Sunset and Night in El Calafate: 3 Unmissable Plans
When one starts organizing a trip, it is very difficult not to imagine oneself at least once contemplating the sunset in front of some scenario of enormous beauty. Undoubtedly, El Calafate, the Patagonian city with direct access to the imposing Perito Moreno Glacier, is one of the destinations most sought after by tourists to live that experience. However, few know that to pursue that goal, one must plan the visit with some prior knowledge.
In this article, we want to help you get the best photo of the sunset in Argentine Patagonia, in a magical destination where many even take advantage of the exciting and moving vision of the horizon in golden, pink, and orange tones to kneel and propose to the love of their lives (to mention just one case of what that image provokes). We highly recommend knowing this experience because, when the sun goes down and the moon and stars appear over the glaciers and Patagonian forests, the environment changes completely, and the mood of those who have the possibility to live it, too.
Three Unique Experiences in calafate at sunset
Don't let the above dash your hopes. Making you give up on magic is not the goal of this article. On the contrary: El Calafate is surrounded by landscapes where the sky becomes the protagonist and where sunsets and starry nights can be lived in ways equal to or more intense than from the Perito Moreno walkways.
Recently, the tourist circuit began to offer alternatives designed for those seeking to capture the "golden hour" from a privileged point, enjoy an asado under the cleanest sky in the southern hemisphere, or even walk on snow illuminated by the full moon.
Below, we are going to tell you about three different, exclusive, and memorable proposals to enjoy the sunset in El Calafate and starry nights.
Navigation Among Glaciers at Sunset
There is something deeply hypnotic in the light of Patagonia when the sun begins to descend. The cold air becomes translucent, the mountains are tinged with pale pink, and the ice reflects orange sparkles impossible to reproduce on camera. That is the hour many professional photographers try to capture with their lenses. It is also the hour when a trip for two becomes most romantic. It is precisely that moment worth taking the excursion "Spegazzini, Upsala and other glaciers by boat at sunset", organized by Best Calafate Tours.
The journey departs from Puerto Punta Bandera, about 47 kilometers from downtown El Calafate, a place that in itself deserves a visit: from its pier unfold some of the most open panoramas of Lago Argentino, with the wind combing the water and icebergs floating like wandering giants. Unlike traditional daytime navigations, this experience is designed to take place with the last rays of the sun. The boat sets sail in the afternoon and traverses the channels connecting with the Upsala and Spegazzini glaciers, two of the most spectacular in Los Glaciares National Park, while the light changes and the mountains slowly fade out.
The itinerary combines the excitement of navigation with the charm of high-quality service. On board, in a warm and pleasant atmosphere, a delicious snack (merienda) is offered, or the possibility of dining and drinking delicious Patagonian wines. Tasting these delicacies with the view of the landscapes allowed by the large windows is an unparalleled experience. Towards the end, when the sun sinks behind the mountains and the sky lights up in orange tones, the boat stops in front of the glacier front so passengers can enjoy the spectacle in silence. Some toast, others take photos, others simply let themselves be carried away by the murmur of the water.
Upon returning to the port, with the first lights of dusk reflecting on the lake, the landscape acquires a calm that is hard to forget. This seems to us an ideal plan for couples, family groups, or solo travelers looking for an intimate and different experience, without the rigid schedules of the park or the crowds of daytime excursions.
Dinner Under the Stars at a Patagonian Estancia
A few kilometers from El Calafate, beyond the waterfront and the last houses of the town, the steppe opens into a scorching silence. In that immense setting, where city lights disappear and the sky expands infinitely, lies Estancia Tierras Patagónicas, host of a unique experience: "Stargazing with Patagonian Dinner", also offered by Best Calafate Tours.
The proposal begins at dusk when a van picks up participants from their hotels and transports them along rural roads into the interior of the estancia. The journey takes less than half an hour. Upon arrival, they are greeted by the aroma of Creole asado and the crackling of the fire in the quincho (barbecue area).
