Perito Moreno




































































If there’s one reason travelers flock to El Calafate, it’s to meet the mighty Perito Moreno Glacier located inside Los Glaciares National Park. Spanning 250 square kilometers, this ever-growing wall of blue ice defies climate trends and steals the spotlight on every glacier Perito Moreno tour. This is Patagonia’s headline act! Wild, thunderous, and worth every chilly second.

Overview:

  • Distance from El Calafate: 80 km (1.5 hrs each way)
  • On-site visit: 4–6 hrs exploring viewpoints, boardwalks, or the glacier itself
  • Cost range: USD 100–300 (depending on trek or cruise options)
  • Best time to visit: October – April 
  • Meeting/drop-off point: Central El Calafate hotels
  • Key attractions: Glacier boardwalks, boat rides, and guided ice treks
  • Top experiences: Perito Moreno Glacier Tour and Perito Moreno Full-Day Cruise

Ready to explore Perito Moreno Glacier? Here’s how

What to expect on an El Calafate to Perito Moreno Glacier tour

Road leading to Mount Fitz Roy in El Chaltén, Argentina, with snow-capped peaks in the background.
Panoramic view of Perito Moreno Glacier with icebergs and mountains in Los Glaciares National Park, Argentina.
Visitor observing Perito Moreno Glacier from viewing deck in Argentina.
Perito Moreno Glacier with ice calving into turquoise water, Patagonia, Argentina.
Passengers seated inside an AC bus on a one-day guided tour.
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Setting out from El Calafate

Your Perito Moreno tour begins bright and early, either from your hotel (if you’ve chosen the transfer option) or directly at Los Glaciares National Park. The 80-km drive is a visual appetizer. Think endless Patagonian steppe, mirror-blue lakes, and snow-dusted peaks that grow bigger with every mile.

Entering Los Glaciares National Park

Welcome to one of Argentina’s most breathtaking UNESCO sites. Before the main act, enjoy a scenic walk through native lenga forests and viewing platforms that build anticipation with every turn. The glacier reveals itself slowly, a towering sheet of blue ice framed by rugged mountain drama.

Tour & ticket options

There’s more than one way to meet this glacier up close. Choose boardwalk access for epic panoramic views, a short cruise to sail past its towering face, or go big with a full-day cruise that visits Spegazzini and Upsala Glaciers (lunch included). Feeling bold? The Minitrekking or Big Ice hikes let you actually walk on the glacier itself.

Experiencing Perito Moreno Glacier

Here’s the star of the show! A 70-meter wall of pure, electric-blue ice that moves and roars before your eyes. Watch as thunderous cracks echo across Lago Argentino, sending chunks of ice crashing into the water below.

The ride back to El Calafate

After a day of pure natural spectacle, relax on your comfy air-conditioned coach (if transfers are included). Windows become screens of Patagonian cinema—fading sunlight over Lago Argentino, wild guanacos grazing by the roadside, the perfect ending before you return to town.

Things to know before booking your Perito Moreno glacier tour

  • Discover the many ways to experience Perito Moreno, from guided boardwalk tours and a scenic 1-hour cruise to immersive full-day and premium full-day cruises. For adventure lovers, the Minitrekking, the Big Ice trek, and Blue Safari tour bring you right onto the glacier itself. 
  • Looking for something truly exclusive? This rare 2-day, 1-night cruise lets you sleep inside the national park, surrounded by towering glaciers. Enjoy guided hikes and glacier landings by day, then unwind with gourmet meals and unforgettable views by night.
  • If you’re craving a change of scenery, extend your Patagonia journey with a full-day trip to El Chaltén, the hiking capital of Argentina.
  • Park tickets are not included in your tour. You’ll need to buy the Los Glaciares National Park entry separately. Official booking links and processes are shared after you book your tour.
  • Tours usually last 8–9 hours, departing El Calafate around 7:30am–9am and returning late afternoon. It is better not to combine the El Calafate glacier tour with other experiences. 
  • If your Perito Moreno tour doesn’t include transfers, the El Calafate shuttle buses are the best and most affordable way to reach the park independently.
  • If your hotel lacks reception, a meeting point nearby will be shared via WhatsApp or email. Check messages the day before departure.
  • The Big Ice trek is demanding, recommended only for fit travelers aged 18–50. Choose Minitrekking or the boardwalks if you prefer a moderate experience. Whereas the Blue Safari tour is perfect for those who love nature walks.
  • Expect walking from the park entrance to the glacier’s viewing boardwalks. The cruise option offers close-up views of the ice wall from the water instead.

