About
The Perito Moreno Glacier, also known as Glaciar Perito Moreno, lies in Los Glaciares National Park in Santa Cruz Province, Argentina. It is one of the best-known glaciers in Patagonia, and the park that holds it is a UNESCO World Heritage site, which is a fair guide to how much the place matters to visitors from around the world.
What to expect
The glacier is an advancing one, and it is known above all for its dramatic ice calvings, when large pieces of ice break away and fall into Lago Argentino. Watching a calving is the main draw for most people, so a visit is best approached with patience and a little luck, as the moments of collapse cannot be scheduled.
A visit suits several kinds of traveller:
- Those who want to see a large glacier up close, from the viewing areas set out around it
- Photographers and anyone interested in landscape and ice
- Visitors already travelling in Patagonia who want a striking stop on the way
Around the glacier
The glacier sits within a national park, so the surrounding landscape of mountains, lakes and forest is part of the experience. Lago Argentino, into which the ice falls, is the large lake that frames the view. Travellers planning a day here may want to check the current arrangements for access and transport before setting out, and the park's contact line is +54 2902 491005.
Because the glacier is one of the region's best-known sights, it works well as a centrepiece of a wider trip through Santa Cruz Province and the national park, rather than as a stop made in isolation.
