A consummate guide to visiting the Perito Moreno Glacier close El Calafate, Argentina.
“Perito Moreno Glacier? Yea, it’s expensive, but hence worth it!”
The backpacker inward Puerto Natales was pretty convincing when nosotros asked them what they idea of Patagonia’s most famous glacier.
As it turns out their quote perfectly summed upwards our ain experience amongst visiting i of Argentina’s most pop tourist attractions, the sprawling frozen river closed to El Calafate.
We had already visited quite a issue of glaciers inward the region, having exactly completed an awesome cruise through the Chilean Fjords too trekking the O Circuit inward Torres del Paine National Park, hence nosotros were contemplating skipping the basis famous Perito Moreno Glacier.
We’re glad nosotros didn’t.
After taking the motorbus from Puerto Natales nosotros crossed the edge dorsum into Argentine Republic too got dropped off at the motorbus station inward El Calafate.
Not beingness inward a rush nosotros had given ourselves iv nights inward town, which gave us ample chance to select handgrip of the perfect weather condition to caput out to Los Glaciares National Park, habitation to Glaciar Perito Moreno.
Trekking upwards loma to our start accommodation, La Cantera (read to a greater extent than well-nigh where to remain inward El Calafate at the bottom of this article), nosotros dropped our bags off too went to cheque out the town.
El Calafate is a funky, little town, correct on Lago Argentino, the largest freshwater lake inward the country. It has a leafy, ski-resort sort of experience well-nigh it too we instantly liked it, despite the ‘touristy’ feel.
Checking the weather condition nosotros flora out that the adjacent hateful solar daytime was going to live sunny. Being inward Patagonia nosotros knew to never trust weather condition forecasts, but rather than waiting a few days nosotros decided to caput straight out inward the morning time to the famous Perito Moreno Glacier.
Waking upwards around 7am nosotros had breakfast, packed a purse amongst some snacks too wine, too headed downward to the motorbus station. We made it exactly inward fourth dimension to larn the 8:30am motorbus to the national common too settled inward for the ride. At 570 ARS (US$32.50) each*, it was an expensive motorbus ticket for a brusk journey.
With alone i quick halt to pay our entrance fee on the way (another 450 ARS, or US$29.50*) nosotros made it inward well-nigh xc minutes. As nosotros got closer to the halt of the route nosotros got our start view of the impressive glacier, tumbling into the lake on the left side of the bus.
*Note – Prices inward 2019 are at nowadays 800 ARS (US$20) render for the motorbus tickets too 700 ARS (US$17.50) for the common entrance fee.
Once nosotros disembarked Alesha too I had 2 choices for what to practise amongst our hateful solar daytime – larn on i of the boat tours, or exactly walk around the common too select our time. We chose the latter choice to maintain our budget down.
Being i of the most pop national parks inward Argentina, everything is signposted too it’s impossible to larn lost. We flora the boardwalk too started our hike.
The Sun was beaming downward difficult too at that topographic point were few clouds inward the sky. Ahead of us the glacier shined brightly against the turquoise lake too distant peaks.
Rounding a curvature inward the boardwalk nosotros got our start up-close view of this sprawling wonder. The Perito Moreno Glacier is over 30km inward length too 5km broad at the face. The hateful solar daytime was soundless young, too already nosotros knew we’d made the correct conclusion coming out there.
Stopping for countless photos along the way nosotros flora some beautiful advantage points to admire the lines too shapes of the violet frozen river. The confront reached heights of 70m inward a higher identify the lake, making its size really remarkable.
What makes Perito Moreno i of the most interesting glaciers inward South America is how active it is. Immense H2O ice chunks constantly fissure off the face, known every bit ‘calving’, sending huge waves across the lake.
Every twenty minutes or hence some other piece of H2O ice would fall, causing everyone fortunate plenty to witness this natural phenomenon to cheer out inward unison.
