Parque Nacional Los Glaciares Things to Do

Perito Moreno Glacier is situated between Brazo Rico and Canal de los Témpanos, at Argentino Lake. It is 4 - 8 Km wide, and about 37 Km long; it is 30 - 60 m high over the lake level, and about 130 m under the water; it is leant on the lakebed. Thousands of seracs (peaks) and clefts of blue ice (the colour is a visual effect) make the glacier look like a giant ice cathedral.

El Glaciar Perito Moreno está situado entre el Brazo Rico y el Canal de los Témpanos, en el Lago Argentino. Tiene un ancho de 4 a 8 Km, una longitud de aproximadamente 37 Km; entre 30 y 60 m sobre el nivel de lago, y alrededor de 130 m bajo las aguas; se encuentra apoyado en el lecho del lago. Miles de seracs (picos) y grietas de hielo azul (el color se debe a un efecto óptico) hacen que el glaciar parezca una gigantesca catedral de hielo.

The lake has several "arms" and several glaciers; the West side of Patagonia is covered by an ice field, since the last glaciation (20.000 years ago). These ices covered the whole Patagonia and Tierra del Fuego; the thaw caused the Andean valleys and the lakes. Nowadays, the ice field is 400 Km long and between 30 and 80 Km wide. These glaciers are only 1.500 m over sea level (it is the only place on Earth with glaciers at such low level), and this is possible because of a cyclon-anticyclon phenomenon, and it also causes the all year long snowfalls.

El lago tiene varios brazos y varios glaciares; la región occidental de la Patagonia se encuentra cubierta por un campo de hielo, desde la última glaciación (20.000 años atrás). Estos hielos cubrían toda la Patagonia y Tierra del Fuego; el deshielo provocó la creación de los valles cordilleranos y los lagos. En la actualidad, el campo de hielo tiene una longitud de 400 Km de largo y entre 30 y 80 Km de ancho. Estos glaciares están situados a tan sólo 1.500 m sobre el nivel del mar (es el único lugar en la Tierra con glaciares a tan baja altura), y esto es posible debido a un fenómeno de ciclón y anticiclón, que además provoca que nieve todo el año.

"Lago Argentino" (Argentino Lake) is the biggest lake of Argentina; its area is about 1.500 Km2. Its water has a quite peculiar colour (greenish white), because of leche glaciaria (glacier milk), a dust made by the abrasion of the glaciers against the rocky riverbeds. This lake has some of the most beautiful glaciers of the National Park.

El Lago Argentino es el más grande de Argentina; tiene una superficie de alrededor de 1.500 Km2. Sus aguas tienen un color bastante particular (un blanco verdoso) debido a la "leche glaciaria", un polvillo resultado de la abrasión de los glaciares contra los lechos rocosos. Este lago tiene algunos de los más bellos glaciares del Parque Nacional.

The National Park has a magnificent forest, where abound high trees like "guindo" or "coihue" (Nothofagus betuloides), "lenga" (Nothofagus plumilio) and "ñire" (Nothofagus antartica) and bushes like "notro" (Embothrium coccineum) and "calafate" (Berberis heterophylla). All kind of birds can be seen (and heard) among the trees.

El Parque Nacional tiene un bosque magnífico, en donde abundan árboles de gran porte como el "guindo" o "coihue" (Nothofagus betuloides), "lenga" (Nothofagus plumilio) y "ñire" (Nothofagus antartica) y arbustos como "notro" (Embothrium coccineum) y "calafate" (Berberis heterophylla). Todo tipo de aves pueden verse (y oírse) entre los árboles.

To come into the National Park, you must pay an entrance fee; the fare is 20 Argentinian pesos for foreigners (about 7 $) and 10 pesos for locals. This is the most expensive National Park I have visited in Argentina (the other ones cost 12 pesos, at least the ones I know), but I can assure you it is the most breathtaking!

Para ingresar al Parque Nacional, deben pagar una entrada; la tarifa es de 20 pesos para los extranjeros (alrededor de 7 $), y 10 para los locales. Es el Parque Nacional más caro que he visitado en Argentina (los otros cuestan 12 pesos, al menos los que conozco), pero les puedo asegurar que es el más impresionante!

There are many glaciers in this world on both hemispheres. However, the Perito Moreno Glacier allows you an access that most glaciers do not allow. The Moreno Glacier is an advancing glacier that moves between Lago Argentino and the Brazo Rico. In between is the Peninsula de Magallanes. From this peninsula you can watch the Moreno Glacier fairly close from the various catwalks. You can sit for hours watching the glacier crack and groan and break and crash. The glacier advances two meters a day and breaks off bergy bits, called calving, several times an hour large and small. The most amazing aspect of this glacier is when it advances fast enough, it can cut off the Brazo Rico from the Lago Argentino and ice dam can cause a build up of water on the Brazo Rico to create up to a 35 m difference. The water begins to erode the ice and form a tunnel to relieve the pressure, but it eventually destroys the ice dam due to tremendous pressure. This must be one of the most amazing natural phenomenon?s to witness. This has happened fifteen times since 1917.

The Moreno Glacier has a length of about 30 km/ 20 miles and a surface of 195 km2/ 76 sq. m. Its width is 4km/ 2.5 miles and its height at the water is 40-60 m/ 100-200 ft. It is not the largest here in Los Glaciers National Park, but it is the most accessible and most beautiful.

The Moreno Glacier is very accessible with your own vehicle. It is 80 kms from El Calafate. If you don?t have your own car you must book a tour. I believe Solo Patagonia is the only operator but it is easy to book at any hostel, hotel, or travel agent in town. There are plenty of these. I think the cost is 20 pesos for park entrance and an extra 40 pesos for transportation to and from your hotel or hostel.

Solo Patagonia offers tours of Lago Argentino in large touring vessels that carry from 150 to 300 people. The ships are in excellent condition and relatively new.

The tour is excellent. You are picked up by a bus at your hotel or hostel and then taken to Puerto Bandera where you embark on the lake. The ship first goes up the Brazo Upsala which is loaded with icebergs calved off of Upsala Glacier, the largest glacier off the Patogonian icefield.

From there you will visit either Glacier Spegazzini, which is the highest glacier, or disembark and hike up to several smaller glaciers that feed into one lake.

There are other trips offered to other glaciers as well. The lake is the largest in the country and has a lot to explore.

This is truely spectacular trip that shouldn't be missed if you are in Calafate for a few days.

You will pull back into port later in the afternoon. Sandwiches and drinks are available on the ship, but I recommend bringing our own.

Perito Moreno, the moving glacier, 2.5 meters every day
A was a rather rainy day, the clouds were hanging low, a special scénary for picturing this area.

A "Genteneir"/Belgium visiting this famous glacier by boat
A wonderful experience together with three other mates, the silence only abrupted by falling peaks of colored ice. You will never forget it.