Perito Moreno Glacier

Perito Moreno is a stunning glacier formation that has become one of the most famous and important attractions in Argentina. It is located approximately 50 miles from the town of El Calafate, and is fed by the Southern Patagonian Ice Field, the worlds third largest fresh water reserve.

Glaciers are immense masses of ice that travel down the slope of a valley, ending in lakes, cliffs or terminal moraines (accumulations of dirt and rocks pushed along by the glacier). There are two main parts to a glacier: an accumulation zone where snow falls, collects and compacts, and a percolation zone where the glacier loses mass to evaporation and melting. There are many glaciers throughout Patagonia, but Perito Moreno has some very unique features that make it particularly special.

The glacier was originally named after prominent Argentine naturalist and explorer Francisco Moreno, who studied in the area in the 19th century. Moreno played a key role in defending Argentina's territory during international border disputes with neighbouring Chile, and donated the land for the first Argentine National Park. He is often referred to as Perito (expert/specialist) Moreno, hence the name of the glacier that he never actually saw!

Julian Tomas Rogers (English Captain of the Chilean army in 1879) was the first person to set foot on the glacier, but it was not until the early 20th century that the glacier became more well known. In 1912 the father of Argentine mountaineering Federico Reichert walked all the way along the glacier to it's source in the Southern Ice Cap.

Since then the glacier became increasingly famous, and is now believed to be the best known glacier in the world.

Perito Moreno is one of the largest glaciers of the Los Glaciares region at 254 square kilometres in total size. It is 19 miles long, 3 miles wide, and 730 metres thick at it's deepest point. It towers an average of 55 metres above the surface of the lake at it's face, and around 120 metres below the surface!. The glacier is believed to be advancing at a rate of 2.64 metres a day, unlike most glaciers worldwide which are in retreat.

A fantastic way to combine a visit to Perito Moreno with an exploration of the fjords of Los Glaciares National Park: home to ancient forests, black sand beaches, hidden waterfalls and massive hanging glaciers. You'll have the opportunity to hike among this unique wilderness before sailing up to Perito Moreno to take in it's beauty and gaze up at it's massive wall of ice from the water. You will then have time to admire the glacier from the viewing balconies before heading back to El Calafate.