Patagonia: Epic Journey to El Calafate and Torres del Paine!

Introduction

🏞️✈️ Join me on an epic adventure from Ushuaia to Calafate in Argentinian Patagonia! Get ready for jaw-dropping views of the Andes from your flight seat, and soak in the charm of El Calafate. 🌄 Explore the cozy vibes of Hotel Rincon del Calafate and savor the flavors of the local restaurants. 💸 Brace yourself for a chuckle as we navigate the sometimes overwhelming currency in Argentina! 🤑 From sunrise in El Calafate to a 4×4 tour to Torres Del Paine in Chile, we’ll witness condors, more wildlife, and stunning landscapes. 🦅🌄 Wrap up with a sunset, delightful dinners, and the majestic Perito Moreno glacier in El Calafate. 🍕❄️ #PatagoniaExploration #TravelDiaries

From Ushuaia to El Calafate

I was coming from Ushuaia to El Calafate, going north but still in the Argentinian Patagonia. I had big plans in this area of the country, including a Full Day tour to Torres del Paine. For now, the views of the Andes were keeping me distracted.

We landed at the Calafate airport and took a cab to the hotel. I felt I was in one of the most inhospitable places I have ever been, very far from everything else.

I decided to stay in El Rincon del Calafate, a hotel reachable from the town center by foot, but also cheaper and nicer than their counterparts.

Exploring El Calafate

As soon as I checked in, I started to walk around the El Calafate town, to get something to eat.

My first stop was Mako Premium Bar, to get some meat. I was in Argentina after all, and beef is something very local and what they are passionate about.

The currency exchange situation in Argentina is a little bit complicated. The only thing I would recommend is to check online the current Blue Peso exchange rate, completely different than the one you would find at a bank. Bring as many dollars as you can with you, and then change them here, do not get money out of the ATM.

Torres del Paine Full Day Tour

I went to bed early because I had a very early pick up the next day to go on this Full Day tour to Torres del Paine, Chile. I was going back to Chile after just a few days, but I had to stop at this marvelous place.

I booked on Viator.com a Torres Del Paine Full Day Overland Truck 4×4 From Calafate for $200.

This ended up being of the best ideas I have ever had. Without having to do crazy flights, I only had to endure the long journey from El Calafate to Torres del Paine National Park.

Entering Chile

This was a multi-national tour. We had to leave Argentina and go into Chile, and later that day do the opposite. Passports are required for this tour, and Chile was also requesting some online forms to show at the border.

Chile is a more developed country, and you could notice it as soon as we stepped on it. The roads were way better, but the nature of the Patagonia was the same. The fabulous condor, the huge bird of the Andes was flying close to us.

Now, it was time to actually do immigration and customs in Chile. Very smooth process since we were in this remote area, with no one else trying to cross the border.

And not too long after, we got the chance to see the first view of the Torres del Paine complex.

We visited some lakes, with glacier water on the way to the actual horns, and the views were mesmerizing.

Torres del Paine National Park

The famous mountains were just behind the clouds, and I could not wait to see them from even closer.

The tour included a mild lunch and we had it close to the Lago El Toro.

There were some bathroom breaks, but the most important one was the one by the Welcome Center. Big area with also a store to buy souvenirs and food.

We continued our tour, and the stops were just necessary to flex a bit, but also because the panoramic views were stunning.

We saw a lot of wildlife, including the local guanacos, that I would try later tonight back in El Calafate.

Another famous lake we visited was Lago Sarmiento, which unfortunately was victim of a human produced fire a couples of years back.

Paine Horns

We were finally seeing them, from a distance. The reason people come from so far away, the Paine Horns.

But on the walk to them, we saw some waterfalls and the beautiful view of these glacier lakes and rivers.

And all the trek we had to do to get here, by the bottom of the famous Paine Horns. The guide was very good, explaining the geological formations and the history of them.

Back to El Calafate

We took the same route on the way back. Was able to take a nap, and we stopped a couple of times to take some bathroom breaks and buy food and drinks. We passed by a field were it had snowed earlier while we were in Chile, and it was very beautiful.

We arrived to El Calafate after the sunset, and was dropped off in the main street were I was looking for the guanuco. The ambience in Mako Fuegos y Vinos was adorable.

And the food was great, it took a minute but it was really worth it.

Just look at this dish, it is so beautiful.

Parque Nacional Los Glaciares

My last adventure in this side of the country had me waking early again, and be picked up by Nahuel, one of the remis (taxi) drivers in this area. I hired him through the hotel, and it was one of the highlights of this trip.

Nahuel would recommend stops to see, for example, the sunrise. And also shared with me his mate. Mate is a popular drink in Argentina, Paraguay, and Uruguay. 

It’s made from the leaves and twigs of the yerba mate plant, a holly-like shrub. Mate is drunk through a straw or bombilla, after water is poured into the yerba-filled container, also called a mate

Got the ticket at the entrance, and after a while we arrived to the Perito Moreno Glacier.

I walked around the platforms to get even closer to the famous glacier.

Platforms can be a bit long and tricky, you do not have to walk all of them. Focus on the areas you want to see.

But the exercise going up and down is good I guess lol. The views are worth it tho.

After a few steps down there it was, more clear than ever, the Perito Moreno Glacier. You could hear the ice breaking up from a distance.

A Glacier Boat Tour

Went back upstairs, and was picked up by Nahuel, who took me just in time for the next boat ride. I was going to see the glacier even closer.

Just an awesome experience, and I was glad I made. Loved being able to go up the boat and enjoy the views.

Leaving Calafate

My flight was in a few hours, and started heading back to Calafate. I was able to change more dollars on town, and Nahuel helped me finding the best rates. He also recommended getting some pizza and beers from Big Pizza Calafate, which was so good. I tipped him at the end and went to the hotel and then the airport.

Time to go to San Carlos de Bariloche, my next stop on this Patagonia exploration.

Bye bye Calafate, I promise to be back, I had so much fun.