How do you get from El Calafate airport to town?

How far is El Calafate airport from town?

Comandante Armando Tola International Airport (code FTE) is about 23 km from downtown El Calafate. The drive along Provincial Route 11 takes between 20 and 25 minutes, depending on traffic and road conditions.

It is a small, orderly airport: most flights arrive from Buenos Aires (Aeroparque and Ezeiza) and from Ushuaia or Bariloche. When you walk out of the terminal you will not find any city buses: El Calafate has no public transport linking the airport with town, so your ride is always a private one.

What options do I have to get to town?

There are three, and each has its own logic depending on how many people are travelling, how much luggage you have and how flexible you need to be with timing:

• Taxi or remis: you grab it at the airport exit. It charges per vehicle and needs no booking, but there can be a queue at peak times.
• Shared shuttle: a van that gathers passengers from several flights. It is the cheapest option, but it charges per person, stops at several hotels and leaves when it is full.
• Private transfer: a vehicle just for you, booked in advance. Fixed price per vehicle (up to 4 passengers), door to door, with the driver waiting for you with a sign.

Comparison: taxi vs shuttle vs private transfer

We only publish the price of our own service, shown live and updated in real time: the private transfer has a fixed, transparent price per vehicle for up to 4 passengers. The taxi or remis is paid at the local rate of the moment and the shared shuttle charges per person.

Are there taxis at the airport?

Yes, there are usually local taxis and remises outside the terminal. You take them on the spot, with no app and no advance booking, and pay the local rate per vehicle to town. When several flights land at once there can be a queue and some delay.

It is a handy option if you travel light and do not mind waiting your turn. The downside: if your flight is delayed there is nobody reserved waiting for you, and the final price depends on availability at the moment.

Is the shared shuttle worth it?

The shuttle is the cheapest option because it charges per person, with no published fixed price. It is a good choice if you travel solo or as a couple and are not in a hurry.

The trade-off is that the van gathers passengers from different flights and drops off at several hotels before yours, so the ride takes longer. It also leaves when it is full, not when you land. For groups or families, once you add up several fares, the gap with a private transfer narrows a lot.

When is a private transfer best?

A private transfer is a vehicle exclusively for you, with a fixed price per vehicle —today ARS 40,000 (about USD 34) for up to 4 passengers— booked in advance. It is worth it when you want to step off the plane and go straight on, with no waiting and no extra stops.

The difference is in the detail: the driver tracks your flight number, so if the plane lands early or late he adjusts the time and waits with a sign showing your name at the exit. It is door to door, with plenty of room for luggage, and you pay exactly what you booked no matter the traffic.

Is there Uber at El Calafate airport?

No. In El Calafate Uber does not operate, and neither do Cabify, InDriver or DiDi: no ride-hailing app works in the city. That is why, to get from the airport to town, the only choices are the three in this guide —taxi or remis, shared shuttle or private transfer.

If you were counting on hailing an Uber when you land, the smart move is to book your transfer before you travel. I explain it in detail here: is there Uber in El Calafate?

Hi, I'm Daniel

I have lived in El Calafate since 2012 and in 2024 I founded Transfer El Calafate by Jerez. I make the airport–town run several times a day and I know the flight times by heart. Send me your flight number and I will be there with the sign, adjusting the time if the plane is delayed. No rush and no surprises.

Frequently asked questions