must-visit in El CalafateNational Park & Nature

Perito Moreno Glacier

📍 Los Glaciares National Park, Santa Cruz Province, Argentina (about 80 km west of El Calafate)

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4.6/ 5.0

★★★★★

Quick Facts

Location: Argentina, El Calafate
Category: National Park & Nature
Duration: Full day (about 3 hours of driving round trip from El Calafate)
Opening Hours: Summer (Sep-Apr) 8:00-18:00 entry, walkways until 19:30; winter 9:00-16:00 entry
Ticket Price: Adult: Free · Foreigners ARS 50,000 (from June 2026); Argentine residents 25,000, Santa Cruz 8,000; under-6 free
Address: Los Glaciares National Park, Santa Cruz Province, Argentina (about 80 km west of El Calafate)
Coordinates: -50.4955, -73.0470

Introduction

Perito Moreno Glacier is the crown jewel of Los Glaciares National Park and one of the world's most famous living glaciers: a 5-km-wide tongue rising 60-74 metres above Lago Argentino, about 170 metres thick in total, advancing roughly 2 metres a day while keeping a rare mass balance (its northern front has shown retreat since 2020). Some 4-5.5 km of multi-level metal walkways stand just 300 metres from the ice, putting visitors eye to eye with the blue crevasse light — and daily calving crashes into the lake with a thunder-like roar that carries down the Iceberg Channel. Every four or five years the glacier dams the lake and collapses in a spectacular rupture. Just 78 km from El Calafate with no trek required, it is Patagonia's undisputed number-one sight.

✨ Highlights

The Blue-White Ice Wall

A 5-km-wide front rising 60-74 m above the lake, glowing deep blue in the crevasses.

Daily Calving

Big blocks break off on ordinary days, with a thunder-like roar down the Iceberg Channel.

Multi-Level Walkways

4-5.5 km of metal walkways just 300 m from the ice — many angles at eye level.

A Rare Balanced Glacier

Advancing about 2 m a day with mass roughly in balance; the northern front has retreated since 2020.

The Periodic Rupture

The glacier dams the lake until the ice collapses — every 4-5 years, as in 2012, 2016 and 2018.

Southern Patagonian Ice Field

Fed by the world's third-largest freshwater reserve — one of its 48 outlet glaciers.

🛈 Practical Info

→Duration：Allow 2-3 hours on the walkways; with the El Calafate round trip it takes a full day.

→Add-ons：Boat safari about 1 hour (USD 20-35); Mini-trekking (1.5 h on ice, USD 100-130) and Big Ice (3.5 h, USD 145-175) charged separately.

→Clothing：Cold and windy at the ice front — windproof warm layers, sunglasses and sun protection, even in summer.

→Opening Hours：Summer (Sep-Apr) 8:00-18:00 entry, walkways until 19:30; winter 9:00-16:00 entry

→Transportation：About 80 km from El Calafate via paved RP11 (1.5 h); shuttle bus or self-drive

Ticket Information

Ticket Information
Adult	Free

Foreigners ARS 50,000 (from June 2026); Argentine residents 25,000, Santa Cruz 8,000; under-6 free

💡 Tips

• Arrive before 10:00 for the emptiest walkways, the best light and the freshest icebergs.

• Calving is often preceded by a thunder-like roar — follow the sound to catch the plunge.

• Buy tickets online at ventaweb.apn.gob.ar up to a month ahead; phone signal at the gate is poor.

• A second entry within 72 hours is half price — pair it with El Chalten in the park's northern sector.

• Self-drivers: fill up in El Calafate — there are no petrol stations along RP11.

• Boat trips and ice treks are separate and sell out in summer; book 1-2 weeks ahead.

FAQ

What are the opening hours of Perito Moreno Glacier?

Summer (Sep-Apr) 8:00-18:00 entry, walkways until 19:30; winter 9:00-16:00 entry

How much is the admission for Perito Moreno Glacier?

Adult: Free; Foreigners ARS 50,000 (from June 2026); Argentine residents 25,000, Santa Cruz 8,000; under-6 free

Any practical tips for visiting Perito Moreno Glacier?

Arrive before 10:00 for the emptiest walkways, the best light and the freshest icebergs. Calving is often preceded by a thunder-like roar — follow the sound to catch the plunge.