After finishing our trek in Torres del Paine National Park over Christmas, we simply couldn’t miss one of Argentina’s natural gems for New Year’s! So, once again, we left Chile behind to visit the famous Perito Moreno Glacier, located on the Argentine side of Patagonia, just a stone’s throw from the border. Follow our travel guide for a full immersion in breathtaking landscapes!
Introduction to the glacier
An absolute gem of Patagonia and Argentina, the Perito Moreno Glacier is located in Los Glaciares National Park and is one of the 48 glaciers in the Southern Patagonian Ice Field. This chain of glaciers is part of the mighty Andes mountain range and forms the world’s third-largest ice cap after Antarctica and Greenland! Incidentally, the impressive Grey Glacier we saw during our trek in Torres del Paine is also part of this ice field.
As for its size, the Perito Moreno is truly awe-inspiring: it stretches 30 km long, covers an area of 250 km², and its face stands 70 meters high—plus an additional 100 meters submerged in Lake Argentino! Thanks to its easy accessibility, it’s no surprise that it’s one of the most visited sites in the country.
Fun fact: You might know that most glaciers around the world are retreating due to climate change. But not the Perito Moreno! It’s one of the rare glaciers that’s still advancing—by about 2 meters per day! This phenomenon occurs because the ice slides downhill under the force of gravity. The loss of ice chunks at the glacier’s front is balanced by new ice formation at higher altitudes.
The best time to visit the glacier
The peak tourist season runs from December to February, during the austral summer. The weather is pleasant and it’s the best time to hear the glacier cracking. Large chunks of ice break off and crash into the turquoise waters of the lake with a thunderous roar. In winter, from May to September, it’s still stunning, but you won’t experience the ‘living’ glacier so to speak.
How to get to the Perito Moreno Glacier?
The closest town to the glacier is El Calafate, located 80 km away in the province of Santa Cruz. Most tours start from here, so you’ll likely spend at least one night before heading off to other Argentine or Chilean adventures.
Getting to El Calafate
El Calafate is well-served by bus and airplane. We’ll give you all the details on how to get there from nearby major cities, whether in Argentina or Chile. If you’re staying for several days in Patagonia, it might be worth renting a car.
From Bariloche
From Argentina’s little Switzerland, you can take a bus or a flight. There are few direct flights from Bariloche, and they’re quite expensive—at least 170,000 pesos. By bus, the main company operating the route is Marga Taqsa. Be warned—it’s pure slow travel: 1 day and 6 hours trip! Don’t worry, you’ll be in cama, with comfortable reclining seats. For tickets, expect to pay at least 140,000 pesos each.
From El Chaltén
It’s only a 2-hour-40-minute drive to El Calafate from El Chaltén. By bus, in semi-cama, the journey takes 3 hours, and tickets start at 16,000 pesos. Check the schedules here, as buses depart throughout the day.
From Punta Arenas
There are no direct buses between Punta Arenas and El Calafate… And flying isn’t really worth it since there are no direct flights. The idea is to first get to Puerto Natales.
From Puerto Natales
This is the route we took! After spending Christmas at Torres del Paine, we headed straight to El Calafate for New Year’s. The buses take between 5 hours 20 minutes and 6 hours to cross the border and reach the Argentine side of Patagonia. To check the schedules, click here. Tickets in semi-cama are 32,000 pesos per person.
Getting to the Perito Moreno Glacier from El Calafate
By car
The Route 11 that leads to the glacier’s parking lot is beautiful and well-maintained, making the 1 hour and 20-minute drive a pleasure. If your car is only half full, you can always look for friends at the hostels to share the gas costs, or even the car rental if you rent one for the day. For a 5-seater car rented in the morning and returned in the evening, expect to pay at least 150,000 Argentine pesos. If you manage to fill the car, the price per person is more affordable than taking the bus! Plus, the advantage is that if you leave early, you’ll arrive before the first bus!
By bus
To reach the Perito Moreno Glacier by public transport, it’s super easy since it’s a major tourist site in Argentina. From the bus station (Terminal de Omnibus El Calafate), buses leave from 8:30 a.m. towards the glacier and return to El Calafate throughout the afternoon. The ticket costs about 28,000 pesos (26 euros) one-way, and you’ll need to add a terminal fee of 3,000 pesos. Little tip: book your bus tickets online and ask the agency to pick you up at your hotel. That way, the round-trip ticket should be cheaper.
With a guided tour
If you want to learn everything about the glacier and the area, we recommend this guided tour with transport and a guide included, or this one, which also includes a boat trip on Lago Argentino.
By hitchhiking
Hitchhiking works great in Argentina, and many travelers move around Patagonia this way. Stand at the exit of El Calafate; since Route 11 is the only road to the glacier, you’re very likely to get a ride!
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Staying in El Calafate
There are no accommodations near the Perito Moreno Glacier, and wild camping is strictly forbidden. For your stay, El Calafate is where you’ll want to be. The town offers a wide variety of hotels and hostels. Here’s our selection for every taste and budget:
- For a bed in a dorm, we recommend Calafate Hostel. It’s ideally located, and breakfast is included in the price. Perfect for backpackers!
- Hostel Aves del Lago and Hostel Nakel Yenu: these two hostels offer rooms for all budgets! From dormitory beds to complete apartments and double rooms with beautiful views of nature, these places offer great value for money!
- For more privacy, Amancay Aparts is a charming apartment with free parking if you have a car. Well-located, it’s the perfect place to make a stop and have a little home-away-from-home while visiting the glacier.
