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Escape to Patagonia's Perito Moreno: An Endless Sea of Moving Ice
Published by Jonathan Vaas, Writer
Country: Argentina 
The Experience
Owing to long-term climatic shifts, every glacier on the planet is in regression except for one: Argentina's Perito Moreno. The Perito Moreno glacier, located in southern Patagonia a stone's throw from the Chilean border, continues to surge forward even as the earth’s remaining ice caps melt away. Thousands of travelers flock to Argentina each year to soak in the panoramic view of Perito Moreno's jagged blue-ice surface, which spreads for miles and stretches toward the horizon like an ocean of motionless water. Rising 20 stories above the lake, Perito Moreno's total depth averages more than 550 feet. At its deepest point the glacier is nearly half a mile high. All of that ice advances at a speed of six and a half feet per day, which makes things exciting for spectators around the outer wall.
More impressive than the size of Perito Moreno are the sounds it emits while it flexes, groans and advances into the Lago Argentino. The outer edge ruptures every few minutes, sending slivers of ice the size of skyscrapers tumbling noisily into the water. The sheer force of the ice grinding and collapsing delights tourists along the opposite walkway. All these tourists find their lodging in Calafate, the port to glacier national park. Calafate is the definitive capital of Patagonian tourism. Adventurers from all over the globe congregate in Calafate during the Argentine summer to explore the region's world-famed glaciers, pristine lakes and the awe-inspiring peaks. From December to February the sun illuminates the night sky until midnight, so there’s plenty of time to see all the area has to offer, including camping, sightseeing and trekking activities unequaled anywhere else in South America. So get out of the winter doldrums of the north and get down to Patagonia, where the sun shines for 20 hours a day and the landscape is boundless.
More impressive than the size of Perito Moreno are the sounds it emits while it flexes, groans and advances into the Lago Argentino. The outer edge ruptures every few minutes, sending slivers of ice the size of skyscrapers tumbling noisily into the water. The sheer force of the ice grinding and collapsing delights tourists along the opposite walkway. All these tourists find their lodging in Calafate, the port to glacier national park. Calafate is the definitive capital of Patagonian tourism. Adventurers from all over the globe congregate in Calafate during the Argentine summer to explore the region's world-famed glaciers, pristine lakes and the awe-inspiring peaks. From December to February the sun illuminates the night sky until midnight, so there’s plenty of time to see all the area has to offer, including camping, sightseeing and trekking activities unequaled anywhere else in South America. So get out of the winter doldrums of the north and get down to Patagonia, where the sun shines for 20 hours a day and the landscape is boundless.
When to Go to Perito Moreno
Patagonian travelers should remember that the Argentine seasons are opposite those of the northern hemisphere. Light conditions and temperatures are most favorable during the high season, but visitors are encouraged to take coats and thermals, as evenings are quite chilly.
To get there, most visitors fly from Buenos Aires into Calafate’s full-service airport, although travelers looking for a greater appreciation of Patagonia’s vast scale often drive south along historic Route 40. The road trip will take several days from Buenos Aires, so vacationers should plan accordingly.
Budget travelers will find an impressive array of cozy hostels in Calafate; the Marcopolo Inn is highly recommended. Those looking for something a bit more upscale should check out the Posada Los Alamos Hotel.
To get there, most visitors fly from Buenos Aires into Calafate’s full-service airport, although travelers looking for a greater appreciation of Patagonia’s vast scale often drive south along historic Route 40. The road trip will take several days from Buenos Aires, so vacationers should plan accordingly.
Budget travelers will find an impressive array of cozy hostels in Calafate; the Marcopolo Inn is highly recommended. Those looking for something a bit more upscale should check out the Posada Los Alamos Hotel.
Odds n' Ends
High on every visitor’s agenda are the Walichu Caves along the banks of the Lago Argentina, which feature beautiful Paleolithic cave paintings. The dazzling crystalline blue formations of the Upsala and Spegazzini Glaciers are also must-sees.
After checking out the glaciers from afar, many tourists enjoy a boat ride on Lago Argentina to see the ice structures close up. For an even more interactive experience, adventurers can spend an afternoon hiking with crampons around atop one of the ancient seas of ice.
