Walk on the eternal ice of the world's most famous glacier. Crampons, a specialized guide and a toast included, from El Calafate.
The Minitrekking on the Perito Moreno Glacier is a unique opportunity to explore one of the most iconic glaciers in the world. This tour includes the walk on the Perito Moreno Glacier, a boat ride in front of the glacier's south wall and the visit to the walkways. Throughout the trip you'll be accompanied by an expert guide.
If you add the transfer, we pick you up at your hotel in El Calafate for the 78 km drive to the Perito Moreno Glacier, inside Los Glaciares National Park. If you go in your own car, arrive at Puerto Bajo Las Sombras at 10:00. From there you board to cross the Brazo Rico of Lake Argentino on a 20-minute boat ride with direct views of the glacier's south wall.
Once the lake crossing is done, you reach a refuge where the guides organize groups of up to 20 people. From here a walk begins along the lakeshore facing the glacier, until you reach the point where the crampons are put on to start the Minitrekking. After a glaciology talk, the route on the ice lets you admire different natural formations such as crevasses, seracs, sinkholes and small pools. When the trek ends, you'll enjoy a toast with whisky and glacier ice.
After the Minitrekking, you'll return to the refuge walking through the Andean forest. Then you'll board again for a boat ride in front of the glacier's south wall. On arriving at Puerto Bajo de las Sombras, you'll be transferred to visit the walkways at the glacier front, where you'll get a different perspective of the landscape from the famous Perito Moreno balconies.
The Minitrekking at Perito Moreno is moderate difficulty and takes place on an uneven but firm and safe ice surface. The excursion requires no prior experience and can be done by anyone who meets the age conditions (8 to 65 years) and has a normal fitness level.
Times may vary depending on the day's organization and weather conditions.
All excursions depart from El Calafate and visit the Perito Moreno Glacier, but each offers a different experience. Compare price, duration, difficulty and experience — and tap each excursion to see its page.
If it's your first time on the ice or you're traveling with family → choose the Minitrekking. It's the most popular Perito Moreno excursion: 1h30 walking on the glacier with crampons and a guide, from age 8, medium difficulty. Includes a boat ride and a whisky toast with ancient ice.
If you want to see the glacier without walking on it → choose the Walkways. The panoramic balconies facing the glacier wall, suitable for all ages and with no physical effort. The classic must-see visit.
If you're after maximum adventure and you're in good shape → choose the Big Ice. Up to 3 hours walking toward the heart of the glacier, exploring crevasses, seracs and ice caves. Requires ages 18 to 50 and good condition.
If you want to touch the ice without putting on crampons → choose the Safari Azul. You cruise the Brazo Rico, walk through the forest and get close to touch the glacier's south wall with your hands. Suitable for ages 6 to 70.
If you're short on time or only want the boat ride → choose the Safari Náutico. A 1-hour boat ride in front of the glacier's south face, from a vessel with panoramic windows. Suitable for all ages and the most affordable option.
The Minitrekking is the only Perito Moreno Glacier excursion that lets you walk on the ice with crampons for 1 hour and 30 minutes. Combine that with a 20-minute boat ride in front of the glacier wall, a walk through the Andean forest and a visit to the walkways, and you have a full ~10-hour day that covers every possible perspective of the world's most famous glacier.
Before going onto the ice, the guides give a technical glaciology talk and fit the crampons over your footwear. You don't need prior experience: the crampons attach in minutes and give you full grip on the ice, even on slopes. Once on the glacier, you walk in groups of up to 20 people, accompanied at all times. The route lasts 1h30 and crosses different zones: flat areas, deep-blue crevasses, seracs (ice towers), sinkholes and small meltwater pools. At the end, the toast with whisky and ice from the glacier itself is the perfect close to the experience.
The Perito Moreno Glacier is in constant motion — it advances between 1 and 2 meters per day — which creates unique formations that change all the time. During the Minitrekking you'll see deep crevasses in intense blue (the ice absorbs all light frequencies except blue), seracs that are columns and towers of ice up to several meters tall, sinkholes where meltwater enters the glacier, and small pools of pure water on the ice. Every visit is different, because the glacier never looks exactly the same two days in a row.
The excursion runs all year round with daily departures. In Patagonian summer (November to March) the days are longer, there is more daylight and temperatures are milder (between 5°C and 15°C). In winter (June to August) the blue colors of the ice intensify, there are fewer tourists and the experience is more intimate, although temperatures can drop to -5°C or -10°C on the glacier. In both seasons you need warm layered clothing, gloves and a hat. The view of the glacier is stunning any time of year.
Before booking, read our guides to choose the best excursion and prepare for your day on the ice.
