Day 1: Perito Moreno Glacier in a Day
Los Glaciares National Park: First Views
Depart El Calafate early (7–8am) for the 80km drive to Los Glaciares National Park. Most hostels arrange shared minibus transfers (ARS 15,000–25,000 return) or you can rent a car. The first glimpse of the glacier from the approach road is staggering: a 5km-wide wall of jagged blue ice rising 70 metres above Lago Argentino. Pay the park entry (ARS 25,000 for foreigners) and head straight to the boardwalks.
Boardwalks & Ice Calving
Spend two to three hours on the extensive boardwalk network, where multiple platforms at different levels offer views of the glacier's northern face, southern face, and the Canal de los Témpanos where icebergs drift. The sound is extraordinary: deep groans, cracks like gunshots, and thunderous roars when house-sized chunks calve into the lake. The lower balconies put you closest to the ice wall. Pack layers, as wind off the glacier is fierce.
El Calafate: Patagonian Lamb
Return to El Calafate by 6–7pm. Dinner on Avenida Libertador, the main strip lined with restaurants and bars. Try cordero patagónico (Patagonian lamb roasted over an open fire) at La Tablita or Casimiro Biguá (ARS 18,000–28,000). The lamb is slow-roasted for hours on a crucero (iron cross) and served with roast potatoes. Pair with a Patagonian Pinot Noir from Bodega del Fin del Mundo.
