Perito Moreno Glacier, Patagonia, Argentina

5Bridstow 5:00 PM Mar 15, 2023

AWESOME !!!!!
AWESOME !!!!! As experienced travellers this has to be one of our most memorable days. The Pierto Moreno Glacier is simply awesome. Having taken an hours boat tour to within 300 - 400 metres of the southern wall of the glacier our view from land in the National Park give a completely different perspective. Sailing close to the glacier and nearby icebergs earlier in the day, we had felt dwarfed by the majestic surroundings. Now the same boats appeared as small dots on the sea, they really were tiny in comparison to the glacier and incredible icebergs. Absolutely everything about this place is astounding. The size, the views, the sounds and smell of fresh air. The sound of ice cracking, and ripples as carvings hit the sea are mesmerising. It’s a sound and sight that it would be impossible to tire of. You never quite know when the next thunderous cracking will occur but you find yourself wiling it to happen. The ripples from carvings are preceded by a splash of ice falling - some relatively small others much bigger. At a distance the ripples appear to be travelling in slow motion; and can go on for what seems like an age. It easy to see why the boats maintain a save distance. The surrounding environment is simply stunning, but it’s really hard to take your eyes off the glacier and tightly packed shards, caves at the foot where the glacier meets the water and icebergs. We were told how a large cave hadn’t been there just days before. You find yourself thinking you’d like to take a boat into the caves but you know that’s impossible. There is a well maintained walkway that winds its way to higher ground from where you get unbelievable views. Photographing the glacier and surroundings is challenging. It’s just not possible to capture the enormity of the view, nor of course the sounds and smell. This really is an incredible and special place. At the same time as enjoying this, it’s hard not to be concerned for the future of our planet and places like this. From visiting this and numerous other glaciers during our tour it’s depressing to think that we could loose all of this in the foreseeable future because of human activity and inaction. If you are visiting this part of the World do not miss the opportunity to see this. You will remember this and talk about it forever.

5IN_Travelers47906 5:00 PM Mar 9, 2020

Simply Amazing: Not to be Missed
This is a very large park that runs north-south along Argentina’s border with Chile and it would be very difficult, if not impossible, to navigate it from top to bottom without exiting the park and driving its perimeter, which we did. If you use El Calafate (easy flight from Buenos Aires) as your hub, you can drive north 4 hours to El Chalten to enter the park’s northern most region. The drive from El Calafate to El Chalten is so scenic and the views of Mount Fitz Ry as you approach the park entrance are almost hard to believe. If you drive west from El Calafate for about an hour, you can enter the southern region of the park to see the magnificent Perito Moreno Glacier. There is much to do and see in this beautiful park. Stone walls and signs identify the entrance to the north end of the park and there is a visitors center to the left just prior to the bridge that you cross to enter El Chalten, but there is no admissions fee. There is a formal entrance and small admission fee going into Perito Moreno. There also is a sizable village with a restaurant, gift shop and shuttle to & from the parking area. The large steel walkway with numerous observation areas is remarkable both in its quality and in its design. First class all the way. I am a big fan of Glacier National Park on the U.S.-Canada border, but this one is even better.