This important tourist spot, located on the Argentino Lake, is the doorway to all the glacier circuits of the region. El Calafate owes its name to a typical thorny bush in the South of Patagonia, with yellow flowers in spring and purple fruits in summer. According to the tradition, whoever eats this fruit comes back to the Patagonia. The weather is dry, the maximum mean temperature in summer is 18.6 degrees Celsius and the minimum one in winter is –1.8 degrees Celsius. The city has 3,118 inhabitants, with charming streets, characterised by low, rustic, warm houses. Along six blocks, the Libertador Avenue concentrates all shops, mini markets, handicraft shops and hotels. Many travel agents’ offer a range of excursions there. There is a wide choice of accommodation, for all budgets and needs. In the city, it is possible to visit the Regional Museum, which exhibits, among other things, fossils, arrowheads and petrified wood. Some of the most relevant excursions are Laguna Nimes, an animal reservation 1 km away from the city centre, which is turned into an ice skating rink in winter. Another option is the Punta Walichu excursion, a historic and archaeological site 7.5 km away from El Calafate, on the Argentino Lake. Finally, rafting on the Santa Cruz river is a good option, as well as horse riding, cycling excursions, balloon trips and over landing on the Cerros Centinela and Huyliche.