Guide · Getting there

How to get to El Calafate by air, bus and road

El Calafate is remote, but well connected: an international airport, long-distance buses from Argentina and Chile, and a paved road from Ruta 40. Here is how to get to El Calafate, and on to the glaciers.

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Editorial team, elcalafateglaciertours.comUpdated October 16, 2026about 6 min to read17 sources

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Quick answer

01By air: Daily flights from other parts of Argentina.¹
02By bus: Services from Argentina and from Punta Arenas and Puerto Natales.²
03By car: Turn off Ruta 40 onto RP 11; 44 km to town.³
04From Río Gallegos: El Calafate is 316 km away.⁴
05To the boats: Puerto Punta Bandera is 47 km from town.⁵

Flying to El Calafate

For a long journey, flying is the quickest way to reach El Calafate. Comandante Armando Tola, the airport serving the town, has flights every day from elsewhere in Argentina, with seasonal services from abroad as well.¹ Domestic connections usually run through Buenos Aires, and the timetable changes between summer and winter, so check the current routes when you plan.

The airport sits on the steppe east of town, with the lake and the mountains filling the windows as you land on a clear day. Taxis and shuttle buses wait for the flights, and many hotels can arrange a transfer if you ask in advance. The ride into town is short, and it is a good moment to get your first look at Lago Argentino.

Book flights early for the summer months, since seats fill quickly in high season. If your plans include the north arm boat or an ice walk, avoid flying in on the morning of the excursion. Give yourself a buffer: Patagonian weather can delay flights, and arriving the evening before is far less stressful.

On arrival

From the airport to the ice

Landing

Comandante Armando Tola

Daily flights from other parts of Argentina.¹
Into town

Taxi or shuttle

A short ride across the steppe.
Evening

Settle in

Walk the lakeshore and check your bookings.
Next morning

Pickup

Coach to the port, about 45 minutes each way.
On the water

Punta Bandera

The port is 47 km from town.⁵

Long-distance buses from Argentina and Chile

Buses reach the El Calafate terminal from different parts of Argentina and from southern Chile, including Punta Arenas and Puerto Natales.² For travelers combining Argentine and Chilean Patagonia, the bus from Puerto Natales is the classic link between Torres del Paine and the glaciers of Los Glaciares.

Within Argentina, the provincial capital Río Gallegos is a common starting point: El Calafate lies 316 km away.⁴ Buses there connect with routes along the Atlantic coast, and the ride inland crosses wide, empty steppe where guanacos and rheas graze beside the road.

Bring your passport for the border crossing from Chile and check the current entry rules before you travel. Buy tickets a few days ahead in summer, carry snacks and water, and keep a warm layer in your hand luggage: bus heating and the wind at rest stops both have a habit of surprising you. If you arrive late at night, book your first bed in advance and note the address offline, since the terminal can be quiet after the last buses.

Routes

Ways to reach El Calafate

From	How	Distance	Note
Buenos Aires and other cities	Plane	-	Daily domestic flights
Río Gallegos	Bus or car	316 km	Provincial capital
Puerto Natales, Punta Arenas	Bus	-	Border crossing to Chile
Ruta 40 junction	Car	44 km	On RP 11
El Chaltén	Bus or car	220 km	Paved road

Sources: the national parks administration and El Calafate's tourism office.¹ ⁴ ² ³ ⁶

Compared

Plane, bus or car?

Fastest

By plane

The quickest way in

Arrives: Comandante Armando Tola
Flights: Daily, domestic
Best for: Short trips

Plan your trip

Budget

By bus

From Argentina or Chile

From Chile: Puerto Natales
Terminal: El Calafate
Best for: Overland trips

Plan your trip

Freedom

By car

Ruta 40 and RP 11

From Ruta 40: 44 km
To the port: 47 km
Best for: Road trips

Plan your trip

Decision helper

How should you travel?

Tap your situation

I have little time I am coming from Torres del Paine I am on a Ruta 40 road trip I also want El Chaltén I have no car for the glaciers

Fly

Daily flights from other parts of Argentina.¹

Bus from Puerto Natales

Buses arrive from southern Chile.²

Drive

RP 11 leads 44 km to town.³

Bus between the towns

Buses run daily on the 220 km road.² ⁶

Book a transfer

Transfers to the boat port can be hired.⁷

Each day it welcomes flights from various places in Argentina, plus flights from abroad when the season allows.

