How to visit The Perito Moreno Glacier in El Calafate

El Calafate is referred to as the Tierra de los Glaciares, or Land of the Glaciers.

And Perito Moreno is the shining star of Patagonia’s many glaciers.

Perito Moreno is unique in its ease – it’s rare that you can simply park and take a short walk to reach a natural wonder of this magnitude. No long boat ride, no trekking – just a wheelchair accessible stroll.

But while it’s technically easy to reach, it can be overwhelming to plan.

Which tour should you take or should you even take a tour or just go alone? Are the tours worth what they’re charging?

This post is a complete guide to visiting Perito Moreno Glacier.

How to go it alone on a budget, the best tours, how to trek across it, or even kayak up to its face and feel the cool air on your skin.

Visiting Perito Moreno Glacier: Know Before You Go

First off, I want to emphasize that visiting Perito Moreno Glacier lives up to the hype.

It’s worth dedicating a day to Perito Moreno – watch icebergs crash into the water, go on a glacier trek, or relax with a bottle of Malbec on the viewing decks.

This post is a complete guide on how and when to visit El Perito Moreno.

Using my personal experience I’ll help you choose the best Perito Moreno tour for your budget.

Perito Moreno Glacier 101

• El Calafate is the closest city, use it as your base for Perito Moreno. There are regular flights from Buenos Aires to El Calafate.  
• There is also a town in Patagonia called Perito Moreno, the glacier is not there. I repeat, go to El Calafate.  
• Perito Moreno is still advancing, unlike most glaciers that are retreating.  
• It’s HUGE. The front spans 5 kilometers and it can reach up to 70 meters in height. The entire city of Buenos Aires could fit on top of it.
• The Perito Moreno Glacier is one of Argentina’s official natural wonders, read my post about all 7 natural wonders. 
• It’s located in Los Glaciares National Park, one of Argentina’s most popular national parks.
• Pets are prohibited from entering the national park.  
• The use of drones is also prohibited.  
• What to pack? Check out this helpful packing guide for Argentina

Perito Moreno: How much does it cost?

The entrance fees for Argentina’s national parks are not cheap and the most in demand parks have the highest entrance fees.

• How much does it cost? It is $45,000 pesos for international visitors and 50% off your second day. Argentine citizens/residents will pay $15,000 (also with 50% off their second day. The second day should be within 72 hours of the first visit.
• Flexi-Pass – Yes, there are now multi-day packages available and you must purchase them online. You can purchase a 3 day or 7 day pass and can use those days within 6 months of purchase (does not have to be consecutive days) at any of the gates in the park (this includes El Chalten’s hikes).
• Annual pass: A new annual pass, costing $225,000 pesos at the time of updatin (June 2025) allows you to visit all of Argentina’s national parks and protected areas within 12 months of purchase, regardless of nationality. They are individual and cannot be transferred.
• Student Passes: Bring proof like a student ID. This rate is for all students, not just Argentine residents: source: “independientemente de su lugar de residencia y nivel educativo.”

How to get to the Perito Moreno Glacier?

Your options are bus, taxi, or rental car and none are particularly cheap.

For public transportation, there are buses from the bus terminal that costs around $50 US (December 2024). Check the schedule and get your tickets here on Busbud. If it’s low season you can wait and do it in person if you’d prefer.

For that price, it is worthwhile to consider alternatives like this excursion that for just a little more includes a guide.

Taxis can also be more affordable when shared. Make friends at your hotel or hostel if traveling solo and carpool.

And always, renting a car is a great option when it’s within your budget.

Big ticket tours like trekking on the glacier cost between $400 and $800 respectively, so these are truly “once in a lifetime” experiences now.

Keep reading to decide if its worth it for you or if you want to go with a more affordable excursion or even on your own.

When to Visit Perito Moreno

The best time of year to visit El Calafate is in the warmer Spring and Summer months, from October to April.

