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Approach Perito Moreno by boat, hike its moraine and spend three hours walking across ancient ice with crampons and guides. This full-day Big Ice tour combines navigation, forest trails and technical minitrekking for an intense Patagonian experience.
Approach Perito Moreno by boat, hike its moraine and spend three hours walking across ancient ice with crampons and guides. This full-day Big Ice tour combines navigation, forest trails and technical minitrekking for an intense Patagonian experience.
A cold wind off the Rico arm pushes across the bow as the boat threads toward the southern wall of Perito Moreno. Ice groans and collapses intermittently; blue towers tilt and fall into the lake, daring you to get closer. On shore, lenga forest opens to moraine ridges, then the glacier itself—an expanse of crevassed blue that the guides invite you to cross with crampons biting into ancient compacted snow.
Verified experiences and guided adventures in the surrounding area.
Operated by Nautilus Viajes · El Calafate, Santa Cruz Province
A cold wind off the Rico arm pushes across the bow as the boat threads toward the southern wall of Perito Moreno. Ice groans and collapses intermittently; blue towers tilt and fall into the lake, daring you to get closer. On shore, lenga forest opens to moraine ridges, then the glacier itself—an expanse of crevassed blue that the guides invite you to cross with crampons biting into ancient compacted snow.
Perito Moreno sits in Los Glaciares National Park, a product of Patagonian ice flow that has carved fjords and left moraine scars since the last Ice Age. Unlike many retreating glaciers, Perito Moreno periodically calves in spectacular, audible sections—an active face fed by the Southern Patagonian Ice Field. The area is Mapuche territory historically, and contemporary El Calafate grew as a gateway for sheep ranching and later glacier tourism.
Expect 7–8 hours on-site: a panoramic platform visit, a 20–40 minute boat crossing, two hours of moraine hiking, and a three-hour guided minitrek on the glacier. Terrain varies—lakeshore, packed moraine, then steep, uneven ice with crevasses, seracs and icy streams. Guides provide helmets, harnesses and crampons and lead small groups for on-ice navigation.
Practical tips: wear waterproof boots with ankle support, layer for wind and sun, bring lunch and water (no services at the shelter), and be prepared for rapid weather changes. Fitness is essential; if you’re comfortable on steep trail and uneven ice, this is an unforgettable way to engage with one of Patagonia’s most dramatic landscapes.
challenging.
11 hours (including transfers).
Requires high fitness: steady on uneven terrain, able to hike 2–3 hours on moraine then 3 hours on ice.
The guided minitrek on the glacier is approximately three hours, conducted in small groups with two guides per group.
Yes — guides supply crampons, helmets and harnesses and demonstrate correct use before you step onto the ice.
Children can join if physically capable and meeting safety requirements, but the operator requires participants to be fit and able to hike on uneven terrain; age restrictions may apply.
Glacier conditions vary daily; operators may adjust the itinerary for safety but the tour is generally conducted unless conditions become hazardous, and sales are final per operator policy.
Los Glaciares National Park was established in 1937 to protect this section of the Southern Patagonian Ice Field; Perito Moreno is named after Argentine explorer Francisco Moreno.
Visitors are encouraged to stick to trails and follow guide instructions to minimize trampling and disturbance; the park manages access to protect fragile moraine vegetation and glacial runoff.
Nautilus Viajes operates guided outdoor trips and adventures with an emphasis on safety, stewardship, and memorable experiences.
A cold wind off the Rico arm pushes across the bow as the boat threads toward the southern wall of Perito Moreno. Ice groans and collapses intermittently; blue towers tilt and fall into the lake, daring you to get closer. On shore, lenga forest opens to moraine ridges, then the glacier itself—an expanse of crevassed blue that the guides invite you to cross with crampons biting into ancient compacted snow.
A cold wind off the Rico arm pushes across the bow as the boat threads toward the southern wall of Perito Moreno. Ice groans and collapses intermittently; blue towers tilt and fall into the lake, daring you to get closer. On shore, lenga forest opens to moraine ridges, then the glacier itself—an expanse of crevassed blue that the guides invite you to cross with crampons biting into ancient compacted snow.
Perito Moreno sits in Los Glaciares National Park, a product of Patagonian ice flow that has carved fjords and left moraine scars since the last Ice Age. Unlike many retreating glaciers, Perito Moreno periodically calves in spectacular, audible sections—an active face fed by the Southern Patagonian Ice Field. The area is Mapuche territory historically, and contemporary El Calafate grew as a gateway for sheep ranching and later glacier tourism.
Expect 7–8 hours on-site: a panoramic platform visit, a 20–40 minute boat crossing, two hours of moraine hiking, and a three-hour guided minitrek on the glacier. Terrain varies—lakeshore, packed moraine, then steep, uneven ice with crevasses, seracs and icy streams. Guides provide helmets, harnesses and crampons and lead small groups for on-ice navigation.
Practical tips: wear waterproof boots with ankle support, layer for wind and sun, bring lunch and water (no services at the shelter), and be prepared for rapid weather changes. Fitness is essential; if you’re comfortable on steep trail and uneven ice, this is an unforgettable way to engage with one of Patagonia’s most dramatic landscapes.