October 13th, 2010 
Sheila Simkin It is a relatively short drive from Calafate (less than two hours) to Lago Roca, where Travels With Sheila and the group camped for a few nights during a Patagonia trip. (Read about this Patagonia Adventure on Travels With Sheila.) The best time (and really the only time tour operators schedule travel to Patagonial) is between December and March, the South American summer. Patagonia, at the tip of South America, is known for its extremely changeable weather. Antarctica is a mere hop, skip and Drake Passage away. Prepare to put on shorts, take off fleece and it begins to snow. Change to Goretex and the sun comes back out. Two minutes later, a torrential downpour… Get used to weather that changes by the minute. I have heard from a few travelers who had idyllic weather but they are in the minority.
The Moreno Glacier is the last advancing glacier in South America (or was advancing…with Global Warming…who knows if that’s still true) and really is incredible to behold! There are various look-out points…View image that require no agility to reach and, we even had a sunny day that made the Moreno Glacier even more dazzling. This glacier is one of the most important tourist attractions in the Argentine Patagonia Region and is fed by the Southern Patagonian Ice Field located in the Andes.
The Moreno Glacier in Los Glaciares National Park has glacier-viewing trails and areas to sit and watch for occasional bergs to calve off with tremendous “booms.” The glacier ruptures about every four to five years and that must be an incredible sight. Visit the large visitor’s center for information on the circuits and faces to be seen if you are not on one of the many tours run daily by different companies. There is also a restaurant in Los Glaciares National Park or bring a sack lunch.
Since our visit, two different trekking tours on the ice are now available if that’s your druthers. One option is a short walk of about an hour and a half, and the second “big ice” hike takes about five hours. Crampons are provided. (I should hope so!)
The blue ice and constantly changing views of the Moreno Glacier is nothing short of brilliant and a wonderfully relaxing way to get close to the ice. The Mountain Travel Sobek group we were traveling with went back to Camp Lago Roco for dinner (on the Argentina side we had real Gauchos assisting our camp crew!)….View image, a good night’s sleep, and then breakfast in preparation for another strenous day of hiking in Patagonia.
Whether you opt for an entire, no-holds barred Patagonia hiking tour or are just visiting the area, don’t miss the Moreno Glacier. So easy to experience in this once remote corner of the world.
Maximum Savings, Lowest Fares – Find Cheap Air Tickets on This Site & Save Big on Travel
Posted in 
Tags: 