The guided treks on the glacier are only held from September through April. Use that as a guide on when to visit. 

Perito Moreno Glacier in Summer 

While Summer brings with it the warmest weather for visiting Perito Moreno, keep in mind that January and February are peak travel months for locals in Argentina. 

It will be very crowded in summer so expect crowds.

You can avoid them by taking a private transfer or taxi to the national park right when the gates open (and beat the tour buses and public transport crowds).

The park opens at 8 but tour buses typically don’t arrive until 10 (and then they arrive all at once).

Alternatively, visit later in the day to be there during the last two hours. A lot of tours or buses depart at around 4-4:30 pm but the park is open until 6 pm

If visiting during the holiday season or summer months book your hotels, tours, and rental car in advance.

Perito Moreno Glacier in Spring/Fall 

In my opinion, the best time to visit is the shoulder season before and after summer: November-Early December or March-April. 

Spring offers the benefit of the days getting longer and warmer.

Fall is beautiful with the changing leaves. Both still have warm enough temperatures to enjoy and much smaller crowds. 

And yes, you can still visit in winter. But expect it to be very cold, this is southern Patagonia after all. I also recommend evaluating if it is worth it for you to spend the money on this visit at this time of the year.

For some, it’s a clear yes. If this is a once in a lifetime opportunity and you have your heart set on the glacier, do it. But if you love hiking and wanted to experience everything in the region (like neighboring El Chalten), it’s best to wait for a warmer season. Not everything is open and possible to visit in winter here.

Perito Moreno Packing List

The weather tends towards inclement in El Calafate. It’s likely you’ll have an overcast day, varying temperatures, and strong wind.

I was very lucky to have a sunny day without a cloud in the sky for both of my trips to Perito Moreno.

Seriously, our guides never let us forget our luck (bringing it up all day) on my glacier trek.

Even with clouds, it’s stunning. Don’t let dreary weather deter you from visiting this landmark!

Just be sure to pack appropriately. 

Wear layers that you can add or remove depending on how the day pans out.

Since the glacier is 80 kilometers from El Calafate, you’ll be spending your entire day there.

Here’s what to pack to make sure you have the best day possible in Argentina’s most beautiful national park.

• Wear layers as the weather and temperatures will vary throughout the day. Be an onion.
• A beanie: This isn’t the place for a ball cap or a wide brim hiking hat that the wind can whip right off your head and into Lago Argentina
• Protection from the sun. The sun is strong in Patagonia, do not underestimate it. Wear sunglasses and sunscreen, always.
• A waterproof jacket for rain and to block the wind. One like this is ideal in warmer months since you can take the fleece insert out if you get a sunny day. In cooler months, you’ll need a warmer coat like this one.
• Hiking boots or running shoes. Hiking boots are recommended for the Big Ice Trek but I was fine with my running shoes. I also was grateful for the traction on the viewing platforms and metal pathways that got slippery when wet.
• A picnic lunch and snacks, whether you go it alone or with a tour (tours do not include lunch). There is a restaurant in the park but the food is good, not great. I was happy for a picnic to enjoy with the view from the catwalks.
• Wine. What better way to enjoy the views of Perito Moreno from the viewing platforms than with a bottle of Malbec? Don’t forget the opener or get a screw top!
• Your camera, obviously! Read this post to see what I photography gear I travel with.

Where is the Perito Moreno Glacier

The Perito Moreno Glacier is located in Argentina’s southern Patagonia region, just under 80 kilometers from El Calafate. 

Perito Moreno is in the southern section of Los Glaciares National Park, one of Argentina’s most popular and largest national parks. 

You can see on the map below how close El Calafate and El Perito Moreno are to Chile. 

It forms part of the Southern Patagonia Ice Field that Argentina shares with its next-door neighbor.

All of this ice forms the third largest reserve of fresh water in the world!  

Perito Moreno Glacier Tours

So, how to visit Perito Moreno? Should you splurge on a big ticket tour?

