The Perito Moreno Glacier is located 80 kilometres west of El Calafate, in the Los Glaciares National Park, an area of wonderful scenery and wildlife. The park encompasses 8,500 square miles, has two of the largest lakes in Argentina, mountains and glaciers descending from the Southern Ice Field. The area also has some interesting wildlife including guanacos, pumas and grey foxes as well as over 1000 species of bird. Almost half the national park is covered by the Southern Ice Field, which is the third largest extension of continental ice after Antarctica and Greenland.

Perito Moreno is possibly the most impressive of all the glaciers in Patagonia. 60 metres high, this is one of the few remaining advancing glaciers, and you can watch giant chunks of ice break off and crash into Lago Argentino below. The sounds of the groans and creaks as the glacier breathes is as impressive as the sight of the blue glacier against the forest on the surrounding mountains.

There is a network of walkways from where you can admire the glacier, and it is also possible to take a boat ride to see the face of the glacier from the water. You can also take a Glacier Trekking excursion on the face of the glacier, which allows you to walk on the ice sheet, climbing ice hills and peering into crevasses. Crampons are required for glacier trekking, so appropriate footwear is required.