Patagonia and other adventure travel destinations

Patagonia Holidays: Explore the Land of Glaciers

With the northern and southern Patagonian ice fields (the largest extrapolar mass of ice in the southern hemisphere) found in this region, glaciers are a feature of nature that Patagonia certainly does in style. 

In fact, all of Chilean Patagonia and the westernmost parts of Argentine Patagonia were once completely covered by the enormous Patagonian Ice Sheet and Patagonia holidays are never complete without a trip to one of the many glaciers found in the region.

Not only a reminder of the many ice ages that once ruled the earth, but glaciers are also of vital importance to humans as they store 75% of the world’s freshwater. And while the worrying speed of retreat of glaciers across the globe is an urgent challenge, visitors to Patagonia will be inspired by this region’s claim to fame as the land of glaciers. A trip to explore one of these many ice giants will be a highlight of any holiday in Patagonia


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El Perito Moreno: an unmissable sight on your Patagonia holidays

Patagonia Holidays

The awe-inspiring Perito Moreno Glacier near El Calafate, Argentina, is top of most visitors’ vacation plans when visiting Patagonia. Thousands of visitors each year throng here to traverse the network of boardwalks, which bring them into close contact with this huge glacier, which is 97-sq miles (156-sq. km) in size and 19 miles (30 km) in length.

At 240 ft. (72m) high, it’s not only mind-bogglingly enormous, but the mixture of white and dark blue patches, the latter formed by dense, compressed ice composed of little air, makes ita picture-perfect destination.

The rare shattering of the ice bridge

While those visiting in the afternoon are more likely to see the spectacular “calving” of the glacier, when ice chunks from its terminus crash into Lago Argentino below, El Perito Moreno glacier is famous for an even more impressive sight.

Every few years, the glacier advances over the southern arm of the lake. This is where it finally reaches the far shore and creates a dam. As the meltwaters of the glacier continue to enter this section of the lake, the water rises, reaching up to 100 ft. (30m). At this point, the powerful pressure gradually pushes through, eroding the blockage to form an ice bridge as the meltwater escapes into the lake.

Eventually, as it is weakened and can no longer support itself, the whole structure collapses, resulting in a spectacular rupture of ice into the milky blue waters of Lago Argentino. 

Unfortunately for those planning their Patagonia holidays, the most recent rupture occurred in March 2016, and it is only known to occur roughly every four to five years.

A glacier that’s advancing against the odds

But even beyond this remarkable spectacle, El Perito Moreno is a scientific enigma

Other glaciers, such as nearby Upsala, have been retreating rapidly. Although both are fed by the Southern Patagonian ice field, El Perito Moreno is one of only a handful of Patagonian glaciers that are advancing. Each day it advances an average distance of six feet (two meters).

Take a cruise boat to the Pío XI Glacier

Chilean fjords

While Argentina lays claims to some of the most famous glaciers in South America, Chile is actually home to around 83% of all those in South America. One of its most impressive sights is the Pío XI Glacier, located further north of Cape Horn and the Cordillera Darwin at the very tip of the region and a necessary part of a Patagonia holiday. 

While Pío XI (also known as Brüggen Glacier) might not receive the same visitor numbers as El Perito Moreno, at 50 miles (80 km), it’s the longest glacier in the southern hemisphere (outside of Antarctica). 

With a front face of around 3.7-miles (6 km) and a height of approximately 250 ft. (76m), it’s a colossal ice giant that merits the more complicated passage to arrive. Visitors hoping to include this glacier on their Patagonia itinerary will need to take a cruise ship from Puerto Natales.

Providing valuable insights into the effects of climate change

Pío XI is also of considerable interest to scientists measuring the impact of climate change, given that it has actively advanced during the last century. Over the period between 1945 to 1976, it grew across the Eyre Fjord and cut Lake Greve off from the sea before eventually stabilizing.

Discover Patagonia Adventure Cruises

Scientists hope that by studying glaciers like El Perito Moreno and Pío Xi Glacier, they can glean valuable information about the effects of changing climates upon these precious regions of the world.

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