The Perito Moreno Glacier is, without exaggeration, one of the most impactful experiences in world travel. This ice giant has a surface area of 250 km², a front 5 kilometres wide and walls averaging 60 metres in height (up to 74 m at the highest points) above Lago Argentino. What makes it truly special is that it is one of the few glaciers on Earth that is still advancing, at a time when most are retreating due to climate change.
The walkways: the classic experience
A system of metal walkways extending several kilometres allows you to approach within a few hundred metres of the glacier front. Different levels and circuits offer varied perspectives. From these walkways you can observe the famous calving events: enormous blocks of ice breaking off and crashing into the lake with a roar that echoes through the valley. These events happen constantly, especially in summer (February-March).
Entry to Los Glaciares National Park costs approximately USD 28 for foreigners. A guided tour with transfer from El Calafate starts from USD 60.
Mini-trekking: walking on ancient ice
The mini-trekking lets you literally walk on the glacier with special crampons for 1.5 hours. The experience includes a 20-minute boat ride, crampon fitting, a guided walk through crevasses, caves and pools of crystal-blue water, and a final toast with glacial whisky using ice over 400 years old. Cost: approximately USD 360. Requirement: ages 10-65.
Big Ice: the extreme version
Big Ice offers 3.5 hours of walking on the glacier with access to more remote and spectacular zones. You see deeper crevasses, enormous seracs and breathtaking blue ice caves. Cost: approximately USD 450. Requirement: ages 18-50, good physical fitness. Both experiences require booking weeks in advance during high season.
The rupture: nature's spectacle
Every few years, the glacier advances far enough to touch the Magallanes Peninsula coast, forming a natural dam. The accumulated water pressure eventually breaks through in a spectacle known as the rupture, broadcast live on international television. The last major rupture was in 2018. Scientists estimate the next could occur between 2026 and 2028.
