Information
Landmark: Perito Moreno GlacierCity: El Calafate
Country: Argentina
Continent: South America
Perito Moreno Glacier, El Calafate, Argentina, South America
Overview
Perito Moreno Glacier in El Calafate, Patagonia, is one of Argentina’s most breathtaking sights, its towering blue ice cliffs gleaming under the southern sun.In Santa Cruz Province’s Los Glaciares National Park, this glacier towers in vast sheets of brilliant blue ice and occasionally shifts with a deep, echoing crack that turns every head.One of the few glaciers on Earth still creeping forward, it draws scientists, photographers, and nature lovers alike-its blue ice gleaming in the sun.The Perito Moreno Glacier lies about 80 kilometers, or 50 miles, from El Calafate, a windswept town in Argentina’s southern Santa Cruz Province.The glacier belongs to the Southern Patagonian Ice Field, the world’s third largest, where wind sweeps across miles of blue-white ice.The glacier covers roughly 250 square kilometers (97 square miles), stretching 30 kilometers (19 miles) and rising 60 meters (197 feet) above the cold, blue waters of Lago Argentino.The ideal time to see the Perito Moreno Glacier is in Patagonia’s summer, from December to March, when the air feels softer on your skin and the weather’s perfect for long hikes and boat rides.You can visit the glacier any time of year, though from April to November the trails are quieter and you might hear nothing but the crunch of your boots on ice.Top Highlights and Must-See Spots 1.One of the best ways to take in the Perito Moreno Glacier is from the viewpoints across Lago Argentino, where the ice gleams white against the deep blue water.From these platforms, you can take in sweeping views of the glacier, its icy blue ridges glinting in the sun, and the mountains rising all around.Visitors can see the glacier’s ice calve-massive slabs shearing away and thundering into the lake with a sharp, echoing splash-a rare and spellbinding sight that comes and goes throughout the day.A network of trails lets visitors walk right to the glacier’s edge, where crisp blue ice towers above them, and follow marked paths to several lookout spots, each giving a different view of its immense front wall.Number two.If you’re after something more immersive, you can strap on crampons and try glacier trekking.You’ll strap on crampons for grip and walk right across the glittering surface of the Perito Moreno Glacier.A seasoned guide takes visitors across the glacier, pointing out how deep cracks split the ice and explaining the forces that shaped and slowly push it forward.On the trek, participants can wander through jagged ice formations, peer into deep blue crevasses, and step into glittering ice caves, getting an up-close feel for the glacier’s shifting, powerful landscape.Number three.Another great way to take in the sheer scale and icy blue beauty of the Perito Moreno Glacier is to hop on a boat tour across the rippling waters of Lago Argentino.These cruises bring you right up to the glacier’s towering ice walls, where you can take in the sheer sweep of its frozen face and hear the deep, echoing boom as chunks of ice break free and plunge into the water.Most boat tours leave from Bahía Bajo las Sombras, a small port just a short ride from the glacier’s shimmering blue face.From the boat, you’ll see the glacier rise sharp and blue against the sky-a view as dramatic as it is unforgettable.Number four.One of the glacier’s most unforgettable sights is the Perito Moreno’s steady ice calving, when great slabs crack, tumble, and crash into the turquoise water below.The glacier’s ice wall shifts forward, then pulls back, sending huge slabs of ice crashing into the cold, blue waters of Lago Argentino with a deep, echoing splash.People travel from every corner of the globe to see this breathtaking view, where sunlight spills across the horizon like molten gold.Calving happens without warning, yet visitors often get to see it-a sudden roar as massive chunks of ice splinter off and plunge into the cold, green water below.Five.The Perito Moreno Glacier lies within Los Glaciares National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site where the ice glows an otherworldly blue.More than 40 glaciers carve through the park, among them the towering Viedma and the brilliant blue Upsala.The park offers a mix of landscapes-quiet forests, shimmering lakes, and rugged mountains-perfect for hiking, trekking, or catching sight of wildlife rustling in the underbrush.The park has several trails to explore, like the Laguna de los Tres, where the path ends with a sweeping view of Mount Fitz Roy rising sharp against the sky and other striking vistas along the way.Number six sat there, small and plain, like a lone mark on a blank page.In Los Glaciares National Park, you can spot all kinds of wildlife-from soaring condors to guanacos grazing in the wind.While exploring the park, visitors might catch sight of Andean condors circling high above, flamingos wading in pink-tinted shallows, guanacos grazing, rheas striding through the grass, and the occasional puma slipping silently into the trees.Birdwatching’s a favorite pastime here, where flashes of bright feathers dart through the park’s wetlands, forests, and open meadows.Lago Argentino teems with fish, while its marshy edges shelter herons, ducks, and other waterfowl, drawing nature photographers and wildlife lovers alike.Seven.After a trek across the glacier, you can warm up with hearty Patagonian fare in El Calafate-think tender lamb and rich stews-or at a cozy spot just steps from the ice.On the table, you’ll find traditional favorites like lamb asado, rich wild game, and fresh Patagonian trout.People here love their pastries-think creamy dulce de leche oozing from a flaky crust or a tart with a buttery, golden edge.After a day of exploring, you can sit down at one of several restaurants that overlook the lake and glacier, the sunlight glinting off the ice as you eat.Driving there’s simple-El Calafate sits closest to the Perito Moreno Glacier and links easily by road to major Patagonian towns like El Chaltén, roughly a 210‑kilometer (130‑mile) trip past wind‑swept hills and open sky.It’s about an hour and a half’s drive-roughly 80 kilometers, or 50 miles-from El Calafate, with the road winding past pale blue lakes before you reach the glacier.By bus, you can catch regular long-distance service from El Calafate’s town center to the Perito Moreno Glacier, with departures spaced throughout the day and engines rumbling to life on schedule.By air, the closest option is Comandante Armando Tola International Airport (FTE) in El Calafate, where planes touch down daily from Buenos Aires, Ushuaia, and several other Argentine cities.From the airport, you can hop on a shuttle or book a private ride straight to the glacier, where the air feels sharp and cold.Summer, from December to March, is the ideal season to see the Perito Moreno Glacier, when the sun glints off its brilliant blue ice.The warmer weather makes it perfect for outdoor adventures like trekking or taking a boat out on the water, and it’s also when the glacier comes alive, breaking apart with sharp cracks as ice calves into the sea.Spring (October–November): It’s a calmer season on the glacier, with thinner crowds and gentle air that feels cool against your skin.Around the glacier, wildflowers start to burst open, their reds and yellows sharp against the frozen blue.Autumn, from April to May, is the perfect time to visit the glacier, with crisp air and fiery red leaves spilling across the hills.Winter (June–September): Snow drapes the hills, the air turns crisp, and the crowds thin to almost nothing.In winter, the glacier feels almost silent, its beauty wrapped in crisp air and soft snow, though the cold and drifts can put a stop to certain activities.In conclusion, the Perito Moreno Glacier towers in a sweep of brilliant blue ice, creaking softly in the cold air.
