Los Glaciares National Park (Southern Patagonia, Argentina) - exact location, interesting places, inhabitants, routes, map and photos.
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| Los Glaciares National Park |
Los Glaciares National Park is located in the southern part of the Argentinean Patagonia. Its territory can be conditionally divided into the southern and northern parts, less popular among tourists, each has a large lake - Argentino and Viedma, respectively. Almost a third of the reserve's surface is covered with ice (hence its Spanish name - "glaciers"), but there is no lack of vegetation here at all. Los Glaciares is located in three natural zones: in the east there are endless Patagonian steppes with small plants, further to the west beech forests begin, which are replaced closer to the mountains by the subpolar Magellanic forest. This forest, the southernmost on Earth, grows on the mountain slopes of the Andes right up to the glaciers, reaching a height of 1 thousand meters above sea level.
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| Los Glaciares National Park |
Almost a third of the surface of the Los Glaciares reserve is covered with ice (hence its Spanish name - "glaciers"), but there is no lack of vegetation here.
Even at the entrance to the park, fantastic views of local landscapes begin to captivate: the glacial lake Viedma, the peaks of the Fitzroy and Sierra Torre mountains. An employee of the park meets visitors at the entrance, introduces them to the rules of stay and precautions, and distributes maps with detailed directions.
Excursion to Lake Argentino
Incredibly exciting cruises on the freshwater lake Argentino. Not only is it considered the largest in the country, it is also strikingly beautiful. Imagine a huge basin filled with emerald milky water and surrounded on all sides by snow-capped mountains and massive glaciers sliding into the water.
The first point of the route is the giant Uppsala Glacier, reaching a length of 50 km and a width of 10 km. This will be followed by a walk to the Gulf of Onelli, during which tourists will be able to see the glaciers of Onelli, Bolados and Agassiz. The tour will continue with a trip to the Spegazzini Glacier.
Do not forget to take a charged camera with you on the tour in order to capture at least a part of the magnificent landscapes of Argentinean Patagonia that open along the way.
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| Los Glaciares National Park |
Trekking on the Perito Moreno glaciers
Trekking on the Perito Moreno Glaciers is a full-day excursion. The standard tour program includes a transfer to Los Glaciares Park, a walk around Perito Moreno, a cruise on a tourist boat along the glacier, a half-hour passage along the Magallanes peninsula and the trekking itself lasting about three hours.
The guides are sure to tell tourists about the peculiarities of moving on the ice and give them special studded shoes. The route of the glacier crossing passes through icy slopes, past caves and through the dense Magellanic Forest. In addition to outlandish ice formations, you will see the area of the glacier collapse - a truly exceptional phenomenon! If you're lucky, you can even hear and observe the process of detachment of ice blocks.
The journey ends with a tasting of a glass of whiskey with the addition of the purest pieces of Perito Moreno ice.
You can get to the most popular Los Glaciares glacier on your own. For example, by renting a car - this is the most convenient way (and very cheap if you find three fellow travelers). Or on a regular bus that departs from El Calafate city station.
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| Los Glaciares National Park |
Hike to Mount Fitzroy
Mount Fitzroy, although it does not have a record high size (3400 m), is considered one of the most difficult in the world to climb - the almost sheer slopes of the peak are an unstable surface of snow and ice. A 10 km long hiking trail to the mountain starts from El Chalten, then the road goes to the shore of the picturesque Capri lagoon, and beyond the Rio Blanco River, at the Poincenot camping, the ascent to the mountain begins. Unprepared tourists can only climb up to Laguna de los Tres, further the road is open only to experienced climbers.
To climb Mount Fitzroy (and other surrounding mountains) you need to get a free permit, it is issued in El Chalten.
The best time for an excursion to the national park is the Argentinean summer: the period from December to February. Winter walks in the mountains and climbing are also possible, but often you have to wait several days, or even weeks, until the weather is favorable.
How to get there
By car, you should go to the national park along highway number 40 from Rio Gallegos. Regular buses also depart from here to El Calafate, where you can transfer to a ship (depart every hour) or a fixed-route taxi.