Are you considering the minitrekking tour on the Perito Moreno Glacier but worried about the cost? I hear you. I had the same concerns which is why I decided to write this post.
Glaciar Perito Moreno is the star of Los Glaciares National Park, one of Patagonia’s most incredible areas. This humongous and spectacular glacier attracts thousands and thousands of visitors each year. It’s a real highlight of what Argentina has to offer.
One of the most popular activities at the glacier is hiking across the spectacular landscape. This unique activity allows visitors to get as close as possible to nature’s wonders. The activity is known as ‘minitrekking,’ as participants spend an hour trekking on Perito Moreno.
I had my eye on the minitrekking for a long time. I had initially ruled out doing it due to the high cost (it’s not a cheap activity). However, when I arrived in El Calafate, I changed my mind and got a last-minute spot.
So, let’s cut to the chase, is minitrekking on the Perito Moreno Glacier worth it? Yes … sometimes! The Perito Moreno Glacier minitrekking is without a doubt an amazing activity. You get to walk on one of the world’s greatest glaciers. However, it’s expensive and very, very commercialised. In my opinion, it’s more of a taster into glacier trekking. I’ve gone into much more detail about this in the post below.
In this post, I’ve shared all you need to know about trekking on the Perito Moreno Glacier. I’ve also gone into more depth about whether the minitrekking is worth it.
About the Perito Moreno Glacier Minitrekking
The minitrekking tour on the Perito Moreno Glacier is one of the most popular activities in El Calafate and El Chalten.
Due to an unstable economy, the price of the minitrekking is subject to change. In March 2024, booking the activity through Viator (the most popular way to book) cost $350 USD. I’ve spoken about how to get this a little cheaper in the next section.
Here are a few important things to know about minitrekking at Perito Moreno.
- You can add transfers. You can add a coach transfer from El Calafate as part of the tour. If you have a car, you can join the tour group in Perito Moreno.
- It includes a boat ride. To get to the start point of the hike, you must take a boat across the lake. This is about 20 minutes and includes time to admire the glacier. You don’t need to do a boat tour in addition to the trekking. This is all included in the price.
- You have free time to explore the area. If you opt to include the coach transfer from El Calafate, you’ll have time to wander the many boardwalks and admire the glacier. My group were given almost two hours to independently explore the park before meeting for the trek.
- It doesn’t include the National Park entry fee. The Perito Moreno Glacier is in Los Glaciares National Park. The entry fee to the park isn’t included in the cost of the minitrekking tour. As of March 2024, the entry cost is 12,000 ARS ($14 USD depending on the exchange rate). You pay this on the way to the minitrekking.
- It’s only available during the summer months. This is a seasonal activity that normally operates from October to April (depending on the weather). If you’re visiting in the winter, you won’t be able to do the minitrekking.
Tip: you can pay the entry fee to Los Glaciares National Park with a credit card. However, this will require you to get off the coach. If you can, take ARS cash to pay.
- It’s very commercial. This is one of the most commercial “adventure” activities I’ve ever done. There were 50 people in my group, and another 50 people ahead of us. If you want a challenging activity with a small group of people, this isn’t the activity.
- You must wear crampons. Once you reach the glacier, you’ll be given the necessary equipment, including ice crampons and a helmet. Staff will put the crampons on for you and show you how to use them safely.
- You must be in good shape. To do any ice trekking on the Perito Moreno Glacier, you’ll need to answer a set of questions to confirm you are healthy enough. The waiver states that the activity isn’t possible for pregnant women, people with a physical disability or anyone with cardiovascular disease or heart problems. If you’re unsure, I’d suggest contacting Hielo & Aventura (the tour operator) before booking.
- You avoid the glacier’s edges. For safety reasons, the ice trekking avoids the front of the glacier. Huge chunks of the glacier fall off every 10-15 minutes, making walking along the front near the lake dangerous. The hike takes place further back from the glacier’s edge.
- The guides speak English and Spanish. During my excursions, we had bilingual mountain guides who spoke both English and Spanish. We were split into relevant language groups.
How to book the minitrekking
Booking the Perito Moreno minitrekking online is a straightforward experience. Only one company operate the activity: Hielo Y Aventura.
However, many tour agencies in El Calafate sell the tour as a third party. I regularly saw the tour being sold as part of a package with other activities such as a boat cruise to other glaciers.
You can book the exact tour I did through Viator or Hielo Y Aventura themselves.
It’s possible to get the price down if you book when you arrive in the city of El Calafate. Many of the tour agencies will offer discounts on last-minute bookings.
I booked my tour directly with Hielo Y Aventura in their El Calafate office. I paid 250,000 ARS with transfers (about $250 USD with the Mastercard exchange rate at the time). As you can see, booking in El Calafate is considerably cheaper. However, there’s a big catch… you might not get a space.
The minitrekking is one of the most popular activities in El Calafate and at the Perito Moreno Glacier. In the peak season, the activity can sell out weeks in advance. I was lucky as they had one space left across the four days I was in El Calafate.
