tourist activity in the area, and has become a major attraction for visitors to South America over the last decade. Located on the southern side of Lago Argentino, it covers a surface area of 195 square kilometers, being almost as big as the city of Buenos Aires. An 80 kilometer drive from El Calafate takes you to one of the main viewing points from which you can see an impressive ice wall - 5 km long and 60 meters high. This huge glacier stretches towards the horizon between high Andean peaks and is a breathtaking spectacle. Calafate is the perfect location for outdoor teambuilding activities and any kind of business meeting.

Best time to go

The best time to visit El Calafate is between November and March (spring/summer). During the rest of the year the tourist infrastructure is very basic and many hotels close because of the harsh winters.

Climate

El Calafate has a generally dry and windy climate, with a maximum average temperature of 19ºC in summer and a minimum of -2ºC in winter. In summer sunrise is at 5.30 am and sunset at 11.00 pm. In winter days are shorter with only 8 hours of light at times.
The latitude of El Calafate is equivalent to that of London in the Northern Hemisphere.

Rainy Season

The average annual rainfall in El Calafate is 300mm, mainly registered during the winter months.

Flights

During the high season there are approximately three daily flights from Buenos Aires to El Calafate provided by Aerolíneas Argentinas and LAN. The distance between Buenos Aires and el Calafate is 2,727Km, and the flight duration is 3 hours.

Recomended Hotels

Posada Los Alamos
www.posadalosalamos.com

Los Notros
www.losnotros.com

Imago
www.imagohotelspa.com

Design Suites Calafate
www.designsuites.com/hoteles/calafate/

Hotel Los Sauces
www.slh.com/lossauces

Eolo
www.eolo.com.ar