Perito Moreno Glacier
The months in gold are when the weather, the crowds and the prices work out best.
Perito Moreno is absolutely worth visiting because you can get remarkably close to active, crashing ice walls from well-maintained boardwalks. Plan your visit between November and March for the warmest weather and the most ice activity. You only need one full day to see it properly.
The mini-trekking ice excursion is extremely expensive compared to park entry.
The daily figure is an estimate and does not include flights. The exchange rate is real, and it moves once a day, not by the second.
One full day is enough to walk the trails and take a boat ride.
Most people take a public bus or a taxi from El Calafate, which is 78 kilometers away.
Buy your national park entry ticket online in advance to save time at the gate.
The ice trekking tour is incredibly expensive, so stick to the boardwalks if you are on a budget.
The sound of cracking ice
You spend most of your visit walking along a network of steel catwalks built directly opposite the ice face. The scale is hard to comprehend until a chunk the size of a house breaks off and crashes into the water. It is a very noisy place, filled with deep rumbles and sharp cracks that sound like gunshots.
Unlike many glaciers that require long hikes to access, this one is highly accessible. You can sit on benches along the paths for hours just waiting for the ice to fall. It gets cold quickly when the wind blows off the ice field, so you need thick layers even on sunny days.
When to plan your trip
The southern summer from November to March offers the best conditions. Temperatures are milder, and the longer daylight hours give you more flexibility. This is also when the glacier is most active, as warmer daytime temperatures cause more frequent calving.
December and January are the busiest months. During this peak season, the boardwalks can get crowded by midday. Arrive early in the morning or late in the afternoon to avoid the tour buses and enjoy the site in relative quiet.
Navigating the high expenses
A standard day trip costs around 90000 ARS, which covers basic transport from El Calafate and the national park entry fee. The boardwalks offer excellent views and are included in your park ticket. You do not need to spend more to have a great experience.
However, the popular mini trekking excursion on the ice itself is extremely expensive. It costs many times more than the park entry fee. While walking on the ice is unique, the price is hard to justify for budget travelers, especially since you can see the glacier so well from the paths.
The background
The Perito Moreno (Spanish: Glaciar Perito Moreno), Francisco Gormaz or Bismarck Glacier is a glacier located in Los Glaciares National Park in southwest Santa Cruz Province, Argentina, and originated in the Magallanes Region in Chile, being also part of the Bernardo O'Higgins National Park. It is one of the most important tourist attractions in the Argentine Patagonia. The 250 km2 (97 sq mi) ice formation, 30 km (19 mi) in length, is one of 48 glaciers fed by the Southern Patagonian Ice Field located in the Andes system shared with Chile which has a small part of the origins of the glacier. This ice field is the world's third largest reserve of fresh water. The Perito Moreno Glacier, located 78 kilometres (48 mi) from El Calafate, was named after the explorer Francisco Moreno, a pioneer who studied the region in the 19th century and played a major role in defending the Argentinian thesis in the 1902 Arbitral award of the Andes between Argentina and Chile.
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Questions people ask
Do I need a guide to visit Perito Moreno?
No, you do not need a guide. The wooden and steel boardwalks are well-marked, safe, and easy to navigate on your own.
How do I get from El Calafate to the glacier?
You can catch a daily bus from the main terminal in El Calafate. The ride takes about one and a half hours each way. Taxis and rental cars are also widely available.
Is the ice trekking worth the high price?
Only if walking on ice is a major priority for you. The tour is very expensive, and you actually get a better perspective of the massive scale of the glacier from the free boardwalks.
What should I wear for the visit?
Dress in windproof and waterproof layers. Even in summer, the wind blowing off the massive ice field is freezing, so bring a warm hat, gloves, and sturdy shoes.
Can I buy food inside the national park?
There is a restaurant and a small cafe near the parking lot, but prices are high. It is much better to buy snacks and a lunch box in El Calafate before you leave.
What is the best time of day to see the ice fall?
The afternoon is generally best. As the sun warms the ice face throughout the day, the chances of seeing and hearing major calving events increase significantly.