Travelling from Santiago Arturo Merino Benitez Airport (SCL) to El Calafate Airport (FTE): what you need to know
Around 2 hours 55 minutes is how long you can expect to be travelling on a direct flight from Santiago Arturo Merino Benitez Airport to El Calafate Airport.
For a stress-free journey, turn up at the airport two hours ahead of international flights and one hour before domestic departures. This way, you'll have plenty of time to catch your SCL to FTE flight.
Travelling during a peak month like July? School holidays and other high seasons can lead to longer queues and delays at check-in and security. Be extra cautious and arrive up to four hours ahead of an international flight and two hours before domestic departures.
Flying into El Calafate (and then seeing more of Argentina!) is a cinch with Sky Airline. This popular carrier offers direct flights from Santiago Arturo Merino Benitez Airport to El Calafate Airport.
Sky Airline is the airline most travellers choose to fly with on this route.
Among carriers operating SCL to FTE flights, Sky Airline has the best track record for timely arrivals.
Break up your flight or explore another city along the way with a stopover. Just deselect 'Direct flights only' to see your options when searching for tickets from Santiago Arturo Merino Benitez Airport to El Calafate Airport. Many passengers pass through Buenos Aires Jorge Newbery Airport on this route.
How to find the cheapest flights from Santiago Arturo Merino Benitez Airport (SCL) to El Calafate Airport (FTE)
Right now, R 1,586 is the lowest price we've found for a one-way Santiago Arturo Merino Benitez Airport to El Calafate Airport flight. The best price for a return plane ticket is R 4,136. Bear in mind that fares may change due to availability when booking.
To score cheap tickets from SCL to FTE, book as early as you can. Airlines generally offer their best fares when flights are first released.
The 'Whole month' search tool shows you the cheapest flights from Santiago Arturo Merino Benitez Airport to El Calafate Airport across each month. It's an easy way to snap up a bargain if your dates aren't set in stone.
Finding cheap flights from SCL to FTE is a piece of cake with Price Alerts. All you need to do is create one of these automatic alerts and we'll let you know when a new discounted fare appears.
Secure the right flight for you by using the filters. To see the 'Fastest,' 'Cheapest' or 'Best' flights from Santiago Arturo Merino Benitez Airport to El Calafate Airport, use the 'Sort by' function. You can also filter by departure and arrival times, airline, and journey duration.
Handy information about Santiago Arturo Merino Benitez Airport (SCL)
Santiago Arturo Merino Benitez Airport maintains a strong on-time record, reducing your chances of a delayed flight. Departures from SCL arrive on schedule 84% of the time.
Santiago Arturo Merino Benitez Airport is around 16 kilometres from central Santiago. If you're driving, catching a taxi or ride-sharing from the centre, it'll take you 25 minutes or so to get there, depending on the traffic.
Catching public transport? You can expect a journey time of around 35 minutes.
Have an early flight from Santiago Arturo Merino Benitez Airport to El Calafate Airport? Avoid the stress of rushing to the terminal (and get some extra shut-eye) by choosing one of these stays near SCL:
Arriving at El Calafate Airport (FTE)
Begin your adventure by picking up a El Calafate Airport rental car. Grab your wheels from Hertz, FlexWays or Sixt and experience the lesser-explored corners of El Calafate and beyond.
Booking your ride from El Calafate Airport around three weeks in advance gives you the best shot at securing a great deal.
Getting from El Calafate Airport (FTE) to central El Calafate
El Calafate Airport to central El Calafate has a drive time of about 25 minutes. It's approximately 21 kilometres away.
If you're travelling on public transport, expect a journey time of about 35 minutes.
When to fly to El Calafate Airport (FTE)
November is the busiest month for flights from Santiago Arturo Merino Benitez Airport to El Calafate Airport. To avoid the crowds, go to El Calafate in March.
The warmest month in El Calafate is January, with the temperature ranging between 5ºC (41ºF) and 17ºC (63ºF). Book your flights from Santiago Arturo Merino Benitez Airport to El Calafate Airport in this month if this is the kind of weather you like.
July sees average temperatures of between -5ºC (23ºF) and 3ºC (37ºF). Look for cheap tickets from SCL to FTE sometime around then if you want to travel when it's cooler.
Explore more of Argentina
Rio Gallegos is just one of the many cities in Argentina waiting to be discovered after you've seen El Calafate. Around 257 kilometres away to the south-east, its best attractions include Laguna Azul, Museo Marítimo y Naval de la Patagonia Austral and Museo de Arte Eduardo Minnicelli.
Around 499 kilometres south-east of El Calafate, Rio Grande is another favourite stop in Argentina. Start your sightseeing at Casa Museo Shanti, Reserva Natural Urbana - Laguna de los Patos and Viejo puente colgante. Punto historico.
