Eat Well & Rest Easy

Eat Well & Rest Easy

Vegetarians will find it tough going in southern Patagonia—most meals feature red meat, either lamb or beef, with perhaps a salad of grated carrots or iceberg lettuce on the side. El Calafate has a great number of restaurants that offer a relatively wide variety of cuisines, but in the smaller towns your options are largely limited to grilled meat, salty pizza, pasta, and greasy empanadas. Excellent Argentine wine is practically everywhere, and beer is widely consumed. If you prefer plain water to the sparkling variety, order it sin gas (without bubbles).

El Calafate boasts a wide and growing selection of hotels, hostels, and bed-and-breakfasts geared to international tourists. In less popular areas, you will find utilitarian business hotels, but as tourism grows the options are expanding—even the tiny mountain village of El Chaltén now has its own luxury hotel. In general, hotel prices are higher here than in other areas of Argentina, though deals are available outside of high season. Staying at a working ranch, or estancia, is an essential experience that will give you a true taste of the Patagonian lifestyle. Many ranches, even those in exceptionally remote areas, offer luxurious accommodations and all-inclusive packages for guests.