Patagonian Adventure 🚌 Travel Day from Río Gallegos to El Calafate + 1st Impressions & A-Frame Tour

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We're finally travelling to El Calafate, the land of glaciers, icebergs and snow in Patagonia, Argentina! In this travel vlog, we'll show you the journey there. It was a 4-hour bus trip from Río Gallegos to El Calafate and we were treated to some beautiful scenery along the way, ranging from Patagonian steppe to snow-capped mountains in the horizon. Once we arrived in town, we went in search of food and had a trout dish with blue cheese, potatoes and pasta. We ate at a restaurant called 'Isabel' that specializes in dishes cooked on a 'plough disc', which is a traditional way of cooking that has its roots in the farming and agricultural communities.

Then it was time to book some tours from El Calafate. We really wanted to visit estancias and see the glaciers up close, so we booked a few different excursions, which you'll be seeing in the next episodes!

Lastly, we'll sit down to share our first impression of El Calafate, and we'll also give you a tour of the A-frame cottage we rented in town.

🚌 Patagonian Adventure: Travel Day from Río Gallegos to El Calafate + First Impressions & A-Frame Cottage Tour 🇦🇷

⏰ Morning Surprises & Scramble to the Bus Station

Well, good morning from our hotel in Río Gallegos, Patagonia! Today started with a bit of chaos and classic travel honesty—we realized last minute that our bus to El Calafate left four hours earlier than we thought. Instead of a leisurely workday, we found ourselves frantically packing, uploading videos, cleaning the hotel room (shout-out to hotel etiquette from childhood!), and hustling to the bus terminal just in time.

🗺️ Patagonia by Bus: Route, Costs & Small-Town Vibes

At the terminal, we checked out an awesome map to recap our travels: from Bariloche to El Bolsón, Esquel, Comodoro, and down to Río Gallegos. Now, the journey continues inland to El Calafate, gateway to the famous Perito Moreno Glacier.

Cost: 1800 pesos (about $20 USD per person) for the four-hour ride

Pro Tip: Book early for the best seats at the front of the bus!
The route offered stunning landscapes, and the relaxed, friendly Patagonian vibe shone through. Sam even put together the perfect Argentine bus lunch: pear juice, sandwich de miga triple (classic ham & cheese), and alfajor meringue for dessert.

🚏 Pilgrimage on the Highway & Police Checks

The journey wasn’t without its quirks: we encountered a local pilgrimage (the Day of the Virgin), with walkers, bikers, and even horses using the highway. Stories from fellow passengers added color, and after a quick police and military bus check, we arrived in El Calafate just a bit later than planned—around 4:30 pm.

🏠 Welcome to El Calafate: Food, Tours & First Impressions

First stop: food! We headed to Isabel, a cozy restaurant specializing in comida al disco—traditional Patagonian dishes cooked in a round pan. Our pick: trout with blue cheese cream sauce, rustic potatoes, and ravioli, paired with a beautiful Malbec from the cellar. The meal was affordable (about $23 for a dish serving two, plus $8 for a bottle of wine) and absolutely delicious.
Town Vibes: The town center is charming, well-maintained, and reminiscent of Bariloche, Villa La Angostura, or even Banff in Canada. Plenty of restaurants, shops, and tour agencies line the streets.

🗓️ Organizing Patagonian Excursions

After dinner, we got practical and booked our must-do tours:

Glacier Boat Trip (timed for the best weather window)

Ice Trekking on the Glacier

Estancia Day Trip
Tour agencies recommend booking a day or two ahead due to rapidly changing weather. Glacier views are reliable in any weather, but sunshine is best for the boat ride and ice trek.

⛺ A-Frame Cottage Tour: Our Alpine Home for the Week

Next up: a tour of our adorable, basic A-frame cottage—one step up from camping!

Living & Dining: Converted to an office, with kitchen essentials, kettle, microwave, and toaster oven (no stove, but the town’s restaurants are irresistible).

Groceries: Stocked up at La Anónima (fruits, cheese, salami—healthy and not-so-healthy options).

Bathroom: Compact but has everything, including a bidet and hairdryer.

Sleeping Quarters: Upstairs loft bed (watch your head—A-frame style!), with a pull-out bed downstairs for windier nights (Patagonian winds are no joke).

Amenities: Fast Wi-Fi and just enough comfort for working and sleeping—most of our time will be spent out exploring!

🌄 What’s Next: Patagonian Adventures Await

We’re incredibly excited to explore El Calafate—home to some of Argentina’s most spectacular natural wonders. Stay tuned for glacier visits, estancia experiences, ice trekking, and more unforgettable Patagonia moments.

Travelling to EL CALAFATE: Trout with Blue Cheese & First Impressions of Town (Patagonia, Argentina)

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