Lago Esmeralda stole my heart

Feb 16

Feb 16 Lago Esmeralda stole my heart

Hiking to Lake Esmerelda epitomised the Patagonia landscape. This was the 'wow walk'. I'm not sure how many times I said 'wow' but it was a lot. This 11km hike showcased the Patagonia I'd always imagined; wild open fields with long yellow windswept grass, crystal clear glacial streams, drift wood logs, beaver-made dams, dramatic jagged mountains and big blue skies.

It's an unmissable hike and at the end, as you climb over the last a rocky ridge before what you think is the mountain base, is Lake Esmeralda, lying quietly before you with the glacier mountains as the protective backdrop. Being a glacier lake it's unique colour, a cloudy emerald green, sparkles in the morning sun.

There's only one thing to do and that's sit and take it all in. Marvel at nature. The vista is breathtaking and the silence of this remote place is calming. I could have sat there for hours with my new furry friend.

11km hike, return. 20km out of Ushuaia. The return bus ride will cost you a whopping AR$300 return. There is no need to do a guided walk (they charge AR$1500 and you'll be with the masses). It is very simple and the bus drops you right at the hiking path trail.

TIP: Do this hike before anyone else so you can have Lake Esmeralda all to yourself. We convinced the bus driver the day before to take us there early. So we had an hour head start on the other tourists. Totally worth the negotiation.