The day of travel for us, taking three flights within 24 hours will make this one of the most exhausting days. Last night we left San Pedro de Atacama around 19:15 with the shuttle to reach Calama airport in Chile for our 22:00 pm departure to the capital Santiago. Both airports being very neat, we first ate some sandwiches in Calama but while entering Santiago there was a McDonald’s right in front of us, only after check in. We had to get some burgers!

After we collected our luggage we had to kill 7 hours for our flight to Buenos Aires, Argentina at 7:25 am. After eating and using the WiFi (which was shit in the morning, better later on) we found a bench for two to make our bed for a few hours.

After that we went to get our exit stamp and leave on an one and a half hour plane ride to Buenos Aires. Once arrived it took us almost one hour to go through the Que of getting our entrance stamp. Because we booked a flight with Aerolinias Argentinas from another airport in Buenos Aires to go to el Calafate, we got a 50% discount on the transfer, called Tiendaleón. To go from Ezerie Airport to Jorge Newbery Airport costed 450 Argentinan Dollars for two. Bus leaves every 30 minutes, taking 1 hour and 10 minutes.

After we arrived in Jorge Newbery airport around 12:30 pm, we arranged our big suitcases to be picked up so we could travel light to Ushuaia, El Calafate and Eastern Island the next few days. We used Luggage storage BA, one of their colleagues was waiting with a name sign to greet us and to make sure the driver picked up our belongings for a payment of 800 pesos for one big and one small bag. We got a receipt and a text message from the owner of the company with our bags and an address to pick it up once we are back in Buenos Aires. Total it will be around 65 euros we pay for storage, else we had to pay more than 60 euros per flight for extra luggage, seeing we be flying 4 more times it was worth it!

After check in we ate at the Hard Rock Café, if you want more options eat before check in because the Hard Rock Café is the only hot meal place in Jorge Newbery airport after check in. 3 hours flight to go with Aerolinias Argentinas to El Calafate where we arrived around 18:00 pm.

Once arrived you can take a shuttle for 300 pesos per head (680 for two with credit card).

We stayed at Hotel Jardin, nice big room in the City. They booked the hiking glacier tour for us tomorrow for 215 usd for two. After a longggg travel we decided to go out for a nice dinner. This area is known for its lamb and the hotel suggested Don Pichon. This restaurant even has a shuttle service to pick us up! The restaurant has a local beer, and local reindeer on the spit. They give a lot of meat straight from the pit fire! With a nice view from a hill on the city of El Calafate, it is a pretty place. The meat was not the best we had, but it was good enough.

A little preview of what awaits us tomorrow ;-).

  • sdr