I Keu Ken Hostel - Hi everybody! We are waiting for you with wonderful Argentine Lake scenery. Sitting on our couch at the fire place warming up, maybe chatting with new friends and drinking Fernet & Coke, playing the guitar while the BBQ gets ready. Featured - I Keu Ken Hostel Hostel de Las Manos - Discover the magic of our outstanding natural beauty...This harmony fits with our kind hospitality and attention. We welcome you to "HOSTEL DE LAS MANOS", a cosy and confortable accomodation for you to enjoy your vacation.
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El Calafate, Argentina |
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| Official Language: |
Spanish |
| Other Languages: |
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| Population: |
40,300,000 |
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| Currency: |
Argentine Peso ($) |
| Electricity: |
220V, 50Hz  |
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| Province: |
Santa Cruz |
| Location: |
Latitude: 5021S
Longitude: 07217W
Altitude: 225 |
| City Size: |
tiny |
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| Local Time: |
GMT-3
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| Dialing Code: |
054 2902 |
| Airports: |
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| Population: |
12,000 |
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| Main Tourist Attractions: |
 Head over to the Perito Moreno Glacier, where you can walk on the ice wearing cleats and see and hear giant blocks of ice breaking off and floating away as icebergs.
Visit Estancia Cristina, a historical sheep ranch which provides the best land access to the Upsala Glacier and offers a great view from the Upsala lookout point.
Hike up Cerro Fitz Roy, a snowy peak offering magnificent panoramic views of your surroundings and the beauty of the area.
Check out the Walichu caves The paintings on the rock walls of this cave are attributed to aborigines during the Paleolithic age, and have been restored where needed using the same ancient techniques.
Take a hike/stroll around 15,000-year-old Lago Argentino, the largest lake in Argentina – just don’t expect to take a swim in your bikini.
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| When to go: |
Being pretty far south, El Calafate experiences summer (Dec-Feb) days up to 17 hours long. The weather is dry in the summer and sunny, but daytime highs are only in the 60s on average, although at rare times it can climb into the 80s. At night the temperatures are in the high 40s but the mountain breezes can make things seem colder. The winters are much cooler but seldom very cold. Despite all the ice, it seldom reaches freezing in El Calafate, even in June and July. Daytime temperatures only peak in the low 50s and a night it can get into the upper 30s. Snow is a true rarity, and the climate is actually fairly dry year-round. As long as you’re prepared for the temperatures, El Calafate can be a very pleasant place to vacation at any time of year.
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How to get there: |
The remoteness of El Calafate makes it most accessible by air. The airport is locates about twenty minutes out of town and offers daily service to various destinations within Argentina and throughout South America. Rental cars, shuttle buses and taxicabs are available at the airport in the baggage claim area. If you’re arriving later in the day you may have to wait for a bus, or a cab. The airport is small and at off hours things can be light. The connecting flights from Buenos Aires generally are without major delays, but the weather in the Santa Cruz region can testy at times and this leads to delays flying in to El Calafate. You can also reach El Calafate from Puerto Natales, in Chile, by bus – about a five-hour drive. The expense required to reach El Calafate does make it a bit of a strain on a traveler’s budget, but hostels and accommodation in the area can still be found for quite cheap. The uniqueness and pristine nature of the area makes it a must-see for any backpacker.
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| Visa Information: |
Travelers from most countries including the US, UK, Australia, EU citizens, New Zealand, Canada, and Israel do not require a visa to enter Argentina. A 90 day tourist visa will be issued at the airport with a passport. Tourist visas can be renewed for those wishing to stay in Argentina with a quick trip to Uruguay from Buenos Aires. No tourist visa is required of visitors from Israel for stays up to 90 days.
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| Tipping: |
At restaurants it is normal to tip 10%. Taxi drivers do not receive tips but the fare may be rounded up to the nearest peso. Porters can receive a tip of a couple of pesos.
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