Los Glaciares National Park
Travelling 32 miles west of El Calafate ( a town of about 10,000 people ), along the south shore of the Península Magallanes, brings you to the Parque Nacional Los Glaciares, one of the most spectacular parks in Argentina.
The southern Patagonian icecap, which is about 400 km ( 250 miles ) long, spills over into innumerable glaciers, which end on high cliffs or wend their way down to fjords. Just beyond Peninsula Magallanes, you can cross Brazo Rico in a boat for a guided climb on the World Heritage Site of the glacier of Ventisquero Perito Moreno.
A few kilometres on, the road ends at the pasarelas, a series of walkways and terraces down a steep cliff, which faces the glacier head on. It’s a magnificent sight, especially on a sunny day. Visitors line up along the walkways, cameras at the ready like paparazzi at the Oscar awards ceremony, waiting for a chunk of glacier to calve off into the water with a resounding thunderous crack.
The Perito Moreno glacier advances across the narrow stretch of water in front of it until it cuts off Brazo Rico and Brazo Sur from the rest of Lago Argentino. Pressure slowly builds up behind the glacial wall until, about ever three to four years, the wall collapses dramatically and the cycle begins again.
The southern Patagonian icecap, which is about 400 km ( 250 miles ) long, spills over into innumerable glaciers, which end on high cliffs or wend their way down to fjords. Just beyond Peninsula Magallanes, you can cross Brazo Rico in a boat for a guided climb on the World Heritage Site of the glacier of Ventisquero Perito Moreno.
A few kilometres on, the road ends at the pasarelas, a series of walkways and terraces down a steep cliff, which faces the glacier head on. It’s a magnificent sight, especially on a sunny day. Visitors line up along the walkways, cameras at the ready like paparazzi at the Oscar awards ceremony, waiting for a chunk of glacier to calve off into the water with a resounding thunderous crack.
The Perito Moreno glacier advances across the narrow stretch of water in front of it until it cuts off Brazo Rico and Brazo Sur from the rest of Lago Argentino. Pressure slowly builds up behind the glacial wall until, about ever three to four years, the wall collapses dramatically and the cycle begins again.
Mini trekking or Big Ice Trek ?
Mini Trekking
We highly recommend the trekking on the glacier if you want to truly experience the beauty and vastness of the Perito Moreno glacier.
We took two tours to the glacier- mini-trekking and it really covered all the highlights. You get to spend enough time walking on the glacier to enjoy it, and not get exhausted. Your guide will also take you to a vista where you get to see how enormous the glacier is. Mini-trekking was not very exhausting, so as long as you have no disabilities, you will be fine. Bear in mind the requirements: age between 10 and 65 years and fitness (good coordination and balance.
We highly recommend the trekking on the glacier if you want to truly experience the beauty and vastness of the Perito Moreno glacier.
We took two tours to the glacier- mini-trekking and it really covered all the highlights. You get to spend enough time walking on the glacier to enjoy it, and not get exhausted. Your guide will also take you to a vista where you get to see how enormous the glacier is. Mini-trekking was not very exhausting, so as long as you have no disabilities, you will be fine. Bear in mind the requirements: age between 10 and 65 years and fitness (good coordination and balance.
Big Ice Trek is a very demanding trip that will take a walk of 4 hours.The tour begins at the pier "Under the Shadow" from where you cross by boat the Brazo Rico of Lago Argentino. From there you will walk up the side of the glacier where you put the crampons for walking on the glacier. You will enjoy a unique experience watching crevasses, caves, blue lagoons, sinks and other glacial formations.
Big ICE ....
Requirement of the trip: age 18 to 45 years and excellent physical conditions.
If you are less than 45 years old and you can handle a multi-hour hike on flat land normally - you'll be fine! By far the hardest part was climbing uphill along the moraine of the glacier for just north of an hour until we finally put the crampons on and started climbing into the heart of the glacier. Once on the glacier, it's easy. Make no mistake, this is not a stroll though the park, or a photo safari.
For those of you who can't do big Ice, Mini trekking on the glacier is available for a wider age range and fitness levels and it is a fantastic experience. And if you can't do either - or aren’t interested in either, sitting at the rails and watching the glacier calve would be plenty of entertainment for a day!
The Mini Trekking or Big ICE tours can be arranged for smaller groups of travellers who may not want to join a group tour, but would like to be led by our expert guides on an amazing and highly stimulating journey.
If you would like to speak directly to any of the tour experts for the regions concerned please contact us by our website or send an e mail to us.
1 comment:
Hello!
Thank you forthe quick review of both choices!!!
it was really helpfull!!
However, I didn't understand the 25% off?! How does it work and what are the usuall prices for each one?
best regards!
onunopereira@gmail.com
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