Ice tunnels

The spectacle of the ice tunnels is amazing and a kind of gift of nature to contemplate for the duration of the magic. 50 km from the city of Esquel, ascending the slopes of the hill La Torta, in the Rivadavia mountain range, a natural formation, an ice tunnel, is an attraction of the national park as short as a sigh.

Crossing and trekking
Within Los Alerces National Park, La Torta hill has a special attraction. The geographical and climatic conditions allow a white and refractory blanket of almost eternal snow to form in the upper part of the hill, to repair the sun. When summer comes, the ice sheets begin to melt from the bottom up due to the effect of the earth´s temperature. Under that river of ice, a natural tunnel of about 100 m in length is formed that can be visited for a few weeks in the summer.

It is a walk that can only be done with an agency. After a 4x4 crossing that ascends a stretch of the hill, enjoying the mergers of the steppe landscape, mountain ranges and forests of the national park, visitors prepare for an hour of trekking between lengas and gouges, bordering the Irigoyen stream, immersed in a feeling of well-being and connection with nature, drawing the silhouette of Lake Futalaufquen in the distance every so often.

At the base of Cerro La Torta, a beautiful waterfall indicates the crack where the corridor with a deep blue ice ceiling is located. The physical effort and the warmer temperatures of the summer make the entrance to the tunnel feel like a balm of freshness that spills on each visitor welcoming the refuge.

The time to enjoy it is very short but the experience is intense and beautiful. That is why travelers from all over the world arrive to contemplate this phenomenon as there are few. The excursions are made with qualified guides and combine the 4x4 crossing and the mountain trekking.

Esquel invites you to discover the magic of the ice tunnels that occurs only a few days in the summer. The tour lasts 6 hours and is of medium difficulty.

If you are interested in this activity, nature and adventure you can contact Iván Hoermann - www.respiraelmundo.com

• Type of tour: Trekking
• Duration: 6 hours (in the months of January and February)
• Difficulty: Medium

Tips

When the special climatic conditions for the emergence of the tunnels do not occur, the excursion can be done as an excellent combination of trekking and 4x4, which also offers fantastic views of the National Park.
The amazing formation is conditioned to the weather and it is in the summer months when the most favorable conditions occur.