El Calafate City & Walichu Caves Tour
About this activity
Highlights
- Explore El Calafate's charming streets
- Discover ancient rock art at Walichu Caves
- Learn about Patagonia's rich history
- Enjoy panoramic views of Lake Argentino
- Experience local culture and traditions
Full description
Included / Excluded
- Guided city tour of El Calafate
- Visit to Walichu Caves
- Hotel pickup and drop-off
- Meals and beverages
Itinerary
Pass by: This tour begins with the pick up from the hotels at the agreed time.
Relax into your air-conditioned coach or minivan and enjoy the views over the untouched landscapes on route to Walichu Caves. After roughly 30 minutes, arrive at the ancient caves on the shores of Lake Argentino. Marvel at the spectacular milky-blue lake, and follow the trail (own expense) to gaze at the aeons-old rock paintings. Admire the recreated and authentic depictions of humans and animals, and learn from a local guide how they date back around 4,000 years to Paleolithic times and were probably originated created by pre-Tehuelche hunter-gatherers.
Next, drive back to El Calafate for a panoramic sightseeing tour. Drive past the early 20th-century buildings and homes built by its first settlers, as well as the main plaza, church and other landmarks as your guide details the town’s early beginnings. We will see the Coastal Walk, which is close to the Lago Argentino coast.
Finish at the El Calafate Historical Intepretation Center. Explore this informative museum independently (own expense) and uncover the area’s history, wildlife and geology. See the bones of dinosaurs that roamed here millennia ago, and trace the formation of Patagonia’s glaciers and story of the Tehuelche peoples who lived here for centuries before the arrival of colonizers. Either end your tour here to stay on at the museum cafe or souvenir shop, or finish your trip with a hotel drop-off.
Meeting point
Start Location
El Calafate, Argentina
Important information
Know before you book
- The tour operates in English; please confirm language preferences at booking.
- Hotel pickup and drop-off are included; provide accurate accommodation details upon booking.
- The tour is approximately 3 hours long; plan accordingly for other activities.
Know before you go
- Wear comfortable walking shoes and dress in layers suitable for changing weather conditions.
- Bring a camera to capture the stunning landscapes and historical sites.
- Ensure you have a valid ID for hotel pickup and drop-off verification.
Cancellation policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Good to know
- IMPORTANT: If you wish to cancel your tour, please note that no refund will be granted from the 24th of December to the 02nd of January. All sales are final between those dates.
Traveler reviews
Great little tour, squeeze it in
That's a nice little tour of El Calafate, see a few things that you normally wouldn't see, probably even do. The guide, so bad I totally having a slip of the mind, was the greatest. Probably the best guide I had in awhile. Very knowledgeable, very inclusive, and the first time switching back and fourth from English to spanish I could follow.
What you pay for is not what you get!
The initial program included a visit to Lagună Nimez , but it was not included in the schedule of our trip. When asked about it, our guide said it is never included in this trip, so why promise and pay for something which does not exist?! I also asked the firm about it but they never bothered to send an answer
Interesting Tour to El Calafate Caves and Museum
The Walichu Caves were very interesting. Our guide Santino, was very friendly and informative and fluent in both English and Spanish The museum was also very informative and well presented. The hydroponic farm was interesting and the food at the end was a very pleasant and unexpected surprise. The tour guide informed us a bit about El Calafate but could have provided a more information about El Calafate as we drove through. The main problem was that we were told the evening before in a message via Viator that our pick-up time was 3pm not 5pm as we had booked, without out any explanation or apology, which disrupted our other plans significantly!
Diving into the history of Patagonia
A very well organized tour. The guide was fluent in English and knowledgable. The 3 hours gave a very good genberal view of the history of the region. The Museum is excellent, and the food/drinks offered at the end also very good.
Walichu is the best of Calafate.
WALICHU IS THE BEST OF ALL CALAFATE. !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! We attended the visit with the whole family and my 9-year-old son Aristides was amazed by what he saw and experienced there, as were all of us! We were received very kindly by an employee (lawyer) who had left the profession to dedicate himself to this. The experience was sublime, the visit is a journey of immersion in the AONIKENK (CHALTEN) culture, it is a performance that takes you to another world. The equipment that they gave us for the visit gave us the native music, the history, the story, the detail, the local color and the love for the Tehuelche culture. The view of the wonderful Argentine Lake made us take THE HEART OF EL CALAFATE IN OUR EYES. No one can leave the city without visiting the Walichu caves. Being there we forget about the problems, it seems like a magical, dreamlike place. The warmth of the people who attended us made us feel that; Without a doubt, we will return one day. I give a standing ovation to those who work there with so much love and professionalism to show those who visit how valuable our roots are and how wonderful it is to know the culture of our native peoples. They are an example to imitate. Thanks a lot. This is not just a walk... it is immersing your soul in the Argentineness that passes through us!!!! Thank you very much. Aristides' mother.