A particularly popular hike is called Laguna de Los Tres which provides distant and closeup views of the peaks as well as other glaciers within the nooks and crannies between the giant pinnacles. The hike terminates at a scenic lagoon right at the base of the Fitz Roys. Undoubtedly, many people consider the scenery in this section of Los Glaciares National Park world class and visit here will make it clear why.

Getting a clear view of these towers isn't easy however. At a minimum, you must do a very long day hike to Mirador de Las Torres, which can take anywhere from 8-10 hours when starting from Hostería de Las Torres, which is the nearest lodge to the hike. More intrepid backpackers do a multi-day trek and take these towers in as part of the "W" or the much longer Paine Circuit. Backpackers get the added bonus of possibly glimpsing the towers with a fiery alpenglow sunrise. No matter how you try to get close to this landmark, getting there will richly reward you with both unforgettable impressions as well as unforgettable memories from the journey itself.

If just seeing the ice from the boardwalk is not enough, there are tours taking you both on the glacier as well as in front of it by motorized boat transport. Perito Moreno even once had a pair of "ice arches" before collapsing in 2004 as a consequence of its retreat perhaps by global warming.

Indeed, these wildlife present you an opportunity to photograph them with world class mountain scenery as the backdrop. Many times hikers around me have stopped and enthusiastically said to me, "¡Mira!" as a graceful condor hovered overhead us with wings spread out. While condors are either extinct or critically endangered around most of the world, you stand a pretty reasonable shot at seeing them here.

If you're not up for taking the usual train/bus route to the ruins, there is also the strenuous Inca Trail. But if you're willing to put yourself through high altitude hell like that, make sure you're well prepared with plenty of food, water, clothing, sleeping bags, etc. Plus, you'll have to make reservations well in advance as this popular trail is subject to quotas to limit the impact on the land and the archaeology.

An important distinction locals like to make about Kuélap versus other ruins in the country is that it's restored and not reconstructed. Therefore, it's not as subject to the kinds of whims and fantasies some reconstructors may have acting on the limited facts available to them. Of course, there is one part of Kuélap that was reconstructed - an attractive-looking conical straw-roofed house; perhaps the exception to the restoration-only game.

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