What is the difference between the Minitrekking, Ice Trekking and Big Ice tours?

In all three tours you walk on the glacier, the difference is the difficulty, distance and hours of walking on the glacier. The "minitrekking" is the easiest tour, since in an hour and a half you walk 3 km on the glacier and through the forest with the walkways. In the "Hiking on the ice" tour the difficulty is medium, you walk 5 km on the ice in the same time (hour and a half) and visit a waterfall which is accessed by a more demanding path. Finally, the "Bigice" is of high difficulty, to access the glacier you walk for more than an hour on a path of high difficulty and walk 3 and a half hours on the glacier.

Is this tour available all year round?

No, during the winter, especially in June, the tour does not operate. The rest of the year it does have departures, although they may not be available for booking in the calendar. In that case we advise you to consult with us.

What time does the tour start?

The tour has several daily departures, the exact time you have to go to the meeting or pick up point (depending on the selected option) will be communicated to you the day before the tour departure. From Howlanders we advise you not to include other activities or take transportation on the same day as the tour, as the schedules may overlap.

Is there an age limit to join 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 strict. 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 will walk on the glacier for approximately 1 hour and a half.

Are the groups on this tour very large?

No, for safety reasons the maximum group size is 20 travelers and there are 2 guides per group to ensure the safety of all travelers, thus having one guide for every 10 travelers.

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

There is a team in charge of fitting crampons to all travelers, since for many it is the first time they use them. In addition, before starting the tour, the guides will give you the necessary indications and will help you practice a little bit in the area to be able to walk on the glacier safely.

What kind of clothes should I wear?

We recommend warm and waterproof clothing, gloves, a hat, and hiking boots. In case you do not have trekking boots, it is also possible to do it with sports shoes with laces. In case you forget your gloves the guides will provide you with some, as they are mandatory because in case of a fall the ice can cut your hands.

person on top of an ice mountain on the mini trekking perito moreno

navigation in front of the perito moreno glacier

howlanders boy walking on the perito moreno

people resting in the sun in front of the perito moreno glacier

people in the navigation observing the perito moreno glacier

1 / 8

Show all pictures

Minitrekking Perito Moreno

Walk on the ice of the Perito Moreno glacier and navigate in front of its wall. Transfers from El Calafate available

(60 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

The Minitrekking Perito Moreno is one of the most popular tours in El Calafate. You will hike on the ice of the most iconic glacier in Patagonia, the Perito Moreno. This tour is offered in two modalities: without transfers, in which you will have to go on your own to Puerto Bajo las Sombras, or with transfers, which in addition to the pick up and return to El Calafate, includes a one-hour visit to the Perito Moreno footbridges too.

Once the group has gathered, you will embark for a boat ride in front of the south wall of the Perito Moreno. Once you reach the other coast, a hike along the bay and the glacier moraine starts untill the location where the ice hike starts. You will wear the crampons and start ice hiking during more than an hour, aproximately 2 miles (3 km). Afterwards, you go on a short walk through the Patagonian Andean forest, equipped with footbridges so that everyone can complete it. One last stop is made at a wooden hut, while having a coffee with panoramic views to the glacier. Lastly, you will take the boat back to the port while enjoying an snack 😉

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 every 10 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

Not included

Entrance to the National Park (you can buy your ticket there in Argentine pesos)
Food

Important information

📅 This tour has limited availability, if your dates are not available, we recommend you to check availability of the more difficult version of Minitrekking: Hiking on the ice of Perito Moreno

⏰ SCHEDULE: The tour has several daily departures at different times. The exact departure time of your tour will be confirmed by Whatsapp the day before in the afternoon. If you book the tour with pick up in El Calafate you will be picked up during the morning, between 7:00 and 12:00. If you book the tour without pick up, your activity can start between 8:30 AM and 3:00 PM. It is recommended to dedicate the entire day to this tour, and not book another activity or transfer that same day, as the exact schedule may vary.

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

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

🎟️ TICKET FOR ACCESS TO LOS GLACIARES N.P.: the entrance to the park can be purchased online or at the park itself. In this case, you can only pay with VISA card or cash in Argentine pesos. It is essential to present your identity card or passport.

The itinerary is indicative, in case of selecting the option with pick up, the view of the walkways can be done before or after the walk.

Cancellation policy

Free cancellation!

If you cancel at least 48 hours before the tour starts, you will receive 100% of the amount paid. After this time, or in case of no-show, no refunds will be given.

Tour itinerary

Mini Ice Trekking Perito Moreno Glacier

🚐 Transfer from El Calafate → National Park (only in option with transfers).

🚢 Navigation from the port to the starting point.

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

🚢 Return to Bajo de las Sombras Port

📸 Visit Perito Moreno footbridges [1 h.] (only in option with transfers)

🚐 Return to El Calafate (only in option with transfers).

Pick up in El Calafate (optional) and boat ride

If you have selected the option with pick up of the Minitrekking Perito Moreno tour, you will be picked up at your accommodation in El Calafate to travel together the 43 miles (70 kilometers) to the starting point. During this transfer the guide will provide explanations, so that you start to get to know Los Glaciares National Park and Perito Moreno better.

If you have selected the option without pick up, you will meet directly with the group at Puerto Bajo las Sombras, located inside Los Glaciares National Park. Once there, and after purchasing the tickets, you will board the boat and for 20 minutes will sail across 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, and begin the hike through the bay and moraine of the glacier, until you reach the point where you will put on your crampons.

people walking on the perito moreno glacier in argentina

Minitrekking Perito Moreno Glacier

The group will be divided into small groups of a maximum of 20 travelers, each accompanied by two professional guides, with a ratio of 10 travelers per guide. With their assistance, you will put on the helmet and crampons. Safety comes first, so they will explain how to walk correctly on the glacier using the crampons.

All set, let's get started! For an hour and a half you will walk on the glacier ice, which by its very nature is constantly changing. The guide will decide the itinerary so that you will see the greatest number of formations and live the best experience. Crevasses, sinkholes, small streams, turquoise lagoons...many formations that cannot be seen from the walkways.

💬✅ The circuit on the glacier is around 2 miles (3 km) long, medium difficulty, the ice surface is irregular but firm and safe.

people walking on the glacier next to a lake on the mini trekking on the perito moreno glacier

Patagonian rainforest hike and boat trip

The tour continues with a short hike through the Andean Patagonian forest. This route is equipped with small wooden walkways, so that everyone can complete it without difficulty. We will make a last stop at a mountain hut, where you will be invited to a hot drink while enjoying panoramic views of the glacier. After this break, you will embark again to return to Puerto Bajo las Sombras, contemplating for the last time the huge wall of the glacier.

people on the side of the perito moreno glacier during mini trekking

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

If you have booked the option without pick-up, your tour ends at the port, however, we suggest you take the opportunity to visit the Perito Moreno footbridges, located just 4 miles (7 km) away.

If you have selected the option with pick up, your adventure continues! The minibus will be waiting to take you to the Perito Moreno footbridges. There you can enjoy the spectacular panoramic view of the glacier for an hour and walk along one of the self-guided trails before returning to your accommodation in El Calafate.

boy 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
Medium 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

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 43 miles (70 km).

The city of El Calafate is located 1,860 miles (3,000 km) from Buenos Aires, and 200 miles (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.