Glacier walk from Puerto Rio Tranquilo: 8-hour trek on ice

Walk on glacial ice with crampons, crossing a lenga forest and a river in one day.

An 8-hour glacier trek from Puerto Rio Tranquilo in Patagonia where you walk on ice with crampons and harness, cross a river through ancient forest, and climb 500 meters with views of Mount San Lorenzo and Torres Mellizas. The guide teaches you how to move safely on the ice, and the route passes through dense forest and Patagonian steppe with little foot traffic. Children from age 12 are welcome. Pickup from Puerto Rio Tranquilo is included.

The experience

You start before dawn (pickup at 5:00 AM from Puerto Rio Tranquilo), and drive south toward the glacier entrance. By 8:00 AM the walk begins with a river crossing, then a climb through lenga forest where you'll see the twin towers (Torres Mellizas) and the Calluqueo glacier lagoon rising ahead. If the weather holds, Mount San Lorenzo appears on the horizon. The forest thins as you approach the ice.

Once you reach the glacier, the guide fits you with crampons and a harness and walks you through the basics: how to place your feet, how the equipment keeps you stable on the ice, what to watch for. Then you move across the glacier itself, stepping through cracks, around ice lagoons, past seracs (towering ice formations). The terrain changes constantly underfoot. You'll reach a high point with a view where the group stops for snacks (two sandwiches, chocolate, and a brownie) before retracing the same path back down. The walk covers 15 kilometers and 500 meters of elevation gain over roughly 8 hours, moving through forest, moraine, and glacial ice. It's medium difficulty but demands real fitness.

On the return to the vehicle you get another break with snacks, then the drive back to Puerto Rio Tranquilo, arriving around 9:00 PM. The guide speaks English or Spanish. Crampons, helmet, harness, backpack, and leggings are all provided. Wear your own hiking boots. This is not a crowded place: few people walk here, and the landscape stays quiet.

What’s included

• Pickup from Puerto Rio Tranquilo.
• crampons, harness, helmet, backpack and leggings.
• snacks including two sandwiches with tomato, avocado and cheese, chocolate and brownie.
• guide in English or Spanish.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 05:00Last departure this season: 31 Oct

Book up to12h before

AgesAdult (18 to 59 years) · Senior (60 to 70 years) · Youth (12 to 17 years) · Under 12: can't be booked

GroupUp to 12

Live guideEnglish and Spanish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup is optional; you can also go straight to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.You can choose from 5 pickup points.

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.

Good to know

Moderate physical effortNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with heart problemsNot recommended with back problems

Operated by Pangui Expediciones

Is this one for you?This trek demands real fitness and suits hikers who are comfortable with sustained effort over 8 hours and want to learn glacier movement rather than watch from a distance. The early start and late return mean you commit the full day, but that's what fits four distinct landscapes (forest, river, moraine and ice) into one outing.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Spanish.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (12 to 17 years). Children under 12 can't be included in the booking.

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's the physical demand like on this glacier trek?

The trek is medium difficulty but high physical demand: you walk 15 kilometers and climb 500 meters of elevation over 8 hours, moving across ice, through forest, and over rocky moraine. You need at least moderate fitness to complete it.

Will I learn how to use crampons before walking on the glacier?

Yes. Once you reach the ice, the guide gives you an introduction to walking with crampons, showing you how to move safely with the equipment before you begin crossing the glacier itself.

What does the route pass through besides the glacier?

You cross a river, walk through a dense lenga forest, and move across Patagonian steppe. Along the way you see Torres Mellizas (twin towers), Calluqueo glacier lagoon, and Mount San Lorenzo if weather permits.

What time does the day start and end?

Pickup from Puerto Rio Tranquilo is at 5:00 AM, the walk begins at 8:00 AM, and you return to Puerto Rio Tranquilo around 9:00 PM.

What's included in the trek?

Pickup from Puerto Rio Tranquilo, all mountain equipment (crampons, harness, helmet, backpack, leggings), and snacks during the day (two sandwiches, chocolate, brownie, and extra items) are included. Bring your own hiking boots and water bottle.