Perito Moreno Glacier Tour in El Calafate: Drive, Walkways & Boat

Walk the glacier's viewpoints, then sail its ice face from the water

This full-day tour from El Calafate includes an 80 km drive to Los Glaciares National Park, a bilingual guide, and access to multiple walkways and viewpoints facing Perito Moreno Glacier. The glacier's 60-meter front continuously sheds massive ice blocks into the water below. You can add a one-hour boat ride on Lake Argentino's Rico Branch, which sails within 150 meters of the glacier's south face: the only way to see the ice calving from water level. Hotel pickup and drop-off are included. The National Park entrance fee is separate.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Perito Moreno Glacier

• Depart early from El Calafate
• Drive 80 km to glacier walkways
• Walk paths and stairs to viewpoints
• Observe glacier from multiple balconies
• Optional one-hour boat ride near glacier

The experience

The day starts early from your El Calafate hotel with a drive across 80 km of Patagonian landscape to reach the park. Once there, you walk a network of connected pathways and stairs that climb to different levels, each one framing the glacier from a new angle. The Perito Moreno Glacier's front face rises over 60 meters above the water and stretches 5 km wide: pieces of ice break off continuously throughout the day, producing a sound like thunder as they crash into the Canal de los Témpanos below. The walkways let you stay in one place and watch this happen, or move between viewpoints to see how the light and distance change the perspective.

If you choose the optional boat ride, you'll board a vessel on Lake Argentino's Rico Branch after the walkway section. The boat sails to within 150 meters of the glacier's south face, putting you at water level where the ice calves directly in front of you. This is a one-hour navigation that turns the glacier from something you watch from above into something you're inside of: the scale and the sound shift completely when you're close enough to see individual blocks falling. A bilingual professional guide travels with you the entire day and explains what you're seeing as it happens.

Your hotel pickup and drop-off are included, along with an air-conditioned vehicle for the drive. You'll need to purchase your National Park entrance ticket separately, either online before you arrive or at the park entrance in cash or card. The tour runs 8 hours total. Infants can sit on an adult's lap, and specialized infant seats are available if you need one. Snack bars and restaurants operate inside the park if you want to eat during the day.

What’s included

• Bilingual professional guide.
• hotel pickup and drop-off.
• air-conditioned vehicle for the 80 km drive.
• access to multiple walkways and viewpoints facing the glacier.
• one-hour boat ride on Lake Argentino's Rico Branch (Walkways and Navigation option only).

Options for this experience

2 options

Walkways and LandscapesGuide in English or Spanish · 09:00A guided walk along the walkways and various viewpoints, using paths and stairs to take in different views of the glacier. Includes pickup.

Walkways and NavigationGuide in English or Spanish · 09:00Navigate for one hour along the richest branch of Argentine Lake, staying 150 meters from the glacier's south face. Pickup is included.

You'll see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates and prices

Information

Lasts 8h, runs every day at 09:00, from US$ 85 per person, with a live guide in English and Spanish and with free cancellation up to 24 h before.

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 09:00

GroupUp to 20

Live guideEnglish and Spanish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Book up to16h before

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Low physical effortInfant seats availableInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Tours Buenos Aires

Is this one for you?Choose the Walkways and Navigation option if you want to experience the glacier from both above and water level. The boat ride is the only way to see the ice calving from the lake itself, where the scale and sound are completely different from the viewpoints. The walkways-only option works if you prefer to stay on land and move between different angles to watch the glacier from a distance.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Spanish.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What is Perito Moreno Glacier and why does it keep changing shape?

Perito Moreno Glacier is the most impressive glacier in Los Glaciares National Park, known for a rare phenomenon where its massive ice mass continuously advances. This causes ice to accumulate, rupture and detach in enormous blocks from its 5 km wide front, which rises over 60 meters above the water. Pieces fall constantly into the Canal de los Témpanos, producing a sound comparable to thunder.

Can I get close to the glacier, or do I only see it from a distance?

The walkways let you view the glacier from multiple elevated viewpoints at different angles and heights, all connected by paths and stairs. If you add the optional one-hour boat ride, you sail on Lake Argentino's Rico Branch to within 150 meters of the glacier's south face, bringing you to water level where you watch ice calving directly in front of you.

How far is the drive from El Calafate to the glacier?

The scenic drive from El Calafate to Los Glaciares National Park covers 80 km. Hotel pickup and drop-off are included, and the vehicle is air-conditioned for the journey.

Do I need to buy the National Park ticket separately, or is it included?

The National Park entrance fee is not included in the tour price. You can purchase your ticket online before you arrive, or buy it at the park entrance in pesos, cash or card.

What's the difference between the two tour options?

Both options include the walkways and viewpoints facing the glacier. The Walkways and Navigation option adds a one-hour boat ride on Lake Argentino's Rico Branch, sailing 150 meters from the glacier's south face for a water-level perspective of the ice.

Is there food available during the tour?

Snack bars and restaurants operate inside Los Glaciares National Park, so you can eat during the day. Lunch is not included in the tour price.