El Calafate and Glaciers in Argentina

El Calafate is the capital of Santa Cruz province in Andean Patagonia, Argentina and it’s located at the shores of Argentino Lake, becoming the central point of all the excursions in the zone, from Los Glaciares National Park, Chaltén and Torres del Paine National Park, in Chile. It has been named El Calafate by a bush with blue fruits that usually grows in this sector.





El Calafate is the closest urban zone to Los Glaciares National Park, who was named Patrimony of Humanity by UNESCO in 1981, for its natural beauty. This is a wonderful place for adventure tourism and outdoor excursions like trekking, navigation, horseback riding and others. El Calafate is also the beginning of Patagonian Ice Fields and the first stage of the amazing glacier circuit.


Inside of El Calafate there is also Los Glaciares National Park Administrative Division, the starting point of every tour and excursion to Los Glaciares National Reserve, located at 80 kilometers away from the zone.


Inside of Los Glaciares National Park, the visitors will be amazed by the natural wonders like the worldly famous Perito Moreno glacier and its detachments, where impressive mass of ice falls into de water, catching the attention of many tourists who try to catch the exact moment of the fall.

The visitors can discover this wonderful argentinean park using the artificial footbridges created to watch de glaciers or navigating through the waters of the De Los Témpanos channel and Argentino and Viedma Lakes. This is the closest journey you can take to the glaciers, which allows to see them in all their magnificence.


Los Glaciares National Park counts with 47 impressive glaciers and some of the most important are Onelli, Upsala, Spegazzini and Seco.


Another attraction of El Calafate is the zone of El Chaltén, located at 200 kilometers away from it. Chaltén is called the trekking capital of Argentina because it has the famous Fitz Roy Mount, a difficult and attractive mountain that every year is visited for climbers of the entire world.


In El Calafate there is also adventurous tourism. The Santa Cruz river is perfect for rafting and fishing. In the waters of the zone you will find different species such as rainbow trout, salmon and lake’s trout.


Another interesting place of Santa Cruz is the famous “Hands Cave”, which is located in the rocks of Pinturas River. This is a cave with ancient paintings, representing scenes of hunting and superposed hands in some kind of magical ritual of the old natives of the zone.


El Calafate is also one of the best places to observe the flora and fauna of Patagonia, in the Natural Reserve of Nimes Lagoon, located at Solitaria Island in Argentino Lake. Here you will find animals like red fox, hare, condors, eagles, flamingos and swans in their natural environment.


El Calafate mixes in one place the most incredible nature and vegetation, besides the impressive beauty of the glaciers, making of it the perfect escape for the ones who look for adventure, to discover new places or simply rest and relax.

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Iguassu Falls

Why not arrange your Brazil vacation package around a visit to the breathtaking Iguassu Falls. This incredible waterfall spans three countries and was short listed as a candidate for the seven natural wonders of the world in 2009.

The Iguassu Falls are made up of 275 mini waterfalls which stretch out 1.67 miles and span Brazil, Argentina and Paraguay. They were designated a UNESCO world heritage site in 1984 and the Brazilian side of the national park offers viewers a walkway across the canyon, providing the perfect viewing point for visitors on their Brazil tours. This provides viewers with 260 degree views of the waterfalls; the best vista offered by a waterfall national park.

Whilst it is possible to spend hours gazing in wonderment at these stunning waterfalls on your Brazil holidays, there is plenty more to do at the Iguassu National Park. Adventure junkies will relish the chance to try their hand at white-water rafting, which certainly isn’t an activity for the faint-hearted. The rapids at Iguassu Falls can quickly vary from 1.5 to 3.5, so you never know quite what to expect on your Brazil tour.

If you like the idea of taking to the water, but aren’t quite cut out for a spot of white water rafting, then why not take a safari boat tour of the falls? The safari starts on dry land as you take a 3km jeep drive into the forest, spotting all the natural flora and fauna. If you’re particularly lucky then you may even get to spot a rare Macuco bird whilst on your Brazil tour. These blue-grey birds live on the forest floor and their eggs are considered by many to be the most beautiful in the world. The final part of this safari tour is by Zodiac boat, a full-throttle speed-boat, which offers visitors on their Brazil vacation packages excellent views of the falls. Although, you should be prepared to get very wet!

If staying on dry land is more your forte or you want to catch a guaranteed glimpse of the Macuco bird, then pair your trip to the Iguassu Falls with a visit to the world-class Bird Park. The park features 160 different species of birds, as well as Cayman crocodiles, snakes and butterflies. The adjoining souvenir shop is ideal for buying mementos of both the bird park and the Iguassu Falls to take home from your Brazil holidays.

One of the most spectacular ways of seeing the falls is by moonlight. The national park opens late once a month during the full moon, allowing visitors a rare glimpse of the falls by silvery moonlight. This is definitely one for the romantic and if you’re interested in seeing the Iguassu Falls in their ethereal glow then it is well worth arranging your Brazil vacation package around the date of a full moon.

Finally, before you leave Iguassu Falls on your Brazil holiday, make sure that you take a visit to the famous Three Borders. The three stones, all painted in the colours of their respective countries flags, allow you the opportunity of standing in three countries at exactly the same time; an experience which you’re unlikely to ever repeat again in your lifetime.