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Mini Ice Trekking Perito Moreno Glacier
Mini Ice Trekking Perito Moreno Glacier + Transfers from El Calafate (additional)
The Mini Ice Trekking Perito Moreno Glacier day tour is one of the most popular excursions in El Calafate, where you will walk on the ice of the most iconic glacier in Patagonia, the Perito Moreno. In this guided excursion in Los Glaciares National Park, in addition to walking on the ice, you can select as EXTRA the transfers from El Calafate, which include a stop on the walkways of Perito Moreno. This way on the same day you will know the glacier from the outside, with its panoramic view, and from the inside, stepping on the ice itself.
All the necessary equipment to walk on the ice safely is included in the tour and during the walk on ice you will be accompanied by a specialized guide. In addition, at the end of the tour a little surprise awaits you, read on and we will tell you all the details 😏.
👩👩👦👦 Maximum group size 20 [Guide ratio: 1:10]
📆 July 15 - May 31 [Daily departures]
⌛ Duration 5 hours
🗻 Moderate difficulty
Tour details
Included
- Crampons
- Boat Ride
- Bilingual guide (Spanish-English)
Not included
- Entrance to the National Park (you can buy your ticket there in Argentine pesos)
- Food
- Visit to the footbridges (according to selected option)
- Transfers from El Calafate (according to selected option)
Important information
⏰ DEPARTURE: The tour has several daily departures at different times. The exact departure time of your tour will be confirmed by Whatsapp the day before, starting at 6:00 pm. If you book the tour with pick up in El Calafate you will be picked up between 7:00 and 11:00, although it can be extended until 12:00. If you book the tour without pick up, your activity can start between 7:00 am and 3:00 pm.
👬 LIMITATION: Only suitable for people from 8 to 65 years old. No exception.
❌ NOT ALLOWED: People with cardiovascular disease, COPD, emphysema, asthma, recent surgeries or Covid Positive.
🚫 NOT APPROPRIATE: For people with physical or mental disabilities, obesity, pregnant women or people suffering from severe vertigo.
* We don't recommend you to book another activity or plan any other trip for the day you are going to do the Minitrekking. You should arrive in El Calafate at least the day before and reserve the whole day to do the excursion.
Cancellation policy
Free cancellation! You can cancel this tour and you'll receive 100% refund of the amount paid if you cancel more than 48 hours in advance. After this time, or in case you do not show up, no refunds will be given.
Tour itinerary
Mini Ice Trekking Perito Moreno Glacier
📍 OPTION TOUR WITH PICK-UP
🚐 El Calafate → Los Glaciares National Park (70km)
🚢 Puerto Bajo de las Sombras [30 min. navigation]
🚶♂️ Trekking along the coast, glacier and forest [3 h.]
🚢 Return to Puerto Bajo de las Sombras [navigation 30 min]
📸 Visit Perito Moreno footbridges [1 h.]
🚐 Return to El Calafate
***
📍 OPTION TOUR WITHOUT PICK-UP
🚢 Puerto Bajo de las Sombras [30 min. navigation]
🚶♂️ Trekking along the coast, glacier and forest [3 h.]
🚢 Return to Puerto Bajo de las Sombras [navigation 30 min]
Puerto Bajo las Sombras
The Mini Ice Trekking tour starts from the Puerto Bajo las Sombras, located inside Los Glaciares National Park. Once there, you will board the boat and for 20 minutes you will navigate the Rico Lake, having a panoramic view of the south wall of the glacier.
Upon disembarking, you will be met by a team of expert mountain guides, who will accompany you to a cozy shelter with a privileged view of the glacier. And now the trekking begins!
▶ TOUR WITH PICK-UP FROM EL CALAFATE ◀
If you have selected the "tour with pick-up" option, you will be picked up at your accommodation in El Calafate to travel together 70 kilometers from Puerto Bajo las Sombras. During this tour, the guide will give you different explanations so that you can start to get to know Los Glaciares National Park and Perito Moreno better. The day before the tour starts at 6:00 P.M. you will be informed by whatsapp of the exact time of the pick-up.
