As avid adventurers with a passion for the outdoors, my husband & I have hiked on all kinds of terrain in various parts of the world. Our Iceland honeymoon was an epic winter wonderland experience that included a variety of snow excursions. But alas, even amongst a country-full of ice, we did not get the opportunity to explore on the surface of one! Fortunately, while we were planning our Patagonia trip, we discovered ice trekking tours on Perito Moreno Glacier. While an Arctic expedition has forever been on my bucket list, never did I imagine I would get to step foot on a real live glacier! Little did I know, Argentina is home to one of the largest glaciers in the world, following Antarctica & Greenland! However, the only way to explore Perito Moreno Glacier is to book a tour with the one company that has access to it, Hielo y Aventura.

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What Makes Perito Moreno Glacier So Unique?

Perito Moreno Glacier is located in the Los Glaciares National Park (Parque Nacional Los Glaciares) & sits on the edge of Lago Argentino among 48 glaciers in Argentina. Back in 1981, Los Glaciares was declared a UNESCO World Heritage site to help preserve the Southern Patagonia Ice Field. It is critical that we protect glaciers as they not only reflect sunlight to keep our planet cool, but they are an essential source of global freshwater.

Currently, Perito Moreno Glacier is about 97 mi², measuring 19 miles long, 3 miles wide, & 240 feet above the lake’s surface! On average, it receives 100-130 feet of snow annually & moves 6-10 inches every day! While most glaciers are at the threat of receding due to climate change, Perito Moreno Glacier is one of the few that continues to grow! As the third largest freshwater reserve on Earth, it is not only grand in size, but incredible in nature’s frozen beauty. Continue reading to find out how you can go ice trekking on Perito Moreno Glacier & see for yourself!

Book a Perito Moreno Glacier Ice Trekking Tour with Hielo y Aventura

While you can visit the Los Glaciares National Park & view the glacier from a distance, you cannot appreciate its true immensity without physically getting on to it. The best time to book a trekking tour of Perito Moreno Glacier is between November to March when the Southern Hemisphere is well into its summer season. But do not be fooled! Despite the warmer temperatures & clearer skies, you will still have to bundle up on the ice!

After reading some favorable reviews, we booked our Mini Trekking tour with Hielo y Aventura via their website. The Mini Trekking includes a 10 hour full day excursion with 1.5 hours spent on the glacier. It is only suitable for people between 10 to 65 years old & in good physical health. Prices have increased since our visit & currently, their website states it is 8,000 ARS ($134.00) per person.

Other Hielo y Aventura tour options:

• Big Ice:  This is a 12 hour full day tour that involves 7 hours of total walking time. A more challenging hike than the Mini Trek, Big Ice takes you further up into the heart of the glacier for 3.5 hours. Therefore, you must be between the ages of 18 to 50 years old in order to participate. Available mid-September to late April.

• Pasarela Náutica:  A 7 hour afternoon tour that includes an hour long catamaran boat ride along the southern wall of the Perito Moreno Glacier. A guide will also provide a 2 hour tour along the park boardwalks during sunset. There is no ice trekking on this tour. Available from October to late March.

• Safari Náutico:  A one hour catamaran boat ride in front of the southern wall of the Perito Moreno Glacier. There is no ice trekking on this tour. Operates all year long. Must coordinate own transportation to meet at the port, Puerto Bajo las Sombras.

With the exception of the Safari Náutico, all Hielo y Aventura tour packages include complimentary shuttle bus service to & from your hotel accommodation. Please note, the admission fee for Los Glaciares National Park is not included in the package & must be paid separately in cash.

