O'Higgins Glacier, Massive glacier in Bernardo O'Higgins National Park, Chile

O'Higgins Glacier is one of the four largest glaciers in Patagonia, covering 820 km² and running 45 km from the summit of Lautaro volcano to its terminus in O'Higgins Lake. It is about 3.5 km wide, and its ice walls rise more than 80 m above the lake surface. Most of the glacier lies on the Southern Patagonian Ice Field plateau.

The glacier was named after Bernardo O'Higgins, who led Chile's independence struggle against Spanish colonial rule. This naming reflects how the remote Patagonian landscape became tied to national identity during the 19th century.

The glacier is also called Ventisquero Grande, and its 80-metre ice walls rise directly from O'Higgins Lake. From Villa O'Higgins, boats run to the glacier during the summer season, so the ice front is seen from the water rather than from a road.

The best views of the ice field come from a boat journey that departs from Villa O'Higgins across the lake. Weather in this region changes rapidly, so waterproof clothing and flexibility in your schedule help make the most of your visit.

The glacier's accumulation zone begins at the summit of Lautaro, an active volcano, and its ice descends 45 km to the shore of O'Higgins Lake. The glacier is also known as Ventisquero Grande and covers 820 km², making it one of Patagonia's four largest glaciers.