Sailing on Lago Argentino is a must-see experience for visitors to El Carafate. This impressive glacial lake is the largest in Argentine Patagonia and the third largest in South America, with a surface area of over 1,400 km² and depths reaching 500 meters. It was formed thousands of years ago by the advance and retreat of glaciers that shaped the landscape of Tierra del Fuego. Today, it forms part of Los Glaciares National Park.
Its turquoise waters, colored by finely ground rock particles from the ice (called "glacier flour"), are fed primarily by the Southern Patagonian Ice Field, one of the largest freshwater reserves on the planet. From the port of Punta Bandera, various lake excursions depart that cover Brazo Norte, Canal Upsala, and Canal Spegazzini, where travelers can observe the Upsala, Spegazzini, and Seco glaciers up close, each with unique characteristics and dimensions.
During the voyage, catamarans and boats allow you to admire enormous floating icebergs, snow-capped mountains, and Patagonian forests reflected in the calm waters of the lake. Local guides enrich the experience by sharing information about the geology, the history of exploration, and the evolution of glaciers over time.
For those looking to experience the environment from a more active perspective, there are also options for kayaking, nature photography, and sport fishing. Any way you explore Lago Argentino reveals the magnitude of southern nature and the energy that defines the heart of Patagonia.
Visiting it at different times of the year allows you to discover its ever-changing character: in summer, its waters shimmer with intense hues under the Patagonian sun; in winter, the landscape is covered in snow, and the silence makes it even more majestic. It's a setting that invites you to pause, contemplate, and experience the natural immensity of this corner of the world.
