El Calafate | Moreno Glacier Gateway

Located in Santa Cruz Province, El Calafate sits on the shores of Lago Argentino in the Patagonian plateau, at the foot of the Andes Mountains, near the border between Chile and Argentina. The town has a population of just 20,000 and features only one main street and five or six smaller streets. Hotels, cafes, and craft shops line both sides of the streets. The buildings are mostly small, brightly colored wooden cabins, creating a lively atmosphere. Calafate's name comes from a common shrub in the Patagonia region called "calafate." Its berries are used to make jam or liqueur. You can find "Calafate" flavored ice cream in any ice cream shop on the streets of the town. This is another major tourist destination in southern Argentina besides Ushuaia, and it serves as the gateway to Los Glaciares National Park, home to the Perito Moreno Glacier. The Perito Moreno Glacier is one of the few glaciers in the world that is still growing. It is also the largest glacier outside the polar regions, standing 70 meters high, averaging 1 kilometer wide, and stretching approximately 30 kilometers long. "Ice calving" occurs at irregular intervals every day. The town is located on the southern shore of Lago Argentino, formed by glacial meltwater. Lago Argentino is the third largest lake in South America, with clear waters surrounded by snow-capped mountains and glaciers. Boat trips offer stunning views of the lake, mountains, and the spectacular sight of glacial calving. Flights are available directly to Buenos Aires, Bariloche, Ushuaia, and other cities.