A Short Guide To Visiting the Perito Moreno Glacier

Discover how to visit the Perito Moreno Glacier in Argentina and find out how visiting Perito Moreno Glacier might just be one of the best experiences in Argentine Patagonia.

Updated: fully in 2025

The Perito Moreno Glacier doesn’t just sit in the landscape—it dominates it. Rising like a frozen fortress from the turquoise waters of Lago Argentino, its 70-meter-high ice walls creak, groan, and occasionally explode into thunderous collapse, sending shards of sapphire-blue ice crashing into the lake below. It’s the kind of place that stops you in your tracks, mid-sentence, mid-thought. No photo prepares you for the real thing.

The Perito Moreno Glacier is one of the few glaciers on Earth that’s still advancing—and you can feel that energy in the air. It’s alive, constantly shifting and reshaping itself in slow, dramatic motion.

After living in Chile for six years and spending a couple of unforgettable weeks traveling through this corner of Patagonia, I can safely say that witnessing Perito Moreno is one of the most humbling, otherworldly experiences you can have in South America. There’s a magic here—part raw power, part sublime silence—that stays with you for a very long time.

In this guide, you’ll find everything you need to know about visiting Perito Moreno Glacier—from how to get there to the best ways to experience it up close. For the iconic boardwalk views, planning to hike on the ice itself, consider this your go-to blueprint for one of Patagonia’s most awe-inspiring natural wonders.

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Where is Perito Moreno Glacier?

Perito Moreno Glacier is tucked inside Los Glaciares National Park in Argentine Patagonia, about 80 kilometers (50 miles) west of the town of El Calafate. This icy giant sits on the southern arm of Lago Argentino, backed by the jagged spine of the Andes and just east of the Chilean border.

El Calafate is the launchpad for most visits, with regular flights from Buenos Aires and a full spread of tour operators, hotels, and restaurants to gear you up for glacier country.

Despite its remote location, Perito Moreno is surprisingly easy to reach and explore. It’s one of the few glaciers in the world accessible by car, with a network of boardwalks offering jaw-dropping views and guided tours available for trekking on the ice itself. It’s Patagonia’s wild side—without the logistical headache.

How to Get to Perito Moreno Glacier

With El Calafate being the gateway to the Perito Moreno Glacier, it’s best to stay here on either side of your visit to Perito Moreno.

You can reach El Calafate by plane from Buenos Aires, or by bus from any other Argentinian city nearby, as well as the Chilean town of Puerto Natales.

From El Calafate, it takes just 1.5 hours to get to the Perito Moreno Glacier by road.

Public Transport

Daily buses run between El Calafate’s main terminal and Los Glaciares National Park, typically with a morning departure and late afternoon return. It’s budget-friendly and straightforward, but be aware: in the off-season (May to September), departures are fewer, so double-check the schedule in advance.

And yes, make sure your ticket is to the glacier, not the town of Perito Moreno—that’s a whole 630 km away and an entirely different trip.

By Car

If you’re travelling through Patagonia by rental car, which I highly recommend, getting to Perito Moreno is easy. It really helps to have a car as the distances in Argentina and Patagonia are vast.

The drive from El Calafate takes about 1.5 hours on well-maintained roads, but outside the high summer months, it’s a good idea to be cautious of ice, snow, and fog on the roads.

I always use Discover Cars or Rental Cars for car rental in Argentina. They generally have the best rates and offers, but make sure to check the two and stick to more reputable brands like Avis, Sixt, and Hertz.

Tour

If you prefer to have everything organised for you, a knowledgeable local guide, and transportation, then tours to Perito Moreno Glacier are a great option.

In El Calafate you can organise boat tours for the Perito Moreno as well as trekking on the Perito Moreno glacier – yes, you can actually hike on the glacier. Here are some of the most highly recommended tours to book:

Check out some more fantastic tours below.

