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Why Los Glaciares National Park?
Founded in 1937 the Glacier National Park is located in the southwestern segment of the Santa Cruz region of the Argentinean Patagonia. With its towering peaks, the most prominent of which is Mount Fitzroy at 3,405 metres, the Park offers a fantastic natural landscape consisting of lakes, forests, granite mountains and glacial structures. Whether it’s the ethereal majesty of the Perito Moreno Glacier or the serenity of Laguna de los Tres, each encounter with this UNESCO World Heritage site leaves an indellible mark inviting you to connect with nature and yourself.
Treks
More commonly known as the Fitzroy range owing to the dominating presence of Mount Fitzroy, this area offers some world class trekking routes. Among them the most popular trails include:
Laguna de los Tres
This challenging trek leads to one of the park’s most breathtaking viewpoints offering a stunning panorama of Mt Fitzroy and the surrounding peaks. The trail begins in el Chalten and takes hikers through diverse landscapes including forests, meadows and rocky terrain to its final conclusion at the shimmering Laguna de los Tres.
Laguna Torre
Another popular trek starting in el Chalten, the Laguna Torre trail leads to the base of Cerro Torre, one of the Park’s iconic granite spires. Along the way, hikers are treated to dramatic views of glaciers, rivers and rugged mountain scenery with the final reward being the translucent waters of Laguna Torre overlooked by the snow topped peaks of the sierra.
Pliegue Tumbado
Offering a different perspective of the Fitzroy massif, this trek is a moderate to challenging trail with sweeping vistas of the surrounding mountains including Fitzroy and Cerro Torre. This trail offers a less busy alternative for those seeking solitude and expansive landscapes.
Loma del Pliegue Tumbado
A longer and more demanding variation of the Pliegue Tumbado trek, this trail offers awesome views of the southern Patagonian ice field, the Andes and the surrounding valleys. It is a full day hike that rewards fit walkers with unparalleled vistas of the vastness of this part of southern Patagonia.
Fact
The Perito Moreno Glacier
Just far enough from the bounds of civilization and urban dwellings of Calafate, veiled by towering mountains and an expansive lake, the Perito Moreno Glacier epitomizes the natural beauty and splendor of Argentina. Unique in a variety of facets, including its size, scientific significance, and accessibility, the glacier is an essential stop for any visitor to Patagonia.
The glacier is one of the largest in south America with ice walls that tower over 200 vertical feet from the ground (60 metres) where the ice meets Lake Argentina: taller than a 15 story building. It is also of scientific significance as until around 2020 it was one of the few remaining advancing glaciers in the area, said to be ‘growing’ at a rate of about seven feet a day although it is now thought to be retreating on its northern front.
Climate
For lovers of the outdoors and keen hikers, understanding the weather patterns in the area is crucial for planning a safe and enjoyable adventure. Located in the rugged terrain of southern Patagonia, the weather in the Park is highly variable and unpredictable, even during the peak hiking season.
In summer, hikers can generally expect milder temperatures with day time highs ranging from 10 to 20 degrees. However it is essential to be prepared for sudden changes including strong winds, rain and even snow, especially at higher elevations. Layered clothing is essential to accommodate these fluctuations along with sturdy waterproof gear to protect against rain. In early fall (March-April) temperatures begin to cool dropping to around 5-12 degrees. While this season offers fewer crowds and stunning autumnal landscapes, there is an increased possibility of snowfall.
Regardles of the season, wind is a constant factor in Patagonia with gusts reaching 60 miles per hour, occasionally surpassing 90 miles per hour especially in exposed areas like mountain passes and ridges.
As with all of Patagonia, the weather needs to be respected but with the proper planning, clothing and a flexible mindset Patagonia offers unforgettable adventures amidst the wild and untamed drama of nature.
Accommodation
The majority of the accommodation options are concentrated in el Chalten which serves as the main gateway to the Park and offers a range of lodgings according to different tastes and budgets. With the majority of the trails starting and ending in the village of el Chalten, staying here is a good option and would give you access to many of the Park’s most popular routes. Among the el Chalten lodging options are hotels, lodges and hostels with a selection of wilderness style lodges, estancias and retreats further out of the village. For those seeking a closer connection to nature, there are campgrounds within the Park which typically provide basic facilities such as bathrooms, showers and cooking areas.
We are able to customize your Patagonian itinerary in the area ensuring you are matched to the most suitable accommodation and activities. This saves you time and effort and gives you the peace of mind of knowing someone is there to support you in the event of flight delays, sickness or weather related cancellations (the latter is something we are sadly seeing more of as a result of climate change).
Custom trips in Los Glaciares National Park
Bluegreen Adventures will design and organise your tailor made trip to Los Glaciares National Park, we can customise a trip for two or more people. Stuck for ideas? Here are some of our favourites
- Saddle up and ride out to a remote Patagonian puesto (hut) for a couple of nights in splendid isolation with your guide and cook for company.
- Hike out into the Fitzroy range to walk your socks off on some of its most iconic trails with your expert guide
- Paddle out in front of the iconic Moreno Glacier in kayaks for an up close and personal experience of this wall of ice from a very different perspective
- Take the kids on a private tour to the Moreno Glacier and feel the earth shake as huge ice chunks calve off the glacier into the water below
- Wind down after your active exploration with a few nights at a comfortable lodge or estancia with fireside relaxation, gourmet food and epic views
- Take an adrenaline fuelled rafting trip down the Rio de los Vueltas through a stunning natural canyon with dramatic views of the Fitzroy mountain range
- Don crampons and hike up onto the ice of the Moreno Glacier as you navigate the glacier’s pristine surface with it’s myriad of gulleys and crevices
- Trek into the La Leona petrified woods where dinosaurs once roamed to witness it’s magificent petrified tree trunks and large dinosaur fossils hidden for millenia
- Learn about the region’s indigenous Tehuelche culture through interpretive displays at the visitor centres and museums
- Try your hand at rock climbing on the Park’s granite faces, a thrilling opportunity for climbers of all levels amidst breathtaking scenery.
- Photograph the Park’s dramatic landscapes and diverse wildlife providing endless opportunities for enthusiasts to capture that award winning shot
- Hop aboard a boat trip across the azure waters of Lake Argentino or Lake Viedma to admire these towering glaciers from a unique perspective