Ice Hiking in Argentina

Trek Essentials

What to bring: an experienced guide
Top Sights: breathtaking glaciers, ice cool caves, crystal cave formations
Watch out for: treacherous glaciers, changeable weather conditions

Where It’s At

Situated in the vast region of Patagonia, Argentina’s Parque Nacional los Glacieras is an awesome experience. The unique topography and conditions mean the glaciers can form at very low altitudes. Daily bus tours from Calafate take visitors to the heart of the Park, and boat tours which take you to see several spectacular glaciers can be arranged.

Mighty Mountains

Ice, Ice, Baby: Justine Shapiro’s feeling blue in Moreno

The most breathtaking of the glaciers is the mighty Perito Moreno, named after the nineteenth -century explorer who discovered it. More than 70 metres high, 700 metres thick and 30 km long, Moreno is one of the only advancing glaciers on earth, creeping at a rate of about 2 metres a year. Its best visited on foot, and you can hire a guide to take you on a 3 hour hike across the glacier.

Ice Blue Caves

Rarely visited, but worth a special request, are the cave formations underneath Moreno. The unusual blue colour of the ice comes from the way light is refracted by the ice which has been compacted into crystals over thousands of years.

Trekkers’ Tips

Weather conditions can be changeable in the Parque Nacional los Glaciares, and many people prefer to camp overnight at one of several campsites in the Park, to ensure they have ample opportunity to see the glaciers.

It’s essential to hire an experienced guide to explore the glaciers – unless you’re familiar with the terrain, glaciers can be very treacherous.