Buenos Aires to Calafate by bus

Hello,

Im planning to go from Buenos Aires to first, El Calafate, then after 2-3 days to Ushuaia by bus. Since its really expensive by airplane. But, Im super confused with how to do it? Im pretty sure there is no direct bus ride to El calafate? That I need to make a stop first in Rio Gallegos? Please help. Also, any companies with good fares you can suggest?

Thanks!

Yes, you would have to change buses in Rio Gallegos to go to or from Calafate,to and from BA or Ushuaia. Most, but not all, of the buslines doing this route are shown on the following booking sites:

http://www.plataforma10.com/en-US/Servicios#buscar/10/621/31-10-2014/1

http://www.omnilineas.com/argentina/bus/retiro/rio-gallegos/

Prices, travel tie and schedules for these buses are listed. Very little difference between the lines in terms of prices, the prices vary accrding to level of service and comfort of seats.

You can only buy bus tickets, online or in person, halfway through the month before.

Buenos Aires Rio Gallegos .................. 36 hours.
Rios Gallegos-Ushuaia ......................... 12 hours.
Rio Gallegos-Calafate ............................ 4 hours.

A quick search (for the 28th October a random date), and an airfare from BA to El Calafate is about 250USD. A one way bus ticket to RIo Gallegos is 265USD. I'd be getting the flight to El Calafate at the very least....No one likes sitting on a bus for 40 hours (not to mention the hours spent in Rio Gallegos waiting for the next bus).

A quick search (for the 28th October a random date), and an airfare from BA to El Calafate is about 250USD. A one way bus ticket to RIo Gallegos is 265USD. I'd be getting the flight to El Calafate at the very least....No one likes sitting on a bus for 40 hours (not to mention the hours spent in Rio Gallegos waiting for the next bus).

For the dates Im considering to go, a multi-city flight from BA to Calafate then from there to Ushuaia then back to BA its like $624-659 the airfare. The bus just to rio gallegos its gonna be like $460 round-trip. Sigh. Its crazy that is so expensive to travel inside the country. Im already spending just on airfare to BA over 1K. So, I have to budget out.

An extra 250USD to save 40-80 odd hours....I think thats a rather good investment. It will also allow you more time in El Calafate/Patagonia.

I think the trick is to buy the airplane ticket in Argentina because from an overseas location you are quoted the price using the official exchange rate which doubles the price. If you are in Argentina you can get blue dollars and then if you buy the ticket using pesos it will be more reasonable.

As an aside, the buses are comfortable in Argentina, good for making friends and getting some reading done, but, yes, that is one long trip.

That might be the case, but if you have to check baggage, they will check ID (passport) and then you will be forced to pay the price for a foreigner. Though leaving it til you are in Argentina, means you risk missing out on seats.

I would look at breaking up the journey - e.g. stopping at Bariloche or Puerto Madryn/Trelew. 30+ hours on a bus is very monotonous and you burn through a book/movies quickly.

Yes. Indeed. I could do that, but Im pretty sure they will ask for ID of some sort at some point and then its gonna get messy. I'm thinking I might miss ushuaia and just stick to El Calafate. I found a LAN airlines fare that offers 15% discount for foreigners and the price for the flight goes down to $350, just to El Calafate. Im thinking of doing that, plus the excursion to the glaciers; and for the accommodation maybe try Couchsurfing, to save the money.

I'm not talking about the difference between the prices for foreigners and locals, although that is another factor.

What I'm saying that the price you are charged booking an airline ticket online is quoted at the official exchange rate. If you use Blue dollars and buy it in Buenos Aires, it will be less expensive.

Breaking up the trip is a good idea but Bariloche really isn't on the way at all -- Patagonia is huge, there is no getting around a long bus ride with nowhere to stop for much of that trip so I'd go for the flight if I were you!

If you use Blue dollars and buy it in Buenos Aires, it will be less expensive.

Thats certainly true, but you also risk not having any seats on the plane if you leave it til you arrive.

Bariloche might not be on the way - its a bit out of the way. But there isn't a great deal between BA and El Calafate in terms of places one could theoretically stop.

But a flight is the best option. To be honest, Ushuaia doesn't offer much - there are some good day hikes. But your not gonna get the same scenery as in Los Glaciares N.P.

Ok. Thanks for the heads up. Also, they talked to me about a boat ride to Uruguay? That takes about 3 hours? Any info on that?

There are two ferries to Uruguay:
1) Colonia del Sacramento.
2) Montevideo.

Colonia can be done as a day trip from BA. Montevideo is a longer ride. Prices for the ferry are fairly expensive. Check out Buqebus for timetables/prices....

Already checked and its not bad at all. A ferry/bus + hotel combo for 2 nights its 306 double occupancy, so divided by two it works out pretty well!