Getting around El Calafate, Argentine Patagonia
Practical guide · 2026

Is there Uber in El Calafate?

The short answer is no. Here is why ride-hailing apps do not work in El Calafate and what the real alternatives are for getting around, especially from the airport.

Quick answer

No. In El Calafate Uber does not work, and neither do Cabify, InDriver or DiDi (2026): no ride-hailing app operates in the city. To get around you have a local taxi or remis, a shared shuttle or a private transfer booked in advance. For the airport, the easiest choice is a door-to-door private transfer.

Is there Uber in El Calafate in 2026?

No. Uber does not work in El Calafate, at the airport or in town. If you open the app while you are in the city, you will not find any cars available.

El Calafate is a small tourist town where passenger transport is organised around licensed taxis and remises, shuttle companies and private transfers. Ride-hailing platforms with private drivers simply do not operate here, so it is best not to count on them when planning your logistics.

What about Cabify, InDriver or DiDi?

Not those either. Cabify, InDriver and DiDi have no service in El Calafate. It is the same as with Uber: no ride-hailing app with private drivers is available in the city.

This surprises many travellers who arrive used to ordering everything from their phone. The good news is that the local options work well; you just need to know them and, ideally, have your airport transfer booked before you travel.

So how do I get around El Calafate?

There are three ways to get around, and each suits a different case:

Comparison of the alternatives to Uber

AlternativeBookingLuggageDoor to doorPrice
Taxi / remisOn the spot or by phoneDepends on the bootYes, but no wait if you are lateLocal rate
Shared shuttleIn advance or at the airportLimited and sharedNo: stops at several hotelsPer person · budget option
Private transferIn advance by WhatsAppPlenty, your own vehicleYes, and it waits if the flight is lateARS 40,000 · approx. USD 34 per vehicle (up to 4 pax)

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 and the shared shuttle charges per person.

How do I get from the airport to town without Uber?

Comandante Armando Tola International Airport (FTE) is about 23 km from town (~20-25 min) and has no public transport. Without Uber, your options are a taxi or remis at the exit, a shared shuttle or a private transfer booked in advance.

Since you cannot order a car from your phone when you land, the calmest choice is to have your transfer booked before you travel. With a private transfer the driver tracks your flight and waits with a sign showing your name, even if the plane is delayed. Today it costs ARS 40,000 (about USD 34) per vehicle for up to 4 passengers.

🚐 Book your airport transfer

The easiest way to arrive without Uber: fixed price, flight tracking and a sign with your name at the airport exit.

See the private airport transfer (FTE)

If you want to compare every way of making that trip, I have a dedicated guide: how to get from El Calafate airport to town.

What about the excursions (Glacier, El Chaltén)?

For the excursions you will not be able to order an Uber either. The Perito Moreno Glacier is about 80 km from town and El Chaltén around 3 hours away: long trips made either with an organised tour or with a private transfer.

The most comfortable option is a private transfer that fits your schedule: you stop at the viewpoints you want and come back with no rush. You can see them here: transfer to the Perito Moreno Glacier and transfer to El Chaltén.

💡 How many days should you stay?

If you are still planning, this guide helps you spread the Glacier, El Chaltén and the boat safaris around your flight.

How many days in El Calafate?
Daniel Jerez, private driver 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 know that arriving somewhere new without Uber can feel disorienting, so my idea is simple: you book your transfer by WhatsApp and I wait for you at the airport with the sign, so you have nothing to sort out when you step off the plane. Door to door and no surprises.

Book your transfer without relying on an app

Tell me your date, time and flight number. I will meet you at the airport and take you straight to your hotel, or we can arrange the excursions you want to do.

💬 Ask on WhatsApp

Frequently asked questions

Is there Uber in El Calafate?

No. Uber does not work in El Calafate in 2026. No ride-hailing app operates in the city; to get around you need a taxi or remis, a shared shuttle or a private transfer booked in advance.

Are there Cabify, InDriver or DiDi?

No. Cabify, InDriver and DiDi do not work either. No app with private drivers operates in El Calafate.

How do I get a taxi if there is no app?

Taxis and remises are called by phone to the company, taken at a rank or at the airport exit. There is no app to hail them or to see the price beforehand; you pay the rate of the moment.

How do I get from the airport to town without Uber?

The FTE airport is 23 km from town. Without Uber, the options are a taxi or remis at the exit, a shared shuttle or a door-to-door private transfer booked in advance. More detail in the guide on how to get from the airport to town.

How much does it cost to get around El Calafate?

The private transfer has a fixed, transparent price per vehicle for up to 4 passengers, shown on our page. The taxi or remis is paid at the local rate and the shared shuttle charges per person; neither has a published fixed price.

Is it worth booking the transfer in advance?

Yes. Since there is no Uber or ride-hailing app, in high season —mid-August to mid-May— slots fill up, especially at the times tied to flights. Booking by WhatsApp early secures your ride.

💬