The Perito Moreno Glacier is perhaps one of the most famous sites of Argentinian Patagonia. A part of the Southern Patagonian Icefields, this impressive glacier can be visited and viewed in many ways. This post is a complete guide to visiting the Perito Moreno Glacier, including how to get there and the best ways to see the glacier.
Overview
The Southern Patagonian Icefields is home to many awe-striking glaciers. However, the most famous of these is Perito Moreno. The Perito Moreno Glacier is one of the 47 major glaciers in Argentina and is one of the rare glaciers that is not receding. A visit to see this massive glacier that is 70 meters at its highest point, almost 4.5 kilometers at it’s widest and 35 kilometers deep, is a must when in Argentinian Patagonia.
Where is the Perito Moreno Glacier
The Perito Moreno Glacier is located in Los Glaciares National Park in the province of Santa Cruz in Patagonia, Argentina
Where to Travel or Fly into
El Calafate is the closest town to the Perito Moreno Glacier. It’s still a 80 minutes drive from this city but one that is well worth it! You can fly into El Calafate from Buenos Aires or drive from Puerto Natales in Chile if you are visiting Chilean Patagonia.
When to Visit
The best time to visit is from spring to mid fall. In other words September to April. Note that January is peak travel season for locals as schools are closed during this time. Avoid this month if possible.
All this being said, the weather in Patagonia is extremely unpredictable. Wear layers and pack for all eventualities like high wind and rain in the summer and snow in the spring and fall.
Know Before You Go
You need to purchase a ticket to Los Glaciares National Park prior to visiting the Perito Moreno Glacier. You can either do this on site or in advance online. If you are doing the Todo Glaciares Navigation the previous day, then you will get a 50% discount on the entry fee to Perito Moreno. There was no way to add the 2nd day to the cart when purchasing online, so my advice is to either purchase only the first ticket online or purchase both tickets in person in order to get the discount. If you are doing the Todo Glaciares the day after Perito Moreno, hold on to the Perito Moreno ticket so you can get the 50% discount.
As of 2024, the fee was AR Pesos $12,000 for a foreigner. You can check the rates HERE
Note that if you are visiting the glacier on tour (more below), you will need to buy the park ticket unless the tour specifies that the park ticket is covered. Ask if they haven’t mentioned anything.
How to Experience the Glacier
There are many ways you can experience the glacier. Some ways are more time consuming and expensive than others. I have listed all the ways below. Regardless of how you experience Perito Moreno, you are sure to be absolutely impressed with her grandeur and beauty.
Big Ice Trekking
If you have the time, energy and budget, this is the best way to get really up, close and personal with the glacier. The Big Ice tour is a 12 hour day tour starting from El Calafate. On this tour, you will hike on the Perito Moreno glacier for 3 hours and see some of its most unique features. This hike is considered physically challenging. It is also the most expensive way to see the glacier.
In addition to the hike on the glacier, you will also hike 2 hours (1 way) through a forest to get to the glacier (so a total of 7 hours of hiking). Also included in this tour is a boat ride across the lake to and from the glacier and a visit to the catwalks for a more panoramic view of the glacier. You can also add a transfer option from El Calafate. If you don’t do the transfer option, the catwalks or walkways are not a part of the excursion.
Big Ice is offered September 15th to April 30th.
Mini Trekking
Mini Trekking is probably a little more popular than Big Ice because 1. it’s a lot cheaper and 2. it’s more age accessible. I did this option as I have done ice trekking before.
This tour has almost all the features of the Big Ice trek, except that you only spend 1 hour on the ice instead of 3. As such, you also don’t go deep into the ice as the Big Ice trek. However, it’s a lot more cheaper than Big Ice which makes it worth it. You also will trek 1 hour (1 way) through the forest. The boat ride and the walkways remain the same as the Big Ice excursion. Mini Trekking is offered July 15th to May 31st.
For either of the trekking options, book directly via Hielo y Aventura. They are the sole company that runs these ice treks. Everyone else is an agent for them. Reserve these excursions (especially Mini Trekking) well in advance if booking for the summer months.
See a detailed description of this tour HERE.
Boat Tours
You can take a boat tour to see the glacier from a different angle. If you opt for either of the ice treks above, a boat ride will be a part of the tour. This is how you will get to the start of the hike.
If you are doing a boat tour, you can easily combine it with a visit to the catwalks (more below).
- Southern Spirit – This boat trip lasts 1 hour and starts at the bottom of the walkways. If the online booking option does not work, try WhatsApping +54 9 2966 69-1709. Tours run year round.
- Hielo y Aventura – The navigation runs year round and takes an hour. They have 3-5 departures per day (more in the summer). Their boats leave from Puerto Bajo de las Sombras, which is a little port about 7 kilometers before the entrance to the glacier.
Both of these options cost AR Pesos $30,000. Highly recommend booking in advance during peak summer season.
Kayaking
There are a few companies that offer kayaking in front of Perito Moreno. They are expensive but offer a slightly different view of the glacier than the other options mentioned above and below. Most tours take 3-3.5 hours.
Check out the companies below to see what works best for your needs.
Visiting the Catwalks
This is the most common and cheapest way to experience the Perito Moreno Glacier. These catwalks may also be referred to as walkways and balconies. Regardless of what they are called, they offer a panoramic viewpoint of the glacier. You will truly get a sense of the vastness and grandeur of Perito Moreno. There are a few circuits or trails that you can take. Most require stairs and good footwear, as the walkway is made out of metal grates.
Combined Activities
There are a few companies like Patagonia Chic that offer the ability to combine some of the ways to explore Perito Moreno. For example, you could do the boat ride and explore the walkways or kayak and explore the walkways. They also offer the ability to add a transfer from El Calafate.
How to Get to Perito Moreno Glacier
There are a few ways that you can get to Perito Moreno Glacier.
By Car
Renting a car offers you the most flexibility as you are not limited to a time and can come and go as you please. Most tours (i.e., ice trekking, kayaking etc.) offer transfers but if you are a family or a group of friends, it may actually be cheaper to rent your own vehicle than pay for the transfer.
By Bus
Visiting Perito Moreno Glacier by bus is very easy. There are a couple of companies offering this service, namely Caltur and Marga Taqsa. You can book a ride on their individual websites or see all the services in one place HERE. Alternatively, you can also book a ride at the Caltur terminal in El Calafate.
The bus option works best if you are only interested in viewing the glacier from the walkways. If you are hoping to kayak or take a boat ride or even do the ice treks, you will have to make sure the timing works out well for the start and end times of these tours.
One thing to note when booking a bus online is to make sure you type “Perito Moreno Glacier” instead of just Perito Moreno.
By Tour
There are several companies that offer transfers and tours from El Calafate to the Perito Moreno Glacier. The second option below is a good one if you just want a transfer to and from the Glacier to visit the walkways only.
What to Pack
- Layers – If you are visiting anywhere in Patagonia, layers is a must even in the summer
- Polarized sunglasses – Especially if you are doing the ice trek. I love these sunglasses!
- Solid bottom shoes – Also if you are doing the trek on the ice. Your shoes need to have a solid sole in order to strap the crampons
- Lunch – Bring a nice lunch to enjoy
- Camera – A good camera phone works too!
- Sunscreen
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