Laguna San Rafael National Park
A glacier calving into a lagoon at sea level, from an ice field that has been retreating for a century.
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The San Rafael glacier comes off the Northern Patagonian Ice Field and reaches a tidal lagoon at essentially sea level, which at this latitude is unusual - it is among the lowest-latitude tidewater glaciers in the world. The face is around fifty metres high and calves regularly, filling the lagoon with ice that drifts out through a narrow channel to the sea. It has retreated a long way: the glacier filled much of the lagoon in the early twentieth century and now ends well back from it, and comparison photographs are a standard part of the visit. The park covers the ice field and was made a UNESCO biosphere reserve in 1979.
What you actually see
- A tidewater glacier at sea level - among the lowest-latitude anywhere.
- A calving face about fifty metres high - filling the lagoon with ice.
- Long documented retreat - the glacier once filled much of the lagoon.
- A biosphere reserve since 1979 - covering the ice field.
When to go
December to March. A full day, or several by ship.
Honest expectations
Access is only by boat or plane and both are expensive and weather-dependent. Trips are cancelled often. Rain is close to constant on this coast. Zodiacs approach the face at a distance for safety reasons.
Nearby
Exploradores glacier is reached from Rio Tranquilo; the marble caves are on the lake.
What to pack for Laguna San Rafael National Park
Chosen from what this place is for. Tap a kit for the full checklist.
Opening times, ticket prices and seasonal closures change - check the official source before you go: official site.
