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Overview

Explora El Calafate Argentina explora.com

Overview

Explora El Calafate Argentina

A Brand-New Haven in an Ice-Carved Landscape Destination.....................................4 Our Lodge.......................................10 How We Explore.............................24 Getting Here...................................32

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Discover Explora El Calafate In El Calafate, history stretches in every direction: the flat steppe sanded down by millennia of glaciation, Paleolithic rock carvings, dinosaur fossils unearthed or still awaiting discovery. Beyond the well-known glacier, ancient trails, archaeological traces, and the enduring culture of the classic Patagonian estancia and gaucho life reveal a dimension of the region that only Explora will let you experience entirely.

The World’s Leading Expedition Company for seven consecutive years.

Committed to the highest standards for social and environmental performance.

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A Land of Ice & Deep Roots El Calafate is the gateway to one of the most extraordinary glacial regions in the world. Just a few miles from the lodge, the Perito Moreno Glacier rises as a powerful presence that continues to draw travelers from around the world. From here, explore the vast ice fields of Los Glaciares National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site where glaciers descend from the Southern Patagonian Ice Field — massive rivers of ice that shape the landscape and remind you of the scale and power of Patagonia.

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Yet beyond this celebrated ice front lies a wider territory. Ancient trails, archaeological traces, and the enduring culture of the classic Patagonian estancia and gaucho life reveal a dimension of the region that only Explora will let you experience entirely. Lakes, rivers, and remote estancias unfold across a landscape where the immensity of Patagonia becomes fully visible — pristine, rarely visited, and explored in depth.

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A Strategic Hub Between Patagonia’s Iconic Destinations With Explora El Calafate, our presence across Patagonia grows stronger, connecting some of the region’s most remarkable landmarks. Situated between Torres del Paine in Chile and El Chaltén in Argentina, El Calafate serves as a natural point of connection within Patagonia. From here, move between two countries while experiencing the full diversity of landscapes in a single trip. The result is a broader experience across Patagonia — one that links different glaciers, mountains, lakes, rivers, towns, people, and cultures through a shared philosophy of exploration: not only visiting, but connecting with nature, and with yourself.

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The Lodge: A Versatile Basecamp The lodge sits within the remote Chorrillo Malo estancia, a traditional property that spans approximately 70,000 hectares (172,973 acres), located about 30 kilometers (18.6 miles) from the town of El Calafate. Backdropped by the looming slope of Cerro Fraile, there’s an inspiring harmony to its sustainable design, undulating along the steppe. From here, experience Patagonia away from the busiest visitor areas while remaining close to the region’s most significant landmarks.

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Everything is Included for a Seamless Experience

Accommodations More Than 30 Explorations Round-trip Airport Transfers at scheduled times

Spa Facilities

All Meals and Beverages Entrance Fees to national parks

Inquire for additional services such as massages and private or alternative explorations.

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The lodge, designed by Chilean architect José Cruz Ovalle, stretches across the steppe in a series of low, red volumes that follow the contours of the terrain. Its modular construction helps reduce environmental impact and allows the building to blend naturally with the surrounding boulders, shrubs, and distant mountains.

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Inside, warm wood surfaces, high ceilings, and expansive windows bring the landscape into the lodge. The bar, living areas, and dining room are designed with natural materials, soft tones, and simple lines, creating spaces that feel calm and welcoming after a day outdoors. Large windows and terraces maintain a constant connection with the surroundings.

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The rooms are spacious and filled with natural light, featuring wood finishes, neutral textiles, and understated furniture. Large windows frame wide views of the Patagonian plains. The design is simple, minimal and uncluttered, offering comfort and privacy for resting.

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Gaucho Heritage & Fire Zone In Patagonia, fire brings people together. At Explora El Calafate, the fire zone beside the dining room honors a tradition rooted in gaucho life and the culture of the southern estancias. Around the parrilla, meats and vegetables are prepared over open flames, inspired by the Argentine asado. The glow of the embers and the aroma of the grill create a natural gathering place where travelers and our team share stories and spend time together.

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Explore El Calafate’s Entire Ecosystem More than thirty expertly guided Explorations allow you to discover El Calafate on foot, on horseback, by navigation, or overland — all included as part of your stay. Our private stables and Explora horses offer a traditional way to cross the steppe and reach remote areas of the region. Throughout many routes, the presence of the glaciers remains a constant reference in the landscape, connecting lakes, rivers, and mountains. Our Explorations are tailored to your interests and activity level. Classic Explorations provide a meaningful introduction to the region’s most emblematic sites, while Signature Explorations — designed and operated exclusively by Explora — go beyond the well-known routes to uncover remote, lesser-visited corners. Each evening, meet with your guide to select the next day’s Explorations, allowing for a flexible, day-by-day itinerary built around your preferences.

