
Patagonia Glaciers
Patagonia is home to some truly beautiful and gigantic glaciers and many travellers make it their aim to visit, kayak up to, or trek over as many as possible. We've chosen our …
One of the most famous and awe-inspiring of Argentina's natural wonders. Standing before it's 70-metre high electric blue face and watching 100-tonne blocks of ice crumble and crash into the waters below is truly humbling. Sail right up to the icy wall, or don crampons, grab an ice axe and trek across the surface.
Contents:
Contents:
The Perito Moreno Glacier
The Perito Moreno Glacier
Swoop's Chloe, Perito Moreno Glacier
Perito Moreno Glacier
Boat trip to Perito Moreno Glacier
Perito Moreno Glacier, Argentina
If you've never donned crampons or used an ice axe before then this is a great opportunity, no previous experience is required!
Trekking over the glacier, you'll clamber over deep blue crevasses, witness incredible ice caves and seracs, and splash through rivers of meltwater with an experienced guide and all the necessary safety equipment.
There are two different ice hike routes; both take a full day and include your transport to and from El Calafate. The 'Mini Ice' gives you 1h 40mins on the ice itself as part of a two-hour guided tour (age limit 10 - 65 years). The 'Big Ice' is aimed at more adventurous visitors and gives you 3h 30mins on the ice (age limit 18 - 50).
Combine a visit to Perito Moreno with an exploration of the fjords of Los Glaciares National Park. Hike around the ancient forests, black sand beaches, hidden waterfalls and massive hanging glaciers before sailing up to Perito Moreno.
You'll have time to gaze at the wall of ice from your boat, and also from the viewing balconies which offer spectacular vistas.
Take in the sheer size and beauty of Perito Moreno from a network of viewing balconies.
This is the most affordable and time efficient option to see the glacier, and still allows you to get stunning photos and see/hear the glacier calve and crash up close.
You can get to the walkways by car, or combine with a boat trip to take you up to the face of the glacier as well.
Swoop's Chloe, Perito Moreno Glacier
Jump in a kayak and paddle the pristine meltwater towards the glacier, where you can enjoy a silence not found on the boat trips or viewing balconies, only disturbed by the crashing of ice as it calves. Sitting atop the water allows you to explore from a unique position and experience a sense of scale as Perito Moreno towers impressively ahead.
You can combine kayaking with a visit to the viewing balconies for varied perspectives of the glacier.
Just observing Perito Moreno from the walkways is an unforgettable experience, but if you have more time or are feeling more adventurous we highly recommend a boat trip up to the face of the glacier, and an ice hike on it's surface.
Perito Moreno Glacier is accessed from the town of El Calafate, which can be reached by air from Buenos Aires or other domestic airports in Argentina, or by bus from Punta Arenas in Chile.
The Fitz Roy Range is accessed from the mountain town of El Chalten, which you can reach by bus (three hours) from the town of El Calafate, near to Perito Moreno.
Yes, you can access Torres del Paine by bus from the nearby town of El Calafate. The journey is approx five hours long to Puerto Natales, the gateway to Torres del Paine, from there it is another few hours into the park.
No, there is no experience required for ice hiking on Perito Moreno.
Yes, the shorter 'mini ice' hike has age limits of 10 to 65, and the longer 'big ice' hike has age limits of 18 - 50.
Perito Moreno Glacier trips scored 4.6/5 from 47 reviews
The hike on Perito Moreno glacier was so cool! I have hiked on other glaciers when the weather was bad, and we happened to get a bright and sunny day for this tour, so it made it very enjoyable.
Travelled: December 2017
Alysha - Colorado, USA
Big Ice trek was an outstanding experience - staff were great! We would never have thought of such an experience and that’s a credit to Swoop! Read the full review
Travelled: December 2018
Anne Marie McGonigal - United Kingdom
The glacier was a surprise--we weren't expecting it to be so impressive. Read the full review
Travelled: November 2018
Jen Keister - United States Of America
The Perito Moreno Glacier is breathtaking and easily accessible from the raised walkway in the park. We also did the boat tour, which offers history and closer view of the glacier.
Travelled: October 2017
Richard & Susan - Canada
The Perito Moreno Glacier
There are three reasons why Perito Moreno is so unique:
Accessibility: Very few glaciers are this easily accessible, whilst also being incredibly safe. It is close to the town of El Calafate, in a stable climate, viewable from walkways, by boat, and on the surface of the glacier itself.
Stability: Perito Moreno has been regarded as stable: it's surface, width and length have remained largely the same since 1971. This means that the snowfall in the accumulation zone is enough to balance out the mass lost from melting in the percolation zone.
Breaking: As it stretches into the Magallanes Peninsula, the glacier obstructs the water draining from Lago Rico into Lago Argentino. This causes water levels in Lago Rico to rise, increasing in pressure and eventually causing the glacier to break. This can take anything from one day to an entire week depending on the amount of water accumulated in Lago Rico, and the ice mass blocking it. These breaking cycles are irregular, happening every 2-16 years: the last ones were 2006, 2004 and before that 1988!
It's not hard to see why Perito Moreno is one of the best known glaciers in the world.
It is one of the largest glaciers of the Los Glaciares region, at a massive 254 square kilometres. It is 19 miles long, 3 miles wide, and 730 metres thick at it's deepest point. The glacier is fed by the Southern Patagonian Ice Field, the worlds third largest freshwater reserve.
Perito Moreno towers an average of 55 metres above the surface of the lake at its face, and descends around 120 metres below the surface. Unlike most glaciers worldwide which are in retreat, Perito Moreno is believed to be advancing at a rate of 2.64 metres a day.
The Perito Moreno Glacier
Patagonia is home to some truly beautiful and gigantic glaciers and many travellers make it their aim to visit, kayak up to, or trek over as many as possible. We've chosen our …
Named after the local Calafate berry, El Calafate is the gateway to Los Glaciares National Park. Legend has it that eating one of the berries will guarantee your return to …
Sat at the base of Mount Fitz Roy, El Chalten has a rich mountaineering heritage that attracts climbers from all over the world. Hiking trails head straight out from town, …
Trek amongst jagged, snow-capped peaks and electric-blue lakes, venture out into open valleys and private reserves, or visit the icy glaciers that roll from the Southern …
The massive South Patagonian Ice Cap feeds the many glaciers that give Argentina's most famous national park its name. Hikers and climbers flock to the hub towns of El Calafate and El Chalten to explore the famous Fitz Roy massif, Perito Moreno glacier or the giant ice sheet itself on day hikes, long treks or boat trips.
We'll spend some time listening to your aspirations, then discuss the kind of experience that might suit you.
Next we'll discuss the options, shortlist the best trips for you and present you our impartial recommendations.
We'll place a 24 hour hold on your preferred option - without obligation - whilst we talk through the details.
Whatever your budget, group size, length of stay, preferred activity or appetite for adventure, we can help.
1-855-369-7866This website uses cookies to ensure you get the best experience on our website. Privacy policy