Wondering if mini trekking Perito Moreno glacier is worth it? Before doing it, I did too.
I did the mini trekking tour in November 2023. Immediately after finishing the experience, any of the doubts I had on the price went completely out the window.
Nothing compares to standing in a set of crampons on top of 18,000 year old ice, listening to waterfalls stream below the surface and peering into crevices that stretch miles deep.
However, how you prioritize your budget might be different from me. There are some real cons to consider, like spending just 30 minutes on the glacier.
In this completely honest and unsponsored review, you’ll find the exact itinerary you can expect on the tour, levels of fitness to have, best tour operators, restrictions, and a full list of pros and cons to help you make your decision.
Mini Trekking Perito Moreno Glacier in El Calafate
- 1 hour to enjoy walkways with views over the glacier
- 1 hour boat tour to get close to the ice wall
- 1.5 km hiking on black sand beach next to Perito Moreno
- 30 minutes of trekking on 18,000 year old ice
- A whiskey over real glacial ice to celebrate this once-in-a-lifetime experience!
What is Perito Moreno Glacier Trekking Like?
The mini-trekking tour combines all the different ways to experience this top sight in Patagonia.
Perito Moreno has a national park entrance with wooden boardwalks, ramps, and platforms to view the glacier from across the lake.
There are also boat tours that bring you right up to the edge of the ancient ice to appreciate it to scale. And then to get even closer, you can step onto the glacier itself with a set of crampons.
The Perito Moreno Glacier Mini Trekking tour combines all three of these. Here’s exactly what the day looked like when I did it 👇.
Mini Trekking Itinerary
7 AM Pick-Up and Scenic Drive
The tour starts with a hotel pickup sometime between 7 – 7:30. If you’re not staying at a hotel like us (we were at an AirBnb), they will give you the name of the closest hotel to where you’re staying the night before. Our hotel pickup was right next door.
The ride to Perito Moreno is on a large, comfortable coach bus. The drive takes about 1.5 hours, with views of snowy mountains and Lago Argentino.
Important Tip: Don’t worry if the bus is late. This is super common in Patagonia. Our bus was 20 minutes late. Just as we were starting to worry we had been missed, the bus showed up!
Stop 1: The Perito Moreno Glacier Walkways
First, we stopped at the main tourist entrance to Parque Nacional Los Glaciares. There is a small information centre, washrooms, and the starting point to the viewing walkways. We paid our driver the entry fee in cash and then had 1 hour to explore the platforms.
Altogether, the walkways make up about 4.7 km. However, it’s only a short 10 minute walk to get to the first viewpoint.
They look straight-on at the glacier face from a slightly elevated position, so you can see back over the glacier and get good pictures of it between the mountains rising on either side.
We loved this part, taking pictures and experiencing the famed Patagonian wind (if you have long hair like us, your hair will be a nest afterwards). I liked getting to see the glacier zoomed out like this before getting a closer experience on top of it.
We spent about 40 minutes enjoying the platforms. Then grabbed a couple hot chocolates from the cafe.
Stop 2: Boat Tour of the Glacial Lake
Next, you’ll board the same bus and drive about 20 minutes to the boat launch docks. This next part is supposed to take about an hour, with the boat touring the lake and getting right up close to the wall of ice.
The glacier wall stretches 70 metres (240 feet) above the water, so it’s an entirely new and impressive perspective of it.
On my tour, the waves were really rocky due to high winds, so our guides had to cut the boat tour short. They couldn’t take us right up close too it for safety reasons. We still had time to go outside on the balconies and take pictures. Plus, to be honest, I was getting motion sick, so I wasn’t overly disappointed to get off the water sooner.
Stop 3: Black Sand Beach Hiking
The boat drops you off at a dock across the lake, where the starting point is for the glacier trek. We had about 30 minutes here to eat lunch and use the washrooms. There were small cabins to sit inside to warm up. They were also elevated so you could see back out over the lake.
After your break, you’ll meet with a smaller broken up group of about 15 people and your trekking guide.
The trekking starts with a 1.5 km walk across black, volcanic sand on the shores of the glacier lake. It leads to a small shelter at the base of the glacier, where you get crampons and a helmet.
