When researching Patagonia, the Perito Moreno Glacier comes up a lot on the “things to do” lists. In fact, it’s often number 1 in guides, blogs and online. We didn’t know many friends who had visited Patagonia, however those that had, mentioned Perito Moreno as a place to ‘definitely visit’. Guides online showed photos that were ‘okay’, and despite not being ‘convinced’, we added it to our itinerary. And aren’t we glad that we did!
Perito Moreno was one of the most awe-inspiring locations of natural beauty we have ever seen. Picture a ‘game of thrones’ style ice wall shrouded in mountains. The boardwalk has been excellently designed to blend into the landscape, as it snakes over 5kms along to give you views at all angles (yes there’s over a dozen view points and you can see the glacier from almost every part of the boardwalk!). Get your camera ready, you’ll need it!
Additionally, as described eloquently by the French tourist we met in El Calafate, “the glacier is alive”. If you are lucky, you will hear the cracks of the ice echo around the valley, and bear witness to parts of the glacier breaking off into the water below. It is truly spectacular, and happens a lot more frequently during the summer months. It is recommended to stay at one view point for a period of time to “watch” as it can be easy to miss when it does break and fall. If you are lucky enough to experience this you will likely have your mind blown like we did!
To help you enjoy your experience at Periton Moreno Glacier, we’ve put a few tips together below:
- Location: Perito Moreno Glacier is located around 1hour south of El Calafate. The entrance to the national park is around 30-40minutes from El Calafate, and the start of the boardwalk is another 20-30minutes from the park entrance.
- How to get there: We hired a car for our visit to Patagonia (highly recommended), as this allows you to arrive on your on timeline and stay as long as you like. Alternatively, there are a plethora of tours leaving from El Calafate which you can pre-book or book when you arrive.
- Arrive early! The Perito Moreno Glacier is popular, and for good reason. From around 9.30-10am onwards the tour busses roll in, with the boardwalks increasingly busy. Even with the busier crowds, it is possible to find space on your own, but it is definitely much more enjoyable arriving early before the crowds (or later in the day once the tours leave). We recommend arriving at 8am when the park opens.
- Entry isn’t cheap (but worth it). It costs around $45,000 pesos for adults (approx. 60 AUD/45 USD), with locals/children/students getting discounts. You can pay on card or pre-purchase. The line for tickets can be slow, so we recommend arriving early to beat the crowds if possible.
- How long do you need at the glacier? This depends on what kind of experience you want. We urge you to allow between 2-4 hours. Take some snacks, spend some time sitting and just watching the incredible setting infront of you.
- View points along the road.. as you head into the park (park entrance is 20-30minutes away from the boardwalks) you’ll noticed a number of view points (Mirador). We definitely recommend checking them out, however if you are going early, visit these on the way back. They will be quieter, and you’ll get more time on the boardwalks by yourself.
- Upgrade your experience with tours, kayaking, boat trips, glacier walks and more.. but be prepared to pay up! These experiences look and sound incredible, but will cost a lot.
So is it worth visiting Perito Moreno Glacier? Absolutely! We hope you enjoyed the gallery and the tips! Subscribe below if you want to stay up to date with our travels and free travel guides!
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