Visit Perito Moreno & Los Glaciares National Park, Argentina

The magnificent centrepiece of the Los Glaciares National Park is the creaking hulk of ice that is the Perito Moreno Glacier.

Its age-old turquoise folds and white peaks have advanced into Lago Argentino, pausing for now in a frontage of five kilometres across and 60 metres high. From an observation platform or a boat a safe distance away, listen for an eerie creak that indicates a large chunk of ice is about to crash noisily into the milky waters, where it then drifts idly away.

For a different view, we can arrange trekking on the glacier itself where the crunchy meringue-like ice is punctuated by glowing sapphire crevasses.

Other Glaciers

Other glaciers worth a visit are those of Upsala and Onelli, visited through a day trip out by boat to the northwestern end of Lago Argentino.

Your base for excursions in this area of the park will be around the glacier itself or in the town of El Calafate.

Mount Fitz Roy

Another face of Los Glaciares National Park is where the granite peaks of the Mount Fitz Roy massif rise up from the windswept Patagonia steppe. This is challenging but rewarding trekking country, where it is best to base yourself in the small town of El Chaltén and set off for day trips to explore.