Esquel has a small airport with daily flights to Buenos Aires (about two hours) on Aerolineas Argentinas; it is by far the easiest way in. Onward connections to El Calafate and Ushuaia exist but are infrequent.
By road, Esquel is roughly halfway between Bariloche (3 hours, 280km north on the spectacular Ruta 40 / Camino de los Siete Lagos route) and Comodoro Rivadavia on the Atlantic. Long-distance buses run daily to and from both, and to Buenos Aires (a 24-hour overnight). The bus terminal is in the centre of Esquel, walking distance from most hotels.