To see – and hear – the Perito Moreno glacier calve and crash into the icy waters of Parque Nacional Los Glaciares is an experience that will stay with you for a lifetime.
Located in the deep south of Argentina, this slow-moving wall of ice is one of the most incredible natural phenomenon in the world, a glacial wonderland every bit as impressive as standing on the snowy peaks of the Himalayas.
Part of the Southern Patagonian Ice Field, the ancient glacier – one of the few in the world not in retreat – began to form about 2.6 million years ago. If you are lucky enough to hear the creak and crack as it splinters into icebergs that thunder into the frigid water, you will have stories to tell for the rest of your life. But whenever you visit, the scale of this glacier will impress.
It’s an awe-inspiring 30 kilometres long and five kilometres wide, rising to 73 metres high (equivalent to 14 double decker buses), and there are dramatic views at every turn from the steel walkways of the Peninsula de Magellanes.
But to get a true appreciation of this frozen world, weave your way through floating chunks of ice as big as office blocks on a small boat trip across Lago Argentino, and cruise up close to the face of the advancing ice.
Back on land, you can put on crampons and join an organised trek across the ice field, the third largest ice mass on the planet. Your guide will point out crevasses of electric blue and serve you a whisky with ice chipped directly from the glacier.
Plenty of other attractions await to stir your soul in Parque Nacional Los Glaciares and its surroundings. Explore the region’s fascinating indigenous history, or relax in the restaurants and coffee shops of charming towns like El Calafate, where the streets are lined with chic chocolate shops.
Take photos of the jagged peaks of Torres del Paine, or savour the scent of thick beech forests and wild shrubs during a horseback ride with a gaucho across the steppe. Some of the old estancias have been converted into boutique inns, while luxury eco resorts in remote locations offer panoramic views of sheep grazing, and the occasional flash of a pink flamingo.
Keep an eye out for elusive pumas and herds of shy guanacos. If you venture further afield you are sure to fall in love with colonies of playful penguins and barking sea lions. It’s no wonder Patagonia has captured the collective imagination and is on every traveller’s bucket list.
To embark on the voyage of a lifetime and experience a stirring landscape, contact Caroline today to arrange an itinerary that precisely captures your needs. Call 1300 767 237 or email caroline@luxurybound.com.au.
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