Collect your car at FTE terminal and drive straight to Perito Moreno or El Chalten
El Calafate Airport - FTE Comandante Armando Tola International - sits 20 km east of town on RP11, about 20 minutes in good weather. Flights from Buenos Aires Aeroparque take around 3 hours 15 minutes, and you also get seasonal connections from Ushuaia and Bariloche. The terminal is small, so the rental car handover happens either inside at a counter or in the car park depending on which company handles your booking.
Picking up at the airport means you skip the transfer into town and can drive straight to your first stop. If you want Perito Moreno Glacier, it is about 100 km from FTE without entering El Calafate town. If you are heading north to El Chalten, you take RP11 west to RN40 and turn north for the 215 km run. Wind gusts on the airport road are common, especially in summer, so allow a few extra minutes for the drive.
This page covers airport collection - meeting after your flight, terminal procedures, and routes from FTE. If you are staying in El Calafate town and prefer to collect there, see our El Calafate page for downtown options and local driving details.
Airport collection follows a short sequence from landing to keys. The rental company contact and exact meeting point are printed in your voucher.
Collect your luggage, walk through arrivals. Flight delays are normal in Patagonia - always give your flight number when booking so the company can track your arrival.
Some companies have a desk inside the terminal; others wait in the car park with a sign. Check your voucher for the exact procedure and phone number.
Present your driving licence, passport, and credit or debit card if required. The staff will walk around the car with you to record any existing scratches or dents in the contract.
Check fuel level, adjust mirrors, save the company emergency number in your phone. Turn left onto RP11 for town or the glacier, or continue west to join RN40 north.
In the search widget above, use the "Specify location" field to select El Calafate Airport (FTE) so you see only cars available for terminal pickup. Times match your flight schedule, and the system automatically calculates the booking advance you pay online.
FTE puts you within two hours of the main sights, and the road surface varies from paved RP11 to long ripio stretches on RN40.
The local rental companies at FTE offer a range from compact sedans to pickups. Exact availability depends on your dates and how far ahead you book.
| Model | Category | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Toyota Etios | Compact sedan | Paved RP11 to town and glacier, solo or couple, light luggage |
| Fiat Cronos | Mid-size sedan | Family of three or four, paved routes, moderate boot space |
| Chevrolet Prisma | Mid-size sedan | El Calafate area and short RN40 trips on maintained gravel |
| Renault Kwid | Hatchback | Budget option for town and paved glacier road, two passengers |
The models above are examples; actual selection appears in the search results based on what each company parks at the airport. If you need a 4x4 for rough ripio or a pickup for camping gear, use the category filters in the widget.
A few practical notes make the FTE handover smoother and help you avoid last-minute surprises.
Some cars at FTE require no deposit block at pickup, and some accept a debit card or cash for the balance. The conditions vary car by car, not by category.
Use the "No deposit" and "No credit card" filters in the search widget. Each result shows exactly what the company requires: no deposit, or a small block, or a standard hold. The icons and terms appear below the car photo before you click through.
Not every model is available without a deposit, and availability changes with season and booking lead time. If you see a car marked "No deposit", that vehicle will not freeze any funds on your card when you collect it at FTE.
When you complete a booking on our site, you pay a booking advance online by credit or debit card. The balance is due when you collect the car at the airport, and the accepted method - debit card, cash, or credit card - is listed in the search results and printed in your voucher.
If a car requires a credit card for the remaining payment and you only have a debit card, consider raising your debit card limit before you travel. For full details on payment timing and methods, visit our payment and advance page.
Common questions about collecting and returning a car at FTE.
Yes, some cars at FTE accept a debit card or cash for the balance payment. Use the "No credit card" filter in the search widget to see which vehicles allow this. The accepted payment methods are shown in the results and confirmed in your voucher.
Some companies have a counter inside the small arrivals hall; others wait in the car park with a sign showing your name. The exact meeting point, company phone number, and any special instructions are printed in your voucher, which you receive by email after booking.
Always enter your flight number when you book. The rental company tracks your arrival and adjusts the meeting time automatically. If you land very late and cannot reach the company, the emergency contact number in your voucher connects you to the local dispatcher.
Yes, the glacier is about 100 km from FTE without entering El Calafate town. Take RP11 west to the RP15 junction, then continue south on RP11 to the park entrance. Any sedan handles the paved road, though an SUV gives you more confidence on gravel car parks near the viewpoints.
RN40 between El Calafate and El Chalten has long ripio sections with washboard and loose gravel. A sedan can do the 215 km trip slowly, but a pickup like the Toyota Hilux or a high-clearance SUV saves time and reduces vibration. If you plan multiple days on RN40, the extra ground clearance is worth it.
The nearest YPF or Shell station is on RP11 between the airport and El Calafate town, about 10 km from FTE. Fill up there before you return the car; arriving with an empty tank triggers a refuelling fee plus a service charge from the rental company.
Compare sedans, SUVs, and pickups available for terminal collection at FTE. Filter by no-deposit and no-credit-card options, choose your dates, and secure your car with a booking advance online. Free cancellation applies to most vehicles, and every reservation includes the rental company contact details in your voucher.