Los Glaciares National Park
This magnificent park's name refers to the 47 glaciers originating from the Southern Patagonian Ice Field, the largest ice cap outside of Antarctica, Greenland, and Iceland. Of these 47 glaciers, 13 flow directly into the Atlantic Ocean. The park is divided into northern and southern sections. The northern half consists of part of Viedma Lake, the huge Viedma Glacier and a few minor glaciers, and a number of mountains, like Mount Fitz Roy and Cerro Torre, that are very popular among climbers and trekkers. Fitz Roy is perhaps Argentina’s most recognizable peak.
The southern part also has a number of glaciers including three major ones that flow into Argentino Lake: Perito Moreno Glacier, Upsala Glacier, and Spegazzini Glacier. Visitors must take a boat to visit Upsala and Spegazzini, the only way to get up close to their huge faces. Perito Moreno may be the world’s most famous glacier, easily accessible from the town of El Calafate.
Monte Fitz Roy
Perito Moreno National Park
It’s difficult to think of a more iconic glacier than Perito Moreno. This 97 sq. mile behemoth is nearly 20 miles in length and is active, meaning it is experiencing episodes of growth and contraction, but remains at a steady size. The glacier is fed by the Southern Patagonia Ice Field, the world's second largest contiguous extrapolar ice field from the west, in Chile. To sit and watch massive blocks of ice calve off if its face, thundering down to the lake to their demise is an unforgettable experience. You can both hear and feel the power of nature in these consistent and frequent calving events.
The wall of the glacier is more than three miles wide and it can reach heights of 240 feet above the water and nearly 600 feet below. On a cloudy day, the deep blue of the glacier, along with streaks of debris that the glacier carved from the land make for an amazing sight. Tall mountains hug the glacier, forcing its icy mass through the submerged fjord. It terminates at Lago Argentino, the biggest freshwater lake in Argentina.
Perito Moreno Glacier
Nahuel Huapi National Park
Nahuel Huapi National Park - Argentina’s oldest national park and Bariloche’s gateway to the Andes. Blessed with its huge, expansive views, the park is truly a national wonder. As its name implies, It primarily protects the huge Nahuel Huapi Lake all the peaks and forests that surround its shores. The lake itself is the speculated home of “Nahuelito,” a mythical lake monster similar to the Loch Ness Monster that dates back to the indigenous inhabitants that first occupied the area.
Around the park several trails cross into the mountains, including, perhaps the most popular, the climb up to Refugio Frey. This six-mile hike ends at the Refugio, which offers hiker’s accommodation and a gorgeous view of Laguna Toncek. Several other hikes originating from Bariloche and elsewhere, lead to stunning waterfalls, lakes, and mountain peaks.
Torres del Paine National Park
Perhaps Chile’s most famous national park (at least with backpackers and mountaineers!), Torres del Paine is known for its soaring mountains, bright blue icebergs that calve from glaciers, and golden pampas (grasslands) that shelter rare wildlife such as the llama-like guanacos. Some of its most iconic sites are the three granite towers from which the park takes its name and horn-shaped peaks named Cuernos del Paine (picture one), which are some of the most expressive mountains in the world.
The park also contains the wonderful Grey Glacier (picture two), which can be seen at various points on the famous “W” trek and by kayaking to to reach its towering face.
Lake District, Chile
Though not technically part of Patagonia, the Lake District of Chile is just north of the Patagonian border and contains its own style of beauty. It is an area where active snow-capped volcanoes meet pale green lakes. The two volcanoes pictured, Osorno (picture one) and Villarricca (picture two) are some of the most majestic I’ve had the pleasure of photographing. The high rainfall and temperate climate throughout the region allows for created endless miles of virgin and ancient forest to grow - including the Fitzroya (or Alerce trees), the largest tree species in South America and a cousin to the redwoods of North America.
