Ice-Trekking on Perito Moreno Glacier, Patagonia.

No trip to Patagonia can be complete without an ice trek across the Perito Moreno Glacier in Argentine Patagonia! 

What makes Perito Moreno one of the most interesting glaciers in South America is how active it is.

Massive ice chunks constantly cracking off the edge, sending huge waves across the lake. Every 30 minutes or so another piece of ice would fall,  impressing everyone fortunate enough to witness this natural phenomenon!

Perito Moreno Glacier

Perito Moreno Glacier is one of the most famous and awe-inspiring natural wonders of Argentina;standing before it's 70-metre high blue face and watching 100-tonne blocks of ice crumble and crash into the waters below is truly incredible. The Perito Moreno Glacier is over 30km in length and 5km wide at the face. Trekking over the glacier, you'll climb over deep blue crevasses, witness spectacular ice caves and seracs, and splash through rivers of meltwater. It easily classifies as one of the most beautiful and overwhelming things I have seen in my life. Nature at its best!

El Calafate

This funky, small town, right on Lago Argentino, the largest freshwater lake in Argentina, is the perfect spot to discover the beauty of Patagonia; living and feeling the mystery, the adventure and the virgin nature. Accommodation in El Calafate varies in quality and cost.If you are a  booking.com user you could get a 10% discount with the promo code 'GALANO59' ; there are plenty of value for money deals for hostels and hotels close to Perito Moreno National Park. 

How To Get To Perito Moreno Glacier From El Calafate.

To get to Perito Moreno Glacier, you first have to travel to El Calafate in the Santa Cruz province in Argentina. The local airport is connected with a few regional towns in Argentina, including Buenos Aires, Bariloche as well as Ushuaia, the world's southernmost city. You can also travel to El Calafate by bus from Puerto Natales/Chile (around 6-hour trip) and from El Chalten (only 3 hours). Once you’re in El Calafate getting to the Perito Moreno Glacier is quite easy. You can either book a tour including transportation, rent-a-car or a taxi, or you can take the local bus.

How about walking across a glacier? Fantastic!

There are two different ice hike routes; both take a full day and include transportation to and from your hotel in El Calafate. The 'Mini Ice' is a two-hour guided tour and the 'Big Ice' is targeting more adventurous visitors and gives you almost 4h on the ice (age limit 18 - 50). Just remember that the “Big Ice” is available from mid September up to end of April.

The day came when I was eventually in front of the mighty Perito Moreno Glacier, awe-struck and fascinated. The sun was beaming down hard and there were few clouds in the sky. Ahead of me the glacier shined brightly against the turquoise lake and distant peaks.

Rounding a bend in the boardwalk I got the first up-close view of this sprawling wonder. A huge mass of ice, flowing down in the lagoon. A high wall (over 70m above the water level) carved with cracks, the front surface decorated by shades and veining, looking like a piece of the finest marble. The excursion begins in the embarking pier located in “Bajo de las Sombras” port, about 6 km before the glacier Balconies- where you embark for a 10 minutes navigation across the Rico Arm, enjoying spectacular views of the Perito Moreno glacier’s front walls.

After checking the gear, picked up the necessary equipment and walked following the lateral moraine, for almost two hours, until we reached the access to the glacier. After putting on harnesses and crampons,I started the ice trekking with the team. There is a awe-inspiring view of the immense plateau of ice. During the walk I was introduced to the huge moulins, crevasses, caves, and above all the special feeling of exploring the middle of the ice!. Ahead of the tour I was skeptical, whether it would be underwhelming but I was wrong. The sights and sounds were beyond imagination. The face reached heights of 70m above the lake, making its size truly remarkable. The whole excursion was a unique expericence!

Must-Know Facts and Tips

• Pre-book your tour. As expected, especially in Patagonia, these tours are not cheap so book this tour in advance. The Big Ice trek is 4000 ARS (USD$275) including transport, and the Mini Trekking is 2400 ARS (USD$156). Neither of these include the park entry fee or lunch.

• Los Glaciares National Park entrance ticket cost 450 ARS (US$29.50) per person (MUST BRING CASH, they don’t accept credit card). Park closes at 10 pm.

• Layer layer layer clothing. Hot cold hot cold all day, depending on the wind, sun and walking speed. Be prepared for rain as well. Wind proof clothes are a must.

• Bring your own food/water for a day trip.

• Wear lots of sunscreen, take lots of pictures and bring an empty water bottle to fill in the melted areas and experience how 1000 year old glacier water tastes like.

• No drones allowed. You'll have to pay a fine if caught using a drone.