Administración de Parques Nacionales (Argentina)Source 1

Driving: Ruta 40 and RP 11

Ruta 40, the legendary road that runs the length of Argentina, brings road trippers from the north and the south.³ From Ruta 40, the turn west onto RP 11 leads 44 km to El Calafate, and from there roads continue to the Perito Moreno walkways, Lago Roca and Puerto Bandera.³

Distances in Patagonia are long and services are few. Fill the tank whenever you can, carry water and food, and check road conditions before setting out. The park authority recommends checking the state of the roads, and in winter snow can make chains or studded tires necessary. Drive in daylight where you can: guanacos wander onto the road, crosswinds push hard against high vehicles, and the long straight stretches can make you sleepier than you expect.

A rental car gives you freedom on arrival. You can drive the 80 km to the Perito Moreno on RP 11 or the 47 km to Puerto Bandera on RP 11 and RP 8 at your own pace.⁸ Parking at the port is free if you join this site's tour with your own vehicle.

Map

El Calafate, Punta Bandera and the glaciers of the north arm

The town, the port where the glacier boats leave, the Upsala and Spegazzini glaciers, and the road north to El Chaltén.

Map of El Calafate with Laguna Nimez, the Glaciarium, Punta Walichu and the airport — El Calafate town

Map of Lago Argentino from El Calafate to Puerto Punta Bandera, the Spegazzini and Upsala glaciers and Estancia Cristina — The north arm

Map of the region with El Calafate, the airport, Puerto Punta Bandera, the Perito Moreno Glacier and El Chaltén — The region

1
El Calafate
Base for the southern zone of the park: 47 km to Puerto Bandera and 80 km to the Perito Moreno by road.⁸
In Google Maps ↗
2
Laguna Nimez
A municipal reserve at the edge of town with an interpretive trail.⁹
In Google Maps ↗
3
Glaciarium
The ice museum the park lists among the town's sights.⁹
In Google Maps ↗
4
Punta Walichu
An archaeological site close to town.⁹
In Google Maps ↗
5
Airport
Comandante Armando Tola airport, with daily flights from other parts of Argentina.¹
In Google Maps ↗
6
Puerto Punta Bandera
Where the glacier boats leave: 47 km from El Calafate on paved RP 11 and RP 8.⁵
In Google Maps ↗
7
Spegazzini
The park calls it its tallest glacier; the operator gives its height as 135 m.¹⁰ ¹¹
In Google Maps ↗
8
Upsala
The largest glacier on the boat route; its front retreated 7.2 km between 1986 and 2014.¹⁰ ¹²
In Google Maps ↗
9
Estancia Cristina
A ranch reached by boat through the Upsala arm, with views of the glacier.¹³
In Google Maps ↗
10
El Chaltén
Argentina's trekking capital, 220 km from El Calafate on paved road.¹⁴ ⁶
In Google Maps ↗
11
Perito Moreno
80 km from El Calafate on RP 11.⁸
In Google Maps ↗

Open the map in Google Maps

Checklist

Before you travel

Documents

Passport for the border with Chile
Flight or bus tickets booked early for summer
National park ticket for your excursions

On the road

Water and snacks
A warm layer in your hand luggage
Road conditions checked before driving

Video

Argentine Patagonia | 7 days from Buenos Aires to El Chalten

Until you tap play, the video stays unloaded.

From El Chaltén and back

El Chaltén lies 220 km north of El Calafate, all on paved road.⁶ Regular buses run daily between El Calafate and El Chaltén, and buses from other parts of Argentina reach El Chaltén's terminal as well.² Many trips combine both towns, flying into El Calafate and taking the bus north after the glaciers.

A full-day tour from El Calafate to El Chaltén is sold from $117 for 11 hours, with pickup included and stops at Parador La Leona, the Mirador de los Cóndores and the Chorrillo del Salto waterfall, rated 4.44 from 1,003 reviews. It is a good choice if you want a look at the north without moving hotels.

If you plan to hike in El Chaltén, travel there by bus and sleep in the village. The classic trails, like the walk to Laguna de los Tres, take most of a day on foot, and arriving fresh in the morning makes all the difference.