Your Perito Moreno Glacier tours explained

Ticket typeDurationInclusionsTransfersBest suited forAdd-ons/upgradesPrice
Guided tour of boardwalks

8 hours

Guided tour of Perito Moreno Glacier, English and Spanish-speaking guide, Access to scenic boardwalks

Round-trip hotel transfers from El Calafate

First-timers and photography lovers

1-hour cruise to the glacier

From $75
Short cruise

1 hour

Cruise to Perito Moreno Glacier, English and Spanish-speaking guide

Round-trip hotel transfers from El Calafate (if option selected)

Relaxed travelers, families, and seniors

Guided tour of the glacier, Access to scenic glacier boardwalks

From $50
Full-day cruise

8 to 13 hours

Cruise to Perito Moreno, Upsala, and Spegazzini glaciers, English and Spanish-speaking guide, Guided walk to the Las Vacas Post

Round-trip hotel transfers from El Calafate (if option selected)

Explorers and nature enthusiasts

Access to Perito Moreno Footbridges, Return bus transfer to El Calafate from Perito Moreno, Gourmet box lunch

From $165
Full-day premium cruise

8 to 13 hours

Cruise to 3 glaciers, Expert guide, Guided walk to the Las Vacas Post, Access to the premium lounge, 4-course meal, Exclusive balcony for a group of 16, Chef and waiters

Round-trip hotel transfers from El Calafate (if option selected)

Luxury seekers and couples

Access to Perito Moreno Footbridges with a 2-hour guided hike, Return bus transfer to El Calafate from Perito Moreno

From $301
Minitrekking

5 to 10 hours

Guided trek on Perito Moreno, Expert guide, Safety briefing, crampons, and helmets, A glass of celebratory surprise, Round-trip boat ride between Bajo de las Sombras port and glacier base

Round-trip hotel transfers from El Calafate (if option selected)

Active travelers, adventurers, and fit beginners

From $254
Big Ice trek

7 to 12 hours

Full-day hike through the forest and the glacier, Expert guide, Small group of 10 guests, Free time for lunch (at your expense), Round-trip boat ride between Bajo de las Sombras port and glacier base

Round-trip hotel transfers from El Calafate (if option selected)

Experienced hikers, thrill seekers, and adventurers

Access to the glacier boardwalks

From $469
El Chaltén day trip

11 hours

Guided tour of El Chaltén, English and Spanish-speaking guide, 2 guided hikes to Mirador de los Cóndores and Chorrillo del Salto

Round-trip hotel transfers from El Calafate

Explorers, hikers, and mountain lovers

Lunch at a traditional restaurant

From $107
Blue Safari tour

8 hours

Expert guide, 20-min boat ride, 30-min walk along a forest trail, 1.5-hour return hike, Boat ride to the glacier's closest points, 2-hour free time to explore

Round-trip hotel transfers from El Calafate

Nature lovers and curious explorers wanting more than just ice treks

From $170
Spirit of the Glaciers cruise

22 hours

2-day, 1-night cruise, Expert guide, Cruise to Spegazzini, Upsala or Perito Moreno Glaciers, Guided forest hikes, Meals onboard

Round-trip hotel transfers from El Calafate (if option selected)

Slow travelers, couples, and comfort-seekers

Deluxe, premium, and grand suite cabins

From $800
See the glacier, skip the hassle!

