Big Ice Perito Moreno Trek with Walkways and Navigation

Walk on a living glacier. This long, demanding day from El Calafate combines a boat ride, forest hike, glacier trekking, and the famous Perito Moreno walkways. I like the small groups of up to 10 and the chance to spend about four hours on the ice, where you may see blue lagoons, streams, waterfalls, crevasses, and ice caves. I also like that crampons and trekking equipment are supplied.

The main drawback is the price: $572 per person is a serious investment, especially since you must bring your own lunch, snacks, drinks, gloves, and park entrance fee. You also need good fitness, and the age limit is 18 to 50. This is not a gentle glacier stroll.

Big Ice Perito Moreno Trek: Key Points

• Four hours on the glacier: Expect a proper ice trek, not just a photo stop at the edge.
• Boat access through Brazo Rico: The short crossing gives you close views of the glacier’s southern face.
• Crampons and trekking gear included: You avoid renting the main technical equipment.
• Walkways may be included: Check the option carefully, since access is not included with every version.
• Bring a real lunch and warm layers: The day starts early, lunch may be as late as 2 p.m., and weather changes quickly.
• A demanding, tightly managed outing: Guides lead you across sloping ice, but you must be comfortable with several hours of walking.

Why the Big Ice Trek Is Different

Perito Moreno is not a glacier you simply admire from a roadside viewpoint. The usual boardwalks give you a superb view of its 196-foot, or 60-meter, front wall. This excursion adds the part most visitors cannot reach: the uneven blue-and-white ice field behind the wall.

I like the contrast. You first see the glacier as a huge wall across the water, then cross Brazo Rico by boat and approach it from ground level. After a hike through the forest, you put on crampons and walk across the moving ice itself.

Perito Moreno is also unusual because it is one of the few advancing glaciers in the world. Your guide explains how the glacier forms, moves, melts, and shapes the land around it. You may see meltwater channels, small lakes, waterfalls, caves, and sharp blue cracks created by the glacier’s constant motion.

The setting is dramatic, but the value comes from the access. You are not just looking at ice from a platform. You are spending hours learning how it behaves under your feet.

The 7 a.m. Start From El Calafate

The day begins early, usually around 7 a.m. If you select the transfer option, pickup and drop-off at your El Calafate hotel are included. The trip to Los Glaciares National Park covers about 80 kilometers and takes roughly two hours overall, depending on the exact schedule and stops.

The coach ride is useful because the guide explains what lies ahead before you reach the harbor. This is also the time to keep your lunch, water, sunscreen, and extra layers handy. You do not want to discover at the dock that your food is buried under everything else.

A practical warning: the transfer is optional. If you do not purchase it, you must reach Puerto Bajo las Sombras on your own. The harbor is about 80 kilometers from El Calafate, so this is not a casual taxi ride across town. The walkways are also not included in the version without the transfer.

The full day is advertised at about 12 hours. One completed outing returned to El Calafate around 7:30 p.m., so plan nothing important for that evening.

The Perito Moreno Walkways and First Glacier View

Depending on the option you book, the day includes time at the Perito Moreno walkways. This is a valuable addition, not a filler stop.

From the platforms, you see the glacier’s broad front wall stretching across the water. The jagged ice rises about 60 meters above the lake, though a large portion remains below the surface. The scale is hard to understand until you watch a piece of ice crack, fall, and send a sound across the water.

You typically have about an hour around the viewing area, though the detailed timing lists several shorter stop periods. Conditions can be cold and windy here, so keep your jacket accessible. The walkways offer the best wide view of the glacier, while the trek offers the close view. Together, they make far more sense than either part alone.

The park entrance fee is not included. Set aside money for it, and check the current amount when you book because fees can change.

The Boat Through Brazo Rico

At Puerto Bajo las Sombras, you board a boat for a short crossing of Lake Argentino’s Rico Arm, also called Brazo Rico. The supplied schedule describes the ride as roughly 10 to 20 minutes.

This is a short trip, but it does real work. You get clear views of the glacier’s southern face as the boat moves toward the landing area. It also gives you a sense of scale: the glacier is not a flat sheet of ice beside the road. It reaches across the water, rises above it, and continues far beyond what you can see.

Keep your warm layer on during the crossing. Wind over the lake can make the ride feel colder than the shore. Have your camera ready, but do not spend the whole crossing looking down at a screen.

After the boat reaches the far side, you meet the local trekking guides. They issue the equipment, explain the route, and prepare the group for the walk to the glacier.

The Forest Approach Takes More Effort Than Expected

The glacier does not begin at the dock. You first walk along the shore of Lago Argentino and through the forest beside Brazo Rico. This approach takes about 45 minutes according to the detailed experience description.

That walk is part of the price you pay for reaching the ice. You are not stepping off the boat directly onto a prepared trail. The route leads to the base of Perito Moreno and includes the climb toward the glacier edge.

You should arrive in proper hiking boots, not light running shoes. The crampons are described as basic, strap-on equipment, and they work better with sturdy boots. One person found running shoes uncomfortable once the crampons were fitted. That is easy to avoid.

A storage area is available after the boat ride, so you may be able to leave some extra belongings before starting the ice portion. Still, do not count on carrying nothing. Bring what you need for changing conditions, water, sun protection, and your lunch.

Four Hours on the Ice

At the glacier’s edge, the guide gives a safety briefing and fits your crampons. The group then begins the central part of the experience, roughly four hours on the ice, with a lunch break along the way.

The ice surface is sloped and uneven. You will cross areas of hard, ridged ice, and the guide will show you how to place your feet. Some sections include ravines and sharp edges. The route is not described as technical mountaineering, but it is strenuous and requires attention.

