El Calafate
We were lucky. The day dawned warm and sunny. Perfect weather for viewing the glacier. First we drove into town to see if we could find a tyre pressure gauge at Ferreteria Yamat. No luck there, though. Next we needed fuel. The gas station in the centre of town was completely out of petrol and only had the expensive diesel. We needed to fill up, so had to pay the price.
It is about 80 kilometres to the glacier, but it is a slow, narrow and winding road and with many tourist buses and minibuses. To view the glacier we have to enter the National Park, so a fee of 45,000 pesos per person has to be payed.
Perito Merino Glacier
When the glacier comes into sight there is a viewpoint. We stop and take our first photos. I’m afraid I was a bit underwhelmed with the glacier. Not that it isn’t very scenic. It is, but having seen glaciers in Alaska, Canada and New Zealand’s South Island, I was expecting Perito Moreno to be super impressive.
What is impressive though, is the walk way which enables you to walk several kilometres around, and in quite close proximity to the glacier. This way you are able to get different views and perspectives. We heard several cracking noises and looked to see if bits were calving off, but no, the sounds were coming from the interior of the moving mass.
In a world of his own.
I think, after Machu Picchu, this is probably one of the most touristy places we’ve been too in South America. Or, perhaps it’s just that it is very concentrated in one place.
Back in El Calafate
Returning to El Calafate we drive beside the most incredible turquoise lake, Lago Argentina. We return to Cabanas and Camping. We’re back in the same spot as before. A young, American motorcyclist came over and gave us half a dozen eggs he wasn’t going to use. He was telling us about the awful road conditions to the north. Apparently there was heavy rain a few days ago and bad flooding has damaged some roads. Hopefully, when we travel this route, repairs will have been made.
Tomorrow’s Plans
Tomorrow we plan to head to El Chalten and Mount Fitz Roy. Mount Fitz Roy is another famously impressive Andean feature.
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