EasiestGuided day trip
Pickup at your hotel
- Duration
- 8 hours
- Guide
- Spanish, English
- Boat
- Optional
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Guide · Getting there
How to get to the Perito Moreno glacier, every way compared
The glacier sits at the end of a paved road west of El Calafate. Tour coach, bus, rental car or taxi: here is how each option works, and what to sort out before you leave town.
Check availabilityfrom $69 · free cancellation
Editorial team, perito-moreno-glacier-tours.comUpdated October 16, 2026Read time: 7 min11 sources
Quick answer
Where the glacier is, and the road that leads there
Knowing how to get to the Perito Moreno glacier starts with the map. The glacier ends at the tip of the Magellan peninsula, on the far side of Lago Argentino from El Calafate, inside Los Glaciares National Park. Visitors reach it from town by road, and every option, from tour coach to rental car, follows the same route along the southern shore of the lake and into the park. There is no train, and boats on the lake are for sightseeing rather than transport from town.
The route is simple and paved all the way. From El Calafate to the glacier it is 80 km on paved road, and the first 40 km cross open Patagonian steppe before you reach the park entrance.5 The road is provincial road RP 11, and fees for the park are collected at a gate on the way.1 Inside the park the scenery changes to forest and lake views, and the road winds more as it approaches the peninsula and the walkways at the end of the road.
If you fly in, El Calafate's airport, Comandante Armando Tola, receives daily flights from around Argentina and seasonal international ones.6 Getting from the airport into town, and from Buenos Aires or Chile to El Calafate in the first place, is covered by our sister guide to El Calafate glacier tours. This page starts in El Calafate itself and ends at the balconies facing the ice, with every option compared on the way.
The road
From El Calafate to the balconies
-
Start
El Calafate
Leave town westward on RP 11.1
-
First stretch
The steppe
Open steppe before the park entrance.5
-
Park gate
Show your ticket
Fees are collected at the gate on the way.1
-
Inside the park
Forest and lake
The road winds toward the peninsula.
-
Arrival
Car park or bus stop
Two car parks serve the glacier area.7
-
On foot
The walkways
Balconies face the ice, with an accessible area.8
A guided day trip with hotel pickup
The easiest way to reach the glacier is to let someone else drive. Guided day trips collect you at your hotel, take care of the route and the timing, and bring you back in the evening. The tour sold on this site includes hotel pickup and drop-off, a bilingual guide in Spanish and English and an optional boat ride, over a day of 8 hours. It starts from $69 and is rated 4.74 from 2,735 reviews.
Similar day trips start from $60 for a guided national park tour with an optional cruise. Several listings are marked wheelchair accessible, among them a guided full-day tour starting from $65. A guided tour also explains what you are seeing, which adds a great deal to a landscape that is otherwise hard to read: the moraines, the forest, the lake colors and the history of the ice dam all make more sense with a guide.
The trade-off is flexibility. A tour fixes the departure time, the order of the day and how long you stay at each balcony. If the weather is clear in the afternoon but cloudy at your scheduled time, you cannot simply wait. For travelers with limited time, little interest in driving and a wish to see the glacier without any planning, a guided day trip is still the simplest answer, and it removes every logistical question from the list.
Compared
Ways to reach the glacier from El Calafate
| Option | Planning | Flexibility | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Guided day trip | None | Fixed schedule | from $60 per person |
| This site's day trip | None | Fixed schedule | from $69 per person |
| Scheduled bus | Some | Bus timetable | Fare at the office in town |
| Rental car | Most | Full | Car hire and fuel |
Tour prices are from-prices per person; the park ticket is extra for every option.4
Your options
How you can reach the ice
Easiest
Flexible budgetScheduled bus
Independent, no car
- Booking
- Office in town
- Guide
- None
- Ticket
- Bought separately
Most freedomDecision helper
Which way should you go?
Pick the line that sounds most like you.
Guided day trip
Pickup, guide and return in one booking.