What to Pack for Ice Trekking on Perito Moreno Glacier

• Sturdy waterproof hiking boots to keep your feet dry & comfortable
  • For everyday hiking, I rely on my durable Merrell Moab 3 Hiking Shoes. But for our Patagonia trip, I brought along my hardcore Danner Mountain 600 Hiking Boots. Both are great brands that are well-known for their comfort & durability. They come in a variety of colors & similar styles for men as well!
• Daypack or hydration pack
  • My husband carried his trusty Camelbak Mule Hydration Pack while I had my Fjällräven Rucksack No.21.
• Base layers of clothing (weather can be unpredictable)
• Lightweight, compressible down jacket
  • I absolutely love my Patagonia Nano Puff Hooded Insulated Jacket as it is lightweight yet keeps you warm through the coldest conditions.
• Fleece base layer sweater
  • You can’t go wrong with the best-selling, versatile Patagonia Better Sweater Jacket that comes in many colors.
• Waterproof/windproof packable jacket (optional)
  • The Patagonia Torrentshell Jacket is a great breathable shell with drawcord hems & adjustable storm hood.
• Buff, beanie, or cap
• Gloves
  • I love my The North Face Etip Gloves that allow me to utilize my phone for quick pictures on the go!
• Merino wool socks
  • Darn Tough Hiker Boot Socks may be a little pricey, but they are worth the investment as they keep your feet warm, dry, & odor-free all day long! Plus, they come in cute colors & designs!
• Trekking poles
• Sunglasses
• Sunscreen
• Snacks/water (water is safe to drink from natural sources)
• Extra Argentinian pesos for park fees, snacks, & other emergencies
• Passport

Our Travel Itinerary

Puerto Natales, Chile ➜ El Calafate, Argentina.

Quite spent after a long day of hiking the Mirador Las Torres on Christmas Eve, we decided to take it easy for the rest of the day in Puerto Natales, Chile. Early the next morning (before Santa came to town!), we gathered our belongings & boarded our bus at Terminal Rodoviario Puerto Natales Bus Station. We relied on Bus Sur again, as we already booked our tickets ahead of time through https://www.recorrido.cl/en. At the time of booking, it cost us $17,000 CLP ($22.00) for the 6 hour one-way bus ride.

Though not a fully equipped luxury ride, Bus Sur exceeded our expectations with its comfortable seats, toilets, & wonderful customer service. About an hour into the ride, we reached the highway border crossing at Paso Río Don Guillermo. Note that Google Maps may inform you that it is an approximate 3.5 hour drive from Puerto Natales to El Calafate. However, this does not take into account the time it takes for all the bus passengers to clear through border customs. So prepare yourself for a long queue & don’t forget to bring your passport.

El Calafate: Gateway to Perito Moreno Glacier

El Calafate is a charming little Argentinian town that is reminiscent of a village in the Swiss Alps. To be honest, there are not a lot of attractions worth mentioning here. However, you may enjoy the number of cozy cafes & specialty chocolate shops to channel your Hygge vibes. With the ongoing rise of Patagonia tourism each year, business owners have capitalized on the number of traffic that come through El Calafate. Thus, expect to pay premium prices here.

In preparation for our Perito Moreno Glacier trekking tour, we reserved the night at the highly reviewed Hotel Kosten Aike. Furnished in Patagonian Andean style with a little bit of French Chateau flair, the hotel was beautiful in aesthetics. The uniformed staff were very friendly & spoke English well, making for easy communication. After receiving a couple recommendations, we spent some time wandering around downtown El Calafate, which was conveniently located just a couple blocks away. Overall, Hotel Kosten Aike was the perfect place for respite & rejuvenation before our next great adventure.

Los Glaciares National Park

The following morning at 7:00am, a Hielo y Aventura shuttle bus picked us up in front of our hotel. Though the 2 hour drive to Los Glaciares National Park was long & bumpy, I heard no complaints from anyone. It was enough to catch up on some much needed snoozing.

Note: If you prefer to use your own transportation, you are free to do so. There are many bus companies that run the route from the El Calafate bus terminal & most one-way tickets cost around 500 ARS ($8.50). Just be sure to inform the tour company & that you would like to deduct the bus fares from the package. Also, plan to leave early as you don’t want to arrive late & miss the rest of the group!

At 9:15am, we arrived at the park entrance & paid admission of 800 ARS ($13.40) in cash. At the visitor center, we spent 45 minutes walking along the boardwalks & admiring the breathtaking southern face of the glacier. Have a little patience & you will soon hear the “ooh’s” & “ahh’s” followed by loud cheers as parts of the ice break off into the waters. The glaciological term for this mechanical loss is calving. You can hear more of the earth-shaking rumbles in the late afternoon when the sun reaches its peak. There are several viewpoints on the walkway where you can photograph the glacier wall from different perspectives, so take your time to marvel at this wonder.

