About Lago Argentino
Lago Argentino is located in Santa Cruz Province in the southwestern of Argentina. It takes its name from the Argentino Lake (Lago Argentino in the local language), by where it is established.
A very popular sightseeing place, Argentino Lake and its surroundings attracts a large number of tourists year round. Los Glaciares National Park, which encompasses the lake and surrounding greenery, is an excellent choice for activities such as hiking, cycling and picnicking. It also provides scenes that will not disappoint the photographers of nature. On the other hand, in the winter months, the lake is partially or completely freezes, but instead of becoming a flat ground, it provides an indented pattern which creates a significant visual feast for its visitors. There are special hiking trails and landscape viewing points around the lake for those who would like to witness this feast. Filled with a rich variety of freshwater fish, the Argentino Lake offers a wonderful fishing environment for the inhabitants of Lago Argentino. It is also possible to go canoeing and boating in the lake.
Even if an airport with the same name existed in the city, the airport was closed down in 2000 and the runway was included in the city's highways. Comandante Armando Tola International Airport, which now has a much higher capacity, provides transport services to the city.
Between May and September, Lago Argentino witnesses the coldest season of the year. The temperature is measured in this period is around 1-2 degrees Celsius. December, January and February are the warmest periods in the city and the average temperature is around 12-13 degrees Celsius.
Even though the city has a small town atmosphere, Lago Argentino has many beautiful places to visit and eat at. The restaurants are quite demanding especially in meat and fish dishes. The ice museum is another destination that can attract the interest of the visitors.
Transportation to Lago Argentino City Center from Airport
Lago Argentino Airport
Argentina's Lago Argentino Airport was closed in 2006, and all flights were directed to Comandante Armando Tola International Airport which was opened in November 2000. The distance between the old airport and new airport is approximately 15 kilometers. You can travel from the airport located in Patagonia region of Argentina to El Calafate city center, which is 21 kilometers away, by getting on a taxi, bus, airport shuttle or renting a car.
Taxi
You can reach the city center from the airport in about 20 minutes by taxi. Although using a taxi is not among the budget-friendly options, it is among the most preferred alternatives since they offer a comfortable travel to the city center in a short time compared to other vehicles. You can also share your taxi with other passengers.
Airport Shuttle
For traveling to the city center from the airport, you can use the Ves Patagonia minibuses that also offer service as airport shuttles. The cost of traveling to the center with these minibuses is around 10 dollars. You can get information about their departure hours by visiting the tourism information desk in the terminal.
Bus
The buses, which carry passengers to El Calafate city center from the airport, are more budget-friendly compared to taxis and private shuttles but you may have trouble if you have heavy luggage. The buses do not offer service at frequent intervals, so you may have to wait for a long time. You can get information about the departure hours of the buses from the timetable at the stop.
Car Rental
For traveling to the city center from the airport, you can get service from big companies such as Hertz and Sixt. You can also prefer one of the local companies. Before renting a car, you can make an online search for the prices of these companies. If you want, you can also make a reservation in advance. In this way, you take the road to your destination after landing at the airport without losing any time.
Hotel Transfer
You can get information about airport transfers from the hotel where you will stay in El Calafate before your flight. Most hotels in the city offer airport transfer service for their guests. Their prices vary depending on the features of the vehicle, the number of passengers and luggage. If there is a form published on your hotel's website, you can fill out this form online and find out the prices.