Perito Moreno Glacier Park Entrance & Hours

Entry to the park requires a ticket, with fees structured as follows as of January 2025:

• Foreign Tourists: ARS 45,000
• Argentine Nationals: ARS 15,000
• Santa Cruz Province Residents: ARS 5,000

Tickets can be purchased online via the official website (Spanish only) or at the park entrance. Digital tickets on your phone are accepted at the gate.

In terms of opening hours, Los Glaciares National Park—home to the majestic Perito Moreno Glacier—is open year-round, but operating hours vary with the seasons:

• September 1 to April 30 (Spring–Summer):
  8:00 AM – 6:00 PM
• May 1 to August 31 (Autumn–Winter):
  9:00 AM – 4:00 PM

These hours are strictly enforced, so plan your visit accordingly to maximize your time with the glacier. To make the most of your visit to Perito Moreno Glacier, aim to arrive early—ideally right when the park opens—to enjoy the boardwalks and panoramic views before the tour buses roll in.

While credit cards are accepted at the entrance, it’s smart to carry some Argentine pesos just in case, especially if you’re traveling in the off-season when systems can be a little less reliable. If you’re planning to visit the park more than once, ask about multi-day passes at the gate; discounts are sometimes available and can make a return trip much more worthwhile, especially if the weather doesn’t cooperate on your first go.

Perito Moreno Glacier Activities

Walk the Boardwalk

If you do just one thing at Perito Moreno Glacier —make it this. The network of Perito Moreno Glacier walkways and viewing platforms offers the most iconic and comprehensive perspectives of the glacier’s imposing face, and it’s entirely self-guided, allowing you to explore at your own pace.

The circuit is divided into color-coded trails of varying lengths and difficulty—Yellow, Blue, Red, and Green—each offering a unique vantage point.

The Yellow Trail is the main route, fully accessible and the most direct way to reach the central balconies with the classic front-on glacier views.

The Blue Trail hugs the lakeshore and brings you closer to the glacier’s lower face—perfect for capturing dramatic calving action. For those with extra energy, the Red Trail climbs higher, offering sweeping panoramic views of the ice field and the surrounding peaks, while the Green Trail is the shortest, a gentle path ideal for a quick stroll.

All in all, you could spend an hour or half a day here, stopping at benches and platforms to listen for the thunderous cracks of falling ice—Mother Nature’s own drumroll.

Take the Scenic Cruise

If you want to feel truly dwarfed by ice, hop aboard a scenic boat cruise on Lago Argentino. These glacier-side sailings get you thrillingly close to Perito Moreno’s towering ice walls—close enough to hear the deep, echoing cracks as chunks break off and crash dramatically into the water. It’s like watching a slow-motion avalanche in real time, minus the danger.

The most popular option is the Nautical Safari, a short 1-hour cruise that departs from Puerto Bajo de las Sombras, just a few minutes from the main boardwalks. It’s a perfect add-on to a self-guided visit, offering an entirely different perspective from the water level.

Seeing the 70-meter-high ice front from a boat—without barriers or crowds, adds an entirely new layer to the experience.

For a more in-depth adventure, full-day cruises explore multiple arms of Lago Argentino and visit other massive glaciers, such as Upsala and Spegazzini. These longer tours usually depart from Puerto Punta Bandera, about an hour outside El Calafate, and include lunch, narration, and plenty of photo ops.

Tip: If you’re short on time or budget, go for the Nautical Safari—it’s quick, affordable, and wildly impressive. But if you’re chasing a full-day, slow-travel immersion through iceberg alley, the longer cruise will absolutely deliver.

Perito Moreno Glacier Trekking

If standing in awe near a glacier isn’t enough, how about strapping on crampons and walking on it? Trekking on Perito Moreno is hands-down one of the most unforgettable ways to experience the glacier’s scale, texture, and raw power. It’s a true bucket list experience.

There are two main trekking options, most go for the mini-trekking, but there are also some more full-on options:

Mini Trekking Perito Moreno – This is the most popular choice and suitable for anyone moderately fit, aged 8–65. The tour includes a scenic boat ride across the Rico Arm of Lago Argentino, followed by a guided 1.5-hour glacier walk.

