Welcome to El Calafate!
El Calafate is a little town situated on Lake Argentina, in the foothills of the Andes Mountains in southern Patagonia. It’s main industry is catering to the needs of tourists and adventurers who are preparing to explore the Glacier National Park of Argentina (Parque Nacional de los Glaciares), or cross the border into Chile to visit the remote Chilean National Park of Torres del Paine. The presence of a convenient modern airport makes El Calafate a vital commuter hub for Patagonian adventurers.
El Calafate is not easy to get to. After a 42 hour trip (including a 20 hour layover in Buenos Aires) I landed in El Calafate, ready to begin the adventure. After hours of traveling I still had not seen any mountains- they were covered in dense clouds. I had to trust the word of our trip leader, Santiago, that yes, the Mountains were there. Continue reading “Patagonia: El Calafate & Lago Argentino”