From town to the glaciers and the port

Once you are in El Calafate, the glaciers are still a drive away. The Perito Moreno is 80 km from town on RP 11, and Puerto Bandera, where the north arm boats leave, is 47 km on RP 11 and RP 8.⁸ Without a car, buses, taxis, transfers and organized trips all cover these routes.

For the boat trips, the park authority notes that a transfer to the port can be hired if you have no car.⁷ This site's tour includes an optional round-trip coach transfer from El Calafate hotels to the port, about 45 minutes each way, and many day trips include pickup from your hotel.

Check the pickup details in your confirmation the evening before. Pickups often start early and work through a list of hotels, and being ready in the lobby a little ahead of time keeps the whole group on schedule.

When to travel

The park recommends visiting between September and April.¹⁵ That is also the busiest time for flights and buses, and the town's tourism office advises booking accommodation at least one month ahead, and more if possible.¹⁶ Lock in your transport early once your dates are set.

From May to the start of spring, temperatures are low and snow is more common, which makes some activities and trails harder to reach, according to the park.¹⁵ Flights still run, and the town is calmer, but driving demands more care and winter equipment.

Whatever the month, wind is part of the trip. West and southwest winds prevail in El Calafate, and in summer they blow more often and harder.¹⁷ Allow for delays, especially on small flights and on exposed roads.

Arriving: the first hours in town

El Calafate is compact, and the center is easy to walk. Most hotels, restaurants, agencies and outdoor shops sit along or near the main avenue, and the lakeshore is a short stroll away. Take the first evening to get your bearings, change money if you need to and buy anything you forgot for the glaciers.

Use your arrival day for something light: the Laguna Nimez reserve, the Glaciarium ice museum or the Punta Walichu rock shelters are all on the park authority's list of sights around the town.⁹ Our guide to what to see in El Calafate has more ideas for a free afternoon.

Finally, check the next day's plan. Confirm pickup times, buy your national park ticket online if your excursion needs it, and pack layers, sunglasses and a packed lunch. A calm first evening sets up the rest of the trip. Then go to bed early: the glaciers reward travelers who start the day rested, and the light on the lake in the early morning is worth getting up for.

Book your boat day

Icebergs and the Spegazzini are waiting on the north arm.

Hold a seat today, pay closer to the date, and cancel for free until a day before.

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You ask,we answer.

Does El Calafate have an airport?

Yes, an international one. Comandante Armando Tola receives daily flights from other parts of Argentina.¹

Can I take a bus from Chile?

Yes. Buses arrive from Punta Arenas and Puerto Natales.²

How far is El Calafate from Río Gallegos?

316 km. Río Gallegos is the provincial capital.⁴

How do I drive there?

Via Ruta 40 and RP 11. From Ruta 40, RP 11 leads 44 km west to El Calafate.³

How do I get from El Calafate to El Chaltén?

By bus or tour. Buses run daily between El Calafate and El Chaltén, 220 km apart.² ⁶

How do I reach Puerto Punta Bandera?

By car, transfer or tour. The port is 47 km from town on RP 11 and RP 8.⁵

When should I book transport?

Early for summer. The park recommends visiting from September to April, the busiest months.¹⁵

Sources

What this guide is based on

1
Administración de Parques Nacionales (Argentina)Horarios / Cómo llegar
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2
Administración de Parques Nacionales (Argentina)Horarios / Cómo llegar
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3
Administración de Parques Nacionales (Argentina)Horarios / Cómo llegar
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4
Secretaría de Turismo de El CalafateHistoria de El Calafate
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5
Administración de Parques Nacionales (Argentina)Actividades
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6
Administración de Parques Nacionales (Argentina)Horarios / Cómo llegar
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7
Administración de Parques Nacionales (Argentina)Actividades
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8
Administración de Parques Nacionales (Argentina)Horarios / Cómo llegar
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9
Administración de Parques Nacionales (Argentina)Panorámica
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10
Administración de Parques Nacionales (Argentina)Actividades
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11
Solo PatagoniaSolo Patagonia
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12
NASA Scientific Visualization StudioUpsala Glacier Retreat in Argentina
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13
Administración de Parques Nacionales (Argentina)Actividades
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14
Administración de Parques Nacionales (Argentina)Panorámica
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15
Administración de Parques Nacionales (Argentina)Panorámica
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16
Secretaría de Turismo de El CalafateConsejos Prácticos para El Calafate
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17
Secretaría de Turismo de El CalafateConsejos Prácticos para El Calafate
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