Visiting El Calafate
Let’s not kid ourselves, El Calafate isn’t the most exciting town in Patagonia. But here are a few places and walks worth the journey, so you don’t just spend the day doing the Perito Moreno Glacier excursion. Are you more into wildlife, glaciology, or history? 
Walk in the Laguna Nimez Reserve
The day before tackling the glacier, we headed north of the town to the Laguna Nimez Nature Reserve. This natural reserve of flora and fauna is home to about a hundred species of birds, and the 3 km trail is divided into 5 different natural environments with plenty of viewpoints over the lake and the lagoon. We were lucky enough to see quite a few birds, including flamingos in the late afternoon! The entrance fee is 12,000 pesos per person. Visit the reserve’s website for more information.
If you prefer just strolling along the lake to catch the sunset, take the path along the road next to the reserve.
Visit the Glaciarium
The Glaciarium is the museum to visit before heading to the glacier. Why? Because it’s dedicated to glaciers, and a large part of it focuses on the Perito Moreno. So, if you’re arriving in El Calafate the day before your visit, it might be a great idea to stop by the museum to become an expert on glaciers before getting up close to the massive frozen giant.
It’s open daily from noon to 8 p.m., and entry costs 20,000 pesos for the museum, 25,000 for the ice bar, or 30,000 for both. Tip: If you only want to visit the museum, we recommend buying your tickets on Civitatis, as they’re currently cheaper than the on-site price! You can book online or pay on-site. The museum also offers a free shuttle service from downtown, next to the ACA hotel, and it’ll take you there in 12 minutes. It runs every hour from 1:30 p.m. to 8 p.m., and you can hop on even without pre-booking your ticket. If you’re staying nearby, we highly recommend this free service
Visit the Historical Interpretation Center
Another point of interest in El Calafate is the historical interpretation center, which traces the entire history of Patagonia through a lovely small exhibition. The entrance costs 14,000 pesos per person and an audio guide is included.
What to do around the Perito Moreno Glacier?
As we mentioned in our article on trekking in Torres del Paine, the Perito Moreno Glacier is a fantastic stop to discover a side of Patagonia without breaking the bank. The star attraction is obviously the massive block of ice, and here’s a rundown of the activities around the glacier.
Follow the trails around the Perito Moreno
Once you reach the parking lot, everything is clearly marked, and you can’t get lost on the network of walkways. There are plenty of viewpoints to observe the glacier from almost every angle. Here’s a small map to show you the different trails, and the signs use the same color coding to guide you.
Usually, the shuttles will give you 3 hours at the site, which is plenty of time to explore the trails. Note that there are quite a few stairs on the route, and one trail is reserved for people with reduced mobility.
Tip: Take your time to observe all the shades of blue and listen to the cracking ice. Also, stay in one spot for a while—you’re likely to see a huge chunk of ice tumble into the water with a thunderous crash. This spectacle is truly impressive, and you won’t get tired of it!
Note: If you’re going on your own, you can park at either of the two parking lots. The first is on the left and gives access to all the trails. The second is lower down, on the right. If you want to do the full loop through all the walkways, some vehicles shuttle between the two parking lots for free.
Get closer to the glacier by boat
If you have time, get up close to the glacier by taking a boat tour on Lago Argentino. The tour lasts 1 hour, and you’ll have a guide to share the secrets of the Perito Moreno with you. Some tours combine the boat ride, a guided visit, and transport for a complete experience. Fabienne’s dad invited us on this excursion, and honestly, we were blown away! It was here that we truly realized the glacier’s size and saw all the different shades of ice.
Hike on the glacier
A popular activity around the glacier is ice trekking! For adrenaline junkies, this half-day or full-day glacier hike is a great way to get active. Trekking independently is not allowed; you must go through an agency that will provide all the necessary equipment and a guide. There are 3 options based on your fit level and desire:
- The easiest: This tour includes a boat excursion on the south side of the glacier, a landing on the opposite shore, and a small hike on solid ground right next to the ice wall.
- The intermediate: Known as the mini-trek, this option includes the easy tour plus a 1.5-hour guided trek on the glacier.
- The advanced: The Big Ice Trek is for those who are fit: 7 hours of hiking, 4 of which are on the glacier. This option also includes the boat crossing and the walk on the walkways.
We admit it’s not cheap… but if you have the budget and it’s your first glacier, it could be an unforgettable experience!
Kayak on Lago Argentino or Río Santa Cruz
Another sporty activity around the glacier is kayaking! Whether on Lago Argentino or two of its tributaries, Río Santa Cruz and La Leona, if water sports are your thing, you’ll love kayaking on the icy waters as you get closer to the Perito Moreno or discovering another side of the region.
Practical information
- Los Glaciares National Park is open daily, from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. in summer (September 1–April 30) and from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. in winter (May 1–August 31).
- Entrance fees to enter Los Glaciares National Park now cost 45,000 pesos per person. You can reserve online through the official site or buy tickets on-site.
- In the end, how much does it cost to visit the Perito Moreno? Prices in Argentina have skyrocketed in recent years, and it’s hard to do a simple excursion with one night in El Calafate for less than 111 dollars (111,000 pesos) per person. Hitchhiking can save on transport, but park entry is still expensive. If we did it again, we’d stick to just walking the walkways to enjoy the views without the boat trip.
- We recommend bringing your own food, although there are 2 restaurants on-site. The view from the dining area is gorgeous, but the prices are steep!
- Dress warmly! As you can imagine, it’s cold around the glacier, so layer up, and don’t forget gloves and a windbreaker.
I think we’ve covered everything about the Perito Moreno Glacier! Have you ever seen another glacier? As for us, we’re slowly heading north, next stop: El Chaltén and the iconic Fitz Roy!
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