The Perito Moreno Glacier in Argentina: go to meet the ice-cold

Visit Argentina on Patagonia Lands to discover this unique natural monument in the world: the Perito Moreno Glacier!

L’ Argentina is a country of incomparable beauty, which houses true wonders of nature. Among them, the Perito Moreno Glacier occupies a place of choice. This gigantic glacial formation extends its blue shoulders over several kilometers, offering visitors a vision worthy of the most beautiful postcards.

In the footsteps of Perito Moreno glacier in Argentina

In the heart of the Argentinian Patagonia, a colossal of ice extends over 30 kilometers in the Argentino lake: it is the Perito Moreno glacier.

Its glacial front – the lower limit of the glacier can take various forms, here that of a cliff – is 5,000 meters long for 60 meters high. But the entire glacier can reach up to 700 metres wide in some places!

What means Perito Moreno ? Perito means "expert", when to Moreno , this is the name of the Argentinian explorer and naturalist who has updated this region of the Patagonia in the 19th century: Francisco Pascacio Moreno.

Today, those who want to see this incredible blue giant can access it from the national park Los Glaciares , in the province of Santa Cruz, at the Chilean border. It houses some mythical summits of the Andes Cordillera – such as the famous Fitz Roy or Cerro Torre – and sumptuous lakes of glacial origin. And of course, as its name suggests, many glaciers including the Perito Moreno, which is the best known.

From there you can easily visit the glacier, by road or by boat. Several options are available to you to take advantage of the places: hiking, treks, boat trips, kayaking... Each one allows you to discover a different facet of the Perito Moreno glacier!

What's behind the Perito Moreno glacier?

The Perito Moreno Glacier is a true treasure of nature that holds unique features...

It is one of the only three Patagonia glaciers that are not backwards because of global warming. Indeed, it even advances two meters per day, equivalent to 700 meters per year!

Perito Moreno’s glacial front progresses on the lake, facing the Magellan peninsula, sometimes until it is completely crossed. Thus, it sometimes forms a natural dam. The water level of Argentino then climbs up to 30 meters, attacking the ice and gradually giving it a form of ark. After a while, the glacier front explodes. This spectacular phenomenon, known as the “breakdown”, takes place irregularly, at a frequency of one year to a decade.

To go

How?

The Perito Moreno glacier is located not far from the city of El Calafate, starting point of excursions to Los Glaciares National Park. The city has an airport since 2000 and so you can fly to many cities: Buenos Aires , Córdoba, Mendoza, Bariloche , etc. It is served daily by airlines LAN Argentina and Aerolíneas Argentinas. You can find a plane with the flight comparator Ulysses .

El Calafate is 2 700 kilometres from Buenos Aires. You can take a bus from the capital (changes are to be expected) for about 40 hours, or try the adventure by car and enjoy it to discover this beautiful country that is Argentina! In this case, plan about three days of travel.

Once on site, several options are available to you to visit the Perito Moreno glacier:

By road

You can go to the glacier in renting a car in El Calafate . This allows you to access the site at special times during which the glacier sees few visitors – especially in the morning.

Otherwise, from the city bus station, El Calafate Bus Terminal , you can take a shuttle that leaves every day. Count about an hour 30 and 450 pesos per person – about eight euros.

If you prefer organized trips, book a trip to El Calafate from your hotel or travel agency.

Find a hotel in El Calafate

It is up to you to choose how close you want to the Perito Moreno: several parking lots are nearby, but you also have the possibility to go hiking or trek to the glacier. Careful, however, get closer to an agency: you will need adequate equipment to deal with the park’s wild and glacial lands.

By boat

You can also approach the glacier by boat: for this, go to one of the two embarcaders of the site, Bajo de las Sombras or so Bandera (more frequented). It is a very impressive experience to navigate under the imposing stature of the glacier! For about an hour.

If the weather is key, you also have the opportunity to rent a kayak. If you can’t get too close to the glacier for security reasons – ice pans regularly dismantling – you can enjoy this exceptional view in a glacial silence.

When?

Patagonia faces a cold and wild climate. Unless you are attracted to the extreme conditions and you do not want to flee tourists at all costs, the most clementing period to visit the Perito Moreno glacier is the southern summer, i.e. January and February. It is also at that time that the site is the most lively, the ice pans dismantle regularly when the sun darts its rays.

You can also choose a compromise by choosing the period of March/April, less tourist and with a less extreme climate than in winter.

However, the Perito Moreno glacier is accessible all year round. But during the most extreme climatic conditions, you will enjoy less of the site, some areas become inaccessible. Remember that the climate of Patagonia is particularly capricious: the ideal is in all cases to plan for several days to be sure that you can do everything you have planned to see.

At what price?

To enter Los Glaciares Park, you must pay 800 Argentine pesos, about 13 euros .

However, you will have to spend more if you want to discover the Perito Moreno glacier during a trip:

• for boat rides, plan about 500 Argentine pesos, about 8 euros
• for a hike on the glacier, plan about 1500 pesos, about 25 euros
• The "Big Ice" tour allows you to make the most of the site. It includes three hours of hiking on the glacier, the necessary equipment loan, an hour of visit to the bridges and an English or Spanish guide. An exceptional experience for which you will have to pay about 5000 pesos, about 80 euros.

To sleep

On site

Los Glaciares National Park is home to several hotels. If some really offer great amenities, you will have to count a budget high enough to sleep in the park. Otherwise, you can choose to camp.

Find a hotel near the Perito Moreno Glacier

The nearby addresses

You can also stay in El Calafate. The prices here are also more expensive than in the rest of Argentina, but they remain more economical than in the park’s enclosure. Los Glaciares .

If you want to save, you can try to find a sleeping or a sleeping Airbnb . However, this remains complicated in the middle of the season... In any case, think to book in advance!

To eat

On site

Of course, to eat at the Perito Moreno glacier, you can take your snack. However, you will find several restaurants in Los Glaciares Park, some of which offer breathtaking views. Special mention to the cafeteria El Glaciar, which is worth the detour – but be careful, the view has a price!

Nearby

The best solution is to eat in the city El Calafate, which houses a good number of supermarkets and restaurants. A great opportunity to discover Argentine cuisine, including the famous asado and empanada .

To take in my backpack

What should you think before you venture to the Perito Moreno glacier? Of course, don’t forget your camera: the extraordinary camaieu of blues that the landscape offers is worth immortalizing, although the photos do not allow to appreciate this natural monument at its fair value.

Don’t forget to equip yourself properly. If you do not need big hiking shoes, the climate of Patagonia remains cold and windy. Get a good windshield!

If you want to venture into the park outside the walkways, you will have to equip yourself for the trek: good shoes, sleeping bag, etc.

What I can discover in the region

Los Glaciares National Park is home to many points of interest. Among them, the Perito Moreno Glacier is the most remarkable, but you can also enjoy the rich ecosystem of the Patagonia through its steppes, subatlantic forests and glacial lakes – but also other more isolated glaciers. In short, landscapes with raw beauty and wild isolation will take you to the gorge!

In addition, visit Glaciarum, a museum dedicated to glaciology. An entire room is dedicated to the Perito Moreno, an opportunity to learn more about this unusual manifestation of nature!