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Great interest has created among tourists the possibility of visiting one of the most spectacular and overwhelming landscapes of the Chilean Patagonia: Pio XI and Amalia glaciers. From November 1st to March 30th, Navimag is offering tourists the possibility of visiting these ice cathedrals, in its trips across the Patagonian channels, as part of its southern trip (Pío XI glacier) and of its northern trip (Amalia glacier), sailing across different sized and shaped icebergs, which colorful blue, light blue and white ices amaze visitors.

Pío XI glacier is located on the northern area of Southern Ice Fields, at the end of Eyre inlet. It’s the largest glacier in the southern hemisphere with a surface area of 1,242 kms, making it a true ice giant. It is approximately 6 km wide and its ice towers reach higher than 75 meters. Its length from its origin in the Ice Fields is 60 kilometers.

The feature that makes this huge moving snow giant different from other glaciers is that it continues moving forward as opposed to most glaciers that are moving backwards. It is estimated that the glacier has increased over 10 kilometers over the last 50 years.

It also stands out for its color changes, bluish and whites, which can be seen when the ice mass breaks every 5 to 10 minutes, followed by huge waves.

On its part, the majestic and beautiful Amalia glacier is located north of the central area of Southern Ice Fields. Its long silhouette seems to be hanging between the peaks of the mountains, which offers a real spectacle to visitors. Its ice towers and its colorful contrast with its surroundings touch anybody seeing it.

This glacier is approximately 1 km wide and 40 m high, its ice mass is mainly supplied by intense snowstorms throughout the entire year. It’s one of the forty-eight glaciers that make up this Ice field, which is considered to be the third largest fresh water reserve on the planet
año. Se trata de uno de los 48 glaciares que nacen de este campo de Hielo, considerada la tercera reserva de agua dulce en el Mundo.