Mini Trekking on Perito Moreno Glacier with Hielo y Aventura

After our time has allotted at the visitor center, we climbed back onboard the tour shuttle bus & headed towards Puerto Bajo las Sombras. The narrow road was very windy with unrelenting switchbacks that gave me motion sickness. Fortunately, nothing a little dramamine can’t fix.

Upon arrival, we hopped onto the ferry boat that was waiting for us. The boat ride took about 20 minutes as we glided our way alongside the massive glacier face. We stood outside on the open-air deck & watched the glacier calve with thunderous booms. It was quite an impressive sight to witness & even greater to feel its immense power from the waves that it created!

As we approached the glacial wall on the southern bank of Lago Rico, it felt as if we were about to land on another planet. Once on shore, our Hielo y Aventura tour guides welcomed us & we started uphill towards the ranger station. There were flush toilets & a small cafe, as well as lockers to leave behind any extra belongings we did not want to carry with us during our trek.

The guides first divided us into smaller groups by language, English & Spanish. From the ranger station, we trekked for 30 minutes over several boardwalks through a sparse Patagonian Andean forest. All the while, our guide recited his lecture on the history of Perito Moreno Glacier. Upon arrival near the edge of the glacier, another Hielo y Aventura team greeted us under mountain huts, ready to strap our feet into crampons. Fully secured into our monstrous spikes, the guides then further separated us into subgroups of 20 people. This was to ensure we wouldn’t distribute too much weight at one time on the glacier ice.

“That’s one small step for man…”

Stepping foot onto 18,000 year old ancient ice felt surreal. I imagined myself as a scientist about to explore uncharted Antarctic territory! All you can see for several miles ahead are the jagged blue hills of ice stretching out over the horizon. Under the close watch of our tour guide, we walked past deep crevasses & cavernous ravines. Although I have hiked with crampons a number of times on icy conditions, this was definitely an experience of its own!

Along the way, our guide provided more information on glaciology & how climate change has affected the dynamics of the glaciers. Curious about the dark “smudges” on some of the ice sculptures, I inquired my guide. He explained they were mountain debris & dust that have settled onto the glacier over the years.

The skies eventually cleared & the clouds made way for the blazing sun to shine down upon the white ice. Its glare was quite extreme, unexpectantly blinding our visions as we carefully made our way across the glacier. Despite the cold temperatures, we felt our faces burning up fast & constantly slathered on sunscreen to protect ourselves.

The End of an Epic Ice Expedition

To conclude our mini trekking tour on Perito Moreno Glacier (& heat up our shivering bodies), Hielo y Aventura treated us to whisky poured over fresh glacial ice! Everyone gathered around a preset table, as we toasted to the new year & wonderful wishes for greater adventures! There was no better way to end a memorable experience near the edge of the world!

Feeling all warm & fuzzy, we arrived back at the Los Glaciares National Park visitor center by 3:00pm. Before boarding the shuttle bus, we had another hour to take in the glacier views one last time. Our Hielo y Aventura tour ended at 6:00pm, as we reached our hotel just in time for dinner out in town.

Angella’s Travel Tips

• Don’t forget to bring along your passport as you will be going through security customs at the Chile-Argentina border.
• Hielo y Aventura tour packages do not include admission into the Los Glaciares National Park. They do not accept US dollars nor credit card payments either, so carry extra Argentine pesos for emergency funds.
• Regardless of the season, hiking on ice can always get cold. Wear comfortable layers that you can easily take on & off to adjust to changes in temperature. Also, please wear sturdy waterproof hiking shoes or boots. I noticed some travelers wearing regular tennis shoes while complaining about their wet feet! Be smart & have common sense…you will be walking on a large chunk of ice!
• Lunch will not be provided on the tour. Pack some light snacks to sustain you during your hike.
• There are no restrictions on the number of visitors to Perito Moreno Glacier. Even during peak seasons, you can expect some flexibility in available tour options. However, if you are big planners like us, you can book in advance to have that peace of mind. 
• Note that the different tours offered by Hielo y Aventura may vary in regards to their cancellation policy. The Mini Trekking tour has a 48 hour cancellation window & a 24 hour modification window without penalties or charges. These requests may be submitted online to online@hieloyaventura.com.