Explore the Perito Moreno Glacier Trek and Walkway in Argentina

The Perito Moreno glacier is a natural wonder in Argentina, comprised of massive blue ice. In fact, this stunning glacier covers more surface area than the entire city of Buenos Aires.

You can view this remarkable Patagonian glacier from a metal walkway that spans the edge of the lake, or participate in glacier trekking tours that allow you to hike on top of the ice under the guidance of a local expert.

Seeing the glacier and hiking on it is an incredible experience, and it remains incredibly popular among tourists. Moreover, it is quite convenient to visit on a day trip from the town of El Calafate in southern Patagonia.

This travel guide will provide insights on how to reach Perito Moreno glacier from El Calafate, with or without a tour, and explain how to enjoy the glacier trek. Furthermore, some fascinating facts about the glacier will be shared!

Where Is Perito Moreno Glacier?

The Perito Moreno glacier is located on Lake Argentino, near the town of El Calafate in Argentina’s breathtaking Patagonia region.

El Calafate is a tourist-friendly town with plenty of comfortable hotels and excellent dining options, making it an ideal base for exploring the Perito Moreno glacier and other nearby attractions in Patagonia.

How To Get To Perito Moreno Glacier

The closest airport to the Perito Moreno glacier is the small international airport in El Calafate (FTE), which has direct flights from Buenos Aires, Cordoba, Ushuaia, and other areas.

A flight from Buenos Aires to El Calafate lasts approximately three hours and is provided by multiple airlines at reasonable prices. Travelers can depart from either of the two airports in Buenos Aires (AEP or EZE).

You can shop for flights to Argentina on Skyscanner.

Upon arrival in El Calafate, the drive to the Perito Moreno glacier takes about 60-90 minutes, depending on your speed. Although the road winds near the glacier, it is fully paved and well-maintained.

If you’re driving, you can pinpoint the location on the map here, but be conscious that parking is limited, and visitors typically have to take a shuttle the rest of the way to the glacier.

Perito Moreno can be reached via bus, private taxi, or rental car. Bus services are available with regular departures from the bus terminal in El Calafate.

To simplify your journey even further, day tours to Perito Moreno glacier from El Calafate are also available, taking care of all your transportation needs (more details below).

Best Tours To The Perito Moreno Glacier

One of the easiest methods to visit the Perito Moreno glacier is by taking a day tour from El Calafate.

GetYourGuide offers high-rated day tours to see Perito Moreno glacier from the walkway, which includes an optional boat cruise for a different perspective. These tours come with a bilingual guide and include pick-up and drop-off service from El Calafate. Participants can opt for shared group tours or private tours as well.

If your primary interest is walking on the ice, a glacier ‘mini-trekking’ tour is available, which I personally experienced, along with the ‘Big Ice’ trek that allows for a more extensive exploration of Perito Moreno glacier.

For those who may not feel fit enough for the ice hiking, there’s a ‘Safari Azul’ tour providing access to a beach in front of the glacier, enabling you to get close and even touch the ice without trekking on it. Additionally, options for kayaking tours and boat cruises at the Perito Moreno glacier are also available.

We have utilized GetYourGuide for various tours and activities globally, and they are highly recommended!

Glacier Mini-Trekking Tour

One of the top activities at Perito Moreno is hiking directly on the glacier!

A tour booking is essential for this experience, where you join a small group of 10 to 20 other visitors. The guides will provide spiky metal crampons for your shoes, allowing you to walk on the ice’s surface alongside a professional guide, capturing memorable photos in the process.

These tours are available daily but tend to sell out quickly, particularly during the summer months; therefore, booking well in advance is advisable.

The glacier mini-trekking tour is suitable for participants aged 8 to 65 years. You don’t need to be exceptionally fit to hike on the glacier, although obesity and certain health conditions may be disqualifying factors.

The trekking guides from Hielo y Aventura boast over 30 years of experience in glacier tours, maintaining a remarkable safety record. They are bilingual, ensuring effective communication in both English and Spanish.