We kept walking along the boardwalk too flora a large platform to laid ourselves upwards for lunch. Cracking a delicious bottle of Malbec nosotros enjoyed cheese too crackers amongst the bottle of wine, too sat at that topographic point inward quiet observing the glacier.
While nosotros were having luncheon nosotros started to reckon little bits of H2O ice autumn from i particular crack. Sensing that something large was well-nigh to go on nosotros laid our cameras upwards too waited.
Sure plenty a gigantic piece the entire meridian of the confront calved off correct inward forepart of us! The impact was massive too H2O crashed out dozens of metres. The audio was overwhelming, too nosotros couldn’t believe how lucky nosotros were to reckon such a large piece calve.
Many outlets report that the Perito Moreno Glacier is i of the few inward Patagonia that is advancing rather than retreating. While it’s truthful that the length of it is growing, it is really thinning at the same time. This agency sadly that its volume is on a downward tendency every bit well.
With the vino finished nosotros continued walking to the halt of the boardwalk, constantly inward awe of the glacier’s size. We ended upwards inward a tranquil forest, adding a unlike chemical constituent to the piece of cake hike.
The hours passed past times quickly, too before long it was fourth dimension for us to render to the bus. Surprisingly the glacier’s activity slowed down, too the entire walk dorsum didn’t have got anymore sizeable pieces of H2O ice autumn despite the afternoon heat. We’re glad nosotros made it out at that topographic point when nosotros did!
We got dorsum to the motorbus exactly inward fourth dimension too kicked dorsum for the 90-minute ride to El Calafate.
Over the adjacent few days nosotros relaxed inward town, spending a fair flake of fourth dimension at Cerveceria El Zorro, drinking boutique beer too reflecting on the beauty of the little department of Los Glaciares National Park nosotros had seen.
Visiting Perito Moreno Glacier was to a greater extent than impressive than nosotros could have got ever imagined. Despite the high cost associated amongst seeing it, nosotros were blown away amongst its magnificence.
It’s non real frequently you lot tin reckon i of the most fascinating attractions inward nature upwards closed too personal. And amongst the way climate alter is affecting the globe, who knows how much longer these glaciers volition soundless live around.
The backpacker nosotros met was correct – it was worth every peso!
Where Is The Perito Moreno Glacier
The Perito Moreno Glacier is well-nigh 80km from the town of El Calafate inward Argentine Patagonia. Not to live confused amongst the town past times the same mention (about 12 hours farther north), the Perito Moreno Glacier is share of the Los Glaciares National Park.
To give context to the location, the Perito Moreno Glacier is really share of the Southern Patagonian Ice Field. This sprawling landscape feeds dozens of glaciers inward southern Republic of Chile too Argentina, including the Grey too Dickson glaciers adjacent to Torres del Paine National Park, too all of the glaciers you lot run into on a cruise of the Chilean Fjords.
How To Get To Perito Moreno Glacier From El Calafate
To larn to Perito Moreno Glacier you lot start have got to go to El Calafate inward the Santa Cruz say inward Argentina. El Calafate has an airport, connected to a few regional towns inward Argentina, but the primary connections at that topographic point come upwards from Buenos Aires, Bariloche too Ushuaia.
You tin likewise go to El Calafate past times motorbus from Puerto Natales (an piece of cake 6-hour journey), from El Chalten (only three hours), or a mammoth leg from San Carlos de Bariloche (24 gruelling hours….we did it…).
Once you’re inward El Calafate getting to the Perito Moreno Glacier is quite easy. You tin either volume a tour including transport, rent a machine or a taxi, or practise what nosotros did too select the local bus.
How To Get To Perito Moreno Glacier By Bus
- First caput to the primary motorbus terminal inward El Calafate
Address: Jean Mermoz 104 (map here). - Buy your motorbus ticket for ‘Glaciar Perito Moreno’. There are a few motorbus companies that larn to the glacier, but nosotros went amongst CalTur. The cost for this ticket is a hefty 800 ARS (US$20) return.
