The Glaciers National Park, created in 1937, is the kingdom of continental ices and the Glaciers. It comprises 2320 square miles in the southwestern part of Santa Cruz Province.
In the imposing heart of Southern Patagonia, where the wind whispers ancient secrets and the snow-capped peaks kiss the sky, Los Glaciares National Park shines majestically. Here, nature is a symphony of eternal ice and mirrors of crystal clear water.
Between shadowed valleys and serene forests, these giant glaciers rise and their blue ice blocks detach gracefully into deep lakes that murmur stories of Earth.
Its spectacular beauty, the scientific interest it provokes and the endangered species still living in this area made UNESCO declare this Park a World Heritage Site in 1981.
Ice dominates the Park: 1,500 square miles of ice fields from where 47 major glaciers descend. The absolute “star” of all them is the Perito Moreno Glacier, over the south branch of Lake Argentino. It has an imposing front wall of 5 km. and it is 60 meters tall. But there is an even bigger one: the Upsala Glacier , 10 km. wide and 50 m. tall.
At the north of the Park, another gem: Mount Fitz Roy, a true challenge for mountain climbers with its 3,375 meters.
Flora is the typical to be expected in a sub-Antarctic forest, with lengas, guindos and many shrubs like notro and calafate, the latter being an emblem of the area.
As for fauna, it is worth mentioning the huemul and the dwarf ñandú, that runs in big groups at the tableland area.
How to get to the Glaciers National Park?
El Calafate has got its own airport, where you can directly fly into from many cities in Argentina. Another way of access is via land from the north, through Río Gallegos. From this city (with airport too) you drive towards El Calafate (paved road, 350 Km.), which in turn is only 50 Km. from the Park. Finally, you can also arrive from El Chaltén, town that in fact is already within the Protected Area of the Glaciers National Park.
At all the towns mentioned above there are tourist services like lodging, gas and restaurants. Also, at Lake Viedma and Lake Argentino there are campsites available.