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Best glacier destinations in South America

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Patagonia
Untamed Beauty at the End of the World
8.3
Argentina and Chile have still not marked the border across the Southern Patagonian Ice Field. The ice field is about 350 kilometres long. It is the second largest contiguous extrapolar ice field in the world. Pío XI Glacier covers about 1,265 square kilometres and is one of the few still growing.
Highlights:
  • 🐧 Explore the diverse wildlife on Peninsula Valdés
  • ❄️ Witness the massive Perito Moreno Glacier up close
  • 🥾 Hike the legendary trails of Torres del Paine National Park
Los Glaciares National Park
Where glaciers meet towering peaks
8.4
Excursion boats glide across the cold lake to reach the Upsala Glacier. The park covers 7,269 square kilometres and is the largest national park in Argentina. About 30 percent of it is covered by ice. Its ice cap feeds 47 large glaciers. UNESCO added the park to the World Heritage list in 1981.
Highlights:
  • 🛥️ Take a boat tour on Lago Argentino to glaciers
  • 🥾 Trek Mount Fitz Roy and Cerro Torre trails
  • 🚶‍♀️ Walk along the Perito Moreno Glacier boardwalks
El Chalten
Hiking Capital of Argentina
7.7
The national park around the village was established in 1937. Fitz Roy and Cerro Torre are popular with climbers and trekkers. The village at the foot of Fitz Roy is called Argentina's Trekking Capital. Laguna de los Tres is a popular hike to a glacial lake below Fitz Roy.
Highlights:
  • ⛰️ Climb steep trail sections for breathtaking mountain panoramas
  • 🌊 Explore Laguna Capri’s peaceful turquoise waters
  • 🏞️ Hike to Laguna de Los Tres for Mount Fitz Roy views
El Calafate
Gateway to Patagonia’s Glaciers
6.6
Lago Argentino is the largest lake in Argentina at 1,466 square kilometres. Excursion boats reach the Upsala Glacier, which flows into the lake. Perito Moreno Glacier is 78 kilometres from town. Its ice advances from June to December and recedes from December to April. Ice trekking lasts from about 1.5 to 5 hours.
Highlights:
  • 🧊 Tour Glaciarium Museum to learn about Patagonian ice
  • 🐦 Explore Laguna Nimez birdwatching nature reserve
  • ❄️ Visit Perito Moreno Glacier and watch ice calving
Torres del Paine National Park
Epic Landscapes and Untamed Wilderness
8.1
A large iceberg broke off Grey Glacier in November 2017. The glacier covers about 270 square kilometres and flows south into Grey Lake. It lies at the south end of the Southern Patagonian Ice Field and is retreating. The W Trek takes 3 to 5 days. Campsites and refugios must be booked ahead.
Highlights:
  • ⛰️ Trek the scenic French Valley with mountain views
  • 🛶 Take a boat tour to see stunning Grey Glacier
  • 🥾 Hike to the iconic Mirador Las Torres viewpoint
Peru
Ancient wonders meet diverse landscapes
7.6
In the Cordillera Blanca, Huascarán rises to 6,768 metres, the highest point in Peru. It is described as the most extensive tropical ice covered range in the world. Permanent ice cover shrank by about a third between the 1970s and 2006. The Quelccaya Ice Cap in the Cusco region covers about 43 square kilometres.
Highlights:
  • 🏯 Discover the ancient ruins of Cusco’s Sacred Valley
  • 🛶 Take a boat tour on Lake Titicaca’s floating islands
  • ⛰️ Hike the Inca Trail to the majestic Machu Picchu
Perito Moreno
Thundering Ice in Patagonia’s Wilds
The glacier covers about 258 square kilometres and has ice 170 metres deep. It forms an ice dam across an arm of the lake that ruptures every few years. Walkways at the visitor centre give views of the southern flank. Boat tours pass the northern flank.
Highlights:
  • 🥾 Hike the trails around Perito Moreno for breathtaking panoramic views
  • 🛥️ Take a boat tour to see the glacier's massive ice walls up close
  • ❄️ Walk along the edge of the glacier and hear the ice crack
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