8 ways to see the Patagonia's glaciers
With so few places in the world in which to see a glacier, visiting one in Patagonia is often high on travellers' list of priorities. Home to so many, there are many ways to experience the glaciers of Patagonia as part of your journey.
1. Hiking to Patagonia's Glaciers
There are two main national parks where keen hikers (up for hikes of 6 to 8 hours) can get up close to some of the glaciers in a wild and remote setting:
In Torres del Paine National Park, Chile, those hiking the 4-5 day W Trek will hike up the Valle Frances to see the dramatic French Glacier, a hanging glacier. You'll also hike towards the Grey Glacier which is a 14 km glacier fed by the ice cap filling the wonderful Lago Grey. You can even ice-hike on this glacier, and Swoop's Harriet did just that in March 2015 'Everyone should add Ice Hiking onto a trek in Torres del Paine!'. Read Harriet's Review.
Those hiking the longer Full Circuit or O Circuit will also see the Perros Glacier in the north of the national park and enjoy the incredible views of the Grey Glacier and out to the Patagonian Ice Cap from the Paso John Garner.
Glacier Grey, Torres del Paine
The Los Glaciares National Park in Argentina, as the name suggests, is home to dozens of glaciers. For hikers, the best of these are accessed from the small mountain town of El Chalten which sits at the base of Mount FitzRoy. There are some wonderful day hikes up to the Torre Glacier and Glaciar Grande.
Those setting out on a multi-day trek can even get up to the wonderful Paso del Viento with its views out across the Patagonian Ice Cap itself.
In Northern Patagonia, hikers can see the hanging Tronador ('thunder') glacier, so named because of the sound of the ice falling and crashing into the natural amphitheatre hundreds of metres below.
2. Adventure Cruises to Glaciers
Many of Patagonia's glaciers are simply inaccessible by land and can only be witnessed on a 3-4 day adventure cruise on expedition vessels. There are 3 or 4 of these boats and they vary in size and style, but the largest capacity is under 200 passengers. The best glaciers to see are in two areas:
The Magellan Straits and Tierra del Fuego: These waters are at the southernmost tip of Patagonia and home to the so-called "Glacier Alley". Many of the adventure cruises in the area take you through this part of the Beagle Channel - the same one that Darwin sailed many years ago. These trips give you a chance to get up close to the glaciers on small zodiac boats, and hike to the very best viewing points for them and the mysterious environment.
Chile's Coastal Fjords: A littler further north and a slightly more pleasant climate, navigation of these fjords is broken up by gentle hikes to great panoramas and a chance to learn more about the flora and fauna of the region.
Glacier Cruise, Southern Patagonia
3. Day Trips
There are several glaciers near to the hikers' haven of El Calafate, close to the mountains of Los Glaciares:
- Glaciar Perito Moreno is the best known and most popular glacier in all of Patagonia. On top of its distinctive brilliant blue, it's a relatively easy journey to make from El Calafate, just 80 km away.
- Glaciar Upsala is even larger than Perito Moreno and can be visited together with a nearby Patagonian estancia from which you can go for a guided hike or 4x4 adventure into the mountains to panoramic viewpoints
- Glaciar Spegazzini is accessible only by boat, visiting several of the glaciers of Lago Argentino - you'll weave between the moving icebergs of the waters as you make your way to Spegazzini - an impressive sight if for no other reason than the sheer size of its wall, which can tower as high as 135m!
From Puerto Natales you can visit the glaciers of Torres del Paine - the most popular national park of Patagonia:
- Glaciar Grey offers visitors all manner of ways to experience it, whether on boat excursions right up to its face, ice-hiking over the top with crampons, or you want to remain on terra firma and trek around it and its viewpoints
- Glaciars Tyndall, Serrano and Balmaceda offer a fantastic welcome to the national park, admiring them as glisten in the sun whilst you pass them by kayak or boat.
4. Remote Glaciers
For those wanting to get deep into the Pataonian wilderness and witness glaciers that few have seen, there are some lesser known: the Glaciar O'Higgins, witnessed as part of the wonderful O'Higgins Crossing and the spectacular and wild glaciers of the northern ice cap from the Aisen region in Chile.
5. Ice Cap Expeditions
Ice Cap Expeditions: The world's second largest extra-polar ice sheets, trekking and living on them is a truly unique, and at times bleak, experience. Whilst you don't need technical expertise or experience you'll want plenty of resolve to face the extreme conditions that the Patagonian weather will throw at you. Either base yourself out of El Chalten, in Los Glaciares, Argentina, or head out onto the Northern Ice Field.
What our customers think of Patagonia Glaciers
The highlight was walking on the Grey Glacier. Walking on a river of ice with crampons is daunting at first, but one soon starts feeling secure and can appreciate the amazing surroundings.
Travelled: November 2016
Johann -
Review:
Chloe says
The French Glacier in Torres del Paine kind of takes people by surprise, but you can sit there and just watch the avalanches for a bit before you push on up into the valley.
Chloe Mazille Patagonia Specialist
Glaciology & Facts
Mountain Glaciers
These glaciers develop in high mountainous regions, often flowing out of icefields that span several peaks or even a mountain range. The largest mountain glaciers are found in Arctic Canada, Alaska, the Andes in South America, and the Himalaya in Asia.
Valley Glaciers
Commonly originating from mountain glaciers or icefields, these glaciers spill down valleys, looking much like giant tongues. Valley glaciers may be very long, often flowing down beyond the snow line, sometimes reaching sea level.
Hanging Glaciers
When a major valley glacier system retreats and thins, sometimes the tributary glaciers are left in smaller valleys high above the shrunken central glacier surface. These are called hanging glaciers. If the entire system has melted and disappeared, the empty high valleys are called hanging valleys.
Icefields
Like the Northern and Southern Patagonian Icefields - Icefields are similar to ice caps, except that their flow is influenced by the underlying topography, and they are typically smaller than ice caps.
Swoop's Google Map
Our interactive Google map of Patagonia shows Swoop's top 15 glaciers, as well as all of the other important landmarks, natural features, accommodations and airports:
Ready to plan your Patagonia adventure?
Listen
We'll spend some time listening to your aspirations, then discuss the kind of experience that might suit you.
Match
Next we'll discuss the options, shortlist the best trips for you and present you our impartial recommendations.
Reserve
We'll place a 24 hour hold on your preferred option - without obligation - whilst we talk through the details.
Whatever your budget, group size, length of stay, preferred activity or appetite for adventure, we can help.
1-855-369-7866