Group atop an ice mountain on the Mini Trekking Perito Moreno Tour
navigation in front of the perito moreno glacier
Guide strapping on crampons
Howlanders boy ice hiking on the Perito Moreno
Hiker enjoys the glacier on Minitrekking Ice Hike Tour
A couple resting in the sun at Perito Moreno Glacier
Passengers in the boat observing the Perito Moreno Glacier
View of Perito Moreno Footbridges
Complimentary whisky on minitrekking excursion
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Minitrekking Perito Moreno

Glacier hike on the Perito Moreno and navigate in front of its wall. Pick up from El Calafate available

(76 reviews)

🚨Limited availability. Book in advance to secure your spot.

El Calafate
1 day
English and Spanish
Starts: From your accommodation in El Calafate or from Puerto Bajo las Sombras, inside Los Glaciares National Park (depending on the selected option) between 7:00 am and 3:00 pm.
Ends: To Puerto Bajo las Sombras 5 hours after the start of the tour, or to El Calafate 10 hours later (depending on the selected option).
Free cancellation!

Briefing

Mini Trekking Perito Moreno is one of the most popular tours in El Calafate. Hike the most iconic glacier in Patagonia, El Perito Moreno. There are two options for booking this tour: without transfers, this option places the responsibility of arriving at Puerto Bajo Las Sombras on the traveler; or with transfers, includes pick up and return to El Calafate, as well as a one-hour visit to the Perito Moreno Footbridges too.

Once the group is complete, step aboard the ship and set sail to view the south wall of Perito Moreno. Soon, the boat will allow everyone to disembark, stretch their legs, and walk along the bay. Before reaching the glacier moraine, where the exciting ice hike really begins, hikers will be given crampons to use for the next 2-mile (3 km) stretch. Afterward, take a short walk through the Patagonian Andean Forest with ease by using the many footbridges. A final stop is made at a wood hut, where hikers can sip a coffee while taking in the panoramic views featuring the glacier. Finally, take the boat back to the port while enjoying a snack onboard 😉

If you have selected the option with pick-up, the tour continues with a one-hour visit to the Perito Moreno Footbridges.

👩‍👩‍👦‍👦 Group maximum 20 [One guide for every ten travelers]

⌛ Duration hiking and navigation: 3 hours

🗻 Moderate difficulty

Tour details

Included

  • Transfers from El Calafate (according to selected option)
  • Visit to the footbridges (according to selected option)
  • Bilingual guide (Spanish-English)
  • Boat tour
  • Crampons
  • Complimentary drink with glacial ice

Not included

  • Entrance to the National Park (you can buy your ticket on-site in Argentine pesos)
  • Food

Important information

⏰ SCHEDULE: The tour offers several daily departures throughout the day. The exact departure time of your tour will be confirmed by WhatsApp the day before the tour and in the afternoon. If the tour is booked with pick-up in El Calafate, travelers will be picked up in the morning, between 7:00 am and 12:00 pm. If the tour is booked without pick-up, this tour starts between 8:30 am and 3:00 pm. We recommended dedicating the entire day to this tour and not booking another activity or transfer on the same day due to varying end times.

👬 LIMITATION: Only suitable for people from 8 to 65 years old (both included). No exceptions.

🚫 NOT SUITABLE: People with heart or respiratory problems, recent surgeries, pregnant women, reduced mobility, obesity, or vertigo.

🎟️ ENTRY TICKET TO LOS GLACIARES N.P.: Entrance to the park can be purchased online or at the park. If purchasing onsite, accepted forms of payment are credit cards (ONLY VISA) or cash in Argentine Pesos. Travelers will also be required to present an identity card or passport.

The itinerary offers flexibility with modifications: should travelers select the option with pick-up, the hour-long visit to footbridges can be completed before or after the walk.

Cancellation policy

Free cancellations!

If you cancel at least 6 days before the tour starts, you will receive a 100% refund of the amount paid.

If you cancel between 5 days and 48 hours before the tour starts, you will receive a refund of 80% of the amount paid.

After this time, or in case of a no-show, no refunds will be provided.

Tour itinerary

Mini Ice Trekking Perito Moreno Glacier

🚐 Transfer from El Calafate → National Park (only for reservations with transfers)

🚢 Boat ride from the port to the starting point of the hike

🚶‍♂️ Duration of trekking 5 hours (forest, moraine, and glacial ice)

🚢 Return to Bajo de Las Sombras Port

📸 Visit Perito Moreno Footbridges [1 hour] (only for reservations with transfers)

🚐 Return to El Calafate (only for reservations with transfers)

Pick up in El Calafate (optional) and Boat Ride

If you have selected the option with transfers when booking the Mini Trekking Perito Moreno Tour, you will be picked up at your accommodations in El Calafate. In a shuttle bus, your group will then travel 43 miles (70 kilometers) to the starting point of the tour. While on the road, your guide will provide information about the Los Glaciares National Park, El Perito Moreno, and the surrounding areas. 

If you have selected the option without transfers, you’ll meet the tour group at Puerto Bajo las Sombras, located just inside Los Glaciares National Park. Once you’ve arrived and purchased your park entrance tickets, you’ll board the boat and spend 20 minutes sailing across Rico Lake. As a passenger, enjoy the stunning panoramic views of the south wall of the glacier.

Travelers at the Perito Moreno Glacier Tour in Argentina

Minitrekking Perito Moreno Glacier

Your group will be sectioned into smaller groups with a maximum of 20 travelers, each accompanied by two professional guides (a ratio of 10 travelers per guide). With their assistance, you’ll put on a helmet and crampons. Safety comes first! So your guides will explain how to correctly use the crampons while traversing the glacier.

All set, let's get started! For an hour and a half, you’ll walk along the glacial ice, which by its very nature is constantly changing.