- The buses leave of absence at either 08:30 or 09:00, depending on the company. It is totally possible to purchase your motorbus tickets on the hateful solar daytime of your trip. Just build certain you lot larn to the motorbus station amongst twenty minutes to spare.
- The trip to takes well-nigh xc minutes. About 1 lx minutes into the ride the motorbus volition halt at the entrance to the Los Glaciares National Park. Here common rangers volition come upwards onto the motorbus too select your coin for the entrance ticket.
Cost: 700 ARS (US$17.50) per individual (MUST BRING CASH, they don’t select credit card) - Eventually the motorbus arrives at the halt of the road. Here you lot go out too tin either larn for a hike or volume your boat tickets. You’ve made it to the glacier!
- Buses render at 16:00 inward the afternoon. Simply larn dorsum to the spot the motorbus dropped you lot off at. We advise taking a photograph of the issue plate hence you lot know which motorbus was yours, but it’s pretty straight forward. Don’t lose your ticket!
- CalTur likewise have got a motorbus that goes out at 13:00 too returns at 19:30, for those who desire to live out at that topographic point inward the afternoon or have got belatedly connections.
Hitchhiking To The Glacier
It is completely possible to hitchhike to the glacier. The route that heads out at that topographic point doesn’t have got many other destinations along it, hence most traffic volition live heading to Perito Moreno.
Get yourself a flake out of town too build it to Ruta Provincial 11. From hither you lot shouldn’t have got a occupation finding a ride.
Returning to El Calafate should live exactly every bit easy, but nosotros recommend doing what our friend did too inquire the individual if they tin select you lot dorsum every bit good (if they are heading back).
Tour vs Going Independently
It’s quite mutual for people to saltation on a Perito Moreno Glacier tour to go out too reckon this marvellous natural wonder, but nosotros remember it’s meliorate to larn on your ain *unless* you lot desire to walk on the glacier itself.
Tour companies volition accuse you lot a petty flake to a greater extent than for individual carry to go out at that topographic point but you lot volition soundless have got to purchase your entrance ticket. Some of them, but non many, have got luncheon included though.
On the brilliant side you lot larn a guide, nevertheless inward our view this is unnecessary for the touchstone boardwalk that you lot do, every bit at that topographic point are plenty of information signs along the whole way talking well-nigh what glaciers are too the history of Perito Moreno.
You’ll likewise live shuttled around inward a group, pregnant you lot can’t select your fourth dimension inward the places you lot desire to. Instead nosotros recommend saving the extra coin too exactly bringing your ain luncheon amongst you lot (and a bottle of wine, of course).
Boat Tours Of The Perito Moreno Glacier
Once you lot larn to Perito Moreno Glacier you lot tin volume a boat tour correct at that topographic point too then, hence there’s no demand to prebook this inward El Calafate.
When you lot larn far inward the national common at that topographic point volition live a little booth amongst a sign maxim ‘Navegacion’. Simply enquire at that topographic point well-nigh boat tours too they tin pose you lot on one.
If you lot desire to larn closer to the glacier than from the boardwalk this is the adjacent best choice without going on a hiking tour.
These volition larn you lot upwards to 100m away from the confront of Glaciar Perito Moreno too give you lot a spectacular perspective from the water’s level.
Most of these tours likewise include snacks too a drinking glass of whiskey served amongst glacial H2O ice too final for around xc minutes or so. Confirm this when you lot volume your tour.
Trekking Tours On The Glacier
One of the best things you tin practise inward El Calafate is larn on a trekking tour of the Perito Moreno Glacier! If you’re after an adventure, live certain non to fille this.
Teaming upwards inward little groups you lot leave of absence town too caput to the national common inward individual transport. Then you lot saltation on a boat too cross the lake to larn to the side of the glacier.
Now comes the best share – you lot volition live given crampons too H2O ice axes too live taken on a guided trek straight on the glacier itself! If you’ve never been on a glacier earlier trust us – it’s something you’ll never forget!
