Visiting the Perito Moreno Glacier

Everything you pay for at the Perito Moreno Glacier comes in two parts: the tour, and the national park ticket that no tour includes. Get both right and the day runs itself.

Hours, prices and access verified by the Perito Moreno Glacier Tours team — last checked August 10, 2026.

Park entry: what it costs in 2026

Entry is charged as access to Los Glaciares National Park, not to the glacier itself. The rates below took effect on 1 June 2026.

Buy online in advance at the national parks portal, or pay at the entrance. Payment methods vary by operator and have changed more than once: several listings state that Mastercard is not accepted and ask for cash or a Visa card in Argentine pesos. Buying online removes the question entirely. Bring your passport — the ticket is validated against photo identification.

Flexipass tickets covering three or seven days exist, along with an annual pass. They pay for themselves if you are also visiting the El Chaltén sector of Los Glaciares National Park.

Opening hours by season

Only one part of the park runs on a clock: the Mitre–Glaciar Moreno corridor, which is the road you take to reach the walkways.

The last entry time is the one that strands people. The glacier viewpoint sits roughly 30 km inside the gate, so a 17:45 arrival in summer leaves very little daylight at the ice. Guided departures from El Calafate leave between 07:00 and 09:30 precisely to avoid this.

How long you need

Between two and four hours covers the walkway circuits at a comfortable pace. The full network runs to roughly four kilometres across several levels, joined by a great many stairs, with an accessible route that uses ramps and a lift to reach the first viewpoint.

Tours vary enormously in how much of that time they actually give you. The cheapest full-day tour on this site leaves about four hours at the walkways. The most expensive boat cruise gives thirty minutes at the Perito Moreno front, because it spends the rest of the day at Spegazzini and Upsala. Read the hours, not the price. The full breakdown sits on the key facts page.

When to go

The glacier calves year-round. What changes is daylight, crowds and price. From November to March you get long days and the most viewing hours, along with the highest prices and the fullest walkways. April and October are quieter, cooler and often clearer. Winter brings snow on the surrounding forest and a 16:00 cut-off, which suits photographers and nobody in a hurry.

Weather moves fast. Sun, rain, sleet and 90 km/h wind inside one afternoon is normal here, and the temperature at the ice front runs well below what El Calafate reads.

What to bring

• Layers, plus a windproof and waterproof outer shell.
• Gloves, a hat and sunglasses — glare off the ice is strong even under cloud.
• Sunscreen. Reflected light burns faces that never see direct sun.
• Flat, grippy shoes for the walkways; trekking boots if you are booked on an ice trek.
• A packed lunch. Almost no tour includes food, though there is a cafeteria at the visitor centre.
• Cash in Argentine pesos as a fallback for the gate.

Tour or independent?

You can drive the 80 km yourself or take a scheduled bus from the El Calafate terminal. A tour buys three things: the transfer, commentary on the drive, and a boat slot already booked. Several reviewers note that the optional boat safari costs less bought at the pier on the day — true, and it also sells out. The getting there page covers the routes and parking; the frequently asked questions deal with the rest.

If you want to walk on the ice, you have no independent option. Crampon treks run under a single concession and must be booked. Age caps apply and they are enforced — see safety and ice-trek requirements before you pay for anything.