Southern Patagonia.

As the world’s largest expanse of continental ice outside the polar regions, the Southern Patagonian Ice Field defines the rugged frontier of southern Argentina and Chile. Anchored by the gateway town of El Calafate, this massive frozen plateau feeds dozens of colossal glaciers, including the iconic, active-calving Perito Moreno and the sprawling Upsala. The landscape is one of stark contrasts, where windswept Patagonian steppes collide with milky-blue glacial lakes, jagged granite peaks like Mount Fitz Roy, and temperate forests. While casual travelers can marvel at towering ice walls from accessible wooden walkways in Los Glaciares National Park, seasoned adventurers can embark on demanding, multi-day trekking expeditions across crevasses and moraines in this beautifully inhospitable wilderness.