BalancedMinitrekking
First time on ice
- Duration
- 9 to 10 hours
- Guide
- Spanish, English
- Ticket line
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Guide · On the ice
Perito Moreno glacier trekking tours: walk on the ice itself
Crampons on, a guide in front and blue ice under your boots. Here is how the short and the long treks on the Perito Moreno glacier differ, and which one suits you.
Check availabilityfrom $69 · free cancellation
Editorial team, perito-moreno-glacier-tours.comUpdated October 16, 2026Read time: 7 min3 sources
Quick answer
- 01Short trek
- The Minitrekking day lasts 9 to 10 hours in total, from $450.
- 02Long trek
- A Big Ice trek takes 12 hours with a group of up to 10.
- 03Mixed
- A trekking tour with a cruise runs 5 to 11 hours, from $399.
- 04Gentler
- The Blue Safari adds a short ice walk to a boat trip, from $117.
- 05Ticket
- Buy the park ticket yourself; no excursion includes it.1
What trekking on the glacier is like
Seen from the balconies, the Perito Moreno is a wall. Walking on it, it becomes a landscape: ridges of white ice, deep blue cracks, small streams of meltwater and pools so clear they look painted. Perito Moreno glacier trekking tours take you onto that surface with a guide, crampons strapped to your boots and a route checked by the guides that morning. It is a rare chance to stand on a moving glacier without technical climbing skills or your own equipment, and it gives the glacier a scale no photograph can.
The ice you walk on is part of something enormous. The glacier covers around 250 square kilometers, a figure that is hard to picture until you see the ice field stretching back toward the mountains.2 The section you visit on a trek is a tiny corner near the edge, yet it already feels vast, and the silence away from the front is striking after the cracking and booming at the walkways.
Every trek follows the same basic pattern. You cross the water by boat to the side of the glacier, walk through the forest to the edge of the ice, receive crampons and a briefing, and then set off in small groups behind the guides. The difference between the options lies in how far you go, how long you spend on the ice and how demanding the terrain becomes. Choosing well depends on your fitness, your age and how much of the day you want to give to the ice.
A Big Ice day
From El Calafate onto the ice and back
-
Early morning
Pickup in town
The coach collects you in El Calafate.
-
Morning
Boat at Bajo de las Sombras
A boat takes the group across to the glacier side.
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Midday
On the ice
Crampons on, the long walk deep into the glacier.
-
Afternoon
The walkways
The route ends at the balconies facing the front.
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Evening
Back to town
The coach returns you to El Calafate.
The Perito Moreno glacier Minitrekking tour
The Minitrekking is the shorter classic trek and the usual choice for anyone stepping onto a glacier for the first time. A listing for the Perito Moreno glacier Minitrekking tour runs 9 to 10 hours from pickup to return, offers guides in Spanish and English, lets you skip the ticket line and starts from $450. Guests rate it 4.70 from 47 reviews, with the guiding scored at the top of the scale.
The time on the ice itself is only part of that day. The rest goes on the drive from El Calafate, the boat crossing, the forest walk to the edge of the glacier, the crampon fitting and the visit to the walkways. That rhythm makes the Minitrekking a full but relaxed outing: you see the glacier from the front, from the water and from above, and you still have energy left for dinner in El Calafate when the coach brings you back in the evening.
Operators set firm limits for age and fitness on every ice trek, and the details are listed on each offer. Read them before you book rather than at the dock, and be honest about knees, back and heart. The surface is uneven, the crampons feel strange for the first few minutes, and the guides keep a steady pace. Anyone used to normal hill walking usually finds the Minitrekking comfortable once the first slope is behind them.
Ratings
How trekkers rate each ice trip
points
Compared
Ice treks on the Perito Moreno glacier
| Trek | Duration | Group | Price from |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minitrekking | 9 to 10 hrs | Open | from $450 |
| Trekking tour and cruise | 5 to 11 hrs | Small group available | from $399 |
| Big Ice | 12 hrs | Up to 10 | from $588 |
| Big Ice, flexible | 7.5 to 12 hrs | Open | from $459 |
| Ice trekking day | 10 hrs | Open | from $520 |
| Blue Safari | 3 to 9 hrs | Open | from $117 |
Every amount is a from-price per person; durations cover the whole day from pickup.
Three ways onto the ice
Pick your trek
Balanced
Most reviewedTrek and cruise
Boat plus ice
- Duration
- 5 to 11 hours
- Group
- Small group available
- Guide
- English, Spanish
ToughestDecision helper
Which ice trip suits you?
Be honest about fitness and time, then pick.
Big Ice
A 12-hour day in a group of up to 10.
Minitrekking
A full but relaxed day of 9 to 10 hours.
Trek and cruise
Combines both, rated 4.81 by guests.
Blue Safari
A boat trip with a short ice walk.
A boat trip
See our guide to the boat tours instead.
At around 250 square kilometers, the Perito Moreno Glacier covers roughly three times the area of the city of Erlangen.
The Big Ice tour on the Perito Moreno
The Big Ice tour on the Perito Moreno goes further into the glacier and asks much more of you. One listing runs 12 hours, limits the group to 10 participants, is led by an instructor speaking English and Spanish and starts from $588. Its stops include the boat landing at Bajo de las Sombras, the glacier itself and, at the end of the day, the walkways. Guests rate it 4.89 from 53 reviews, a high score for such a demanding day.