The guides lead from the front and help with the harder sections. A small group matters here. With no more than 10 people, it is easier to hear instructions and keep the pace together. One account described three guides working with the group, with safety checks throughout the trek.

The scenery changes as you walk. You might pass a stream cut into the ice, a waterfall dropping into a hollow, or a blue lagoon formed by meltwater. Ice caves may be large enough to enter, though conditions and access change with the glacier. Do not assume every formation will appear on your date. The glacier is always shifting.

The blue color is one of the memorable details. Deep ice absorbs much of the red light, leaving stronger blue tones in cracks, walls, and pools. Your guide adds the useful context, explaining the glacier’s geography instead of leaving you to guess at what you are seeing.

Listen, too. Ice can crack and shift, and pieces may calve from the front wall. You are not promised a dramatic collapse during your visit, but the sound of moving ice is part of what makes this feel like a living place rather than a frozen monument.

Lunch on the Glacier, Often Late

You must bring your own boxed lunch, snacks, and drinks. Food is not included, and one account placed lunch at about 2 p.m. That is late for many people, so eat a solid breakfast and pack a snack you can reach easily.

The lunch stop takes place at a sheltered scenic point on the ice. It is a chance to rest, look across the blue pools, and take in views toward Los Glaciares National Park before walking back toward the glacier’s edge.

Pack food that is easy to eat with cold hands. A sandwich, fruit, chocolate, and a filling snack are more practical than anything that needs careful preparation. Bring enough water for the day.

Gloves are especially important. Ice is sharp, and you may use your hands for balance at times. Gloves are recommended but not supplied in the listed inclusions, so do not assume the equipment package covers them.

Weather, Clothing, and Physical Demands

The weather can shift between sun, wind, and cold during the same outing. Wear comfortable sportswear with long trousers, a warm sweater or fleece, and a waterproof or windproof jacket. Sunglasses and sunscreen are essential even on a cold day.

A face covering for wind and ear warmers can be useful. The glare from the ice is strong, and the walkways may feel colder and windier than the forest approach.

The company requires a good level of fitness and describes the activity as difficult. The total walking time can reach about five hours, including the forest approach and the ice trek. You should be comfortable walking for several hours on uneven ground and climbing over sloping surfaces.

This is not suitable for someone looking for a short, low-effort excursion. The maximum age is 50, and the minimum age is 18. Those limits are unusually specific, so check them before paying.

What the $572 Price Really Buys

At $572 per person, this is one of the costly day trips from El Calafate. The price includes the guided trek, crampons and trekking equipment, professional guides, the boat ride, and hotel transport if you select that option. The walkways are included only with the applicable option.

The value is strongest if your priority is time on the glacier. A standard viewpoint visit can show you the ice wall, but it will not give you four hours walking through lagoons, streams, caves, and meltwater channels.

The cost is harder to justify if you mainly want a quick look at Perito Moreno. You still pay extra for the park entrance, and you bring your own food and drinks. The day also uses most of your time in El Calafate.

Compare the price with Hielo y Aventura, the local operator named in the tour details, before booking. A price complaint described a direct rate roughly £150 lower per person, although currency, transport, walkway access, and booking conditions may differ. Check that you are comparing the same Big Ice package rather than assuming every version includes the same services.

Cancellation and Booking Details

Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before the local start time for a full refund. Changes made less than 24 hours before departure are not accepted, and late cancellations are not refunded.

The excursion depends on suitable weather. If poor weather cancels the trip, you are offered another date or a full refund.

You must provide each participant’s birth date, passport name, passport number, expiry date, and country at booking. A passport copy must also be sent as soon as possible, and places are not confirmed until the required information is complete.

Who Should Book the Big Ice Trek?

I would choose this for an active adult who sees Perito Moreno as a major reason to visit Patagonia. It suits you if you want a close, physical connection with the glacier and are happy to spend a full day on transport, boats, forest trails, and ice.

It is also a good choice if you value a small group and instruction. The guides keep the route organized, explain the glacier, and help you use the crampons safely.

I would skip it if you dislike cold, have limited stamina, want a relaxed sightseeing day, or are outside the stated age range. The walkways alone offer a simpler visit, though they do not provide the same access.

Should You Book It?

Book the Big Ice Perito Moreno Trek if walking across the glacier is the main goal of your Patagonia trip. The boat approach, forest hike, supplied crampons, small group, and several hours on the ice create a rare experience that a viewpoint cannot match.

Before paying, confirm four things: hotel transfer, walkway access, park admission, and the exact price compared with the local operator. Pack serious layers, sturdy hiking boots, gloves, sunscreen, water, and a late lunch. If you are fit and prepared for a long day, this is a costly but well-focused way to meet Perito Moreno up close.

FAQ

How long does the Big Ice Perito Moreno Trek take?

The experience lasts approximately 12 hours. It starts around 7 a.m. and may return to El Calafate around 7:30 p.m.

Is hotel pickup included?

Hotel pickup and drop-off are included only if you select the transfer option. Without that option, you must travel 80 kilometers to Puerto Bajo las Sombras on your own.

Is the Perito Moreno walkway visit included?

The walkways are included only with the option that lists them. If you do not contract the transfer, the walkways are not included.

How much time do you spend on the glacier?

You spend about four hours on the ice, including a lunch break. The full walking portion can total roughly five hours when the forest approach is included.

Are crampons included?

Yes. Trekking equipment, including crampons, is included. Gloves are recommended but must be supplied by you.

Do I need to bring lunch?

Yes. Food and drinks are not included. You must bring snacks, a boxed lunch, and water or other drinks.

What age range is allowed?

The minimum age is 18 and the maximum age is 50. A good level of physical fitness is also required.

What happens if bad weather cancels the tour?

If poor weather causes cancellation, you are offered a different date or a full refund. You can also cancel for a full refund if you do so at least 24 hours before the start time.