Expert Guides and Planning Resources for Los Glaciares National Park in Argentina

Patagonian glacial wilderness with dramatic ice fields and towering granite peaks

Los Glaciares National Park

Los Glaciares National Park occupies the southernmost extension of the Argentine Andes, forming a vast protected wilderness that represents one of the most significant glacial landscapes outside the polar regions. The park's defining feature is the Patagonian ice cap, a massive frozen reservoir that covers much of the high terrain and feeds numerous glaciers that radiate outward toward lower elevations. Unlike glaciers in most other parts of the world, which typically form at altitudes above 2,500 meters, the sheer scale of the Patagonian ice cap allows these glaciers to originate at approximately 1,500 meters and descend nearly to the shores of the glacial lakes below. The park divides naturally into two distinct sections centered on its two great lakes. The northern portion encompasses Lake Viedma, the Viedma Glacier, and some of the most dramatic mountain terrain in the park, including the celebrated peaks of Mount Fitz Roy and Cerro Torre that rise abruptly from the surrounding terrain. The southern portion contains Lake Argentino, the largest lake entirely within Argentina, and hosts the most spectacular glaciers including Perito Moreno, Upsala, and Spegazzini, which calve directly into the lake's waters. Between these two regions lies a central zone without significant lake features. The park serves as a critical ecological corridor connecting the wet Pacific-influenced forests of the western Andes with the arid steppe landscapes of the Patagonian plateau, creating remarkable biodiversity within a relatively compact area.