The guide may alter the itinerary so that you’ll get to see the greatest number of formations and have the best experience. Crevasses, sinkholes, small streams, turquoise lagoons...are among just a few of the many formations that cannot be seen from the walkways.

💬✅ The glacier circuit is about 2 miles (3 km) long with a medium difficulty. The ice surface is irregular but firm and safe.

Trekkers walking up the glacier on the mini trekking excursion to Perito Moreno Glacier

Patagonian rainforest hike and boat trip

The tour will continue with a short hike through the Andean Patagonian Forest. This route features small wooden walkways, providing a comfortable stroll with little to no difficulty. Finally, the last stop for the group will be at a mountain hut, where your group will be invited to have a hot drink while resting with panoramic views of the glacier. After this break, you’ll begin the return to Puerto Bajo Las Sombras, and perhaps contemplate for the last time the giant glacial wall.

Hiker at Perito Moreno Glacier during mini trekking excursion

Perito Moreno footbridges and return to El Calafate (both optional)

If you have booked without transfers, your tour ends at the port, however, we suggest taking the opportunity to visit the Perito Moreno Footbridges, located just 4 miles (7 km) away.

If you have booked with transfers, your adventure continues! The shuttle bus will be waiting to take you to the Perito Moreno Footbridges. There, you can enjoy the spectacular and expansive views of the glacier for an hour, as well as walk along one of the self-guided trails before returning to your accommodations in El Calafate.

girl howlanders on the perito moreno footbridges

What to bring to Minitrekking Perito Moreno

  • Waterproof jacket
  • Comfortable and warm clothes
  • Long pants (preferably trekking pants)
  • Trekking boots
  • Midsize backpack
  • Sunglasses
  • Sunscreen
  • Gloves
  • Hat
  • Food and snacks
  • Water
  • Identity card / passport
  • Cash or park entrance fee

Where does the tour Minitrekking Perito Moreno start

This tour has two starting points depending on the selected option:

  • TOUR WITH TRANSFERS AND THE FOOTBRIDGES: trekkers will be picked up at their accommodations in El Calafate. If your accommodation is not included in the pick-up (for example, an Airbnb), you will be provided a location a few minutes away from your accommodations to be picked up by the shuttle bus.
  • TOUR WITHOUT TRANSFERS: travelers will be responsible for arriving at Puerto Bajo Las Sombras, located inside Los Glaciares National Park. The port is 43 miles (70 km) from El Calafate.

El Calafate is located 1,860 mi (3,000 km) from Buenos Aires, and 200 mi (325 km) from the city of Río Gallegos, the capital of Santa Cruz Province. The airport has direct daily connections to Buenos Aires, Ushuaia, Bariloche, Trelew, Córdoba, and Rosario. Aerolineas Argentinas is the most frequent airline for these routes, however, several other airlines operate this route. At Howlanders, we recommend checking LADE Airlines. 

A bus is a great option if traveling by road is more feasible. The trip between Buenos Aires and El Calafate takes about 36 hours. From Río Gallegos, the trip is four hours. If coming from Puerto Natales, we recommend taking a bus that arrives in El Calafate in about five hours or hiring a private service with us. Finally, if traveling from Ushuaia, please check the wait times (due to the crossing of the Strait of Magellan or stopover in Rio Gallegos).

Questions & Answers

  • What is the difference between the minitrekking, ice trekking, and big ice tours?

    In all three tours hikers walk on the glacier but the difference lies in the difficulty, distance, and hours of walking on the glacier. The "mini trekking" is the easiest tour (in an hour and a half you’ll walk for about 2 mi (3 km) on the glacier and through the forest with the walkways). For the "Hiking on the ice" tour the difficulty is medium (walk 3 mi (5 km) on the ice in an hour and a half and visit a waterfall which is accessed by a more demanding path). Finally, the "Bigice" is a high-difficulty trek (to access the glacier you’ll have to walk for more than an hour on a challenging path and continue for three and a half hours on the glacier itself).

  • Is this tour available all year round?

    No, during the winter, especially in June, the tour does not operate. For the remainder of the year, there are available departures, however, they may not be available for booking on the calendar. In that case, we advise contacting us here.

  • What time does the tour start?

    The tour has several daily departures, the exact time of pick-up (depending on the selected option) will be provided to you the day before the tour begins. At Howlanders, we advise not booking other activities (excursions, etc.) for the day or booking transportation (flights, buses, etc.) after the tour due to variable end times.

  • Is there an age limit for this tour?

    Yes, the minimum age is 8 years old and the maximum age is 65 years old. Age restrictions are imposed by the National Park and are strictly enforced. A valid passport is required to make a reservation and the date of birth will be checked.

  • How long will I walk on the glacier?

    You'll be walking on the glacier for about an hour and a half.

  • Are the groups on this tour very large?

    No, for safety reasons, the maximum group size is 20 travelers with a pair of guides per group to ensure the safety of all travelers.

  • How are crampons used to walk on the Perito Moreno Glacier?

    A small team is in charge of fitting crampons to each hiker because, for many, it’s their first time using them. For safety, and before starting the tour, your guides will also give you a short briefing and demonstration to help you practice a bit before taking on the glacier.  

  • What kind of clothes should I wear?

    We recommend warm and waterproof clothing, gloves, a hat, and hiking boots. If you don’t have trekking boots, tennis shoes/sneakers are acceptable. If you forget your gloves, your guides will provide you with some (they are mandatory: in case of a fall the ice can cause serious injury).

  • Where can I find additional information about Minitrekking?

    You can find a post in our blog in which we explain our experience doing the Minitrekking in the Perito Moreno.

Minitrekking Perito Moreno tour reviews with Howlanders

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