Information
Landmark: Upsala GlacierCity: El Calafate
Country: Argentina
Continent: South America
Upsala Glacier, El Calafate, Argentina, South America
Overview
In Argentina’s Patagonia, within Los Glaciares National Park, the vast Upsala Glacier commands attention, its jagged blue ice stretching for miles under the bright southern sky.Visitors come for its sheer size, stay for its striking beauty, and marvel at the jagged blue ice formations that glitter in the sunlight.The glacier lies within the vast Southern Patagonian Ice Field-one of the largest on Earth-and stretches along the western shore of Lago Argentino, the region’s biggest lake, where the water turns a sharp, milky blue.Upsala Glacier sits in Los Glaciares National Park, about 50 kilometers-just over a half-hour’s drive-from El Calafate, Argentina, where the wind smells faintly of ice.This glacier is among Patagonia’s best-known sights, drawing crowds to Lago Argentino to watch its blue ice crack and crash into the water.The Upsala Glacier stretches about 50 kilometers, or 31 miles-roughly the distance from one end of a city skyline to the other-making it among the largest in Argentina.The width changes along its length, reaching as much as 7 kilometers-about the span of forty city blocks-in certain stretches.You can reach the glacier mainly by hopping on a boat tour from El Calafate, gliding across the cold, turquoise waters of Lago Argentino.On these boat tours, you’ll see the glacier’s blue ice glitter in the sun and take in the rugged beauty of the surrounding hills.Upsala is a tidewater glacier, spilling down into the lake where chunks of ice crack away and splash into the cold, green water.Huge slabs of ice break away from the glacier, drift across the lake like pale blue islands, and reshape the view with every shift and crack.Top Highlights and Must‑See Spots - like the cliffside view at sunset.One of the best ways to see the Upsala Glacier is to hop on a boat in El Calafate and glide across the shimmering blue waters of Lago Argentino.From the boat, you’ll catch breathtaking views of the glacier, with jagged icebergs drifting past and snow-dusted peaks rising beyond the dark green forest.Most boat tours leave from Puerto Bandera, about 30 kilometers-roughly an easy half-hour drive-west of El Calafate.The boat glides through the Bajo de las Sombras channel, offering sweeping views of the Upsala Glacier, its jagged blue face towering against the distant sky.As the boat glides toward the glacier, visitors take in the sheer scale of the ice sheet, the towering blue walls that rise like frozen cliffs, and the jagged icebergs drifting quietly across the lake.Number two.One of the most breathtaking parts of visiting Upsala Glacier is spotting massive icebergs drifting across the pale blue waters of Lago Argentino.The glacier shears off huge slabs of ice that crash into the water, splintering into smaller shards before drifting slowly across the lake.Watching these icebergs drift past, their blue shining like deep ocean glass, takes your breath away.The icebergs come in all shapes and sizes, their hues shifting from milky white to deep, shadowy blue, a striking contrast against the rugged, gray shoreline.The number and size of icebergs shift with the seasons and the glacier’s mood-some days you’ll spot only a few small chunks drifting by, other days the bay is crowded with towering ice.Three.The Upsala Glacier Lookout sits along the shores of Lago Argentino, offering a popular spot to take in the massive blue ice stretching across the water.From this lookout, you can see the glacier gleaming in the sun, icebergs drifting below, and wild hills stretching to the horizon.It’s one of the best spots to snap a photo and take in the glacier’s sheer size, the ice glinting blue in the sun.Some boat tours pull up at the lookout point, where passengers can step ashore and take in the glacier’s jagged blue face from solid ground.Number four.The Upsala Glacier has been steadily pulling back for more than a hundred years, its once-massive wall of ice now thinner and streaked with meltwater streams.The glacier’s retreat is part of a wider pattern of melt sweeping through Patagonia as the climate warms, and it stands as a clear warning-like the sharp crack of ice breaking on a still morning.As the glacier retreats faster, it breaks apart more often, sending huge slabs of ice splashing into the water and creating bigger, more numerous icebergs; at the same time, the shrinking ice has uncovered long stretches of rocky lakefront, triggering major changes in the local ecosystem.During the tours, visitors can explore educational displays that explain these changes, then step outside to see for themselves the stark, raw landscape left behind by the retreat.Number five sat in bold black ink on the page, simple and unassuming.You can go glacier trekking in the areas around Los Glaciares National Park, but not on the Upsala Glacier itself, where only the wind and cracking ice break the silence.The closest place for glacier trekking is the Perito Moreno Glacier, where guides lead you across its dazzling blue ice.Visitors often pair their boat trips with other adventures in the area-hiking to a glacier’s blue-tinged edge or wandering through the park’s hidden waterfalls.Getting to Upsala Glacier is easiest by boat, the route most visitors choose as they glide past drifting blue ice.Boats leave from Puerto Bandera, just outside El Calafate, and glide across the pale blue waters of Lago Argentino toward the glacier.The boat glides past rolling hills and quiet coves, giving you sweeping views you won’t forget, and the ride alone feels like its own adventure.By road, you can’t drive straight to Upsala Glacier in Los Glaciares National Park, but you can head to spots like Laguna Nimez Reserve or the towering Perito Moreno Glacier, then board a boat from Puerto Bandera, where the wind smells faintly of ice and open water.Some tour operators offer scenic flights over the Southern Patagonian Ice Field, where you can look down on the bright blue face of Upsala Glacier and spot other glittering ice fields nearby.These flights draw travelers eager to snap shots of the glaciers, their jagged edges gleaming white against deep blue water.The ideal time to see Upsala Glacier is in the Patagonian summer, from December to March, when the air feels softer on your skin and boats cut steadily across the blue water all day.Tourism’s at its peak here right now, so grab your spot early-tours can fill up fast, sometimes days before.Autumn in April and May is a great time to visit-cool, gentle days, and quiet streets without the usual crowd.Shifting shades across the hills catch the eye and make the whole scene even more beautiful.Winter (June–September) can be brisk enough to sting your cheeks, and although you can still reach the glacier, you’ll find fewer boat tours running then.If you’re after a calmer escape, winter’s the time to go-the hush of fresh snow softens every sound, and the glacier gleams under its white blanket.Spring (October–November) is a great time to visit-warmth creeps back into the days, the air smells fresh, and the streets aren’t as crowded as they are in summer.Bright shoots push through the frost near the glacier, splashing color across the pale, icy slopes.In the end, Upsala Glacier stands as one of Argentina’s most breathtaking sights, giving visitors the rare chance to feel the crisp Patagonian wind and take in the raw, untamed beauty of the wilderness.Whether you choose to stay or go, picture the faint creak of the door as it swings shut behind you.