Way back in 2010, my friends and I went on the full day Big Ice Trek and in my opinion, it was worth every single penny. But it cost 100 dollars then. Today it costs 8 times that and that’s a lot less pennies.

in 2021 I finally returned with my husband and one-year-old. We kept it simple, driving ourselves and exploring the footpaths and viewing decks. I loved it and felt like we really had a great experience. I did not feel like we missed out.

And in between that expensive ice trek and the budget DIY tour lie boat excursions, guided tours, and even kayaking.

So let’s break down all of these options into greater detail.

Perito Moreno Glacier Treks

There are two Perito Moreno Glacier hike options: Big Ice or the shorter Minitrekking.

Both are operated by Hielo & Aventura. They are the only tour operator that operates glacier treks on Perito Moreno. This means less pollution and destruction on the glacier. It also means high prices thanks to zero competition.

The glacier trek options are both full day excursions from El Calafate but involve different amounts of time on the ice.

• MINITREKKING – This shorter option includes three hours of trekking total, both on and off the ice. The groups are a little larger and it’s more age inclusive allowing ages 8-65.
• BIG ICE – Big Ice is more demanding with nearly seven hours of trekking (3.5 hours of which are spent on the ice). The age limit is 18-50.
• 💸They are not all inclusive – Despite these tours high price tags they do not include your entrance fee for the national park (around $45 US) or lunch. You’ll need to bring a picnic lunch. Keep this in mind when putting together your budget.

My Big Ice Trek Experience 

In the olden days of blogging we focused on first hand story telling over being expert city guides. Here’s a hold over from those days, my first hand experience (back from 2010) of what my experience with the Big Ice Trek. It will be very helpful if you’re considering the splurge.

We were picked up at our hostel at 7 am for what was to be a long day of Patagonia hiking.  

We arrived at the park early, before most tourists on public transport, so we had the park to ourselves. 

The tour began with free time to walk the pathways and catwalks. Next, we were ferried across the water where we were divided into language-based groups, instructed on safety, and given crampons. 

Crampons firmly strapped to our feet; off we went. We hiked alongside the glacier for nearly an hour and a half before our two guides found the spot where we would hop onto the glacier.  

There is a lot of action near the crampon station, where the Minitrekking tour begins. But after walking an hour and a half, we had the glacier all to ourselves.

It was such an unforgettable experience. We spent over three hours on the ice trailing behind our two guides. 

There were times they had to hack footholds into the ice with their axes, creating makeshift stairs for us to summit peaks of ice. 

Other times they scurried ahead of us, searching for the right path. It’s clear that in such terrain, no tour will ever be identical to the previous days’ hike. It felt like a real exploration of the ice. 

It’s very expensive now so I understand if you cannot or do not want to justify the expense. But if you consider this a bucket list experience you want to do once in your life, then I can guarantee that you won’t regret it.

Reserve your Big Ice Trek here.

Read More: 21 Things do to in El Calafate

Alternative: The Mini Trekking Perito Moreno

If the Big Ice Trek too long, strenuous, or costly (or all of the above), they also offer a shorter mini-trekking excursion.

These tour groups access the glacier directly next to the crampon station and spend about an hour and a half on the ice.

If you visiting with children this is a great option: the age limits are from 8-65. Check with them before booking if you have any health conditions.

Keep in mind: Despite being a shorter trek, it’s still a full day commitment.

Click here to reserve your Minitrekking Excursion.

Perito Moreno Glacier Guided Tours

The national park and glacier are 80 kilometers from town. If you’d like a tour that takes care of logistics and guides you through the day, this Perito Moreno tour is a great option.

It’s a great alternative to taking the bus to Perito Moreno, which isn’t cheap at $50 US. Spend a little more and have a guide help you through the day.

There’s an optional boat excursion (not included in the price) that’s worth doing.

Reserve your Perito Moreno tour here.

