Street dogs, overlanders, food and adventure in El Calafate, Argentina

We hung out in El Calafate several times during our trip, relaxing between backpacking adventures. The town is blowing up with tourism, with population growth of 300 percent in the past five years, there are now 20,000 residents.

We stayed at a couple of different hotels here, both within a few blocks of the main street. There were numerous restaurants, cafes, bakeries and outdoor shops. Tons of great street dogs, overland vehicles and even a big casino. Check out a few snaps from around town.

This old Citroen drove survived the Pan-American highway, 16,000 miles from Alaska to Ushuaia.


This was one of my favs, a pimped out Land Cruiser with a custom box on the back. This thing was so trick and ready for action I am considering selling our home to buy something like it! A beautiful piece of machinery.

This is a Toyota truck with a Hilux 3.0 Turbo Diesel, a sweet vehicle we cannot purchase in the U.S., unfortunately. I would buy one of these in a second, if they were available here. This one is complete with snorkel and PIAAs. Dope.

The Defender appeared to be the local favorite. I saw more Defenders in El Calafate than I'd ever seen in one spot. I spent a day rolling around the nearby estancias, near Lago Roca with a fishing guide in a Defender. We were throwing a rooster tail at 90mph on gravel roads and corner on rails in his ride ... I am glad to be alive. I think he was just trying to make up for the crappy fishing :)

I thought Kermit and the muppets were going to tumble out of this rig -- some sort of vintage Mercedes conversion bus -- ready to roll Ruta 40 to Bolivia.

This little ragamuffin scampered out of a brick shanty every time we walked buy. He was a bit shy, but liked being scratched behind the ears.


I wanted to take this guy home with me. The street dogs in El Calafate were great, plenty around to pet, all seemingly friendly and loveable.

Here I am, enjoying a delicious frozen treat at Acuarela .... our favorite ice cream shoppe in El Calafate.

Annie, snacking on yet another empanada. We could've survived on empanadas alone; they're about a buck each, fresh and hot, filled with chicken, lamb beef, etc. Yum.

Annie, me, Kat and Steve at the Libro bar. We spent five or six days on the trail in Torres del Paine, Chile, with Kat and Steve. Great folks from West Yorkshire, UK, near where my uncle Michael and Aunt Catherine live. Hopefully, they'll come visit us in Colorado soon.

Roasting lambs at the Estilo Campo Parilla. All you can eat lamb, beef and chicken for $10. You cannot beat it. Throw in a bottle of the local vino tinto, and you're good to go for about $25 for two.