Each tour spans a full day (up to 10 hours), including travel to the national park, a boat crossing, a safety briefing, attaching crampons and safety helmets, glacier hiking, and return transportation to El Calafate.

Moreover, at the end of the tour, participants are treated to complimentary whiskey served with glacier ice — a refreshing treat! Overall, the Perito Moreno glacier trek is a memorable experience that you should not overlook!

Glacier ‘Big Ice’ Trek

If you desire to engage in even more glacier hiking, the ‘Big Ice’ trek extends beyond the usual distance and allows for further exploration of the glacier.

Compared to the mini-trekking tour, the ‘Big Ice’ experience grants double the time on the glacier, providing the chance to witness more of the distinctive landscape and take an abundance of photos. With smaller, more personalized groups, it’s an excellent option for those who prefer a more intimate experience.

The Big Ice trek is more challenging, thus it’s recommended only for fit individuals aged 18 to 50. It is also pricier than the mini trek. Personally, I felt satisfied with my choice to embark on the regular trek, but I envision a future return to Perito Moreno, where I will certainly partake in the Big Ice trek!

If you’re not a frequent visitor to Argentina and believe this may be your only opportunity, it may be worthwhile to invest in the Big Ice tour for a once-in-a-lifetime adventure!

What To Bring For Glacier Hikes

• Outerwear: It can be quite windy at the glacier, so a warm jacket and beanie hat are highly recommended.
• Gloves: Essential for glacier trekking tours; you can borrow gloves onsite if needed. Fingerless gloves are also suitable for photography while hiking.
• Footwear: Any sturdy shoes or hiking boots work well. Crampons are provided with the tour and can be fitted to various shoe sizes.
• Backpack: Useful for carrying snacks, drinks, and other essentials during your Perito Moreno glacier trek.
• Camera: The glacier offers stunning photo opportunities. A camera with zoom capability is ideal, though any setup is suitable.

Entrance Fee: Los Glaciares National Park

Perito Moreno is part of Los Glaciares National Park in Argentina, necessitating an entrance fee for access to the park. This fee applies to all visitors whether exploring the walkway or engaging in activities such as glacier trekking, kayaking, or boat cruises.

The current park fee can be checked on the Argentina national parks website. Importantly, if you visit two consecutive days, the fee for the second day is discounted by 50 percent; remember to retain your ticket for verification.

The park fee is separate from bus tickets or tours, and payment can be made in cash (pesos) or by credit card upon arrival at Los Glaciares National Park entrance. Paying with a foreign credit card is typically hassle-free.

Advance purchases of park tickets are available on the Argentina national parks website, though it is entirely in Spanish and somewhat glitchy. It’s worth noting the park tickets are unlimited and do not sell out, unlike tours.

Advance bookings are not necessary for national park tickets, and entry to the walkway is complimentary apart from the park entrance fee. However, special activities such as glacier trekking must be scheduled in advance.