Mini Ice Trekking Perito Moreno Glacier
The trek will start with a leisurely walk of about 1 km along the shore of the lake. Do not take your eyes off the glacier and get ready to see its incredible detachments up close. Afterward, the guides will give a talk on safety and glaciology.
Upon reaching the edge of the glacier, subgroups of a maximum of 20 travelers will be organized, each accompanied by two professional guides, with a ratio of 10 travelers per guide. With their help, you will put on your helmet and crampons. And here you will begin your ice walk on the Perito Moreno Glacier. For an hour and a half you will walk on the ice of the glacier, which by its very nature is constantly changing, so every day the itinerary is different. It will be the guide who will decide the itinerary so that you can see the largest number of formations and live the best experience.
💬✅
The circuit you will make on the glacier is of medium difficulty, the ice surface is irregular but firm and safe. During the hike you will appreciate a variety of typical glacier formations such as deep crevasses, blue sinkholes, huge seracs and turquoise lagoons.
Return to Puerto Bajo las Sombras
At the end of the walk on the ice, the guide will offer you a bonbon and a glass of whiskey with ice from the glacier 🥃🧊and you will return to the area where you started walking on the ice, to return the crampons and the rest of the material.
You will continue walking along the side moraine until you finally leave it behind. Here you will have a panoramic view of the Perito Moreno Glacier, the mountains and the lake. Then you will start the return trip through a path that crosses the Patagonian Andean forest until you reach the refuge, where they will be waiting for you with a hot drink and a small surprise that you can take as a souvenir. After this short break, you will embark again to return to Puerto Bajo las Sombras, but first, take a last look at the enormous walls of the glacier from the boat.
▶ TOUR WITH PICK-UP FROM EL CALAFATE ◀
Perito Moreno Footbridges + Return to El Calafate
If you have selected the option "tour with pick up" your adventure continues! The minibus will be waiting for you upon arrival at the port, and before returning to El Calafate you will make one last stop of an hour and a half at the Perito Moreno Glacier walkways. There you can enjoy the spectacular panoramic view of the glacier and walk along one of the self-guided trails before returning to your accommodation in El Calafate.
The "tour with pick up" option has a duration of 10 hours. The "tour without pick up" option has a duration of 4 and a half hours and you can still visit the walkways on your own, although you will not enjoy the explanations of the guide during the transport.
What to bring to Mini Ice Trekking Perito Moreno Glacier
- Waterproof jacket
- Comfortable and warm clothing
- Long pants (if they are mountain trousers, better)
- Trekking boots
- Medium backpack
- Sunglasses
- Sunscreen
- Gloves
- Hat
- Food and snacks
- Water bottle
Where does the tour Mini Ice Trekking Perito Moreno Glacier start
The tour has two starting areas depending on the selected option:
- Tour with pick-up: you will be picked up at your accommodation in El Calafate. In case your accommodation is not included in the pick-up points (for example, an Airbnb), you will be indicated a meeting point a few minutes away from your accommodation.
- Tour without pick-up: in this case, you will have to go by your own means to Puerto Bajo las Sombras, located inside Los Glaciares National Park. The distance between El Calafate and the port is 70 km.
The city of El Calafate is located 3,000 km from Buenos Aires, and 325 km from the city of Río Gallegos, capital of the province of Santa Cruz. The airport has direct daily connections with Buenos Aires, Ushuaia, Bariloche, Trelew, Cordoba and Rosario. Several airlines operate this route, being Aerolineas Argentinas the most frequent one. From Howlanders we also recommend you to check LADE airline.
If you want to arrive by land you can do it by bus. The trip between Buenos Aires and El Calafate takes about 36 hours. From Río Gallegos, the trip takes 4 hours. If you come from Puerto Natales we recommend you to take a bus that arrives to El Calafate in about five hours or hire a private service with us. Finally, if you are traveling from Ushuaia, please check the waiting times due to the crossing of the Strait of Magellan or stopover in Rio Gallegos.