I enjoyed this part of the hike so much and it felt like a bonus since I was so focused on the glacier part when I booked it. Out of all the hiking in Patagonia, this tiny 1.5 km stretch will stick in my memory forever.
Stop 4: Trekking on 18,000-Year-Old Ice
After getting the crampons and helmets on, we walked in single file up the glacier. The guides stopped along the way to point out waterfalls running below the ice surface, we could hear the water streaming.
We stopped at a small pond that shimmered bright blue, stepped over tiny openings that seemed to drop endlessly into the ice. We drank the glacier water right from trickling streams (it’s apparently some of the freshest water in the world).
One of my favourite moments was when our guide was pointing out a small pool explaining that they were deceivingly deep. A few of us asked how deep it truly got, so our guide decided to test it. He used a long rope he had brought tied to a rock and dropped into into the water until it hit the bottom to measure exactly how long.
We finished the tour with a free glass of whisky with ice chipped right off the glacier. I’m not a fan of whiskey myself, but I had to partake at least a sip or two to say I drank whiskey on the rocks… on the rocks (get it? Haha).
When you get back to the cabins, you get some time to warm up with complimentary tea before leaving.
What is Included?
- Hotel pick up and drop off
- 30 minutes of hiking on the glacier
- Boat tour up to the face of the glacier
- Crampons, helmets, and other needed equipment
- A whiskey on the rocks and chocolate to celebrate after the hike
- Knowledgeable local guides
What is NOT Included?
- Entry fee into Los Glaciares National park. You can find the updated price of entry here under “The Glaciers”.
- Food and drink – you’ll need to pack your own snacks and lunch for the day.
- Rain jackets, warm clothes, and hiking boots
Restrictions/Requirements:
- Age restriction: Participants must be between the ages of 10 and 65.
- The tours only run between sometime in August to May.
Pros of the Perito Moreno Glacier Mini Trekking Tour
1. Ultimate bucket-list cred – How many people can say they walked on part of the world’s second-largest ice field? This is a brag-worthy, “tell-your-grandkids” kind of moment.
2. It packs a lot of adventure into a single day – If you don’t have endless time in Patagonia, this single day tour packs viewing platforms, boat tours, black-sand beach hiking, and glacier trekking all into one. You’ll make the most of your time in El Calafate for sure.
3. No logistical headaches – Transport, gear, itinerary, licensed guides: handled. You just show up dressed appropriately with your day pack.
4. Zero risk of FOMO – This was one of the biggest reasons I decided to join. I was scared I’d regret it later if I didn’t go. And turns out, I would probably have been right. Perito Moreno is the only major Patagonian glacier open to casual trekkers. Skip it and you’ll watch TikToks later wondering why you stayed on the boardwalk.
5. The higher price tag actually makes sense when you break it down – Yes, it’s a splurge, but it rolls multiple experiences into one fee. So in the end, the cost per activity felt really worth it.
Cons of the Mini-Trekking Glacier Tour
1. The price is hefty – An experience like this may not be in everybody’s budget. That’s totally fair. I am not a luxury traveller by any means, but I saved the extra money for it because it felt really worth the price once I considered the glacier trekking, boat tour, and more.
2. Only 30 minutes on the ice, compared to Big Ice Hike’s three hours – The biggest downside I saw to the mini trekking was getting 30 minutes on the ice. There is an alternative tour option called the Big Ice Hike that includes all of the same things, but spends 3 hours trekking on the glacier. However, it is even more pricey, so the 30 minutes and actually getting to step onto the ice felt more worth it.
3. Group experience – I’m always hesitant to join tours with larger groups. However, getting free time on the viewing walkways and being on a larger boat made it not so bad. The group gets split into smaller groups of about 15 people for the actually ice trekking part. It didn’t feel like a serious con to me, but is something to be aware of.
Mini Trekking vs the Big Ice Hike:
So what about the Big Ice Hike? In your research, you might have come across this second glacier tour option on Perito Moreno.
The biggest difference between the two is that mini trekking includes about 30 minutes of hiking time on the glacier, whereas the Big Ice Hike spends 3 hours on the ice.
