About
Santa Cruz is a province in the far south of Argentina, in the wide, windswept region of Patagonia. Its landscapes are vast and open: steppe, plateaus and long horizons, broken in places by glacial formations that give the province much of its character.
What to expect
The province is best known as a gateway. Many travellers come here to reach the area around El Calafate, the town that serves as a base for exploring the region's glaciers, and to visit the Perito Moreno Glacier, one of the best-known sights in the area. Visiting the province is largely about these natural landscapes and the sense of scale they create.
Planning a visit
- Landscape: expansive Patagonian scenery, with glacial formations across the province.
- Base town: El Calafate, a practical starting point for trips into the glacier country.
- Kind of trip: nature-focused, suited to those interested in glaciers and open country.
Because the distances in Patagonia are considerable, it helps to think of Santa Cruz as a region to travel through slowly rather than a single place to tick off. Those who come for the glaciers and the open landscape will find it a rewarding part of southern Argentina.