After checking out the glaciers from afar, many tourists enjoy a boat ride on Lago Argentina to see the ice structures close up. For an even more interactive experience, adventurers can spend an afternoon hiking with crampons around atop one of the ancient seas of ice.
Want a Guide?
- The Best of Patagonia - GAPAdventures.com
- Hike through the continent’s most spectacular mountains, in one of the world's most pristine wildernesses: Patagonia. Hike to glaciers, along alpine lakes and among jagged peaks and finish with Buenos Aires, South America’s most European city.
Recommended Places to Stay
- Marco Polo Inn
- We invite you to spend a few days in our hostel, where you will find a friendly and very homely atmosphere. From this cosy environment you can explore all that Patagonia has to offer, including the stunning Perito Moreno glacier, a must see on any travellers interary.
- Hotel Posada Los Alamos
- In Hotel Posada Los Alamos you will find that each space has been thought for the maximum enjoyment of every moment of your stay.
Additional Places to Stay Nearby
Search over 900,000 global hotel deals from over 30 merchants. Book via Expedia, Travelocity, Hotels.com, Booking.com, Priceline and the websites of popular hotel chains.
El Galpon del Glaciar is a small and friendly Hotel located in the heart of the Patagonia Argentina with 16 en-suite rooms overlooking an incredible ... 32 miles away
Eolo is a unique place that embodies the spirit of Patagonia- its indigenous roots- the personal experiences of the first European and Criollo settlers and ... 32 miles away
$1955 ARS+
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More Experiences Nearby
- Explore Perfect Symmetry at Torres Del Paine National Park
- Rivetingly pristine, the landscape at Torres Del Paine National Park is beyond beautiful. The land is a mix of staggering granite mountains, glaciers, deep blue lakes, and rolling fields. The 598,000 acre park showcases some of the most impressive peaks of the Andes mountains, with the most famous set being the Cordillera del Paine. The best way to see the sights is by foot which offers hikers a choice between two popular routes; the circuit which is the full park expedition and takes approximately 8-10 days, or the "W" route which takes about 5 days and includes majority of Torres ...36 miles away.
Carpe Diem! Book to do this experience now!
There is a stop of 2.5 hours at the glacier to view the amazing ice mass and walk on some of the trails in the ...
Starting from $172.99 per person.
Starting from $172.99 per person.
Books and DVDs
- Fodor's Patagonia, 1st Edition (Paperback)
- Patagonia is the ultimate dream destination. Whether you want to cruise the Magellan Straits, see penguins or killer whales, or sit by the fire in a lodge that overlooks the peaks of Parque National Torres del Paine, you will be able to choose your ultimate adventure with Fodor’s Patagonia.
Elsewhere on the Web
- Wikipedia
- Wikipedia's article on the Perito Moreno Glacier
- Glacial Collapse
- Article discussing the glacier's rupture, a sporadic natural event that occurs every 1 to 5 years.
- Perito Moreno Tours
- Argentina Discover's site for Perito Moreno tourism
Media References
- Hiking on a Glacier In Patagonia - NYTimes.com (newspaper)
- THIS was the Patagonia I had seen in all the documentaries, only better. A frosty wind blew into our faces as our group of 20 backpacking tourists climbed across ledges of sharp-edged ice on the vast Perito Moreno glacier crawling down South America's continental ice shelf.
- Homage to Patagonia - NYTimes.com (newspaper)
- AS we boarded our plane in Buenos Aires, we all agreed that the newspaper headlines had been quite alarming: the Patagonian ice fields, the papers said, melted twice as fast from 1995 to 2000 as they did from 1975 to 2000, as a result of global warming and lower snowfall at the bottom of the world.
- The Perito Moreno Glacier, Patagonia: One minute wonder - Telegraph.co.uk (newspaper)
- The glacier is 18 miles long, three miles wide and up to 2,300ft deep. It is one of only three Patagonian glaciers that are not retreating, and one of 48 glaciers fed by the Southern Patagonian Icefield, a landform shared with Chile that contains the world's third-largest reserves of fresh water.
- Patagonia: Fitz Roy, Perito Moreno, Torres - NationalGeographic.com (magazine)
- A visit to Patagonia is an adventure-travel rite of passage, and the uninitiated tend to make their journeys between December and March, when the region is packed with other pilgrims.
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