El Calafate is served by Comandante Armando Tola International Airport (FTE), located approximately 20 kilometers east of the town, and a central Bus Terminal within the city.
Direct flights connect El Calafate to major Argentine cities like Buenos Aires (approximately 3.5 hours), Ushuaia (around 1.5 hours), and Bariloche (about 1.75 hours). Airlines such as Aerolineas Argentinas, LATAM, Flybondi, and Jetsmart operate these routes. Starting December 2024, direct flights from Santiago, Chile, are also available with Sky Airlines.
From El Calafate Airport (FTE) to the city center, options include taxis, remises, or shared transfer minivans/shuttles. The journey typically takes 20-30 minutes. Taxis may cost around 1400-1800 ARS, while shared shuttles can range from 9,000-70,000 ARS, with minivans often being the most economical choice.
Buses are a common way to travel to and from El Calafate, especially for nearby destinations. Services connect to El Chaltén (approximately 3 hours, around 35,000 ARS plus a terminal fee), Puerto Natales in Chile (about 5-6 hours, including border crossing), and Río Gallegos.
Car rental agencies such as NextCar, Europcar, Sixt, Hertz, Alamo, Avis, and Budget operate from El Calafate Airport and within the city. Renting a car provides flexibility for exploring Patagonia, with medium cars costing around $80 USD per day.
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