Scheduled bus
Scheduled services reach the glacier from town.2
Rental car
Drive out within the park corridor hours.3
Accessible tour or car
The upper car park is reserved for reduced mobility.7
Guided tour or early start
Winter entry runs 9 am to 4 pm.3
The excursion can be made through scheduled services or travel agencies, with alternatives from different companies, or by private or rental car.
The Perito Moreno glacier by bus
If you want to go without a guide but also without a car, scheduled services run from El Calafate to the glacier. The tourism office lists scheduled services, travel agencies with alternatives from different companies, and private or rental cars as the ways to make the trip.2 Reaching the Perito Moreno glacier by bus means booking a seat with one of the companies in town and riding out in the morning, then returning on a later service in the afternoon.
Buses suit independent travelers who are happy to plan their own day at the walkways. You choose how long to stay within the bus schedule, you can add a short boat ride on your own, and you skip the commentary if you prefer silence. Check the departure and return times carefully at the office in town, and keep a little time in reserve before the last return; missing it is an expensive mistake this far from El Calafate.
There is a stop at the glacier for the scheduled services, close to the start of the walkways. Remember that the bus fare does not include the park: you pay the park ticket separately, as with every excursion.4 Buy it online in advance, save it to your phone, and have your passport ready, since the gate may check your visitor category against your document. A small backpack with water and snacks completes the kit.
Map
From El Calafate to the ice front
The glacier lies 80 km of paved road west of El Calafate, at the end of the Magellan peninsula.5
1El Calafate2Airport3The walkways4Brazo Rico
3Balcón Inferior5Mirador 16Balcón norte7Bus stop
8Puerto Natales1El Calafate3The walkways
- 1El Calafate
The town on Lago Argentino where the tours start; the glacier is 80 km away by paved road.5
In Google Maps ↗ - 2El Calafate airport
Comandante Armando Tola airport has daily flights from around Argentina and seasonal international ones.6
In Google Maps ↗ - 3The walkways
A network of balconies facing the ice front, with an area built for accessibility.8
- 4Brazo Rico
The arm of the lake the glacier has dammed again and again since 1940.9
In Google Maps ↗ - 5Mirador 1
One of the lower viewpoints on the walkway circuit, close to the water.
In Google Maps ↗ - 6Balcón norte
The northern balcony, looking across the front toward the boat routes.
In Google Maps ↗ - 7Bus stop
Where scheduled services from El Calafate stop; the glacier can also be reached by agency tour or car.2
- 8Puerto Natales
The Chilean town across the border, the start of the day trips that cross to the glacier.
In Google Maps ↗
Checklist
Before you set off
01
Sort out
- Buy the park ticket online
- Confirm pickup or bus times
- Check the park corridor hours for your month
02
Take with you
- Warm, windproof layers
- Water and food for the day
- Your passport for the park gate
Calculator
What a guided trip costs your group
Compare the guided options for your number of travelers.
People
Total from$138
per guest from $69
Check availabilityfree cancellationGlacier tour prices start from what GetYourGuide lists; for other currencies we apply the ECB reference rate, and checkout confirms the final sum.
Video
How to See PERITO MORENO GLACIER! (El Calafate Guide)
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The Perito Moreno glacier without a tour, by car
Driving gives you the most freedom of all. Seeing the Perito Moreno glacier without a tour, behind your own wheel, lets you leave early, stay late, stop for guanacos on the steppe and follow the weather instead of a timetable. The road is paved throughout, and the route is the same RP 11 the coaches use.1 For travelers with a few days in town and a sense of adventure, it is a very rewarding way to visit.
At the glacier the parking is well organized. There are two car parks: the lower one for private vehicles and the upper one for private vehicles carrying visitors with reduced mobility, such as pregnant travelers and people with disabilities.7 In summer the lower car park fills during the middle of the day, and arriving early also gives you quieter balconies and softer light on the ice.
Mind the hours. Only the road corridor to the glacier has fixed access times: from 1 September to 30 April entry is from 8 am to 6 pm, with visitors allowed to remain until 8 pm.3 From 1 May to 31 August entry runs from 9 am to 4 pm, with stays allowed until 6 pm.3 Plan the drive back in daylight, especially in winter when the afternoons are short and the road can be icy. Carry warm clothes in the car in case of delays.
