Los Glaciares National Park

Los Glaciares National Park is the second largest national park in Argentina and a UNESCO World Heritage site. This area of over 4000 km² in Argentine Patagonia is complete with mountains, glaciers, lakes, wildlife and arctic views. The giant ice cap in Los Glaciares National Park feeds over 40 glaciers, the largest outside of Antarctica and Greenland. One third of the park is covered by ice that can tower up to 1500 m in the air.

Understand

Perito Moreno Glacier

Los Glaciares National Park

Los Glaciares National Park has an area of 2,807 sq mi (7,270 km²). It is in the Santa Cruz Province of Argentina and is near the Chilean border. Its many glaciers include Perito Moreno, best known for the dramatic icefalls from its front wall, into Lake Argentino. In the north, Mount Fitz Roy's jagged peak rises above the mountain town of El Chaltén and Lake Viedma. Los Glaciares, of which 30% is covered by ice, can be divided in two parts, each corresponding with one of the two elongated big lakes partially contained by the park.

Lake Argentino, in the south, is the largest in the whole country, and as such dominates this region of Patagonia. Many tourists begin their journey in the town of El Calafate, which is on the shore of the lake. Excursions leave from here by land to the Perito Moreno Glacier. Other excursions venture by boat between the icebergs to many other glaciers, since a majority of them can only be seen by boat.

Lake Viedma, in the north, is home to the Viedma Glacier and Mount Fitz Roy. The village of El Chalten, at the foot of the Fitz Roy Massif, is another starting point into the park (and lacks the AR$100 entrance fee present at the Perito Moreno entrance). This is the most popular spot in the region for those who love to climb and trek with its numerous trails. Although most of these are effectively day trails, there are possibilities for staying overnight in a number of campsites.

History

Los Glaciares National Park was established on May 11, 1937. Due to its magnificent natural beauty, it constitutes being a wonder of the world, and was declared a "World Heritage Site" by UNESCO in 1981.

Landscape

The vegetation is a so-called sub-Antarctic forest. It's less dense than the rainforest on the Chilean side, but significantly greener than the steppe that accompanies you until shortly after Calafate.

Flora and fauna

Hummingbirds, pumas, Andean condors, black-crested buzzard eagles and the rare Huemul, an endangered species of small deer, live here.

Climate

The summer daytime temperatures rise to 20 to 25 °C, in winter to 0 to 5 °C. Snow is rare because of the drought, so the area can be visited all year round.

Park information

• Los Glaciares National Park website

For inquiries, informespnlg@apn.gob.ar or contact the Ceferino Fonzo Visitor Center by informeszonanorte@apn.gob.ar or by ☏ +54 2962-493004.

Get in

Los Glaciares National Park can be divided into two different entrances, one near the Lake Argentino and the other near Lake Viedma.

The starting point for a journey to the southern section of the park is the small town of 1 El Calafate. El Chaltén is located in the north of the park, about 220 km by car and 150 km north of Calafate. Calafate has an airport that has regular flights from Buenos Aires, San Carlos de Bariloche, Río Gallegos and several other smaller towns in Patagonia.

Calafate and Chaltén are also served by buses and are also very well networked with each other. There are only regular lines to the region from Río Gallegos. However, there is a wider range of options, especially during the travel season.

2 El Chalten is the base from which overnight excursions to the Marconi Glacier are launched.

The best way to travel by car is via the Ruta Nacional 3 to Río Gallegos and then via the RP5 to Calafate. This is the only tarred route in the region. Anyone who owns an all-terrain vehicle or has rented it can get to the park more quickly via numerous gravel roads - with a "normal" car this is an extremely slow and breakdown-prone undertaking.

Fees and permits

South (Perito Moreno Glacier)

Admission fees for foreign tourists (as of Nov 2024): one day AR$45,000 (approx. €43), three days AR$90,000 (€86), seven days AR$157,500 (€150).

Only the Mitre-Glaciar Moreno Corridor has access hours: Sep-Apr entrance 08:00-18:00 (you can stay hnyil 20:00), May-Aug 09:00-16:00 (stay until 18:00).

Central (Parador La Leona)

Access to the Central Zone starts from the Parador La Leona, with significant stretches of gravel until reaching the sections.

North (El Chalten)

Admission fees are also charged, as above, and both the services and the trails start from the town of El Chaltén.

Get around

Never leave the official paths, due to risk of falling ice. Especially the glacier walls are dangerous, where even pieces 50 m long may fall off.

See

Top of Perito Moreno

• 1 Perito Moreno Glacier. Probably the best known in the park. It is a geographical exception because it divides an arm of Lake Argentino into two parts. If the water level in the upper arm is high enough, the glacier bursts with a deafening roar. This spectacle occurs roughly every 4 to 10 years and never lasts more than 2 or 3 days.  
• 2 Upsala Glacier. Also on Lake Argentino, the largest glacier in the park. It is approached by boats, but its "wall" is less attractive than that of Perito Moreno. The boat tour is still worth it, because you get very close to the glacier and the icebergs that have separated from it. The landscape partly resembles that of Antarctica. The starting point for the hike to the viewpoint at Refugio Upsala can also be reached by boat.  

• The region around 3 Lago Roca in the south of the park is less frequented. Here you can climb the Cerro de los Cristalles / Cerro Cristalles panoramic mountain or take a multi-day hike to the glaciers on 4 Laguna Fría. The best starting point for the southern section of the national park with the Perito Moreno and Upsala glaciers, as well as the region of Lago Roca, is El Calafate.

• 5 Cerro Fitz Roy. The highest peak of the park. Its characteristic, pointed shape has always attracted climbers from all over the world.  
• The nearby 1 Cerro Torre is therefore very well known.

Do

• Hiking and trekking can be done independently or with a guide. Registration at the Park Information Center is mandatory for both climbing and trekking in remote areas and for hiking the trails (May through September). You can also access the online registration. There are many trekking opportunities in the entire area of this massif near El Chaltén.
• Kayak at the Perito Moreno glacier in Lake Argentino.
• Sport fishing; from Nov-Apr, sport fishing is permitted and regulated. Mostly salmonids and trout can be fished. Fishing is authorized in Lake Anita, Lake Argentino, Caterina River, Lake Roca and Lake Viedma. Enquiries regarding fishing permit procedures: informespnlg@apn.gob.ar.
• Horseback riding: Led by a guide authorized by the National Park. Southern zone in Lago Roca, you can take a full-day excursion, with the option of a two-day, one-night horseback ride to the border with Chile.
• Bicycles can be rented in both El Calafate and El Chaltén.

Sleep

Lodging

There are plenty options to choose from in Calafate and Chaltén. The most exclusive accommodation is probably a hut and hotel complex directly opposite the Perito Moreno Glacier.

Camping

There is no camping site near the Perito Moreno glacier. However, the organized campsite on Lago Roca south of Calafate is particularly attractive, and you can even swim there in summer. Free camping is prohibited in the park.