El Calafate is located on the shores of Lago Argentino, in southern Patagonia. It is the starting point for excursions to the main glaciers of the area such as Perito Moreno, Upsala and Onelli. For the more adventurous it provides access to El Chalten for Cerro Torre and Mount FitzRoy, Argentina's premier trekking areas. These small towns of doublepitched roofs and tourist facilities, always offer a friendly welcome to visitors.

Perito Moreno Glacier

Perito Moreno Glacier is located 80 kilometres from Calafate on the road to Los Glaciares National Park. The first part of the journey crosses barren Patagonian steppe, but on reaching the national park the vegetation changes abruptly into forest dotted with shrubs and occasionally, the intense red of the notro, the typical flower of the Andean Patagonian. Los Glacieres National Park was created in 1937 to preserve an area of continental icefields and glaciers, it was declared a World Heritage Monument by UNESCO in 1981. The main attraction is the Perito Moreno glacier, slowly eroding a valley between two hills on the side of a long narrow lake, so that the opposite bank is an ideal position to stand on land and view the glacier close to the massive front, measuring some five kilometres in width and 60 metres in height. At times the glacier reaches the opposite bank of the lake and blocks the flow of water. The sight of huge pieces of ice breaking off with a roar, then floating away as icebergs is truly unforgettable.

Trekking on Perito Moreno Glacier

From El Calafate we drive to Perito Moreno Glacier. At Bajo de las Sombras pier we board a boat to cross to the opposite side of Lago Argentino. On disembarking we have a short walk to approach the glacier, before we don crampons to begin our walk on the ice. We trek to the ice-fall of Moreno River, which takes roughly two hours, with amazing close views of the glacier. On our return we have some time off to enjoy lunch by the lake, before crossing back to the pier for the return drive to El Calafate.

Upsala & Onelli Glaciers

Depart Calafate to Punta Bandera and board a catamaran to Lago Argentino until we get the first magnificent view of Upsala Glacier. The largest glacier in the region, some nine kilometres wide and 50 kilometres long, is fed by numerous tributaries from the continental icefield. Eventually we reach Onelli Glacier, standing on a tranquil lake, with beech trees to one side and ice-covered mountains to the other. A vast array of wildlife can be seen here: foxes, rheas, armadillos, condor, guanacos and pumas.