El Calafate Prices & Travel Costs

Last Updated: Jan 2024

El Calafate is the closest thing to a city in Argentine Patagonia, but if you’re looking for skyscrapers and skinny lattes, you’re in the wrong place. Although it’s grown a lot in the past decade, El Calafate is still much as it ever was: a small town with an almost village-like atmosphere, sat by the still, cold waters of the glacial lake. That said, as the largest town in the region by some distance, it is well provided with hotels, shops, restaurants and all the other facilities you’re likely to need on your trip to Patagonia.

El Calafate City Featured Image

Travel Costs to El Calafate

Population 22,000
Area 20,000
Timezone UTC-3
Currency Argentine peso
Airports Comandante Armando Tola International Airport
1 USD = 857.8600 ARS
134 World cities ranked cheapest to most expensive: Backpacker Index for 2024

Accommodation Costs in El Calafate

El Calafate Hotel Seasons

El Calafate Hotel Prices

Rating Price(USD)
starstarstarstarstar27.00 - 35.00
starstarstarstarstar38.00 - 47.00
starstarstarstarstar41.00 - 74.00
starstarstarstarstar83.00 - 95.00
starstarstarstarstar105.00 - 125.00

El Calafate Hostels Prices

Type Price(USD)
Hostel Bed10.00 - 24.00

El Calafate Attractions Prices

Location Description Type Price(USD)
Glaciers National Park, ArgentinaThe premier national park in Argentine Patagonia, this includes among others, the colossal Perito Moreno glacier.
Entrance fee
2.09
Torres del Paine National Park, ChileArguably the single biggest attraction in Patagonia.
Entrance fee
24.48
Car hireA 4x4 is optimal but not generally necessary, particularly in the summer months. This price is based on a 4x2 'soft' off road type.
Per day
1.22

El Calafate Food and Drink Prices

Food Type Description Price(USD)
Budget breakfastCoffee, medialunas and juice2.91 - 4.66
Budget lunchEmpanadas, chorripanes and sandwiches3.50 - 5.25
Budget dinner2-course daily special: often fish, beef or lamb.4.66 - 8.16
BeerA 0.5L bottle in the supermarket or in a restaurant.1.40 - 2.33

El Calafate Transport Prices

Type Price(USD)
Taxi from El Calafate airport to city centre1.22
Shuttle bus from Punta Arenas airport to Puerto Natales0.41
Taxi from Torres del Paine NP to El Calafate4.43
Coach from Puerto Natales to El Calafate or v.v.1.05
Coach from El Calafate to El Chalten or v.v.1.05
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When to visit El Calafate

Temperature and rainfall

Month High F Low F Precip (inches)
January66460.5
February65460.3
March61420.5
April55381.0
May46321.2
June41280.8
July40271.0
August44300.8
September51330.6
October57370.5
November61410.4
December64440.5

El Calafate Weather advice

Sunrise and sunset

21 Mar7:53 am7:58 pm
21 Jun9:50 am5:52 pm
21 Sep7:39 am7:46 pm
21 Dec5:35 am10:00 pm

Where to go before and after