Fun Facts About Perito Moreno Glacier

• How big is it?
  The glacier is 30 kilometers long (almost 19 miles) and spans a total area of 250 square kilometers (100 mi²), surpassing the size of Buenos Aires. The ice wall towers over Lago Argentino, reaching an average height of 75 meters (250 ft) above the lake surface.
• Why is it blue?
  Pure glacier ice appears blue because it is dense and compressed, with air bubbles removed from the ice. This condition allows it to reflect the blue spectrum of light, producing its stunning appearance.
• What is the source?
  The glacier is a part of the Southern Patagonian Ice Field, the world’s second-largest contiguous extrapolar ice field and one of the biggest reserves of freshwater on the globe.
• How did it get its name?
  Named after 19th century Argentine explorer Francisco Moreno, ‘Perito’ in Spanish denotes an expert or specialist.
• Is there more than one Perito Moreno in Argentina?
  Confusingly, there are other places named Perito Moreno in Argentina, with a national park and a town located far from the glacier itself.
• Is the glacier melting or shrinking?
  Interestingly, Perito Moreno is not shrinking; it is advancing up to 2 meters (6 feet) per day, although it loses ice through calving.
• What is the rupture?
  The glacier may occasionally create a dam at Lake Argentino, leading to spectacular raptures that occur unpredictably every 3 to 5 years.
• What is calving?
  Calving events occur when large ice chunks break off the glacier and crash into the lake, occurring as frequently as every 30 minutes during optimal conditions.
• What is the UNESCO status?
  As a part of Los Glaciares National Park, the Perito Moreno glacier has been recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1981 due to its remarkable natural significance.
• How hard is it to get to Perito Moreno glacier from El Calafate?
  Reaching Perito Moreno from El Calafate is straightforward via bus, taxi, rental car, or tour.
• How can you hike on the Perito Moreno glacier?
  You can choose between a mini-trek or a ‘Big Ice’ trek.

Best Time To Visit Patagonia

The ideal time to visit Perito Moreno glacier is during spring, summer, or fall. Summer lasts from December to February and features long days with excellent hiking conditions, though it tends to be more crowded and expensive.

Shoulder months like March, April, and November can also be rewarding, although temperatures may be cooler. Most photographs in this guide were taken in mid-March, which felt perfect.

While winter visits are possible, many tours such as glacier trekking and kayaking are closed during this period. Nevertheless, boat cruises operate year-round, and the glacier remains magnificent even in winter, often at cheaper prices with fewer crowds.

Visiting times are flexible, as the glacier is spectacular at any hour. Early mornings or late afternoons may help avoid peak crowds, but prime photography lighting usually occurs around late morning or early afternoon. Additionally, the best time to witness calving incidents is during midday when temperatures are at their warmest.

Other Patagonia Glacier Tours

If you’re interested in exploring more glaciers in El Calafate and surrounding Patagonia, take a look at the Upsala and Spegazzini glaciers! These glaciers are exclusively accessible via a boat tour.

The Spegazzini glacier holds the title for the tallest in the national park, with ice towers dramatically rising 135 meters (440 feet) above the lake’s surface! Nearby, you can also observe the hanging glaciers of Dry, Heim Sur, and Peineta.

Alternatively, consider hiking to Lake Frias, a stunning body of water adorned with floating icebergs, while featuring the Dickson, Cubo, and Grande glaciers — perfect for experiencing some of Patagonia’s lesser-known natural wonders!

GetYourGuide offers highly-rated day tours from El Calafate that encompass these glaciers, including boat cruises and other transportation.

Other Tips For El Calafate Town

• Hotels: El Calafate offers a multitude of comfortable hotels and hostels to suit various budgets.
• Restaurants: The town boasts numerous great eateries. A lovely breakfast spot is Pietro’s Cafe. For dinner, options include La Tablita and Isabel Cocina al Disco.
• Credit Cards: While most establishments accept credit cards, it’s advisable to have cash on hand, as some places may only take cash. ATMs in the area can be inconsistent.
• Money Changers: Money changers (‘cambio’) present in El Calafate offer competitive rates. I exchanged US dollars for Argentine pesos at the Arte Indio gift shop near the town center.
• WiFi: Most hotels and restaurants in El Calafate have fast, reliable WiFi access.
• Cell Service: With T-Mobile roaming, I enjoyed good reception from Claro during my stay in El Calafate, making communication easy.
• Supplies: El Calafate is home to various grocery stores and shops for purchasing or renting camping and hiking gear, though it’s advisable to bring your equipment for cost-effectiveness.
• Safety: Argentina, particularly the Patagonia region, is generally safe. Basic precautions such as not leaving valuables in your car or room could ensure your safety.

More Travel Tips For Patagonia

Thank you for reading! I hope this travel guide on the Perito Moreno glacier walkway and trekking adventures has been informative.

Happy travels!