Our trip started at 5pm on Feb 8 as we left Sheffield in a rental car to head to LaGuardia. We flew to Miami the next morning, and spent the 14 hour layover poolside at a hotel in Brickell. An overnight flight to Santiago, and then El Calafate had us arriving in time for an Argentina dinner. Perfect!
Our first meal in Patagonia: Roasted lamb in El Calafate!
With Argentinian Merlot, yum!
Back on the bus going to El Chalten, home of the Fitz Roy.
Easy bus ride to El Chaltén to see Mount Fitz Roy, the Patagonia clothing logo.
Our first hike was an 11 miler, to Laguna Torre. We thought it must be the most beautiful hike in Patagonia- – – until the next day.
That’s Mount Fitz Roy off in the distance above my head. The glacier is behind Pete.
Closer to the glacier…
The Fitz Roy is on the right, and icebergs are in the lake.
Laguna de los Tres was the next day. 13+ miles and 3400 feet elevation. We had views of the Fitz Roy all the way in, and saw the three lakes. Amazing, 11 hour hiking day (with plenty of breaks!)
The glacier lakes are mostly bright blue or green
According to locals, the Fitz Roy comes out of the clouds 35 days per year we were there for two of them!
Filling up on water at a glacial river.
In Maine, the chipmunks come close. In Patagonia, it’s the fox!
Argentina lake duck, I think.The glacier at the base of the Fitz Roy.
Thankfully, about two miles out and back were flat and through a little forest. Easy!And then we saw the sign that the final half mile would take more than 1 hour. It was an exhausting climb of about 1500 feet in 1/2 mile, but we did it!Only 10% of the iceberg is above water in the lakes.Happy hikers.Crazy Patagonian winds create really unusual cloud formations.
We headed back to El Calafate on Wednesday and our favorite taxi driver, Pablo, met us at our hotel for a full day excursion to Perito Moreno, a huge glacier about 90 minutes from town. The glacier is 2 1/2 miles wide and maybe 20 miles back. Pedro recommended the boat excursion as well as the walkway from top to bottom. We spent about 5 hours there before heading back to town for dinner and one night’s sleep. Tomorrow – off to Puerto Natales to begin the W Trek!!!
Pablo took great care of us on our trip to Perito Moreno. He is from Buenos Aires but works in El Calafate during the summer.Boat ride to the edge of the glacier, about 250’ high. We saw cleaving, when part of the glacier breaks off and crashes into the lake. Awesome!Wild wind! 50-60 mph on this day.The glacier goes on and on for miles back to the distant mountains.There are about 5 miles of walkways for many viewing perspectives. The National Park was incredible.Farewell Perito Moreno.
Pete & Lori's Retirement adventures 