From Ruta 40, Ruta 11 (paved) branches off to El Calafate. During winter Ruta 40 can close due to ice and snow. In these months, the more common route to El Calafate is Ruta 3 from Río Gallegos. El Calafate has several gas stations, mechanics and tire repair shop.

By Bus

El Calafate has a central terminal from which all buses leave (Roca 1004). Services include bar-café, bathrooms and information desk. All companies have offices here; many are closed 2 - 5 p.m. A few agencies also have branches downtown: Chaltén Travel (Avenida del Libertador 1174, Tel.: 49-2212, E-mail: contacto@chaltentravel.com, URL: www.chaltentravel.com) and Cal-Tur (Avenida del Libertador 1080, Tel.: 49-1388, E-mail: caltur@cotecal.com.ar). A long staircase leads down from the bus station to Avenida del Libertador, through the Mercado de Artesanos.

From October to April, some companies travel Ruta 40, making it easier to get to Bariloche and other towns along the route. At other times of the year, the journey means a transfer at Río Gallegos. For Puerto San Julián, Puerto Santa Cruz, Puerto Deseado, Comodoro Rivadavia and other destinations along Ruta 3, transfer in Río Gallegos; likewise for Buenos Aires, Córdoba and Mendoza, especially in the low season. Buses are less frequent May - September.
To Glaciar Perito Moreno and Parque Nacional Los Glaciares: 1.5 hours, $23 (round trip) – Patagonia Ya (10 a.m., return 5:15 p.m.), Taqsa (daily 9 a.m., return 3:30 p.m.), Cal-Tur (daily 9 a.m., return 4 p.m.).
To El Chaltén: Chaltén Travel (daily 8 a.m., 6 p.m., $20), Taqsa (daily 8 p.m., $17), Cal-Tur (daily 8 a.m., 6 p.m., $20).
To Río Turbio: Taqsa (daily noon, 5.5 hours, $16) Cootra (daily 8:30 a.m., 4 hours, $13).
To Río Gallegos: 4 hours, $13 – Taqsa (daily 3 a.m, noon, 2 p.m.), Sportsman (daily 12:30 p.m.).
To Ushuaia: Sportsman, Taqsa (daily 3 a.m., 17 - 17.5 hours, $64; change in Río Gallegos).
To Caleta Olivia: Taqsa (daily 5:30 p.m., 13.5 hours, $41; transfer in Río Gallegos).
To Comodor Rivadavia: Sportsman (3 a.m., noon, 16 hours, $43; transfer in Río Gallegos).
To Bariloche: September – mid-April by way of Ruta 40 (Taqsa, Chaltén Travel); in winter by way of Ruta 3 with transfer in Río Gallegos – Taqsa (5:30 p.m., 28.5 hours, $103), Sportsman (3 a.m., 32 hours, $89).
To Buenos Aires: all by way of Río Gallegos, 34-38 hours – Pingüino (daily 9 a.m., 8 p.m., $104-121). Also Sportsman ($134), Taqsa ($124-148).

To Puerto Natales, Chile: Cootra (daily 8:30 a.m., 5 hours, $17), Zaahj (Wednesday, Friday, Sunday 8 a.m., 4.5 hours, $14)
To Punta Arenas, Chile: El Pingüino (daily 4 a.m., 9 hours, $23; change in Río Gallegos)

September - April Barivans offers five-day trips to Bariloche by way of Chile’s Carretera Austral (Tel.: 02944-1564-9834 / 1558-7009, E-mail: info@barivans.com.ar, URL: www.barivans.com.ar), $240 transportation only.

By Air

Aeropuerto El Calafate is 23 kilometers (14 miles) east of El Calafate, off Ruta 11 (Tel.: 49-1230, E-mail: infoaerocal@cotecal.com.ar). Ves Patagonia has shuttle service (Avenida del Libertador 1319, local 6, Tel.: 49-4355, E-mail: reserves@vespatagonia.com, URL: vespatagonia.com, $8 per person). A taxi charges $20 for the run. An additional $5 departure tax is added to airfares.
Aerolíneas Argentinas (Monday-Friday 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m., 3:30-7:30 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m.-1 p.m. 9 de Julio 57, local 1-2, Tel.: 49-2814, E-mail: ftevtas@aerolineas.com.ar, URL: www.aerolineas.com.ar) – Bariloche (once daily, 2 hours, from $264), Ushuaia (once daily, 1 hour, $135), Buenos Aires (thrice daily, 3-5 hours, $141).
Lade (Monday-Friday 10 a.m.-1 p.m., 4-7 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m.-noon. Mermoz and Marambio, Tel.: 49-1262, E-mail: ladecalafate@cotecal.com.ar, URL: www.lade.com) – Buenos Aires (Friday, 10 hours, $123; transfer in Ushuaia), Ushuaia (Thursday, Friday, 1.5 hour, $104), Comodoro Rivadavia (Friday, 1.75 hour, $66), Bariloche (Thursday, 1.5 hour, $184), Mar de Plata (Thursday, 4 hours, $132).
Lan (Monday-Friday 9 a.m.-1 p.m., 4-8 p.m., Saturday 9 a.m.-1 p.m., 5-8 p.m. Rumbo Sur, 9 de Julio 81, local 2, Tel.: 49-2155, E-mail: atofte@lan.com, URL: www.lan.com) – Buenos Aires (Wednesday, Friday, Argentines $108-143, foreigners from $150); in high season also to Ushuaia.