Argentino LakeAbout Argentino Lake
Argentino Lake (Lago Argentino) is a large glacial lake in Santa Cruz Province in Argentine Patagonia and is the country’s largest freshwater lake by surface area. It is a central feature of the Los Glaciares National Park and a focus for glacier tourism.
The lake receives meltwater from several major glaciers, including the well-known Perito Moreno glacier, which calves directly into the lake and is a frequent subject of boat tours and viewing platforms. Visitors commonly take boat excursions to view glacier fronts and icebergs that have calved into the lake.
The lake has been a key freshwater basin carved by the Patagonian ice fields; its shoreline and arms have changed as glaciers have advanced and retreated. It has long been used as a transport and viewing corridor for regional tourism centered on the glaciers.
Lago Argentino lies in southwestern Santa Cruz Province; the town of El Calafate is located on the lake’s northern shore and functions as the main gateway for visitors to the lake and surrounding glaciers.
- Size and access: Argentina’s largest freshwater lake by surface area and a major gateway for glacier viewing in Los Glaciares National Park.
- Drainage and access point: The lake drains via the Santa Cruz River toward the Atlantic, and boat tours operate from the town of El Calafate on its northern shore.
What to See#
- Glaciers: A number of large tidewater glaciers, including Perito Moreno, Spegazzini and Upsala, terminate at or feed into the lake and create glacier-front viewing opportunities and boat excursions.
Best Time to Visit Argentino Lake
Best visited in Southern Hemisphere summer (December-February) when conditions are mildest and boat/glacier tours run.
Weather & Climate near Argentino Lake
Argentino Lake's climate is classified as Cold Semi-Arid - Cold Semi-Arid climate with cool summers (peaking in January) and cold winters (coldest in July). Temperatures range from -1°C to 17°C. Semi-arid with limited rainfall.
| Month | Comfort | Temp | Feels | Rain | Sky | Humidity | Wind | UV | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | - | 8° - 17° | 13° | 16 mm | - | - | 8.0 m/s | - | - |
| February | - | 8° - 17° | 13° | 18 mm | - | - | 7.1 m/s | - | - |
| March | - | 6° - 16° | 11° | 23 mm | - | - | 6.0 m/s | - | - |
| April | - | 4° - 13° | 5° | 32 mm | - | - | 5.2 m/s | - | - |
| May | - | 1° - 8° | 2° | 32 mm | - | - | 3.8 m/s | - | - |
| June | - | -1° - 6° | -1° | 30 mm | - | - | 3.5 m/s | - | - |
| July | - | -1° - 6° | -1° | 31 mm | - | - | 3.5 m/s | - | - |
| August | - | 0° - 7° | 0° | 27 mm | - | - | 4.5 m/s | - | - |
| September | - | 1° - 10° | 2° | 21 mm | - | - | 5.6 m/s | - | - |
| October | - | 4° - 13° | 5° | 21 mm | - | - | 6.9 m/s | - | - |
| November | - | 6° - 15° | 10° | 14 mm | - | - | 7.8 m/s | - | - |
| December | - | 7° - 16° | 12° | 19 mm | - | - | 8.1 m/s | - | - |
How to Get to Argentino Lake
Lago Argentino (Argentino Lake) lies on the edge of the town of El Calafate in Santa Cruz Province. From El Calafate town centre it is a short drive to the lake shore and to the boat departure point at Puerto Bandera - typically under 10 km along the main road out of town, so most visitors drive or take organized excursions from El Calafate.
Tips for Visiting Argentino Lake
- Visit Lago Argentino early in the morning when winds are usually lighter for calmer water and better glacier reflections; boat excursions and viewpoint visits are busiest midday so booking an early tour helps avoid crowds.
- If you plan glacier excursions (Perito Moreno, Upsala, Estancia Cristina), reserve seats in high season well in advance and confirm departure points in El Calafate (Puerto Bandera) because different operators use different docks.
- Many visitors only see the main Perito Moreno viewpoint; consider booking an Upsala or Estancia Cristina boat trip or walking some of the quieter shoreline trails to find less-crowded scenery and different glacier perspectives.