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Five Landscapes Within a Day’s Reach The territory surrounding the lodge is remarkably diverse. To explore its many landscapes, explorations are organized across five zones, each revealing a different facet of the destination. The Hielos Milenarios zone reveals a glacial landscape within the Southern Patagonian Ice Field in Los Glaciares National Park, home to the iconic Perito Moreno Glacier. This cold, windswept zone is explored through navigations and easy-to-moderate walks, including glacier viewpoints, boardwalk trails, and ice hikes. The Estancia zone surrounds the historic Estancia Chorrillo Malo near the Chilean border, a territory deeply connected to gaucho traditions. Valleys, forests, and the Río Rico unfold beneath Cerro El Fraile and are explored through hikes, horseback rides, and overland routes.

The Pampa zone stretches across steppe toward the Río La Leona valley, an open landscape historically linked to regional ranching culture, and it is explored through hikes and overland journeys of varying difficulty. The Valles y Montañas zone stands out for its forested valleys and mountains, and it is explored through hikes that ascend to natural, wide viewpoints. Lastly, the Brazo Sur zone reaches one of the most remote sectors of the territory, near the southern edge of the Southern Patagonian Ice Field. Crossing the Brazo Sur of Lake Argentino and Lake Frías, explorations combine navigation and hikes into unknown, uncrowded and remote valleys, lagoons, and glaciers.

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Brazo Sur

El Fraile

Signature Explorations Designed and operated exclusively by Explora, Signature Explorations lead beyond marked paths and deeper into the territory, revealing remote landscapes from a truly adventurous perspective. There are 17 Signature Explorations at Explora El Calafate. Find below a curated selection.

Brazo Sur Sail into the South Arm of Lake Argentino, one of the most remote sectors of Los Glaciares National Park. After landing, hike through the Patagonian forest to reach moraines shaped by the Southern Patagonian Ice Field, where the Cubo Glacier reveals glacial dynamics in their purest form.

El Fraile Right beside the lodge, El Fraile rises as an invitation to climb. Ascend its slopes, reading the geological layers in 28

Veranadas

El Chingue

the rock, until extraordinary views open up across some of Patagonia’s most iconic peaks outlined on the horizon.

Veranadas Saddle up and ride all the way around Cerro El Fraile, traversing the old Chorrillo Malo estancia just as the gauchos once did. The landscape shifts without pause from open pampas to forest and mountain, covering the full diversity of the territory on horseback.

El Chingue Hike into the Hoya del Chingue, a sedimentary mountain range that holds an ancient history written in its rock layers. Walk its ledges as sweeping views open toward El Calafate, Cerro Moyano, and Lake Argentino below. See all explorations.

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Perito Moreno

Mirador Cristal

Classic Explorations Classic Explorations provide a meaningful introduction to the region’s most emblematic sites — iconic landmarks that reveal the essence of this ice-carved landscape.

Perito Moreno Sail along the Rico Arm of Lake Argentino and disembark to walk along the glacier’s southern shore, drawing ever closer to the wall of ice. The route culminates at the famous walkways, where the full magnitude of the Perito Moreno reveals itself in every direction.

Mirador Cristal Climb Cerro Cristal to read the region’s glacial history written across the landscape. As you gain altitude, Lake Argentino, Lake Roca, and the Perito Moreno Glacier arrange themselves below, each distinguished by color and origin, like a living map sculpted by ice.

Cerro Moyano

Pasarelas

Cerro Moyano Cerro Moyano rises as a natural lookout over the territory, its rock face tinted with color from a volcanic past. Reach the summit and take in one of the most complete panoramas in the area: the pampa, Lake Argentino, and in the distance, the border with Chile.

Pasarelas The most accessible way to contemplate the Perito Moreno Glacier. Walk a system of gentle walkways to visit various viewpoints and take in the immensity of this wall of ice at your own pace, alert to the roar of each calving. See all explorations.

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Additional Information

Getting to El Calafate The most convenient way to arrive is by air through El Calafate International Airport (FTE), located about 1 hour from the lodge, with regular flights connecting El Calafate and Buenos Aires. From Explora El Chaltén, we offer van transfers on select days, with a drive of approximately 3.5 hours. From Explora Torres del Paine, transfers are also available at preset times. The journey takes around six hours and includes the border crossing between Chile and Argentina. Private transfers are also available.

Weather & Best Time To Travel High season in summer (December–February) brings the warmest temperatures and long daylight hours, ideal for exploring. Spring (September–November) and autumn (March–May), meanwhile, offer quieter trails, softer light, and changing colors across the valleys, creating a particularly beautiful atmosphere for discovery and exploration.

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Contact Information To book your stay or for additional information, contact us at reserve@explora.com

Our toll-free numbers: United States +1 (855) 733-0262 Chile +56 2 2395 2800 United Kingdom 08000869054 Perú 080071646 Argentina +54 11 5199 0564

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