If this is an activity you really want to do, I highly recommend booking online in advance. Yes, you will be able to save money booking last minute in El Calafate, but you won’t be guaranteed a space.
Which tour to book?
When booking your minitrekking, you have three different options. This includes minitrekking 1, minitrekking 2 or Big Ice.
Minitrekking 1 is one of the best tours in El Calafate and offers the best value for money. This is the tour I did and the most popular tour when it comes to trekking on the glacier. It includes optional transfers, time to explore the boardwalks, a boat trip across the lake, a hike to and from the glacier and a one-hour mini trek on the glacier.
Minitrekking 2 is a similar package. The main difference is that you get to spend 30 more minutes trekking on the Perito Moreno glacier. The minitrekking 2 option costs an additional $50 USD. I really don’t think it is worth the extra money.
The other trekking option is the ‘Big Ice Tour’. This is the most adventurous and challenging trek on Perito Moreno. It includes 3 hours of walking on the Perito Moreno Glacier as well as a significant hike to the glacier and back. You’ll need to be in good shape to do this. If you’re lucky, you may get to visit ice caves and even ice waterfalls.
The Big Ice is considerably more expensive than the minitrekking, but it looks like an incredible experience.
Each of the trekking tours offers transfers from El Calafate and a short boat cruise.
A recap of the minitrekking and what to expect
Hotel pick-up
On the day of my minitrekking, the bus picked me up from my accommodation in El Calafate at 8 am. This was a minibus that took me to a larger coach with 50 other people doing the same tour.
From El Calafate, it’s a 90-minute drive to the Perito Moreno Glacier. On the way, our guide explained the day’s itinerary and shared some facts about the glacier. After an hour, we reached the entrance to the National Park, where we paid the entry fee.
Tip: Try to pay in cash at the entrance to the National Park. It’s much easier than using a credit card.
Exploring the boardwalks
After another 30 minutes of driving, we caught our first view of the Perito Moreno Glacier, and wow… it took my breath away.
A few minutes later, we reached the visitor centre, where there are toilets and a café.
Our guide informed us we had two hours of free time to explore the area. From the visitor centre, you can walk the many incredible boardwalks for panoramic views of the glacier. You likely won’t have enough time to walk every single part of the paths, but it’s enough time to see the highlights. I didn’t feel rushed at all, 2 hours is the perfect amount of time.
Note: You may do the minitrekking before the boardwalks. It depends on which tour you choose, and which group you’re allocated.
The boat ride
Once we all returned to the coach, we were driven to the dock where we boarded the boat. The navigation across Lake Brazo Rico takes about 20 minutes. The boat takes you past the front of the southern wall of the glacier.
Most of the boat trips are on the opposite side of the glacier, so you’ll get to see a part of the glacier not many people see. This is also where you’ll do the minitrekking (but further back away from the edge).
This was a highlight of the day for me. The views were incredible. The boat navigation can be expensive, but this one is included in the price of the minitrekking. The boat gets as close to the glacier as possible.
Gearing up
After finishing the cruise across the lake, we met our guides, used the bathrooms, left our belongings in a room, and were split into small groups of about 10 people.
After this, we began our one-hour walk to the glacier. The views were spectacular. We got so close to the glacier that we were even able to touch it at times.
During this part, there are many stops for photos. Our guide also told us more about the glacier.
Once we reached the base hut, our guides put on our crampons before giving us a safety briefing.
Tip: Bring gloves with you. You won’t be allowed on the glacier without them, and they’ll protect your hands in case you fall. A few were available for those who didn’t have any, but I’d recommend bringing your own.
The minitrekking
The minitrekking soon began, and we followed our guide onto the glacier.
The path is well established and there are handrails in trickier places. We got to see a mini cave, some crevasses and unique blue ice formations.
Here are a few other things to know about the minitrekking experience:
- You can’t stop for photos. The guides encourage you to take photos, but only in dedicated areas. It’s important to keep moving and for the group to stay together. There are photo areas every few minutes, so you’ll have the chance to take photos.
- Walk in a single file. The guides instruct you to walk in a single file for safety reasons.
- It’s harder than it looks. Walking on a glacier in crampons is no easy feat. There are some very steep parts and even with crampons, it can be tricky. The guides are very supportive and will offer extra help to anyone who needs it.
- It feels safe, but there are risks. Overall, the minitrekking is a safe hike. Our guides helped us over crevasses and pointed out dangerous parts to avoid.
- Plan for all weather. While the trekking still takes place in rain or snow, it can be cancelled in extreme weather conditions. This includes strong wind and heavy rain that may disrupt the ice formations and paths.
- You don’t need previous experience. The Perito Moreno Glacier minitrekking is designed for beginners. Don’t worry if you’ve never hiked on a glacier before.
The whiskey on ice
The glacier trek itself lasted about an hour.
I was a little unlucky as some bad weather came in which wasn’t pleasant. Our guide decided to cut the hike short and walk to the edge of the glacier where we were all given a glass of whiskey on glacier ice. I’m not a fan of whiskey, but I’ll happily take it on a glacier!