Another Big Ice listing lasts 7.5 to 12 hours depending on the option and starts from $459. It is rated 4.81 from 32 reviews, with guide and transport both scored 5. The longer distance on the ice brings you away from the edge into a world of crevasses, seracs and blue lagoons that the short trek never reaches, and the quiet out there stays with you long after the crampons come off. It feels like a different glacier from the one you saw at the balconies.
Big Ice is a serious walk. You spend hours in crampons on an uneven surface, often with a harness, and the age and fitness limits are stricter than for the short trek. If you hike regularly and want to go far beyond the edge of the ice, it is a superb day. If you are unsure about your fitness or traveling with children, choose the Minitrekking or a boat trip and come back for Big Ice another year. The glacier will still be impressive from the shorter route.
Kit list
Ready for the ice
01
Wear
- Sturdy waterproof hiking boots
- Warm layers and a waterproof jacket
- Gloves and a warm hat
02
Bring
- Sunglasses and sunscreen for the glare
- Water and a packed lunch if not included
- Your national park ticket
Calculator
What the trek costs your group
Choose a trek and the number of people for the total from-price.
People
Total from$900
per guest from $450
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
COOLEST Hike Of My Life! | Minitrekking Perito Moreno Glacier
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Boat and ice combinations
Between the plain sailing and the full treks sit trips that mix both. A trekking tour with a cruise runs 5 to 11 hours depending on the option, offers small groups and starts from $399. Its route passes the boat landing at Bajo de las Sombras before reaching the glacier. It carries a large number of reviews for an ice trip, rated 4.81 from 852 reviews. It is a natural middle ground: enough ice to feel like a real trek, and enough time on the water to see the front from below.
The Blue Safari is the gentlest way to touch the ice. It combines a boat trip with a short walk on the glacier, lasts 3 to 9 hours depending on what you choose and starts from $117. Guests rate it 4.87 from 112 reviews. It suits travelers who want to stand on the ice and take the classic photo without committing to a long hike in crampons. For families and travelers short on time it is a relaxed way to say you have walked on the Perito Moreno.
A further ice trekking day from El Calafate lasts 10 hours with pickup included, a Spanish and English guide and free cancellation up to 24 hours ahead. It starts from $520 and is rated 4.53 from 125 reviews. When comparing these combinations, look closely at how long you actually spend on the ice, as that varies much more than the total length of the day suggests. Ask the operator if anything about the program is unclear.
How to choose your ice trek
Start with your body, not with the price. If you hike for several hours on rough ground without trouble, Big Ice takes you furthest into the glacier. If you are fit but not a hiker, the Minitrekking strikes a good balance between adventure and comfort. If mobility, age or nerves are a concern, the Blue Safari or a simple boat trip still brings you within touching distance of the ice.
Then look at your time. Every option fills most of a day, and the long treks start early and finish late. If you have only one full day in El Calafate, think about whether you would rather spend it deep on the ice or spread it across walkways, boat and town. With more days in town, you can visit the walkways first and trek on a later day, which also gives you a backup if the weather closes in.
Finally, check the small print. Group size, guide languages, pickup and the cancellation window differ between listings, and the park ticket is never part of the excursion.1 A second visit within the same window can be cheaper: the national parks give a 50% discount on the second day of a visit, valid for 72 hours from the first entry.3 Keep your first ticket if you plan to return.
What to wear and bring on the ice
Operators provide crampons and the guides fit them for you, but the rest of your kit matters. Wear sturdy, waterproof hiking boots that crampons can grip, warm layers you can open and close, a waterproof jacket and gloves. The ice reflects the sun strongly. Sunglasses and sunscreen are essential even on cloudy days, and a hat protects you from both cold and glare. Lip balm is a small thing you will be glad of.
Pack light. A small backpack with water, snacks or a packed lunch, a spare layer and your camera is enough. Long treks usually include a break on the ice, and some include a drink at the end, but check what your listing includes. Leave large bags in El Calafate; boats and forest paths are no place for luggage, and the guides prefer free hands for balance. Check the night before whether lunch is part of your trip.
Think about your camera before you go. Gloves make small buttons hard to use, and you will want both hands free on steeper sections. A wrist strap or a chest mount helps. Take photos when the guide stops the group rather than while walking, and remember that the blue of the ice photographs beautifully in soft light: a cloudy day is no disaster for pictures. Back up your photos in the evening before the next outing.
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.
Do I need experience to walk on the glacier?
No. Guides fit the crampons and lead the group; normal fitness for uneven ground is enough for the short trek.
How long is the Minitrekking day?
9 to 10 hours in total. That includes the drive from El Calafate, the boat, the forest walk and the ice.
How big is a Big Ice group?
Up to 10 people. The Big Ice listing compared here limits the group to 10 participants.
Are there age limits on the treks?
Yes, on every trek. Each operator lists its age and fitness limits; check them before you book.
Is the park ticket included?
No. No excursion includes the national park ticket; buy it before the day.1
What if I cannot do a long hike?
Try the Blue Safari. It pairs a boat trip with a short walk on the ice.
Can I cancel a trek for free?
Usually up to a day before. The Big Ice listing here allows free cancellation up to 24 hours ahead.
Sources
The sources for this guide
- 1Secretaría de Turismo de El CalafateExcursiones en El Calafate↩
- 2Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-NürnbergPerito Moreno Glacier is detaching from its anchor↩
- 3Administración de Parques NacionalesTarifas de acceso a los Parques Nacionales↩
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