Glaciers

The Patagonia region of Argentina (and partly located in Chile) is home to some of the world’s most stunning arctic landscapes. From the leviathan glaciers of El Calafate to the shadows drawn by Fitz Roy’s peaks outside El Chalten, the southern-most tip of Argentina is a destination full of adventure, ideal for any travelers hoping to avoid the crowded beaches this summer in search of something a bit chillier.

This winter we’ve seen a few of our own Realtravelers conquer the churning frozen waters surrounding Perito Moreno—the massive 155 mile glacier named after explorer Francisco Moreno—and a few more who have stopped over in the windy little town of El Chalten before hiking through the valleys of Monte Fitz Roy.

Two such Realtravelers are Cass and Worth, traveling from Colorado, who have been backpacking their way throughout South America since this January. Just last month, the pair stopped over in El Calafate to enjoy the local fare and to set some awe-inspired eyes upon Perito Moreno:

“The boat cruised along the glacier’s perimeter, allowing views from the base up. Every time you looked seemed to warrant a picture. Then, just about when the hour was up and the boat was turning to cross the lake and head back to port, that’s when it happened. The belly of a huge whale–surely the largest whale ever seen–surfaced right in front of the glacier. Then it started to slowly roll, revealing skin more jagged than one would expect of a whale. Slowly it dawned on me that we were in a lake, there are not whales in lakes, there cannot even be whales anywhere as large as what was surfacing in front of us. No, that marine grey mass was a block of ice, broken off from the glacier’s submarine surface to slowly emerge and reveal itself to the world for the first time in centuries. Millennia? Slowly adjusting to its new found buoyancy, the ice berg dwarfed our rather large boat.” (more…)

A short two-and-a-half hour bus ride from El Calafate will bring travelers into the tiny village of El Chalten. The town was named after the original indigenous pseudonym for the craggy peaks now known as Monte Fitz Roy. Chalten is the Tehuelche word meaning smoking mountain, given because of the clouds that seem to drift from the Fitz Roy’s peak like ash from a volcano—a staggering sight.

The Patagonia region is very accommodating to backpackers. Much of the area is dotted with little towns whose sole industry is housing and feeding the weary travelers making their way through Argentina and Chile. Lodging is usually very inexpensive, and camping in much of the area is free of charge. This May to August will most likely see less tourists as the temperatures dip, so begin making your travel plans, now.

Bookmark to: