Photo Favorite: View of the Southern Patagonia Glacial Field, Chile

By Mark Wiens 32 Comments


Southern Patagonia Ice Field
Glacier Grey, Patagonia, Chile

Location: Torres Del Paine, Patagonia, Chile

Grey Glacier of the Southern Patagonian Ice field – this site blew my mind. Growing up in tropical Africa, this scene was something so foreign that I stood there, gasping for my next gasp of air while attempting to fathom what was before me.

32 comments. I'd love to hear from you!

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  • Emma

    6 years ago

    I absolutely loved Patagonia. This photo only starts to sum up it’s amazingness!

  • Nicolás

    8 years ago

    It’s a beautiful place, i made a motorhome trip through the Chilean Patagonia, and it was awesome!
    if you want to travel to Chile, i can recommend you to rent a camper or motorhome in AndesCampers, a very friendly company, and they have a lot of different routes in their website!

  • Alex Quinn

    13 years ago

    Great picture! Even though it is cold, Patagonia is amazing! My favorite part of Patagonia is having a chance to see the penguins! I think everyone should visit Patagonia at least once in their lifetime.

    • Mark Wiens

      13 years ago

      It was cold, but it was an amazing place to visit Alex!

  • Jillian

    13 years ago

    Beautiful photo! How I wish the full circuit had been open when we were there!

    • Mark Wiens

      13 years ago

      When I went, the full circuit wasn’t officially open, but we decided just to go for it. So it was so incredible because we were basically alone (apart from 1 or 2 others in a day) on the backside of the trail! Were you able to hike the W?

  • adventureswithben

    13 years ago

    Is it all hard as ice, or can you walk across it like soft snow?

    • Mark Wiens

      13 years ago

      It’s all pretty hard as ice, but possibly you can take an ice trekking tour on it – I know at another glacier (Perito Moreno Glacier) in the area, they offer ice trekking.

  • Debbie Beardsley @ European Travelista

    13 years ago

    That is pretty impressive and amazing! Great picture. Makes me want to get to Patagonia now.

  • jade

    13 years ago

    Wow- We have to make it to Chile- soon!

  • The Travel Chica

    13 years ago

    Gorgeous photo! I cannot wait to get there and see it for myself.

  • Renee

    13 years ago

    I can relate, Mark. There are some things that are so beautiful that words pale into absolute insignificance when trying to take in all of its glory. I think anyone looking at that picture can stand in your shoes and feel the exact euphoria that you experienced. Glorious.

    • Mark Wiens

      13 years ago

      Awesome Renee…fully right about everything. Sometimes the immediate glory is better left unspoken – just going crazy between the sights and your feelings.

  • Don

    13 years ago

    Great photo Mark. I’ve not yet been to Patagonia but hope to visit some day. It resembles Alaska.

    • Mark Wiens

      13 years ago

      Thanks, hope you get a chance to visit Don!

  • Sophie

    13 years ago

    Patagonia sounds so fascinating, so remote… yet, your beautiful photo looks like Northern Norway and Svalbard. Makes sense, of course, that the Antarctic resembles the Arctic.

    • Mark Wiens

      13 years ago

      Cool, I’ve never been anywhere near the Arctic, but I’m sure it is equally as beautiful!

  • Jeremy Branham

    13 years ago

    Mark, that is an awesome photo! Incredibly beautiful shot of a glacier in Chile!

  • Christina

    13 years ago

    What a shot! How beautiful. And as you say, it takes your breath away. I’d love to visit Patagonia one day…

  • ayngelina

    13 years ago

    Looks beautiful, I am hoping to get there in the Fall.

    • Mark Wiens

      13 years ago

      Awesome Ayngelina, I think hiking in Torres Del Paine was one of my all-time most memorable places I’ve been. The natural beauty is unbelievable!

  • Christy @ Technosyncratic

    13 years ago

    Brrrrr!!!! I mean, beautiful. 🙂

  • Adam

    13 years ago

    NICE! What a beautiful picture. Where were you at when you took that picture? Did you hike the full circuit? We hiked the W and I do not remember seeing Glacier Grey from that perspective. Amazing shot. Very beautiful, and it has me wanting to return to TDP. What a gorgeous place!

    • Mark Wiens

      13 years ago

      Hey Adam,
      Yes, I did the full circuit, the Q. I believe I took this shot just after crossing the mountain pass – from what I remember, I don’t think you cross this if you do the W. You and me both – would love to return to Torres Del Paine, maybe the most naturally beautiful place I’ve ever been!

  • Marina K. Villatoro

    13 years ago

    Chile is in our eyes as the next country to move to. And am loving how absolutely beautiful it is!

    I was there 10 years ago, but never made it south of Santiago, just north and up to Bolivia.

    There is so much to see.

    • Mark Wiens

      13 years ago

      Great Marina! The Southern Patagonia region is truly spectacular, but I’m sure the North is gorgeous as well! Hope you get to move to Chile soon.