Up at 6.30 and off to Argentina. We take a van to Cerro Castillo and then transfer to a public bus for the drive to El Calafate. After lengthy border stops we are driving across endless pampas - rolling brown grass covered in clumps of mata with sheep, hawks and the odd nandu. Small ponds are homes for ducks and flamingos.
Our first view of Lago Argentina is as a thin blue strip from an escarpment. We reach the town and transfer from the bus station to our hotel, a strikingly modern and attractive building overlooking the lake.
We head into town for drinks followed by dinner of excellent Argentine steak. El Calafate looks more like a US ski resort after an impressive face lift. The Argentine president lives here.
We wake up to amazing views and blue skies. It is an 80 km drive to the glacier and our driver covers it like Lewis Hamilton to catch the 10.30 boat. We make it with 5 minutes to spare.
Rumbles and crashes come from the glacier and from time to time bigs chunks crash from the face into the lake.
Leaving the boat we transfer to walkways for amazing views of the glacier. There are crowds of other tourists but these do not detract from the spectacle.
It might be wise to come early in the morning or late afternoon to avoid the crowds.
Returning to El Calafate we spot a Caracara sitting on a nest (right) then watch golden ibises strutting around the lawn of the town's only 5 star hotel.
On the long trip back to Punta Arenas we pass a small Argentine ski resort, miles of pampas, and more sheep, nandu and flamingos.
Punta Arenas is a much bigger town than Puerto Natales with multi coloured rooves, department stores, a big port and some good fish restaurants. We stay in the Capa de Hornos hotel - the distant brown building (right).
Mansions such as the Sara Braun palace in the main plaza (left) are reminders of the great wealth here at the end of the 19thC before the Suez Canal was built.
If you touch the toe of the Indian on the Magellan monument (below left) you will come back to Patagonia. I am sure that we will one day.
Up at 6.30 and off to Argentina. We take a van to Cerro Castillo and then transfer to a public bus for the drive to El Calafate. After lengthy border stops we are driving across endless pampas - rolling brown grass covered in clumps of mata with sheep, hawks and the odd nandu. Small ponds are homes for ducks and flamingos.
Our first view of Lago Argentina is as a thin blue strip from an escarpment. We reach the town and transfer from the bus station to our hotel, a strikingly modern and attractive building overlooking the lake.
We wake up to amazing views and blue skies. It is an 80 km drive to the glacier and our driver covers it like Lewis Hamilton to catch the 10.30 boat. We make it with 5 minutes to spare.
Leaving the boat we transfer to walkways for amazing views of the glacier. There are crowds of other tourists but these do not detract from the spectacle.
Returning to El Calafate we spot a Caracara sitting on a nest (right) then watch golden ibises strutting around the lawn of the town's only 5 star hotel.
On the long trip back to Punta Arenas we pass a small Argentine ski resort, miles of pampas, and more sheep, nandu and flamingos.
Mansions such as the Sara Braun palace in the main plaza (left) are reminders of the great wealth here at the end of the 19thC before the Suez Canal was built.
