Argentina

El Calafate and Glacier Perito Moreno

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08/03/2015

From Buenos Aires we headed to the south of Argentina to the region of Santa Cruz to Argentinian Patagonia. If you get the opportunity to travel there, do it – no regrets! El Calafate and Glacier Perito Moreno are totally worth visiting!

El Calafate

After landing we went to the town of El Calafate where we stayed. There is nothing special at all. Only a touristy place full overpriced shops and restaurants. We went to search for a bus terminal to buy a bus tickets to the glacier Perito Moreno. We found Terminal de Ómnibus in the street Avenida Julio A. Roca 1004. There is also an info center where they give you the map of El Calafate.

Our hunt for tickets for Perito Moreno began here. Everyone tells you they have comparable prices but it is not entirely truly. Hostels offer the ticket for 400 ARS, at the bus station prices start at 300 ARS and we bought our return ticket for only 255 ARS (cca 30 USD). It was the cheapest ticket we found. It does not make any sense to use more expensive companies because they all drive you the same route. So we got the tickets and viva la trip! 😉 After 78 km we are finally at the glacier.

Glacier Perito Moreno in Patagonia

Perito Moreno is undoubtedly one of the biggest attractions in all Patagonia. It is located in the Los Glaciares National Park and it neighbors Torres del Paine Park in Chile and also Bernardo O’Higgins park. The park Los Glaciares requires you to pay the entrance fee. It will be collected by the employees of the park on the bus. You cannot pay by credit or debit card here! They accept only cash. The price per person was 215 ARS (cca 25 USD).

Perito Moreno Glacier is 5 kilometers wide and with an average height of 74 meters above the surface of the water. Below the surface is has respectable 170 meters. The most unique of this glacier is that Perito Moreno is one of the tri glaciers in Patagonia that keeps growing. It is a riddle even for the scientists themselves. The nature is simply powerful and mysterious and it makes it beautiful.

There are 4 walking trails marketd by green, red, yellow and blue colors. They are not difficult to walk at all but there are many stairs. At every walking trail there is at least one place with spectacular views. Our tour took us about 4 hours and we were so lucky to see the fall off the glacier. It was a very impressive sight. After all, judge for yourself from our photos.