How to visit the Perito Moreno glacier, step by step
Whichever transport you choose, the steps for how to visit the Perito Moreno glacier are the same. First, buy your park ticket. The daily pass for Los Glaciares costs 50,000 Argentine pesos at the general rate, 25,000 for Argentine nationals, 8,000 for residents of the province and 15,000 for students.10 Children up to the age of 6 enter free.11 Keep the ticket on your phone or printed.
Second, choose your transport and confirm the times: a pickup window for a tour, a departure and return for the bus, or a start time that fits the park hours if you drive. Third, pack for changeable weather. Warm layers, a waterproof jacket, gloves, water and food matter more here than in town, since the air near the ice is colder and the walkways are exposed to the wind. A thermos of something hot is a welcome luxury on the balconies.
At the glacier, follow the signs from the car park or bus stop to the walkways and choose your balconies. There are services on site: a restaurant, a snack bar, toilets, parking, primary health care and photography services.2 If you plan a boat ride, book it in town or at the dock and leave enough time to return to the walkways before your bus or tour leaves. The boat docks lie a short drive from the main car park.
Which way to the glacier is right for you
There is no single right answer, only the right fit for your trip. If you want zero planning and a guide who explains the glacier, book a day trip with pickup. If you want independence on a budget, take the scheduled bus and plan your own hours at the walkways. If you want full control over timing and stops, and you are comfortable driving in Patagonia, rent a car for the day. None of these choices is wrong.
Think about the season too. In summer, long days and extended park hours make every option easy. In winter, shorter park hours and darker afternoons favor guided tours or an early start by car.3 Wind and snow can also make driving more demanding, and a professional driver who knows the road is worth a great deal on a stormy day. Check the forecast the evening before and decide then.
Finally, remember that the glacier is not the whole reason to come. The drive across the steppe, the forest inside the park and the first glimpse of ice across the water are all part of the journey. Whichever way you travel, leave time to look around on the way, and you will arrive at the walkways already in the mood for the main event. The ice will be waiting at the end of the road.
Book your day
The ice front is waiting at the end of the road.
Reserve today, pay later, and cancel free of charge until a day before your trip.
You ask,we answer.
How far is the glacier from El Calafate?
80 km by road. Provincial road RP 11 leads from town to the glacier.1
Is the road to the glacier paved?
Yes, all the way. The 80 km from El Calafate are paved.5
Is there a bus to the glacier?
Yes, scheduled services run. Scheduled services, agencies and rental cars all reach the glacier.2
Where do I park?
In the glacier car parks. The lower car park is for private vehicles, the upper one for visitors with reduced mobility.7
What are the park hours?
They change with the season. From May to August entry runs 9 am to 4 pm.3
Do I need a ticket?
Yes, for every visitor over 6. Children up to 6 enter free; everyone else needs the park pass.11
Can I fly straight to the glacier?
No, you fly to El Calafate. The town's airport receives daily flights from around Argentina.6
Sources
The sources for this guide
- 1Administración de Parques NacionalesParque Nacional Los Glaciares: horarios / cómo llegar↩
- 2Secretaría de Turismo de El CalafateEn Glaciar Perito Moreno↩
- 3Administración de Parques NacionalesParque Nacional Los Glaciares: horarios / cómo llegar↩
- 4Secretaría de Turismo de El CalafateExcursiones en El Calafate↩
- 5Secretaría de Turismo de El CalafateEn Glaciar Perito Moreno↩
- 6Administración de Parques NacionalesParque Nacional Los Glaciares: horarios / cómo llegar↩
- 7Administración de Parques NacionalesParque Nacional Los Glaciares: horarios / cómo llegar↩
- 8Secretaría de Turismo de El CalafateEn Glaciar Perito Moreno↩
- 9Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-NürnbergPerito Moreno Glacier is detaching from its anchor↩
- 10Administración de Parques NacionalesTarifas de acceso a los Parques Nacionales↩
- 11Administración de Parques NacionalesTarifas de acceso a los Parques Nacionales↩
