The Glaciers National Park
The Glaciers National Park is set amongst the Southern Patagonian Andes. The park is home to some fantastic wildlife such as puma, guanaco (mini-llama), armadillo, south Andean deer and over 100 species of birds including flamingo, black-necked swans and peregrine falcons. The region has become famous for its fantastic hiking and we love to go and check out new routes. One of the most exciting was an adventure honeymoon we organised for an old friend who was keen to do something completely and was up for testing a new route with us. The journey started on horseback, at a ranch with a fabulous view over the indigo waters of Lake San Martin. We rode up through the Patagonian Andean Forest and into the higher mountains where our faithful horses could go no further. We waved them goodbye as our Gaucho guides led them home and we struggled forward on foot climbing over the hills and down to one of the most beautiful lodges in the county situated on the shores of Lake Del Desierto. It perfectly encapsulated our favourite type of trip, a real adventure followed by a chance to sit back and enjoy South America’s awe-inspiring scenery from a lap of luxury.
Where to go & What to do
- Exploring Los Glacieres National Park by boat.
- Hiking around and over the glaciers.
- Kayaking to the face of the most famous glacier, Perito Moreno.
- Climbing the famous Mount FitzRoy.
- A 4×4 road trip in search of the local wildlife.
- Mountain biking or horse riding in the mountains that surround the park.
Travel logistics
- Summers in the park are very pleasant – generally sunny, dry and at times windy. Winters can be cold with the average temperatures of 30 °F/-1°C. The most important weather factor in the park is the wind that picks up force coming up from the Antarctic. In the summer the wind is usually moderate, while in the winter it becomes a major consideration, though at any time of the year it’s a risk. Wind-proof clothing and multiple layers are both recommended. The length of the day changes according to season. In Summer, the sun rises as early as 5:30am and sets at 11pm. In winter, the days are shorter and there is only eight hours of daylight.
- The little airport at El Calafate is a 3.5 hr flight from Buenos Aires, 42 hr by land,.
- We love the Spring and Autumn in the region, though throughout the Summer is a good time to travel, and even in the winter it is possible to visit – it is of course much colder and the activities are limited, though it has a wonderful winter wonderland charm.
- Los Glaciares national park combines well with other Patagonian destinations, there are direct flights to Bariloche in the Argentine Lake District and Ushuaia, Tierra del Fuego province, or you can drive over the Andes into Chile to South America’s most famous National Park, Torres del Paine.
- Another great combination is to do a big loop round taking a 4-day boat trip through the Patagonian Fjords to combine Los Glaciares and Ushuaia in Argentina with Punta Arenas and Torres del Paine in Chile.
Things to keep in mind
- In the Southern end of the park, there are several activities that have age restrictions, we feel they are slightly unfair though there is no way to get around them so it’s important to keep them in mind.
- The park is the largest in Argentina and, to see all of its attractions, it is often not the most practical to lodge in one area. We like to lodge people in the southern end of the park for some nights and then some more nights in the northern end. They are both very distinctive and the more time one can give the area the better.
Example Itineraries
Some examples of our favourite trips that we’ve organised over the years:
