Glaciers

Eternal witnesses of time, glaciers display their grandeur in Argentine Patagonia and thrill a wide diversity of visitors. Seemingly still and cultivating silence that commands the respect of a sanctuary, glaciers manifest their energy through magnificent ice calving that capture the attention of the entire world. Guided by experts and equipped with crampons, visitors can walk on the icy surface of the glacier and experience this giant of Argentine Patagonia firsthand.

In “Los Glaciares” National Park, 80 km from the town of El Calafate, lies the Perito Moreno Glacier. This icy colossus, through ice calving, offers one of the most extraordinary natural spectacles in the region. Various vessels sail across “Lago Argentino,” the largest water mirror in the country. These vessels allow you to explore “Canal de los Témpanos” (Iceberg Channel) and encounter the imposing glacier. Its 257-km² surface area and 30-km length make it an unavoidable attraction for thousands of travelers from around the world. Within the National Park itself and towards the north of the province of Santa Cruz, hundreds of glaciers form a majestic landscape that harks back to the very origins of the Earth. These enormous white sheets are the oldest evidence of the Ice Ages that occurred millions of years ago. Also close to El Calafate, the immense walls of the Upsala glacier—the largest in the National Park along with the Viedma glacier—offer a breathtaking view. Contemplating the different faces of giant glaciers such as Onelli, Agassiz, Bolado, or the frontal wall of the 135-meter-high Spegazzini glacier are unique experiences in Argentine Patagonia.

Near the challenging “Cerro Fitz Roy” lies the locality of El Chaltén—the National Trekking Capital—a meeting point for climbers and trekking lovers from around the world. From there, you can head to the Viedma Glacier, a route that includes a minibus and a boat ride, or to the “Torre” Glacier via an extensive mountain trek. Both glaciers invite you to hike on their surfaces and climb their enormous walls. Also departing from El Chaltén, those who enjoy extreme treks can challenge their limits on expeditions across the enigmatic continental ice. Under the immensity of Patagonian skies, they can experience an unforgettable experience amidst endless and unusual landscapes. In the far south of the region, in Tierra del Fuego, the Martial Glacier offers various activities for adventure lovers amidst the endless whiteness. Argentine Patagonia is within the reach of those who dare to experience the thrill of stepping onto the great ice at the end of the world.

In Chubut, the “Torrecillas” Glacier invites you to discover one of the wildest areas of “Los Alerces” National Park. You can take a tour of different panoramic points to observe the forested hillsides and sharp peaks of the area, contemplate the Valdivian forest environment and finally reach “Laguna del Antiguo,” located at the foot of the “Torrecillas” Glacier. From there, you can see the basins where snow began to accumulate and glacial ice formed, which occurred during the last Ice Age more than 24,000 years ago.