Los Glaciares National Park Argentina

Los Glaciares National Park is in the Southern Andes region of Argentina. Located in the southwest of the province of Santa Cruz and on the border with Chile, this park was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1981. With an impressive natural beauty, the National Park is a stunning environment full of mountains, lakes and forests, as well as the incredible area of the snowy Andes Mountains to the west. Discover all there is to see in Los Glaciares National Park and enjoy the great scenic value of this unique wonder of the world.

History of Los Glaciares National Park

Its name comes from the presence of numerous glaciers that originate in the great Patagonian Ice Field, which is the largest ice sheet in the world after Antarctica and occupies almost half of the Park. Also known as Patagonian Continental Ice, it feeds 47 large glaciers, 13 of which go into the Atlantic basin. There are also more than 200 smaller glaciers, independent of the Patagonian Ice Field.

Although the great ice masses on our planet are usually found at more than 2500 metres above sea level (masl), the glaciers of the province of Santa Cruz start at an altitude of only 1500 masl and go down to 200 masl, making them uniquely accessible to admire.

As a result of the thawing of this immense system, two large lakes were created: Lago Argentino and Lago Viedma, which empty into the Atlantic Ocean, crossing the entire province via the Santa Cruz River.

Travel Tip: To organize your trip we recommend using Passporter totally free. You can be inspired by the experiences of other travelers, choose the places that interest you most, create the travel route with a geolocated map, upload all important documents such as reservations and invite your friends so that everyone can participate in the organization of the trip.

What to see in Los Glaciares National Park?

1. Perito Moreno Glacier

The best known and most imposing of the glaciers in this National Park is the Perito Moreno Glacier, located in the extreme south, in front of the Magallanes Peninsula, 78 kilometres from El Calafate. The Perito Moreno Glacier, along with most of the glaciers you can visit, is located in the Roca Zone, in the south of the National Park.

This glacier has a surprising and curious phenomenon, in which as the great mass of ice advances continuously, gigantic blocks of ice accumulate, rupture and detach along its 5 km wide front. Located on the Canal de los Témpanos, this is where the many ice fragments of the glacier end up. To see this glacier you can hike or sail around it.

• To get there, take Provincial Route No. 11 that connects El Calafate to Punta Bandera. A few kilometres before, take the road to the Magallanes Peninsula, where there are footbridges in front of the glacier.

2. Mount Fitz Roy

At the other end of the Park are the highest peaks and the greatest variety of granite forms in the mountain range. Together with the forests, glaciers and lakes, they make up one of the most extraordinary places in the country. The highest peaks are Mount Fitz Roy or Chaltén (3405m) and Mount Torre (3102m). The small town of El Chaltén, which attracts numerous mountaineers and trekking enthusiasts, is also hidden in this landscape.

3. El Chaltén

In addition to the ice, lakes and landscapes of the sub-Antarctic forest and steppe, the park is home to the peaks of Mount Fitz Roy and Mount Torre in the area of El Chaltén. This is where trekking and mountaineering lovers find their perfect place.

El Chaltén, founded in 1985, is the newest town in the country. Nowadays it has a population of a little more than 300 inhabitants, and a growing amount of tourist services.

4. Roca Lake

This mirror of crystal clear water surrounded by a landscape of lengas and ñires, is located at the south of the Argentino Lake, 51 km from El Calafate. Renowned for rainbow and Canadian trout, perch and puyen fishing, it is also the ideal place to camp and enjoy the scenery of the Andean Patagonian forest. During the tour you can see different ranches, and in the reserve area you can see an archaeological site with cave paintings. Besides fishing, cycling, camping and trekking, the Roca Lake is a great spot to go for a dip in summer.

The great glaciers of Lake Argentino

The Upsala Glacier is impressive due to its enormous size. It is the largest in the area and the vastest in South America, with a length of 50 km and a width of almost 10 km. Its surface area is approximately 595 km2, around three times the size of the Argentine Federal Capital.

You enter this glacier through the northern arm of Lake Argentino. Its surroundings are full of lenga forests and fertile valleys. The Spegazzini glacier has a surface area of 66 km2, and a width of 1.5 km. It stands out mainly for its high and imposing walls. The height of the front is 135 metres above sea level.

What to see around Los Glaciares National Park?

El Calafate

Only 40 km from Los Glaciares National Park, and 315 km from Río Gallegos, the capital of the Province of Santa Cruz, El Calafate is the most important urban centre close to the National Park, which makes it the epicentre of almost all activities. It is located on the shores of Lake Argentino, at the foot of Mount Calafate, and owes its name to a small bush with thorny leaves abundant in the region.

With a population of more than 6000 inhabitants, it has important tourist services, offering various excursions to attractions in the National Park and its surroundings.

How to get to Los Glaciares National Park?

• You can fly to El Calafate International Airport. From here you can opt for an organised excursion or rent a car. Another alternative is to go to Río Gallegos, capital of the Province of Santa Cruz, where several bus lines take you to the Park during the high season.
• You can also get a bus from Buenos Aires to Río Gallegos along the R.N. N° 3. From there, there are regular bus lines to El Calafate.

Where to eat in Los Glaciares National Park?

There are several restaurants in El Calafate and El Chaltén. Here is a list of some of the best restaurants near Los Glaciares National Park.

• La Zaina Restaurant
• Rancho Aparte
• Mi Rancho
• Nativos de la Patagonia

Where to stay near Los Glaciares National Park?

The park has an organised campsite (Camping Lago Roca) and a free campsite (El Huala) in Lago Roca. In addition to camping, here is a list of some of the best places to stay near the park, all of them in Calafate.

• America Del Sur Calafate Hostel
• Nau Bed & Breakfast
• La Soberana
• Hotel ACA El Calafate 

Tips for your trip to Los Glaciares National Park

• Pets are not allowed and the use of drones is prohibited.
• Archaeological and paleontological sites are protected by law, so we must all contribute to their good maintenance.
• It is important to keep the environment clean and be careful not to litter.
• Wildlife is easily distressed and disturbed, so try not to make noise or disturb the animals.
• Remember that the access roads to the Park are not paved and so go slowly and with caution.
• If you go around the park by car, be sure to carry an extra spare wheel as well as a jerry can with fuel.
• In the winter season, you should find information about the road conditions and bring studded tyres or chains.
• If camping in the park, it is important to pitch your tent more than 50m from the water.
• Camping is only allowed in permitted sites.
• If you are going to hike, choose a route according to your ability and always walk along the authorised path.

How to organise your visit to Los Glaciares National Park?

Register or download the App and discover all its useful features.

• Get inspiration from the experiences of other travellers.
• Create your own itinerary and add the app’s suggestions to it.
• Add the spots you are most interested in, as well as the restaurants and bars where you want to eat (you can use the points of interest listed in this post as a reference).
• Organise your itinerary by days and according to their location (you can take inspiration from the routes presented in the post).
• Check the travel budget that the app calculates for you based on your travel stops, restaurants, and leisure activities.
• Make the necessary modifications and you are ready for your trip.
• Finally, share your experience. Upload photos of each of the places you have visited to the app so you can inspire other users.

If you have any doubts about how to plan your itinerary, you can read our post: How to create your travel itinerary with Passporter.

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