Walking on i of Argentina’s biggest tourist attractions is really sensational. You tin volume brusk Perito Moreno Glacier tours (known every bit ‘Mini Trekking’) or the larger ‘Big Ice’ which lasts for a few hours to a greater extent than too tin fifty-fifty larn within H2O ice caves depending on the fourth dimension of year.
As to live expected, especially inward Argentina/Patagonia, these tours aren’t cheap. The Big Ice trek is 4000 ARS (USD$275) including transport, too the Mini Trekking is 2400 ARS (USD$156). Neither of these include the common entry fee or lunch.
Still, it powerfulness exactly live your alone run a peril to trek on an enormous glacier! We didn’t personally practise it (we’ve trekked on quite a few glaciers before), but you lot tin pre-book your tour.
Book your H2O ice trekking tour amongst this company, Get Your Guide.
Where To Stay In El Calafate
El Calafate is i of the to a greater extent than expensive places for accommodation inward Argentine Republic due to its remote location too popularity. But beingness expensive likewise agency it has real high lineament hotels!
If you’re looking for a good, budget identify to remain inward El Calafate, hence the absolute best choice is the America del Sur Hostel.
Located alone seven minutes walk from downtown, this hostel is designed similar a beautiful timber cabin and has panoramic views of the mountains too lake.
If you lot desire something a flake cheaper than cheque out the other options on Hostelworld. Make certain you lot volume ahead inward the high flavor (December to April).
Design Suites El Calafate
For the absolute best luxury hotel inward El Calafate, you lot can’t vanquish the incredible (and aptly named) Design Suites!
A brusk 10-minute have from downtown amongst a to-die-for view over the lake too surrounding mountains, Design Suites has the highest lineament hotel rooms with the funkiest trend inward town.
From the 2nd you lot walk inward you lot are welcomed amongst the huge windows letting inward lite too vistas from all angles. There is a large dining expanse amongst a bar attached, too a cool sitting room to the side. This is likewise where the delicious buffet breakfast is served inward the mornings.
There’s an interesting collection of fine art scattered throughout the hotel every bit well, giving it a gallery feel, amongst most of the pieces available for purchase.
You’ll detect an indoor-heated pool, sauna too spa every bit good downstairs, ensuring Design Suites has all the amenities you lot could ever desire to build your remain enjoyable.
The rooms are brilliant too spacious, amongst large, comfortable beds too window-side sitting areas amongst glorious views. When you’re finished exploring the best that El Calafate has to offer, coming dorsum hither at the halt of the nighttime is superb.
Design Suites likewise offering a gratis shuttle into town, but this alone happens twice a hateful solar daytime which is a shame, pregnant if you lot desire to larn at whatsoever other fourth dimension you lot demand to telephone telephone a taxi (around 5000 Pesos each way).
Book your room at Design Suites El Calafate
Boutique Hotel La Cantera
We likewise were lucky plenty to pass 2 nights at Boutique Hotel La Cantera. While it’s non quite every bit luxurious every bit Design Suites, it does offering a real homely experience too a meliorate location for those who desire to live closer to downtown.
The mutual expanse is to a greater extent than similar a large living room consummate amongst a fireplace too comfy couches. It’s a perfect identify to boot dorsum amongst a volume (or inward our illustration our laptops to select handgrip of upwards amongst work).
The chamber nosotros booked was tucked away at the dorsum of the hotel, too spell it was large too had some interesting decorations, it did experience a flake dated, specially the bathroom. It likewise didn’t have got a lot of lite coming in.
That beingness said, they practise have got bedrooms that seem much nicer too to a greater extent than modern facing the lake. If you lot remain hither definitely endeavour to volume i of these.
Book your room at Boutique Hotel La Cantera
Our accommodation inward El Calafate was organised every bit share of our partnership with Destino Argentina, too hosted past times Design Suites too La Cantera. All thoughts, opinions too hours spent watching chunks of H2O ice autumn of the glacier are, every bit always, our own.
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