Icy summer in Patagonia
Argentina’s immense south remains the promised land for adventurers and nature lovers, and the ideal place to escape from the European winter’s cold while still enjoying the contrast of snow-covered mountains.
Escape the cold and travel to South America from 51,000 Avios
The province of Santa Cruz is located in the Argentine Patagonia, a territory that has fascinated explorers since the mid-19th century, when a group of scientists – including Charles Darwin – visited the region.
Images from Greg Funnell
Extending some 80 km long, Viedma Lake is the longest of the glacier-formed lakes.
The mountains of Cerro Norte, between Viedma Lake and Argentino Lake, and the Los Glaciares National Park.
Currently, travellers fly to El Calafate, a starting point for hiking and horseback riding trails leading to the lakes, mountains and glaciers of what is known as the Los Glaciares National Park.
The area’s main attraction is the Perito Moreno glacier, which measures about 30 km long; the front of it rises 60 metres over the water.
Charles Darwin never reached Perito Moreno because the navigability of the Santa Cruz River did not allow him to move inland sufficiently.
It is one of the world’s few glaciers that continue to expand, which contributes to one of its most peculiar features: visitors can actually watch it grow as huge chunks of ice detach themselves every 20 minutes.
There are gauchos – a term that appeared in the late 17th century to describe the “South American cowboys” – still living in the region.
The Upsala Glacier, about 60 km long, flows into Argentino Lake
Lake Argentino is the largest lake in Argentina and the third largest in South America.
Extending some 80 km long, Viedma Lake is the longest of the glacier-formed lakes.
