The Mini Ice Trekking Perito Moreno Glacier day tour is one of the most popular excursions in El Calafate. This tour allows visitors to walk on the ice of the most iconic glacier in Patagonia, the Perito Moreno Glacier. This guided excursion at Los Glaciares National Park, (in addition to walking on the ice) includes transfers from El Calafate and a stop at the Perito Moreno walkways. On the same day, you’ll get to know the glacier from afar, with stunning panoramic views, and up close, stepping on the ice itself.
The tour has different departure times, from 7 AM to 11:30 AM. The day before during the afternoon, a guide on behalf of Howlanders will contact you to let you know the exact starting time and pickup location.
You will be picked up at your accommodations in El Calafate to travel 45 miles (70 kilometers) to Puerto Bajo Las Sombras. During this tour, the guide will provide information about Los Glaciares National Park and Perito Moreno Glacier. The day before the tour begins at 6:00 P.M., you will be informed via WhatsApp of the exact time and location of the pick-up.
The trek will start with a leisurely walk of about ½ mile (1 km) along the shore of the lake. After, your guides will give a short brief on safety and glaciology. Upon reaching the edge of the glacier, subgroups of a maximum of 20 travelers will be organized, each accompanied by two professional guides (creating a ratio of 10 travelers per guide). With their help, you’ll put on your helmet and crampons then begin your ice walk on the Perito Moreno Glacier. For an hour and a half, you’ll get up close and personal with the glacier, walking on the ice and learning about it in depth. You may come to find that its very nature is to change constantly, resulting in a unique itinerary for every tour. Your guide will plan the itinerary on the glacier in a manner that will allow you to see the most formations and have the best experience.
When you’ve finished traversing the ice, your guide will offer you a bonbon and a glass of whiskey with ice from the glacier itself. Next, you’ll return to your starting point on the ice and give back the crampons and the remaining equipment. You’ll continue walking along the moraine until finally leaving it behind to reach a panoramic view of the Perito Moreno Glacier, featuring the mountains and lake. Then, you’ll start the return trip through a path that crosses the Patagonian Andean Forest where you’ll reach the refuge. At the refuge, staff will be waiting for you with a hot drink and a small surprise (a souvenir). After this short break, you’ll embark on the return trip to Puerto Bajo Las Sombras, but first, take a last look at the enormous walls of the glacier from the boat.
The shuttle bus will be waiting for you upon arrival at the port. Before returning to El Calafate, you’ll make one last stop for an hour and a half at the Perito Moreno Glacier walkways. There, you can enjoy the spectacular panoramic views of the glacier and walk along a self-guided trail before returning to your accommodations in El Calafate.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
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You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
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