Our trip to Patagonia is going perfectly: As soon as we arrive, we are greeted by blue skies. Just a half-hour drive to the small town of El Calafate on the shores of the vast Lago Argentino. There's already an outdoor vibe - trekking shops and excursion agencies everywhere.
This is the gateway to the Los Glaciares National Park (the glaciers). The southern part with the Perito Moreno Glacier is an hour away, while the northern part is at El Chaltén and offers many trekking tours - the absolute highlight there is Mount Fitz Roy - we will also make a stop there.
What all belongs to Patagonia is not clearly defined (whether or not including Tierra del Fuego), but Chile and Argentina share it. Many people in Patagonia come from other parts of the country. Cities and most infrastructure are relatively new. Almost all everyday products, like food, etc., have to be brought in by truck from the capital, Buenos Aires (that's nearly 3000 km!). So the supply is somewhat limited and prices are significantly higher.
With our rental car, we set off early to the national park. The landscape is simply gigantic 🤩 Vast, sparse steppes crisscrossed with turquoise lakes, framed by imposing snow-covered mountains.
The road leads directly to the foot of the Perito Moreno glacier. It stretches over 4 km in width between two mountains and juts deep into Lago Argentino. At the edge, it has a height of over 70 m - and that’s only above the water!
The idea of a kayaking tour to the glacier initially seems reckless, and we researched how long we could survive in the cold water. Our friendly local guide reassures us: With special clothing and life jackets, we wouldn’t even notice falling from the boat…
The tour is breathtaking, and from the tandem kayak, we repeatedly watch large ice chunks crashing into the lake with a loud bang. Thanks to a safety distance of several hundred meters, there’s no danger!
Afterward, we walk the various paths and viewpoints. From the shore, the expanse of the glacier can be clearly seen, but the dimensions are only truly estimable in person.
We organize two mountain bikes and take an extensive tour along the lakeshore to Punta Walichu, where we can admire 4000-year-old rock paintings. Hands, as well as depictions of the people and animals of that time, are painted on the sandstone.
A truly beautiful, idyllic place right by the lakeshore!
Here is our faithful companion, a greyhound who runs alongside us throughout the bike tour from the village, waits patiently while we look at the rock paintings, and returns with us 😊
