Named for the calafate bush, which is found throughout Patagonia, and produces a sweet berry used in jams and syrups, El Calafate is a small town of only four thousand people and is used mostly as a stopping off point for people who want to go out and see the glaciers, which entails thousands of tourists descending upon the area in order to view one of the few glaciers in the ice field that is not retreating. There is also a small museum located just outside of town. Aside from that, most tourists content themselves by visiting the nearby ranches for horseback riding, fishing, hiking and other outdoor activities. The town also has some good restaurants as well as several boutiques that sell everything from leather goods to chocolates and caramel cookies.
