- About four hours at the pasarelas — more time facing the ice than any other tour here.
- The cheapest way to reach the glacier without driving yourself, at $76.
- Hotel pickup in El Calafate between 9:00 and 9:30, and drop-off after.
- A bilingual guide on the drive, then you are free at the balconies.
- An optional hour on the Rico arm, chosen at checkout rather than sold on the day.
Why this tour
This is the least expensive way to reach the Perito Moreno Glacier with someone else driving, and it gives more time in front of the ice than tours costing three times as much. The itinerary allots about four hours at the pasarelas — enough to walk the central balconies, drop to the lower circuit and still sit still long enough to hear the glacier work.
What the guide adds happens mostly on the road. The hour and a half from El Calafate crosses steppe that looks empty until someone points out guanaco, rhea and condors, and explains why the lake is that colour. By the time the Curva de los Suspiros opens up the first view, you know what you are looking at.
The boat safari is a separate tour option chosen at checkout, not an upsell on the day. It sails the Rico arm and brings you close to the wall from the water, which is a different scale entirely from the balconies. Reviewers who skipped it mostly regret it; a few who visited in fine weather preferred the extra time on the walkways. Both positions are defensible, and the things to do page sets out the trade.
Group size is capped at 24, and the vehicle is a coach rather than a minivan on busy dates. The Safari boat itself is shared with other operators and can carry 65, 115 or 160 people depending on the vessel that day.
How the day runs, hour by hour
9:00–9:30am — Hotel pickup in El Calafate
Collection from accommodation with a staffed reception. Hotels on the outskirts are not served and are given a nearby meeting point instead.
~10:30am — Los Glaciares National Park
Arrival at the Portal Río Mitre after 80 km on RP 11. The park entrance fee is paid here and is not included in the tour price.
Late morning — The walkways
About four hours free on the pasarelas, across the central, lower and forest circuits. A cafeteria and toilets sit at the visitor centre.
Afternoon — Boat safari — Boat Safari option only
One hour on the Rico arm of Lago Argentino, sailing between floating ice and along the glacier wall.
5:00–5:30pm — Back in El Calafate
Drop-off at your hotel in the early evening.
Who this walkway day is for
This trip suits you if:
- this is your first visit and you want maximum time in front of the ice
- you would rather walk five circuits at your own pace than follow a group
- the crampon treks are outside your budget, or outside your age band
When it is the wrong trip
This is not for you if you came to walk on the glacier. Nothing on this day puts you on the ice — the pasarelas face it from across the channel, which is a different and arguably better view, but it is not the same experience.
If standing on the ice is the point, book minitrekking instead.
What the $76 covers, and what it does not
Included
- Professional bilingual guide
- Hotel pickup and drop-off
- Air-conditioned vehicle
- Boat ride — only on the Boat Safari tour option
Not included
- Los Glaciares National Park entrance fee
- Lunch
- Gratuities
Meeting point and practicalities
Pickup runs from El Calafate hotels between 9:00 and 9:30am, with the exact time confirmed the evening before. Luggage cannot be left in the vehicle during the excursion, so this tour does not combine with a same-day departure.
Passport details — name, number, nationality and date of birth — are required at booking for every traveller, and a digital copy of each passport is needed to confirm the boat portion. Children under 15 must have a passport copy supplied and must occupy a seat. Child seats are available for ages three to five if requested in advance.
The walkways involve a moderate amount of stairs. The tour is not wheelchair accessible; two other tours listed here are, and the FAQs name them.
Bring warm layers, a waterproof jacket, gloves, a hat, sunglasses and sunscreen. Lunch is not included: pack your own or use the park cafeteria. Full practical detail sits on the visitor information page.
Know before you go
- The Los Glaciares park fee is not included and rose to ARS 50,000 for non-residents on 1 June 2026. Budget it separately. Almost every listing still prints the older ARS 45,000 figure.
- Mastercard is not reliably accepted at the gate. Buy your park ticket online in advance, or carry pesos or a Visa card.
- The closer viewpoints involve a great many steps. If stairs are a problem, stay on the upper balconies — the view from them is the postcard one anyway.
- Lunch is not included and the park cafeteria is the only option inside. Pack food in El Calafate before the pickup; there is nothing to buy on RP 11.
What travellers on this day said
What travellers say about this tour. More sit on the Perito Moreno Glacier tours reviews page.
Found the pace unhurried and had time to see the glacier from several angles; rated the guiding clear in both languages.
Mark · April 2026
Travelled in a group of about ten in a comfortable van, and warned that the closer viewpoints involve a lot of steps.
Jennifer · March 2026
Valued the guide's knowledge of the flora, fauna and history of the region on the drive out, and the hostel pickup.
Nancy · April 2026
Questions about the walkway day
Is the park entrance fee included in this tour?
No. The Los Glaciares National Park fee is paid separately and is currently ARS 50,000 for non-residents.
How much time do I get at the walkways?
The itinerary allots about four hours at the pasarelas, plus roughly an hour on the water if you book the Boat Safari option. Four hours is enough to walk all five circuits without hurrying and still sit long enough to see the ice calve. It is the most walkway time any tour here gives you.
Do I have to choose the boat option when I book?
Yes. The boat safari is a tour option selected at checkout, not something added on the day.
Is there a group size limit?
The tour is capped at 24 travellers. The shared safari boat is larger and can carry between 65 and 160 people depending on the vessel.
Is lunch provided?
No. Bring a packed lunch or use the cafeteria inside the park.
Can I cancel?
Yes, with a full refund up to 24 hours before the experience starts, local time. That window is the operator’s, not the park’s, and the park fee you pay at the gate is separate either way. Departures between 24 December and 2 January are treated as final sale by some operators, so check the date before you pay.
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.