Grey Glacier

One of my favorite landscape scenes are those related with cold weather, ice and snow, and of course being able to visit a glacier while in Torres del Paine was a big highlight for my trip to Patagonia.
The excursion to Grey Glacier is considered family and kid friendly and involves a nature walk and a boat ride.
We started the day with a drive that included stops at a lookout, a visitors center with restrooms and a museum, and the Lago Grey Hotel, where tickets for the boat ride are purchased.

Another short drive and we are at the start of Grey Lake trail, that takes us to Grey Lake lookout and the beach point where we embark for the navigation. At this location there is also a restaurant, a convenience store and restrooms.

After a short walk on the Grey Lake trail and by the pebble beach we embark on the boat for the Grey glacier navigation. There is a short safety briefing where we are advised that lifejacket use is mandatory to go out on the open deck. Then the adventure begins with a welcome drink, calafate sour, pisco sour or juice of the day, with ice from the glacier.
This is a 2.5 hr. round trip boat ride, stopping by the refugio Grey where some passengers will disembark and others come onboard.

The lake is called Grey due to the water color. It is one of the deepest lakes in Torres del Paine National Park, with depths up to 480 meters. Sediments come directly from Grey Glacier, end up in the Pacific Ocean, feeding plankton, fish, penguins, whales, etc.

The Grey Glacier is a thick mass of ice, originated from the compression of snow due to its own weight, it is part of the Southern Patagonian Ice Field, and it is retreating every year. More than anything, it was an inspiring landscape of natural beauty.