We head in the morning to Puerto Bandera (Port
of the Flag) to board our boat that'll take us into the North Arm of Lake Argentino
to navigate among icebergs and to the front of the imposing Upsala Glacier.
The Upsala Glacier is the largest glacier within the continental patagonic ice,
even though it has suffered severe losses during the last years. It owes its name
to the Swedish city of Upsala, which university promoted the first glaciological
studies in the area. The height of its walls range from 197 to 262 feet (60-80
meters) and its surface is of 232 square miles (595 km2), it is 37 miles long
(60 km), and 3-4 miles wide (5-7 km). The total basin surface of this glacier
is of 390 square miles (1000 km2). The dept of the lake at the front of the glacier
is of about 3280 feet (1000 meters).
From there we will continue on the
Onelli Channel and we will disembark in Onelli Bay. Landing in Onelli Bay we find
ourselves surrounded by forests. A typical patagonic forest where "lenga"
and "guindo" are generally covered of "usnea" (lichens), commonly
called "old man's beard". Crossing the forest, through approximately
872 yards (800 meters), we reach Onelli Lagoon, where glaciers Onelli (45 km2/18
square miles), Bolado (16 km2/6 square miles) and Agassiz (31 km2/12 square miles)
meet. This lagoon is usually full with icebrgs, detachments of ice from the glaciers.
Upon finalizing the crossing of the forest we will find ourselves with the Onelli
Lagoon where we will visualize the Onelli, Bolado and Heim Glaciers, remaining
there for about two hours and a half.
By the end of the afternoon we will
return to Puerto Bandera (Flag Port). If conditions aren't favourable
for us to enter the Onelli area, we will disembark at Puesto de Vacas, a beautiful
site where we find a shelter formerly used by expeditions to the Continental Ice
Cap.
Important: when very large icebergs are present on the navigation
route, the access to the Upsala Glacier area or to disembark in the Onelli bay
is not possible. In these situations the tour is changed and instead of visiting
theses areas, a navigation next to the Perito Moreno Glacier is added.
Difficulty: low
Duration: full day
Guide: shared English/Spanish
speaking guide
Transfer: shared vehicle and motorboat
Includes: transfers
+ entrance ticket to Glaciers National Park
