Ruta 40 extends from the Bolivian border southward into the most desolate regions of Patagonia. Here, strong winds sweep through vast fields of dry grass as condors glide through the sky overhead. A rugged drive along this semi-paved highway will bring you to few estancias and even fewer fuel stops.

El Calafate, a quaint tourist town along the shores of Lake Argentino, is the leading travel destination of the region. Parque Nacional Los Glaciares, the world's largest continental ice mass, is found just 30 miles west. Travelers will cross the waters of Brazo Rico before trekking along the torrid crystal surface of Perito Moreno, a majestic glacier recognized as part of this UNESCO World Heritage Site. This imposing fortress of ice creates a natural barrier nearly two miles wide and 160 feet high. Stroll the local walkways and observe chunks of ice calve off into the water below, resulting in a thunderous boom. Other options include scenic navigations past Upsala, Spegazzini, and Onelli glaciers. North of El Calafate, you will enter the remote village of El Chaltén. This base camp offers simple lodging options above Lake Viedma. Climbers come here to ascend the granite spire of Mt. Fitz Roy, a peak piercing the horizon at 11,000 feet above sea level, towering over glaciers and winding trails.