El Calafate is located at the base of Calafate Hill on the shore of the Argentinian Lake, 315 km from Río Gallegos, the capital of the Santa Cruz Province's Capital.
There are different ways to reach El Calafate. By land, along paved roads (National Route N°3, Provincial Route N°5, National Route N°40 and Provincial Route N°11). By air: The new International Airport of El Calafate services nonstop flights to Buenos Aires, Ushuaia, Trelew, Bariloche, Puerto Natales and other cities. Moreover, El Calafate is communicated with Río Gallegos via a 50' flight or a 4 hour bus ride at daily frequencies. The doubled pitched roofs of the houses, the colorful vegetation - rose bushes and a great variety of flowers and trees - mildly blend in this charming tourist town of 6,500 inhabitants, whose friendly attitude make tourists feel at home.
THE SETTLING OF EL CALAFATE:
In the early 20th Century, the Patagonian trails had wagon stops every three leagues, the average distance covered in a day's journey by a driven wagon. The road from Rio Gallegos to Argentinian Lake, forked at a ford on the Santa Cruz River, where Charles Fhur had settled down at the beginning of the century. There were other fords that had to be crossed along the southern road. These inevitable stops were named by the wagon drivers: " El Bote", " El Calafate" and " El Centinela". The name "El Calafate" comes from the dense calafate ( berberis genus) shrubbery that grew on this alluvial plain.
On April 23, 1913, the family of José Pantín, an immigrant from La Coruña, set up a bar, a general store and an inn. This became the first staging post on the road to the Andes. As more families settled around the Calafate Stream, the town grew.
On December 7, 1927, El Calafate was officially declared a town, by a decree of the Central Government.
CLIMATE
El Calafate is located at 50°20´ South latitude (it is equal to the city of London in the Northern Hemisphere). The climate is dry and the temperatures are mild: In Summer, maximum average temperature is 18.6ºC. In Winter, minimum average temperature is 1.8°C.
Daylight hours vary according to the seasons of the year: December 21st is the longest day of the year, with 17 and a half hours of light. The sun rises at 5.30 am, and sets at 11 pm. June 21st is the shortest day, with only 8 hours of light (from 9.30 am to 5.30 pm).
WINDS
The prevailing winds blow from the West, mostly in Spring and Summer during the daytime.
RAINFALL
On the Continental Icefield, annual rainfall reaches 8,000 mm and decreases to 1,000/1,500 mm within Los Glaciares National Park. Since the winds from the West carry scarce humidity to the stepperian area, El Calafate only receives 300 mm of rain annually.
Thanks to El Calafate's municipal tourist office 491-090
The trip was not only memorable for the amount of animals we saw but also for the people and accommodations at the two camps where we stayed. Our first guide, BK, was a wealth of information about the animals, landscape and down to the plants and what they were used for. Everyday out was a learning experience with him. All the people at the camps were gracious and the food was excellent.
Our second camp in the Okavanga was just as good as the first as far as the staff, accommodations, food and animals. After our experience at the first camp we amazed that the high quality remained the same. Our guide, G, made sure we were able to enjoy every experience including a rush through the bush to witness a cheetah and an ensuing hunt that he heard over his radio.
In both camps there were enough guides out that if they saw something the other guides were informed which helped in seeing as much as possible. It was also nice that the concessions were large enough that we did not have vehicles following each other throughout the day.
Normally there is always something in a trip of this length that we think could be improved upon but this is the rare case where we cannot think of anything. From the time we left the States to when we returned it was one of the most hassle free vacations we took.
Perhaps emphasizing the use of the laundry facilities at the camps would be useful because of the luggage restrictions would be the only thing I can think of as an improvement to future clients.
Kenneth Dropek
2 days ago
Mary was so pleasant and professional. She made sure all of our questions were answered.