The best Perito Moreno Glacier tour in 2026 is the classic day tour from El Calafate — $60–69 with hotel pickup — giving you 3–4 hours on the footbridges facing the glacier's 60–70 m ice wall.
Key takeaways
- Perito Moreno is one of the few glaciers on Earth still advancing — about 2 m per day — inside Los Glaciares National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage site.
- Classic day tours ($60–69) include transport and 3–4 hours on the 4–5.5 km of color-coded footbridges; the main balcony sits 146 m above Lago Argentino.
- The optional boat safari ($32–50 add-on, or $62 boat-only) sails within 400 m of the north wall — the closest legal view of calving ice.
- Minitrekking ($371–530) puts you ON the ice with crampons for ~1.5 hours (ages 8–65); Big Ice ($459) is the strenuous 3-hour version for ages 18–50.
- The ARS 45,000 (~$31) park entrance fee is never included in tour prices — pay at the gate or pre-buy at ventaweb.apn.gob.ar. Budgeting help on the cost page.
- Book 1–3 days ahead in the December–April peak; shoulder seasons (Nov–early Dec, Mar–Apr) offer the same glacier with half the crowd.
The Tours
Which Perito Moreno Glacier tour should you book?
Three formats cover almost everyone: the classic day tour at the footbridges, ice trekking with crampons, and the boat safaris that sail up to the wall.
Classic day tour + optional cruise
Hotel pickup at 8–9 am, the 80-km drive along Lago Argentino, then ~3 hours free on the footbridges to watch the wall calve. Optional 1-hour boat cruise (~$30 extra). Back in town by 5 pm.
Ideal for: First-timers, families, anyone on a one-day itinerary.
Book from $69 →Minitrekking: ice walk + cruise
Boat across Brazo Rico, a guided forest and moraine walk, then ~1.5 hours ON the glacier with crampons and helmet — crevasses, sinkholes and blue lagoons underfoot. Walkways visit included.
Ideal for: Ages 8–65 with moderate fitness — the once-in-a-lifetime pick. Details in the minitrekking guide.
Book from $424 →Live Availability
When can you go? Check dates for the classic day tour
Live availability and prices for the Classic day tour + optional cruise (⭐ 4.7, 2,728 reviews) — pick a date and book in two clicks.
Side by Side
How do the Perito Moreno Glacier tours compare?
| Tour | Duration | Price | Rating | Best for | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Classic day tour + optional cruise | ~8 h | $69 | ⭐ 4.7 (2,728) | First visit | Book → |
| Park guided tour + optional cruise | ~8 h | $60 | ⭐ 4.7 (688) | Budget + guided | Book → |
| Guided full-day walkways tour | ~9 h | $65 | ⭐ 4.8 (165) | Full-day guide | Book → |
| Day tour with boat safari included | ~9 h | $145 | ⭐ 4.8 (190) | Boat included | Book → |
| Minitrekking: ice walk + cruise | 9–10 h | $424 | ⭐ 4.8 (848) | Ice trekking | Book → |
| MiniTrekking with hotel transfer | 9–10 h | $371 | ⭐ 4.7 (47) | Minitrekking, small groups | Book → |
| Full-day minitrekking + walkways | 10–11 h | $530 | ⭐ 5.0 (5) | Full-day minitrekking | Book → |
| Big Ice: 3h expedition on the glacier | 10–11 h | $459 | ⭐ 4.8 (32) | Big Ice (advanced) | Book → |
| Blue Safari: sail + touch the glacier | ~7 h | $101 | ⭐ 4.9 (112) | Touch the glacier | Book → |
| 1-hour boat only (from the park) | 1 h | $62 | ⭐ 4.5 (42) | Boat only (in park) | Book → |
| Walkways transfer (no guide) | ~7 h | $90 | ⭐ 4.4 (69) | Transfer, no guide | Book → |
| Safari Náutico + guided footbridges | ~7 h | $230 | ⭐ 4.8 (4) | Safari Náutico + walkways | Book → |
| Private tour with bilingual guide | 6–7 h | $250 | New | Private guide | Book → |
Prices are GetYourGuide rates as of July 2026; ratings are verified GetYourGuide review scores. "New" = listing too recent for a meaningful rating — we say so rather than inventing one. Most tours cancel free up to 24 hours before. Full breakdown on the cost page.
Know Before You Book
What does a Perito Moreno day tour actually include?
Transport — hotel pickup in El Calafate, then the 80-km drive along Lago Argentino's southern shore into Los Glaciares National Park (~1.5 h each way). Total day: 8–9 hours.
The footbridges — 4–5.5 km of color-coded boardwalks at different heights and angles. Yellow circuit reaches the main balcony, 146 m above the lake and square-on to the north wall; the lower circuit is wheelchair-accessible. Plan 3–4 hours at your own pace — the full circuit map is in our footbridges guide.
Boat (optional on most tours) — a 1-hour sailing on Brazo Rico in front of the 60–70 m wall, within 400 m of the ice. Most operators charge $32–50 extra; the $145 sightseeing tour bundles it. If calving happens while you're on the water, you'll never forget it.
Guide — day tours carry a bilingual (Spanish/English) guide covering glacier dynamics and park ecology; the $60 budget tour also runs in Portuguese. Lunch is usually NOT included — bring snacks, park restaurants are pricey.
Want to stand on the ice instead of looking at it? That's minitrekking. Prefer the water? Compare the boat safaris. Going DIY by car or bus? Start with getting there from El Calafate.
Practical
How does booking a Perito Moreno tour work?
Pick a tour, choose a date, and show the mobile voucher at hotel pickup. Most day tours leave El Calafate between 8:00 and 10:30 am; minitrekking and Big Ice start earlier (6:45–8:00 am) because of the boat crossing. Most GetYourGuide listings cancel free up to 24 hours before — useful when Patagonian weather rearranges plans; check the forecast at SMN, Argentina's weather service.
Booking ahead matters most December–April: minitrekking departures are capped by ice-safety rules and sell out 1–3 days ahead, sometimes further in January. Day tours are easier, but the 7–9 am departures — the ones that beat the crowds — go first.
A note on how we keep this page honest: we checked every price against live GetYourGuide listings in July 2026 and verified ratings and review counts (2,728 on the flagship day tour alone). Park-fee figures come from ventaweb.apn.gob.ar; glacier facts (2 m/day advance, 20–30 min calving intervals, 4–5.5 km of walkways) from park sources and the El Calafate tourism office. We earn a commission when you book through our links, at no extra cost to you — full disclosure.
Not sure of your budget? Start with the cost breakdown. Picking dates? The best-time guide compares seasons month by month.
FAQ
Perito Moreno Glacier tours — frequently asked questions
How much does a Perito Moreno Glacier tour cost?+
Is the park entrance fee included in tours?+
How many days do you need at Perito Moreno?+
What age can kids do minitrekking?+
Is the boat safari worth it?+
Can I visit without a tour?+
When is the best time to visit?+
Ready for the ice?
Most tours include free cancellation up to 24 hours before. Lock in your date now and adjust if Patagonia's weather disagrees.
Book the Day Tour from $69 →