The Big Ice Hike visits a similar viewpoint to get a zoomed out view and has a slightly shorter boat ride across Lago Argentino to get to the docks.
With 3 hours on the ice, you get to:
- Learn about geography and glaciology from expert local guides
- Pass crevasses, lagoons, waterfalls, streams, and caves
- Eat lunch on the ice at a designated shelter
- Experience panoramic views over the National park from lookout points on the glacier
Restrictions:
One important thing to note is that the Big Ice Hike does not allow anyone under age 18 or over age 50 to join.
We almost decided to spend the extra money for the Big Ice Hike experience, and were completely astonished by this restriction. I did this tour with my 52 year old mother who trekked with me in the Himalayas of Nepal and ended up doing one of Patagonia’s hardest day hikes, Laguna de Los Tres in El Chalten.
Apparently, it has something to do with their insurance. It’s unfortunate but an unavoidable restriction. Luckily, you can be up to age 65 for the mini trekking tour.
Check the Price and Availability of the Big Ice Hike ❄️
What level of fitness is required for Mini Trekking and Big Ice Hike?
You need an average level of fitness for the mini trekking.
There are a few slight inclines and walking in crampons adds an extra challenge, but the tour moves slow. It doesn’t feel strenuous.
For the big ice hike, you should be able to handle hiking for several hours.
How to Book Your Mini Trekking Experience
It’s really easy to book because the tour operators use third-party booking sites. This adds an extra layer of booking protection, because you can cancel up to 24 hours before the tour starts.
This is huge when you consider the price of this tour. You never know what could happen.
This is the tour I booked: The Perito Moreno Glacier Trekking Tour from El Calafate
Upon booking, you’ll be prompted to provide your accommodation information and will receive a confirmation booking. The night before your tour, the company will send you the exact pick up time by WhatsApp.
Important Tips Before You Go:
- Dress super warm and bring layers – turns out hiking on top of ice is pretty cold. Make sure to bring layers so you can add warmth right before heading onto the glacier. I wore a base layer, fleece sweater, a down puffy jacket and a rain layer on top. Plus, gloves and a hat under my helmet.
- The tour runs rain or shine – even if rain isn’t in the forecast make sure your outer layers are rain proof. I had a pair of rain pants on top of my thermal pants. This helped with warmth and when it did rain, I was so relieved my legs weren’t getting wet.
- Book a buffer day in El Calafate – Patagonia weather is unpredictable no matter the season, so if the winds are too high or there’s any risk, your tour could get canceled.
- Get an attachment for your lens cap to stay on your camera
- Bring motion sickness medication if you get boat sick
FAQs About Glacier Mini Trekking in Patagonia
How far in advance should I book?
As soon as your Patagonia dates are locked. Ideally 2–3 months out if you can.
How long does the tour last?
About 8 – 9 hours. We got picked up at 7:30 AM and were returned around 4 PMish.
Are drones, tripods, or trekking poles allowed?
Drones and tripods are banned (wildlife & safety rules). You can bring trekking poles for the first part of the day, but aren’t allowed to bring them onto the glacier.
What if I’m staying in an AirBnb?
The tour operator will send you the name of the closest hotel. That’s where they’ll pick you up instead. The hotel pickup location we received was literally next door to our AirBnb.
🤩 Check Prices and Availability!
So, Is Mini Trekking on Perito Moreno Worth It?
If you measure a trip’s success by the quality and uniqueness of the memories you bring home, the Mini-Trekking Glacier tour on Perito Moreno is a slam-dunk investment.
It transforms a beautiful viewpoint into a visceral, once-in-a-lifetime experience and does so in a single, well-orchestrated day. For travelers like me —time-pressed, thrill-seeking, and allergic to regret — the answer is a resounding yes, it’s worth every cent!
Bonus Tip: My two favourite Patagonia experiences were Perito Moreno AND the 3 days I stayed at one of the Estancias in El Calafate. We stayed at a traditional working ranch, where we horseback rode through the remote wilderness with real Argentinian cowboys, experienced farm demonstrations, herded sheep with the farm dogs on horseback, and hiked to high up viewpoints. I highly recommend adding this to your time in El Calafate!
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