Perito Moreno Glacier Boat Tour

For travelers who want the most complete experience, the 5-hour Perito Moreno Glacier Trekking Tour and Cruise operated by Patagonia Dreams. It runs from ~$399 per person and combines a boat crossing from Bajo de las Sombras, a Patagonian forest walk, approximately one hour of guided trekking on the glacier in crampons, and time at the boardwalk viewpoints. It holds a 4.8/5 rating from 858 reviews with bilingual English and Spanish guiding. If you only want to see the glacier rather than walk on it, the classic 8-hour day trip at ~$69 is the better value.

Prices on this page range from about ~$60 to ~$399 per person. The budget boardwalk and boat option starts at ~$60, the classic 8-hour day trip at ~$69, the Glaciers Gourmet Experience full-day cruise at ~$235, and the glacier trekking and cruise tour at ~$399. All are per-person starting prices that vary by season, departure date and the option you select. Los Glaciares National Park admission is charged separately on all four.

It depends on the tour. On the glacier trekking tour the boat crossing is built into the itinerary — roughly 30 minutes of sailing across Lago Argentino from Bajo de las Sombras. On the ~$69 classic day trip and the ~$60 budget guided tour, the one-hour cruise is an optional upgrade rather than standard inclusion, so you need to select that option when booking. The Glaciers Gourmet Experience is entirely a cruise, but it sails a different route past Upsala and Bertacchi Glaciers rather than along the Perito Moreno front.

The short glacier-front cruises last about one hour. On the trekking tour, the crossing to the far shore takes approximately 30 minutes each way. The Glaciers Gourmet Experience is a full-day sailing of about 8 hours including lunch and several stops. The day trips themselves run 8 hours door to door from El Calafate, of which roughly three hours is driving.

Yes, but only on a guided ice trekking tour with certified mountain guides — you cannot simply walk onto the glacier from the boardwalks. On the trekking and cruise tour, guides provide crampons, safety equipment and instruction, then lead groups for approximately one hour on the ice at roughly one guide per ten guests. During the trek you may see crevasses, ice formations, deep blue ice, meltwater channels and irregular glacier surfaces.

The trekking tour is listed as unsuitable for children under 8, adults over 65, pregnant travelers, people with mobility impairments, wheelchair users, people with heart or respiratory conditions, travelers recovering from recent surgery, and people with a low level of fitness. It is generally available to travelers roughly 8 to 65 years old, and large luggage and bags are not allowed. If anyone in your group falls outside those limits, the boardwalk day trips have no comparable restrictions.

No. None of the four tours on this page includes Los Glaciares National Park admission — it is paid separately, either at the park gate on arrival or online in advance. The fee is set in Argentine pesos at a non-resident rate that changes seasonally, so check the current amount close to your travel date and carry a working payment method with you.

Two different ports serve two different kinds of trip. Bajo de las Sombras is the small port used for the glacier trekking crossing and for south-face cruises, reached by road about 1.5 hours from El Calafate. Puerto Bandera and La Soledad Port, closer to town, serve the longer catamaran cruises toward Upsala and the other northern glaciers. Check which port your booking voucher names before travel day — they are not interchangeable.

Quite possibly, but no operator can guarantee it. Perito Moreno advances continually and sheds ice from its front year-round, so on a typical visit most travelers hear several collapses and see at least one. You usually hear it before you see it — a crack that carries across the water like distant thunder. The best strategy is to stay at one viewpoint and watch patiently rather than moving constantly between platforms.

Bring your passport or ID card, comfortable sturdy shoes, weather-appropriate clothing, warm layers and a packed lunch. Wind coming off the ice is cold even in midsummer, so a windproof outer layer, gloves and a hat are sensible in any month. On the trekking tour, footwear matters considerably more than on a standard sightseeing excursion because crampons need closed, sturdy shoes with ankle support to strap onto securely.

Only on the Glaciers Gourmet Experience, where lunch is either a four-course gourmet meal or a lunchbox depending on the option selected. The trekking tour does not include a packed lunch unless otherwise specified, and neither of the 8-hour day trips includes food, snacks or drinks. There is a cafeteria at the park, but queues are long and prices high, so most experienced visitors bring lunch from El Calafate.

The main Patagonian season runs from November to March, with the longest daylight, the warmest conditions and the fullest departure schedules. December and January are the busiest months. October and April are quieter shoulder months with softer light and lower prices, at the cost of shorter days and less predictable weather. Winter visits are spectacular under snow but some boat services reduce their schedules, so confirm departures before booking flights.

No. The trekking operator explicitly advises against booking the activity on your arrival or departure day, because the glacier is 1.5 hours from town in each direction and Patagonian wind regularly delays flights into El Calafate. The same reasoning applies to the 8-hour day trips. Leave at least one buffer day on either side so a delayed flight does not cost you the excursion.

The glacier trekking and cruise tour offers free cancellation up to 24 hours before departure and a reserve-now-pay-later option. Cancellation terms are set by each provider and differ by tour, option and date, so always confirm the specific policy shown at checkout. All bookings, payments, changes, refunds and customer support are handled directly by the tour operator or booking platform.