LOS GLACIARES NATIONAL PARK

ACCESS
To access the park the traveller must go through a "comb-like" network of roads branching off National Route Nº40. This access network, basically caused by the presence of the great lakes Viedma and Argentino, is indeed appropriate for the management of the area as it allows to control the access routes and to avoid the impact of land building in mountainous regions. The National Park can be reached either by car or by bus from El Calafate, which can be also be accessed both by land and by air.

The great distances are not an obstacle to enjoy the attractions of the National Park at Los Glaciares. Below, you will find the different options to access the main attractions: El Calafate, El Chaltén, Perito Moreno Glacier and the rest of great glaciers in the area.

By plane

The travellers arrives at El Calafate International Airport. From there, they can either join an organized excursion or rent their own car. Another option is arriving in Río Gallegos, the capital of Santa Cruz, where many bus companies operate during the high season.

By car

There are many choices for those who prefer to undertake the entire journey by car:

From Buenos Aires along the coast
After leaving Buenos Aires, take National Route (NR) Nº3, which runs all along the coast of the Argentinean Sea. It goes past significant towns such as Bahía Blanca, Trelew and Comodoro Rivadavia. Upon arriving to Comandante Luis Piedra Buena, Santa Cruz, you can take National Route Nº288 (gravelled), which crosses the Patagonian steppe desert and reaches National Route Nº40 (gravelled). From this point, take a north-south direction toward Lake Argentino and finally, use Provincial Route (PR) Nº11 (paved), ato get to the National Park going past El Calafate. If from Comandante Luis Piedra Buena, you decide to go along the coast, you should continue up to Río Gallegos.

From Río Gallegos
You must take Provincial Route Nº5 toward the mountain range. Then, access Provincial Route Nº40 and at last Provincial Route Nº11. This route is completely paved and runs through the arid and tedious steppe of the Santa Cruz River valley.

From Bariloche
Beginning along National Route Nº258, which joins with Natioanal Route Nº40 (graveled) after crossing El Bolsón, continue in a north-south direction parallel to the Andes cordillera until you get to its convergence with Provincial Route Nº11 (paved) shortly after crossing Santa Cruz river. This trip takes the travellers through Perito Moreno, Bajo Caracoles and Tres Lagos, among other towns.

By bus

Vía Río Gallegos
From Buenos Aires to Rio Gallegos the length of National Route Nº3. From Río Gallegos, many regular lines depart to El Calafate.

How to get there

There are many airlines that offer regular flights Buenos Aires - El Calafate (80 km away from the glaciers). They will offer the travellers excursions and accommodations. The flight takes about three hours.

The most convenient way to access the National Park is from the north along National Route Nº3 up to Rio Gallegos, following along Provincial Route Nº5, National Route Nº40 and Provincial Route Nº11 up to El Calafate, which is at 50 km distance from the Park. These two cities are at a distance of 316 km.

From El Calafate, you can arrive at El Chaltén in the northern part of the protected area going along Provincial Route Nº11, National Route Nº40 and finally Provincial Route Nº23.

By plane, you can fly from Buenos Aires to Río Gallegos, from where many domestic flights depart for El Calafate

CLIMATE
The weather in Los Glaciares National Park is mild, rainy, with no distinct dry season but less rain in the summer.

Rain increases toward the west, showing an important difference that goes from 500 mm in the eastern area of the Park to 900 mm in the cordillera (however, there have been annual registers of more than 2000 mm in some western sectors)

Rainfalls are spread almost evenly throughout the year, reaching their peak toward the end of Autumn (April- May). During winter, rain is mainly snowy, but never enough to form snow accumulation.

Winds are predominantly west and southwest. In summer they are more frequent and intense.

The average yearly temperature is 7.5ºC, with an average of 0.6ºC in winter (July) and 13.4ºC in summer (January).

This information pertains to the lower sectors, since there are no climatic records from the top of the mountains or the higher areas within the Park or its surrounding.

Considering the theoretical decrease of 0.5ºC per 100 m in altitude, it can be said that the average temperature for the higher mountain sectors is in general below 2ºC and below -3ºC in the highest peaks.

Climate:
Cold, windy in spring, less wind in autumn. Precipitations from March to May.