Springtime in Patagonia
by TheWanderingCamel
Winters in Patagonia are to be avoided unless you're a yeti or something similar (tales of the giants of Patagonia have been circulating ever since man first ventured here - Patagonia actually means "Big Foot") added to which most tourist services are closed down, and summers would seem to be somewhat overcrowded these days as the tourists come in droves and the National Parks and local restaurants struggle to keep up with the ever-increasing numbers. Autumn's probably not a bad time (March and early April) but we chose to come in fairly early Spring (the beginning of November) and it was lovely.
The weather was great - dry every day and lots of sunshine (photo1). The heathy steppe was blooming with notro (Chilean fire bush - photo 2), calafate and other flowering shrubs. It warm enough to get around bare-headed and -handed during the day except when faced with the icy winds coming off the snouts of glaciers themselves (photo 3). Best of all, the numbers of tourists were still relatively low - about one-third of those that come in the height of the season (late November through February) we were told.
I hate to think of what it must be like then! Even though the numbers of visitors allowed entry to the parks is controlled, the facilities - toilets, cafes - at the Perito Moreno Glacier viewing balcony area were overworked as it was and the picnic area and balcony viewing points were quite full enough. Bahia Onelli has a bigger restaurant and not as many visitors but even so, it must get very crowded as the season progresses (photo 4).
Whatever time you decide to make the journey, apart from winter, booking in advance is really advisable - that's accommodation, flights and hire cars - as the numbers of tourists heading here are putting pressure on all the local facitities.
El Gaucho Argentino
by elpariente
Todavía quedan "Gauchos" en Argentina , como los que tuvimos la suerte de ver cuando estaban desplazando más de tres mil ovejas en una estancia , montados a caballo y acompañados sus perros y de de niños que hacían ruido con botellas de plástico llenas de piedras para ayudarles a mover las ovejas
There are yet "Gauchos" in Argentina , like those that we saw when they were moving more than 3.000 sheeps in a farm (estancia ) , riding their horse and with the company of heir dogs and children that made noise with plastic bottles , full of stones , to help them to move the sheeps
Driving to the Glacier - Aller au Glacier
by Maillekeul
If you want to go and watch the Moreno Glacier from El Calafate and if you are a more than 3 people group, this is really cheaper to rent a car : go to the rent-a-car on the right side of the village when facing the lakes (cheaper : from 108 to 117 pesos - 36 to 39 USD, without the 20 pesos for gasoline (200 Kilometers)). And another advice : go there really early (leave El Calafate around 5.45 in the morning), you will certainly be the firsts to arrive (and to leave) and youwill enjoy a wonderful sunrise ! Pros : it's cheaper (cheapest tours are about 70 pesos, entry of the Park (20 pesos) included) and you may leave whenever you want (and don't have to wait 4 hours and a half before coming back).
Si vous voulez visiter le Glacier et que vous etes plus de 3, il est beaucoup plus rentable de louer une caisse : allez aux agences de location qui se trouvent du cote droit du village quand on regarde les lacs (de 108 a 117 pesos - 36 a 39 USD, sans les 20 pesos d'essence a ajouter). Autre conseil : partir tot pour visiter le glacier (quittez El Calafate a 5.45 du matin), vous serez les premiers et profiterez seuls d'un superbe lever de soleil (et a repartir). Interet de tout ca : c'est moins cher (les tours les moins chers valent 70 pesos avec l'entree du parc a 20 pesos comprise) et on n'est pas obliges de rester des heures dans le coin...
EL CALAFATE : PERITO MORENO GLACIER
by swesn
One of the most impressive sights in Argentina, for sure, are the massive glaciars located in Parque Nacional Los Glaciares. The chunk of ice at southern Patagonia of Chile and Argentina is the third largest ice block in the world, after Antartica and Greenland.
The glaciers descend into the park and melt into Lago Argentino and Lago Viedma.
Perito Moreno Glacier used to advance across the lake, cutting one end of the lake off. Slowly, the pressure would build up and one day, break up the ice and reopen the channel. This last happened in 1988.
The vivid blue hues of the ice are spectacular. Ever so often, you will hear a deep groan as ice breaks up from the snout and crash into the lake, floating away as ice-bergs.
Trek up the side of the glacier with a tour company. If not, you will still come quite close to the glacier on a series of wooden catwalks built right opposite it.
first signs of ice floes
by willy_wonka
a day cruising the beautiful lago argentino is definitely something not to be missed! taking a boat from just outside of el calafate, you pass through peaceful scenes, and the smaller hills slowly become larger mountains. soon you are in "the guts" of the lake, where all the mountains come down to the lakes shores, where natural woodland is to be found, and where the ice cold wind seems to pick up from the glaciers.
soon you will start to discover small pieces of ice. these beautiful icebergs have come down from the falling chunks of the various glaciers around this region. some are tiny, but as you head closer to the source, they get bigger and bigger. for someone like me, who does not live in a cold/snowy/icebergy climate, this was truly special. i was finally seeing icebergs, something i had only ever seen before on antarctic documentaries!
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the calafate flower
Lago Argentina
Seco Glacier
Click go the shears