They also have fresh glacier water for anyone who doesn’t want the whiskey.
The return walk
After returning the equipment, the walk back to the ferry dock is about 30 minutes through a forest. There are some more great views of the Perito Moreno Glacier.
You’ll have time to use the toilet, grab your belongings and have a warm drink before the ferry arrives.
Back to El Chalten
The ferry takes you back across the lake to the coach. I got back to El Chalten just after 6 p.m. The trip lasted about ten hours.
Perito Moreno Glacier minitrekking: my honest review
There are several other blog posts about the minitrekking. They all speak highly of the experience and say it’s completely worth it. I always want to be honest on my website, and I have to say I have a few mixed feelings about this activity.
If you’ve never trekked on a glacier before and might not have the chance to again, then the minitrekking on Perito Moreno is well worth it. For many people, this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and it truly is wonderful.
The Perito Moreno Glacier is famous for good reason. It’s one of the most magnificent and remarkable glaciers I’ve ever seen in my life. Walking on the glacier and getting so close to its stunning features is an incredible experience.
In terms of the activity itself, the day is well-organised. While it is expensive, the cost includes transfers from El Calafate, 2-hours to explore the boardwalks (which is ample time), a boat trip to view the glacier, a hike alongside the glacier, and an hour hiking on the glacier itself. When you list everything that’s included, it’s not a bad value.
However, if you’ve hiked on a glacier before or plan to in the future, I’m not convinced that the minitrekking is worth it. The Perito Moreno Glacier trek is very commercialised, more so than what I’ve experienced during similar activities anywhere else in the world.
There were 50 people in my group. While we were split into smaller groups for the trek, we were all still close together. As we went on to the glacier, other groups were coming off. There must have been at least 100 people entering and leaving the glacier all at once.
The trekking is a memorable experience, but it’s a well-oiled machine. There are steps built into the glacier, handrails to hold onto, and designated places to stop for photos. You’re also only on the glacier for about one hour (if that).
This is beneficial as it makes hiking on a glacier much more accessible. However, if you’re after an adventurous glacier trek, I don’t think this is the activity for you. I’d consider looking at their ‘Big Ice’ trek for something more challenging.
The Perito Glacier Minitrekking is more of a taster of glacier hiking, rather than experiencing the full thing. However, there’s no denying this is still an incredibly special and unique experience.
If you’re worried about the cost, I don’t blame you. The tour includes transfers, a boat trip, and trekking. However, your money goes much further elsewhere in the world.
For example, in New Zealand (another expensive country), you can do a Heli Hike on the famous Franz Josef Glacier for $450 USD. Yes, it’s a little more expensive than hiking on the Perito Moreno Glacier, but it includes a helicopter ride, small group experience and 2 ½ hours on the glacier itself. Other tours in the likes of Canada and Iceland are much cheaper and include a lot more. However, they’re not necessarily as accessible and require higher levels of fitness.
Related read: visiting Buenos Aires on your way to El Calafate? Check out this first-timer’s guide
Summary: is the minitrekking worth the cost?
So, is the Perito Moreno Minitrekking worth it? If you’ve never hiked on a glacier before and might not get the chance to again, then yes, the minitrekking is worth it. It’s an accessible hike that anyone with reasonable fitness can do.
If you’re after a challenging and adventurous glacier hike or have done glacier hikes in other countries, then no, I don’t think the minitrekking is worth the high price tag.
What to pack
Here are some items to consider packing for your minitrekking adventures. If you’re heading off on an adventure elsewhere in Patagonia, take a look at my full Patagonia packing list.
- Waterproof jacket: While not essential, wearing a waterproof jacket is a good idea. This will keep you dry if you fall or if it rains. It will also keep the wind off you.
- Gloves: You won’t be allowed on the glacier without gloves. These are to protect your hands in case you fall. Ice can be sharp, and you may cut your hand if you fall. They have a few pairs that visitors can borrow, but I’d recommend taking your own.
- Sunglasses: Trust me, even on a cloudy day… bring sunglasses. The ice surface reflects the sun, making it very hard to look at.
- Layers: The glacier tends to be a few degrees cooler. I didn’t find it too bad, but take a spare layer with you just in case.
- Waterproof pants/trousers: It’s a good idea to wear waterproof trousers. While not essential, you’ll get very wet if you fall. My group got caught in a giant rainstorm. I then had to spend the next three hours in wet trousers. Not pleasant!
- Lunch: Despite the hefty price tag, lunch isn’t included on the Perito Moreno Glacier minitrekking. As it’s a full-day excursion, I’d recommend taking lunch and snacks with you. There is a café at the visitor centre, but it was extremely busy and had a long wait when I visited. You’ll only have two hours to explore the area and don’t want to spend this time in a long queue for food.
If you want to visit a lesser-known area of El Calafate and El Chalten, consider a trip to La Leona Petrified Forest. This was one of the highlights of my solo trip to Argentina.