Don’t just see the glacier—experience it. Glide from your hotel straight to Perito Moreno’s boardwalks with expert guides who turn ice into a living story. Every moment planned, every view unforgettable.

Couple admiring Perito Moreno Glacier from viewing deck in Argentina.

Perito Moreno maps

Perito Moreno map small
Perito moreno map hikes
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Boardwalks, viewpoints & visitor amenities

This map is your backstage pass to the El Calafate glacier tour. Color-coded boardwalks weave across balconies facing the glacier, each line leading to a bigger “wow.” Icons spotlight restroom spots, cafés for warm breaks, and parking bays, so you can hop between viewpoints without losing the glacier in sight.

Boat docks & glacier trekking zones

Here, the map zooms into the glacier’s action zone. Colored lines trace boat journeys that skim past ice walls, while shaded areas mark where trekking adventures kick off. Clear boundaries, dock labels, and guide points show exactly where water routes meet icy trails.

Perito Moreno cruises in a nutshell

If you like your vacation cinematic and effortless, cruises are where Perito Moreno truly shines. They give you front-row views you simply can’t get from land, paired with expert guides who explain what you’re seeing as it happens. The options include optional transfers from El Calafate, onboard commentary, and optional access to the boardwalks.

Why should you go on a Perito Moreno trekking tour?

Trekking is for travelers who don’t want to keep the glacier at arm’s length. These experiences take you along rocky trails, ice formations, and glacier edges. Led by expert guides, with safety briefings and equipment included, trekking tours turn Perito Moreno from something you admire into something you experience. Options offer transfers from El Calafate and access to the walkways, depending on the tour.

Highlights of Perito Moreno Glacier

Visitors on a viewing platform overlooking Perito Moreno Glacier in Argentina.

Panoramic boardwalks

Tour Perito Moreno and stroll across elevated trails that wrap around the glacier. Each turn reveals a new blue hue, a new thunderous crack, and endless photo ops of Patagonia’s frozen masterpiece.

Tourists photographing glaciers from a boat near Perito Moreno, Spegazzini, and Upsala.
Cruise boat in front of Perito Moreno Glacier, Argentina.
Perito Moreno Glacier with ice calving into turquoise water, Patagonia, Argentina.
Condor soaring over Colca Canyon, Peru.

Explore more along the way

Plan your visit to Perito Moreno Glacier from El Calafate

Visitor tips

  • Weather here changes fast—clear skies one minute, snow flurries the next—so layers are your best friend. As Patagonians like to say, “If you don’t like the weather, wait 10 minutes.”
  • On windy days, the best viewing spots on the glacier Perito Moreno tour are near the lower balconies’ inner railings, less exposed and with steadier footing for photos.
  • Lunch timing matters. The café fills up around 1pm. Pack a quick snack and eat later (around 2:30pm) when the crowds clear and tables by the window open up.
  • Stay quiet when you hear cracking sounds, as it’s the warning of a calving event. Don’t move; the splash and echo are far more impressive from stillness than through a camera lens.
  • If you’re driving yourself, top up fuel in El Calafate; there’s no station near the park, and queues in town build up after 6 am departures.
  • For photographers, El Calafate glacier’s color peaks between 11am and 3pm when the sun hits it side-on; mornings are great for contrast, and afternoons for reflection shots over the lake.
  • Keep an eye out for Andean condors, one of the largest flying birds in the world, soaring above the glacier face on your Perito Moreno glacier tours. Spotting them is a quiet bonus that few visitors notice amid the noise of breaking ice.

Make the most of your Perito Moreno visit ➜

Frequently asked questions about Perito Moreno glacier tours from El Calafate

Most El Calafate glacier tours last 8–9 hours, including the scenic 1.5-hour drive each way and about 3–4 hours exploring the boardwalks and viewpoints.

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