Navimag
April 25 2017

Perito Moreno


Share:

The Perito Moreno glacier is a thick mass of ice located in the department of Lago Argentino, part of Santa Cruz Province, in the Patagonia region of southwest Argentina.

This glacier flows down from the Southern Patagonian Ice Field. As it descends, it reaches the southern arm of Lago Argentino.

The glacier face is 5 km wide, with a height of 60 m above water level.

 

How to get to Perito Moreno

Perito Moreno National Park

The glacier is about 80 km from the town of El Calafate, in the region of Patagonia in southwest Argentina. You can reach El Calafate by air and from there go by road to the glacier, or make the journey by a combination of bus and boat.

  • Navimag Ferries sail from Puerto Montt to Puerto Natales and from Puerto Natales to Puerto Montt, on a magnificent voyage through Patagonia. Once you reach Puerto Natales you can travel to the glacier by road via El Calafate
  • Departures from Puerto Montt are on Fridays and from Puerto Natales on Tuesdays all year round.  

(Navimag only provides ferry transport on the aforementioned routes and does not provide a transport service between Puerto Natales and the Perito Moreno Glacier).

 

Flora and Fauna of Perito Moreno

Perito Moreno National Park

The flora of the Perito Moreno National Park has three clearly defined sectors:  the steppe, a stunted forest consisting mainly of ñirre and lenga, and an old growth forest. 

Among the fauna, notable species include the pampas cat, the kodkod or huiña cat, small grey fox, guanaco, puma, mountain cat, red fox, dwarf armadillo or piche, huron, Patagonia hog-nose skunk or zorrino, tucu-tucu rodent, huemul and the southern rabbit-like rodent variously known as the pilquín, chinchillón anaranjado or vizcacha de las sierras.

Among the birds are the hooded grebe, the peregrine falcon, seed snipes, condors, eagles, diuca- finch, flamingos, and several species of wild goose and duck. 

 

Climate in Perito Moreno

Perito Moreno National Park

In winter it is bitterly cold – minimum temperatures normally drop to –30°C.

During the summer it is temperate – cold, the average temperature is below 0°C and the maximum temperature rarely reaches 15°C.

There is rainfall throughout the year and the wind is very cold, often blowing at more than 100 km/ hour.

Explore Patagonia by Ferry

Leave a comment


Posts that may interest you

Your Guide To Living Patagonia like a local

Want to live Patagonia at its fullest on your next trip? Then, go local.

All cities and destinations in Chilean Patagonia have hidden secrets. You could be one of the few lucky tourists to discover them.