Expanded Hospedaje los Dos Pinos (9 de Julio 358, tel./fax 02902/491271, losdospinos [at] cotecal [dot] com [dot] ar, US$7–9 pp, US$23/33–45/60 s/d) provides plain but spacious and immaculate rooms—ranging from hostel accommodations to doubles with private baths and cabañas (their tours, though, have drawn criticism). Breakfast costs US$2. Hostel y Hostal Lago Argentino (Campaña del Desierto 1050, tel. 02902/491423, hostellagoargentino [at] cotecal [dot] com [dot] ar, US$8 pp) offers so-so hostel-style accommodations but has added better doubles with private bath (US$30 d with breakfast).

“Think big” seems the motto at Calafate Hostel (Gobernador Moyano 1296, tel. 02902/492450, www.calafatehostels.com, US$7–9 pp), which has dorms with shared bath and balconies, in a stylish building with vast common areas; it also has better rooms with private baths (US$28/33 s/d with breakfast).

East of the arroyo, open October–mid-April, the HI affiliate Hostal del Glaciar Pioneros (Los Pioneros 251, tel./fax 02902/491243, www.glaciar.com, US$7–9 pp, US$28/30–53/58 s/d) has extensive common spaces, including a large lounge, kitchen space, and laundry facilities. The higher rates correspond to large and comfortable but no-frills hotel-style rooms with breakfast; it also offers its own Moreno Glacier excursions.

Under the same management, with identical prices, the nearly new Hostal del Glaciar Libertador (Av. Libertador 587, tel./fax 02902/491792, www.glaciar.com) has 22 rooms with private baths; some are four-bed dorms, while others are twins or doubles. Both offer roughly 15 percent discounts for HI members and 30 percent low-season discounts in October and April (except Semana Santa).

On the hilltop immediately east of the municipal campground, custom-built América del Sur Hostel (Puerto Deseado s/n, tel. 02902/493525, www.americahostel.com.ar, US$10 pp, US$50 d) has friendly management, spectacular common areas with panoramic views, and well-designed rooms in which the toilet and shower are separate, and the vanity is outside of both. Rates include breakfast and free transfers from the bus terminal; off-season rates are about 20 percent less.

At the very good Residencial del Norte (Los Gauchos 813, tel. 02902/491117, delnorte [at] cotecal [dot] com [dot] ar, US$20–27 s or d), rates vary according to shared or private bath; the latter come with breakfast. Hostería Sir Thomas (Espora 257, tel. 02902/492220, hospedajesirthomas [at] cotecal [dot] com [dot] ar, US$35 d with breakfast) is unfailingly reliable.

Reservations are advisable at Hospedaje Familiar Las Cabañitas (Valentín Feilberg 218, tel. 02902/491118, lascabanitas [at] cotecal [dot] com [dot] ar, US$40 d), which offers perhaps Calafate’s most simpático management, taking a personal interest in and responsibility for their guests. Despite the suggestive name, the rooms lack kitchen facilities.

Toward the west end of town, just beyond the Petrobras gas station on Avenida Libertador, Home Garden (Guillermo Eike 14, tel./fax 02902/493396, homegardencal [at] yahoo [dot] com [dot] ar, US$43 d) has smallish rooms with private bath and breakfast, and a friendly family atmosphere.

Tidy, well-regarded Hotel Los Lagos (25 de Mayo 220, tel. 02902/491170, www.loslagoshotel.com.ar, US$47 d with breakfast) has come up in the world—as have its rates.