Los Pioneros 251,
DIRECTIONS
From Buenos Aires, by
plane: direct to El
Calafate, Aerolineas
Argentinas, LAN. LADE
(3hrs). Otherwise: fly to
Rio Gallegos (4hrs) and
then bus to El Calafate
(4hrs). We recommend
inquiring with the
airlines (Aerolineas
Argentinas, LAN, LADE)
about routes and
schedules.
From Buenos Aires, by
bus: to Rio Gallegos,
then transfer to El
Calafate (estimated time:
38hrs).
From Puerto Natales,
Chile by bus: leaves
mornings, arrives in
Calafate by noon (est.
duration: 5hrs). There
are also 2 flights a day
with Aerovias DAP, a
small Chilean airline.
From Punta Arenas: bus to
Puerto Natales, once
there inquire about buses
to El Calafate (very easy
to find). Or: bus to Rio
Gallegos and transfer to
El Calafate.
From Bariloche you have
the following options:
direct flight to El
Calafate with SW
airlines, or via Buenos
Aires.
cross over to Puerto
Montt (Chile) and fly to
Punta Arenas then bus to
El Calafate.
catch ferry boat (ask for
Navimag) to Puerto
Natales (4-day journey),
then bus to El Calafate.
charter minibus services
on Route 40 (3 days when
available). Ask at
Albergue Alaska and
Preiko's Youth Hostel in
Bariloche or us. This is
a great tour!.
bus to Comodoro
Rivadavia, transfer to
Rio Gallegos, and then to
El Calafate.
From Trelew / Puerto
Madryn: Direct flights to
El Calafate or plane or
bus to Rio Gallegos, then
bus to Calafate.
From Ushuaia: fly with
SW, Aerolineas Argentinas
or other airlines to El
Calafate or Rio Gallegos
(from the latter, take
bus to El Calafate).
From Río Gallegos: many
buses (4hrs/ 300kms) they
leave from bus station
with a stop at the Rio
Gallegos's airport to go
on to El Calafate.
If you're driving from
Buenos Aires 35-hour
drive approx. We
recommend the following
route: Exit BUE via the
new freeway to CaÒuelas,
then Route 3. When you
get to Azul, take Route
76 for the next 75 km,
then Route 51 all the way
to BahÌa Blanca. From
there, Route 22 to Rio
Colorado. Fill up your
tank, then continue a few
km to the Route 251
intersection, going south
towards San Antonio Oeste
(you'll pass Gral.
Conesa). Then continue on
to Route 3 to Rio
Gallegos and Calafate (in
case you don't want to
drive on gravel),
otherwise take a shortcut
via Provincial Route 9
('la cortada') right
after passing Comandante
Luis Piedra Buena (before
Rio Gallegos) to El
Calafate. You'll save 230
km this way, although
your speed average will
be low due to curves and
gravel roads. If you're
driving from other
points, we suggest you
study a good road map.
The road from Rio
Gallegos to Calafate is
in bad shape now, slow
down !