As night falls, guides—specialized in astronomy and rural life—invite visitors out into the field with portable telescopes to observe the Patagonian sky. On clear nights, the Milky Way is distinguishable to the naked eye as a white ribbon crossing the firmament. Southern hemisphere constellations—the Southern Cross, Orion, Scorpio—are seen with impressive clarity. It is an experience combining scientific dissemination, contact with nature, and pure emotion: learning to recognize stars, listening to stories about navigators and native peoples, and discovering the magnitude of the cosmos in one of the cleanest skies in the world.
Then, the return to the quincho has something of a celebration. At wooden tables, a typical dinner with Patagonian lamb, typical homemade side dishes, and regional wines is served, while the fire remains lit and the wind hits the tin roof. Guides usually turn off the lights at a key moment, allowing the glow of the stars to dominate the scene again. For many travelers, it is the most emotional moment of the trip: the mix of silence, nature, and hospitality defining deep Patagonia.
This experience has become increasingly popular among those seeking more than just classic photos. It's not just about looking at the sky: it's a way of understanding the territory, sharing with locals, and feeling the real dimension of the south. It also became one of the favorite settings for romantic proposals: surprise dinners or engagements under the stars, a gesture combining adventure and tenderness in equal parts!
The Perito Moreno Glacier Under the Full Moon
Starting this summer, an unprecedented proposal promises to change the way of experiencing Los Glaciares National Park. With the approval of national authorities and under strict safety protocols, night entry to the Perito Moreno Glacier will be enabled during full moon nights, a limited and exclusive experience only offered a few days a month.
The excursion, also organized by Best Calafate Tours, was designed together with professional guides authorized by the National Parks Administration. The starting point is the main access to the park, from where small groups go into the walkways accompanied by a team specialized in environmental interpretation. The walk is done in silence, with flashlights provided by the guides, and accompanied by the natural light of the moon illuminating the glacier walls with a silvery glow.
Those who have already participated in pilot tests assure it is an experience difficult to describe. The landscape, imposing in itself, acquires another dimension: the ice reflects moonlight as if it were crystal, the glacier's creaks resonate in the darkness, and the air becomes so sharp it seems to stop time. There are no crowds, no engine noise, no sun dazzling photos. Only the murmur of nature and the sound of one's own body breathing.
During the visit, guides explain aspects of ice behavior, nocturnal flora, and lunar cycles influencing the lake's tides. There are also moments of free contemplation, where visitors can stand still in front of the glacier front, on the same walkway where hundreds of tourists circulated hours before. That feeling of absolute intimacy with a landscape usually full of people is, perhaps, the tour's greatest privilege.
At the end of the circuit, a hot drink or high-altitude wine is offered, while the group shares impressions under the starry sky. It is not a massive or photographic excursion: it is an experience of deep connection, designed for those who want to feel the park in another way, far from the noise and haste of the day. An experience promising to become one of the most demanded of summer 2025, especially among travelers in search of authentic and memorable emotions.
El Calafate in Summer and Winter
El Calafate is one of the most magical places to watch a sunset and take the most spectacular photos of natural landscapes. But depending on the season in which you visit this Santa Cruz city, the possibility of contemplating one in a special place will depend on your planning.
During the summer months, between December and March, in the southern hemisphere, the sun resists falling over the Patagonian horizon due to the tilt of the Earth's axis. The path the sun takes across the sky is more extensive, and the duration of the day is longer than the night, resulting in later sunsets. Although it seems logical, many who arrive in this southern city are surprised to see that sunlight lasts until past 9 or 10 PM. And how plans change with such a phenomenon!
In this sense, although the experience of witnessing the sunset in front of the Perito Moreno Glacier, for example, is one of the most sought after, few know that the entry hours to Los Glaciares National Park—for reasons of safety, conservation, and distance from the city—usually prevent visitors from staying there until that late.
According to current information from the natural reserve administration, in summer, entry to the Río Mitre–Glaciar Moreno corridor is allowed until 6 PM, with a maximum stay until 8 PM. By then, the sun is still high in the southern sky.
Only during winter, when days shorten and the sun says goodbye around six in the afternoon, can it coincide that within the allowed hours one manages to witness the fall of light on the ice. At any other time of the year, the idealized scene of the sunset in front of the glacier remains outside real possibilities.