Why this tour
Standing on a glacier is not a bigger version of looking at one. The surface is not white but a scoured grey-blue, it is loud with running meltwater, and it moves under you in ways the balconies never suggest. Minitrekking is the entry point to that, and for most travellers it is the right amount.
The day has three distinct parts. A twenty-minute boat crossing of Brazo Rico takes you past the south face at water level. A forest walk along the lake shore reaches the refuge, where guides fit crampons and helmets and run the safety briefing. Then roughly an hour and a half on the ice, in subgroups, on a route the guides re-pick as the ice changes.
What you actually see up close is crevasses, moulins, seracs and the small turquoise ponds that form on the surface in summer. Guides stop for photographs and explain the glaciology as they go. On most departures the walk ends with a drink poured over ice cut from the glacier.
Choose the option with transfers unless you are driving. Without it, the tour starts and ends at Puerto Bajo de las Sombras, runs about five hours instead of ten, and the walkways are not included.
Itinerary
7:00–11:30am — Departure from El Calafate
Several departures through the day; the guide confirms your time the day before. Without transfers, meet at Puerto Bajo de las Sombras.
~1 hour later — Puerto Bajo de las Sombras
Board the boat for a twenty-minute crossing of Brazo Rico, passing the south face of the glacier.
On arrival — Forest walk to the refuge
A coastal path through Andean-Patagonian forest to the shelter, with a glaciology briefing and crampon fitting.
About 1.5 hours — On the ice
Guided walk in subgroups among crevasses, seracs and meltwater channels.
Afterwards — The walkways
Free time on the Perito Moreno pasarelas before the return — on the with-transfer option only.
What’s included
Included
- Ice hiking equipment: crampons and helmet
- Boat crossing of Brazo Rico
- Bilingual guide, Spanish and English
- Hotel pickup and the Perito Moreno walkways — on the with-transfer option
Not included
- Los Glaciares National Park entrance fee
- Meals — bring your own
Meeting point and requirements
Departures run from 7:00am to 11:30am and the guide contacts you the day before with your time. The meeting point for travellers without transfers is Puerto Bajo de las Sombras inside the national park, about 70 km from El Calafate on RP 11.
Ages 8 to 65 only. The listing states this is a government requirement and it is checked against identification. Travellers with back problems, heart conditions or other serious medical conditions, and pregnant travellers, cannot take part. Moderate fitness is required: if you can walk briskly for two hours you will manage.
Wear trekking boots — trainers hurt under crampons — with wool socks, long trousers, a warm layer and a windproof shell. Gloves are required, not optional: the ice is sharp and hands go down. Bring a packed lunch, because no meal is included. Reviewers consistently report the day being colder than they expected. The safety page covers the full requirements.
Traveller reviews
Traveller feedback on this tour, in our own words. More sit on the Perito Moreno Glacier tours reviews page.
Nervous about falling, and found the ice guides patient and hands-on the whole way across.
Rebecca · March 2026
Counted about an hour on the ice inside a three-hour walk, with photo stops throughout and a drink over glacier ice at the end.
Natalia · April 2026
Rated the trek worth the extra outlay over the boat and boardwalks, and advised packing far warmer clothing than the forecast suggests.
Kristen · February 2026
Questions about this tour
What is the age limit for minitrekking?
Ages 8 to 65 inclusive. The limit is enforced against identification and there are no exceptions.
How long do I actually spend on the ice?
About an hour and a half, inside a walk of roughly three hours across lake shore, moraine, ice and forest.
Do I need previous experience with crampons?
No. Guides fit the equipment and run a briefing, and most people are walking confidently within a few minutes.
What happens if I book without transfers?
The tour starts and ends at Puerto Bajo de las Sombras, runs about five hours instead of ten, and does not include the walkways.
Is lunch included?
No. Bring your own food and water; there is no meal service on this excursion.
Can I do this while pregnant or with a back problem?
No. The operator excludes pregnancy, back and spinal problems, cardiac conditions and other serious medical conditions.
Compare this against every other option at Perito Moreno Glacier Tours, check the fees and hours on the visitor information page, or see the numbers side by side on the key facts page.