El Calafate has an airport with flights to Buenos Aires, Bariloche, Ushuaia, Trelew and Comodoro Rivadavia. The airport is 23kms east of town. You can catch a taxi there or the shuttle service organised by TransPatagonia (493-766). You have to pay an airport tax ($6) before you get on the plane. Book in advance during the busy summer months (November to January).
El Calafate bus terminal is a small building on Avenue Roca in the center of town. There are regular buses to Rio Gallegos (5hrs), El Chalten (4.5hrs) and Puerto Natales in Chile (5 hrs). There are no direct buses to Ushuaia - you first have to go to Rio Gallegos and transfer to a bus going south. Start early in the morning if you plan to go to Ushuaia.
Head for El Chalten if you want to trek the Fitz Roy Mountain Range. Puerto Natales in Chile is the staging post to visit Torres del Paine National Park. Visas for Chile are available at the border. British and European citizens don't need to buy a visa. Because their governments have started charging Chileans to enter their country, Australians, Canadians and Americans have to pay $90, $125 and $131 respectively. A return/onward ticket is also required but whether you will be asked to show one is another matter.
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