You’ll weave through icy crevasses, peer into electric-blue sinkholes, and finish with a celebratory glass of whisky chilled with glacial ice. The total excursion lasts around 5 hours door-to-door from El Calafate.

Big Ice Perito Moreno – For the more adventurous, this full-day trek goes deeper into the glacier’s interior. It includes 3.5 hours on the ice and requires a higher level of fitness (ages 18–50 only). Expect surreal blue tunnels, dramatic ice formations, and a more immersive, backcountry-style feel, without actually needing to be an alpinist.

Both treks include crampons, helmets, and guides, and begin at the Bajo de las Sombras port, about 7 km from the main boardwalk area. They operate seasonally—typically from mid-September to late April—and spots fill up quickly, so book in advance.

Kayaking

For a truly up-close encounter with the glacier, kayaking offers a front-row seat to Perito Moreno’s icy grandeur. Guided tours depart from Puerto Bajo de las Sombras and include all gear—drysuits, gloves, boots, and life jackets—so you can paddle comfortably in cold waters.

The experience is surreal: drifting past floating icebergs, gazing up at 70-meter ice walls, and listening to the glacier creak and roar as chunks calve into the lake. You’ll stay at a safe distance, of course, but the scale and silence are unforgettable.

Tours typically run September through April, last about two hours on the water, and require no prior kayaking experience—just a sense of adventure and a willingness to get a little chilly. Book in advance, especially in high season.

El Calafate

El Calafate may be best known as the gateway to Perito Moreno Glacier, but this laid-back town on the shores of Lago Argentino is worth more than just a pit stop. With its wooden chalets, windswept steppe views, and a surprisingly good food scene, El Calafate has the charm of a mountain town blended with the spirit of Patagonia.

Beyond the glacier, you’ll find a few low-key gems worth exploring. Laguna Nimez Reserve, just a short walk from the center, is a serene spot for birdwatching (flamingos included), especially at sunset.

The Glaciarium is a sleek, interactive museum dedicated to the region’s glaciers—plus it has an ice bar for the full frozen experience.

You can also book boat tours to the Upsala and Spegazzini glaciers or head to a traditional estancia like Estancia Cristina for horseback riding, hiking, and proper Patagonian asado.

When it comes to food, Parilla Don Pichon is a standout for local lamb, steak, and trout in a cozy, cabin-like setting. La Zaina pairs excellent steak with antique-shop charm, while La Tablita serves hearty, home-style mutton and pastas that hit the spot after a long hike.

For something more casual, La Cocina is great for fresh pasta, and Calafate Coffee Roasters offers coffee and breakfast.

Read more: The Ultimate El Chalten Travel Guide | Argentina’s Fitz Roy Range

Where to Stay

For the Perito Moreno Glacier, El Calafate has the best choice of accommodation for miles around. From high-end lodges with panoramic lake views to charming boutique hotels tucked along quiet streets, the town caters to many different budgets, but think more cabin-chic rather than upper-spectrum luxury here.

Xelena Hotel & Suites – a five-star lakeside retreat with stunning views of Lago Argentino, a heated pool, and spa—perfect for relaxing after glacier adventures. A complimentary shuttle connects guests to El Calafate’s center.

Design Suites Calafate – a modern boutique hotel perched above Lago Argentino, offering panoramic views and sleek, minimalist architecture. Just a short distance from downtown El Calafate, it provides a tranquil retreat with amenities like an indoor pool, spa, and gourmet restaurant.

Mirador del Lago Hotel – cozy, alpine-style stay with panoramic views of Lago Argentino, just a short walk from El Calafate’s center. Warm ambiance, excellent breakfast, and convenient location for exploring the region. This is where I stayed during my trip.

Heading to Buenos Aires? Read also my 3 Day Itinerary for Buenos Aires

I’d love to hear from you and answer any comments and questions you have about visiting Perito Moreno Glacier. Leave them below.

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