Note: The guided tour is a big tour group so you’ll be on a big bus with plenty of fellow travelers. If you’d prefer a more intimate experience, reserve this private tour instead. Since it is priced per group it can be very reasonably priced for a family of four, for example.

Kayak Perito Moreno

Kayaking to Perito Moreno is a great adventure option.

If we hadn’t been with our baby I would have done this on our most recent trip. I was a bit jealous watching them paddle by the icebergs.

This kayak tour will let you spend an hour and a half on Lago Argentino.

The views of the glacier from the water are unbeatable.

The tour includes all equipment and you don’t need any previous experience. Boxed lunch is included.

Reserve your kayak tour here.

How to See Perito Moreno Without a Tour

If you’d prefer to go it alone, it’s very easy to experience Perito Moreno without a tour.

How to get to the park:

• Take the bus: You can take the bus from El Calafate and go at your own pace. This is the most budget friendly option. That does not mean it’s cheap, at $50 US each. Put the departure as El Calafate Terminal and destination as Glaciar Perito Moreno in Busbud.
• Taxi/Remis: Hire a taxi or a remis (private driver) for the day, make friends in your hotel or hostel to carpool and bring costs down.
• Rental car: For the most freedom, get a rental car for your trip.

Explore the Footpaths and balconies

Without a tour, you can wander the pathways and catwalks at your leisure.

These footpaths offer panoramic views of Perito Moreno and by going on your own, you’re free to spend as much time as you’d like here. 

There are multiple “trails” you can take.

The main paths (the Primer Balcon and Central) are the most trafficked and there were tons of people there. I found it a bit hard to enjoy for long.

My favorite was the Balcon Inferior. This path was labeled as strenuous but it definitely is not.

I didn’t notice any difference from the others. Perhaps that spooked most groups because there was barely anyone there while we were there.

The path of Balcon Inferior is very close to the ice and offers excellent views. Don’t skip it.

Perito Moreno Boat Excursions

There are regularly scheduled boat tours departing from inside the park.

You don’t need to reserve this ahead of time, but if you’d like to you can reserve it here.

There are two options. One of the north side and the other of the south side, other than departure location they offer the same thing.

You’ll see a sign for one dock just before you reach the parking lot for Perito Moreno, this is the dock the Big Ice Trek excursions depart from as well so you’ll see the Hielo & Aventura sign too.

The other is easier since it is right by the parking lot and restaurant.

There is a small booth selling tickets in the lower parking lot by the restaurant. You can book your ticket and if you have time to kill this is by the start of the coastal footpath (Paseo De La Costa, the blue trail on the maps).

El Calafate Accomodation

Wondering where to stay near Perito Moreno Glacier?

Here are some of the best hotels and hostels for every budget in El Calafate.

• BUDGET | Hostel America del Sur | I stayed at this hostel on my first trip to El Calafate many moons ago but it remains the best. It is very close to downtown and Laguna Nimez and is just steps from the best place in town to eat Patagonian Lamb (a major bonus in my book). It’s affordable, social, and has both shared dorms or private rooms. 
• INTERMEDIATE | Design Suites Calafate | This hotel is in a quiet, remote location with gorgeous views of the lake. Check rates & availability here.
• BOUTIQUE HOTEL | Calafate Boutique HotelHostería La Soberana | Great boutique hotel, modern, clean and cozy (aka warm). It is one of the highest rated hotels in El Calafate in this category and great for couples and families alike (they even have a quadruple room). The only downside is the location if you don’t have a car or budget for taxis, if you have transportation the location is ideal (those views!).
• LUXURY | Estancia Nibepo Aike | If you’re budget allows, stay at Nibepo Aike, a traditional estancia located right in the national park. It’s very close to Perito Moreno (with boat excursions leaving from its own dock). You won’t get better views than here, rooms are very cozy, food is top-notch and everyone is very friendly and welcoming. We stayed here for one night and I did NOT want to leave! Read my review here.

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