Argentina – El Calafate

El Calafate’s name comes from the calafate fruit. Typical from Patagonia, it’s found on both the Argentinian and Chilean side. It ressembles a blueberry and is a super nutriment, amazing for different health issues and digestive purposes. It’s also a good beauty allie! It’s a very strong fruit, as it has to survive such cold weather! Patagonians also have very cute legends about the calafate.

One winter, as the tribe was preparing to move, a old woman felt that she was too weak to travel. With no one to stay with her, she stayed behind. With the brutal winter, it seemed like the old woman would perish. But magically, she was transformed into a calafate bush, allowing her to survive. Birds flying by, seeing the safety of her branches, sheltered there against the wind and cold. Then, when the bush flowered and bore fruit later in the year, the birds returned to feed on the fruit.

Its berries serve as the inspiration for one of the most pervasive mythologies in the region: that anyone who eats a Calafate berry will return to Patagonia.

El Calafate is a small city so you’ll need just a few hours to visit the center and walk to the lake side for a nice glance of nature. The walk is nice but can get cool with the wind.

If you’re up for a bit of artisanal shopping, head to El Aldeo de los Gnomes, a little passage with a few cute stands. If you were hoping buying winter gear, you’ll find all the international stores and brands, on the Main Street, San Martin, with Patagonia, North Face and so on, but your wallet might give a good cry.

But of course, the number one attraction of El Calafate is the Perito Moreno Glaciar!

For a nice breakfast or snack, go into one of the Don Luis pastry shops. There are so many different pastries, you’ll definitely find your poison. I recommend the medialunas that are delicious! But the sandwiches aren’t that good, though.

For lunch or dinner, some friends I met in Cordoba had recommended the Isabel restaurant. And they were right, the place was nice and the food was good, as well as the service (which is more and more rare the more you go down south..). And prices are good! You should know that all portions and enough for two. I went with a friend and we shared a Disco and a starter, with water and a glass a wine for 450 pesos each!

Isabel, Perito Moreno 95, Mon-Sun 12pm-12am

If you’re up for pasta, run to the Almacen de Pasta. It’s amazing!! You can’t actually eat there, but you can take them away, cooked and hot or uncooked (better option of if you have a kitchen). I most definitely recommend the mozzarella-calabaza (pumpkin) raviolis, just to die for! And so you know, one box is enough for 2, even if it doesn’t look like it.

I stayed at the hostel America del Sur which was really nice. The rooms were clean, nicely heated and the shower really hot! The common room is big and arranged around a modern fireplace which makes it very cozy. There is also a restaurant open until 11pm, with an asado menu for 350 pesos (salad bar, chorizo, bife de chorizo and a glass of wine or beer).

From the airport, book a transfer at VES Patagonia for 180 pesos one ride. The airport is far from the center!