Santa Cruz
Home to Los Glaciares National Park and the legendary Perito Moreno glacier. El Calafate and El Chaltén offer world-class trekking and glacier experiences in deep Patagonia.
About Santa Cruz
Santa Cruz is deep Patagonia — vast, windswept, and spectacularly beautiful. The province is anchored by Los Glaciares National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage site dominated by the Perito Moreno glacier — one of the few advancing glaciers on Earth. The thundering crack of ice calving into Lago Argentino is one of nature's greatest spectacles. El Calafate is the tourist gateway, while El Chaltén — Argentina's trekking capital — sits beneath the soaring granite spires of Mount Fitz Roy and Cerro Torre. The steppe between these mountain paradises is empty in a way that's hard to comprehend — you can drive for hours without seeing another car. For expats, Santa Cruz is extremely niche — seasonal tourism, harsh winters, and isolation. But for mountain lovers and those who crave solitude, it's the ultimate Patagonian experience.
Expat Appeal
Hardcore outdoor enthusiasts and seasonal workers drawn to world-class trekking, glaciers, and the raw beauty of deep Patagonia.
Estimated monthly budget for a single expat including rent, food, transport, and basic expenses.
Cold arid — cool summers (8-18°C), frigid windy winters (-10 to 5°C), constant wind
Very safe. Extremely low crime.
Basic — 10-30 Mbps in El Calafate and Río Gallegos. Limited in El Chaltén.
Major Cities
Highlights
Ready to Explore Santa Cruz?
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