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The Big Ice Perito Moreno excursion, a challenging experience, combines 3 hours of trekking on Perito Moreno Glacier, 4 hours of hiking through the forest, and navigation. During the experience, you’ll reach the heart of the glacier, where you can feel tiny in the presence of its vastness, enjoy a picnic on the ice, and discover natural formations such as lagoons, crevasses, sinkholes, and ice caves. The tour ends with a glass of whisky served with glacier ice during the return navigation.
Price
Adult18 to 50 years
$ 550,000ARS
StartEnd
10:00 am5:30 pm
3-hour ice trek
Boat tour in front of the glacier wall
Toast with whisky and glacier ice
Crampons for walking on ice
Free cancellation up to 24 hours before start
Access ticket to Los Glaciares National Park
-
Optionals
Transfer service from your hotel to the port + Visit to the balconies
$ 80,000ARS
Lunchbox
$ 35,900ARS
Essential
Trekking boots
$ 29,600ARS
Essential
Availability
Highlights
1 / 3
Included
Included
Included
Included
Optional
Optional
Food
Lunchboxes
Optional
This tour does not include food. We recommend taking a lunchbox.
Good to know
The activity is available for people aged 18 to 50 years old who are not pregnant and do not have knee or back problems, heart disease, a stent, bypass, pacemaker, anticoagulant treatment, overweight, recent surgeries, or other physical conditions or disabilities incompatible with the activity.
Each passenger must complete a registration form that will allow their suitability to participate in the excursion to be assessed.
It is recommended to bring warm clothing, a waterproof jacket and pants, trekking boots, gloves, a hat, sunscreen, sunglasses, a backpack, and a packed lunch.
Each passenger must complete a registration form that will allow their suitability to participate in the excursion to be assessed.
It is recommended to bring warm clothing, a waterproof jacket and pants, trekking boots, gloves, a hat, sunscreen, sunglasses, a backpack, and a packed lunch.
When booking this tour,
we'll give you a free airport transfer to your hotel
we'll give you a free airport transfer to your hotel
Free airport transfer
Book any tour with us and the transfer is on us, so planning your trip is much simpler.
How does the benefit work?This benefit applies to the arrival leg, covering the transfer from El Calafate airport to your hotel in the city. Please note that it does not include the return trip to the airport. You will be able to enter your flight details and arrange the transfer in the next step.
Description
The Big Ice Perito Moreno Tour is an amazing experience that includes a 3-hour walk on the ice of the Perito Moreno Glacier, a 4-hour trek through the Andean Patagonian Forest next to the glacier and a boat ride. You will see unique ice formations such as sinkholes, crevasses, lagoons and, occasionally, caves. The physically demanding Big Ice Perito Moreno tour differs from the Minitrekking tour by including a 3-hour walk on the ice and reaching the center of the glacier.
If you book the tour with transfer included, we will pick you up from your hotel in El Calafate at 7:00 a.m. to begin the 78-km journey to the Perito Moreno Glacier, located within Los Glaciares National Park. Once there, you will visit the glacier balconies for 1 hour. Then, you will continue to Port Bajo de las Sombras where you will embark to cross the Brazo Rico (Rico Arm) of Lake Argentino. After a 20-minute boat tour along Perito Moreno, you will reach the southern shore of the lake.
Upon disembarking, you will be greeted by mountain guides to begin a 4-hour trek along a trail in the Patagonian Andean Forest next to the glacier. The trek follows a trail through the Andean Patagonian forest and continues across the moraine, a natural formation of glacial debris. The hike takes approximately 2 hours to reach a spectacular viewpoint. Crampons will then be put on to walk on the ice without slipping and then you will access the glacier. Once on the ice, the 3-hour crampon hike begins during which you will see incredible blue lagoons, deep crevasses, eternal sinkholes, and surprising ice caves.
After a 3-hour trek on the ice, you will return following the same forest and moraine trail you followed on your way to the glacier. Once back on the boat, you will sail along the south face of Perito Moreno, where you will enjoy a shot of whiskey with ice from the glacier. After this unique experience, you will return to Port Bajo de las Sombras and return to the city of El Calafate at 7:00 p.m., having experienced one of the most spectacular treks in the world.
If you book the tour with transfer included, we will pick you up from your hotel in El Calafate at 7:00 a.m. to begin the 78-km journey to the Perito Moreno Glacier, located within Los Glaciares National Park. Once there, you will visit the glacier balconies for 1 hour. Then, you will continue to Port Bajo de las Sombras where you will embark to cross the Brazo Rico (Rico Arm) of Lake Argentino. After a 20-minute boat tour along Perito Moreno, you will reach the southern shore of the lake.
Upon disembarking, you will be greeted by mountain guides to begin a 4-hour trek along a trail in the Patagonian Andean Forest next to the glacier. The trek follows a trail through the Andean Patagonian forest and continues across the moraine, a natural formation of glacial debris. The hike takes approximately 2 hours to reach a spectacular viewpoint. Crampons will then be put on to walk on the ice without slipping and then you will access the glacier. Once on the ice, the 3-hour crampon hike begins during which you will see incredible blue lagoons, deep crevasses, eternal sinkholes, and surprising ice caves.
After a 3-hour trek on the ice, you will return following the same forest and moraine trail you followed on your way to the glacier. Once back on the boat, you will sail along the south face of Perito Moreno, where you will enjoy a shot of whiskey with ice from the glacier. After this unique experience, you will return to Port Bajo de las Sombras and return to the city of El Calafate at 7:00 p.m., having experienced one of the most spectacular treks in the world.
Itinerary
7:00
Pick-up at hotel
80 km distance
Visit to the balconies
1:00 hs duration
10:00
Boarding in port
Navigation in front of the glacier
Ice trekking
3 hours duration
17:30
Return to the port
Return to El Calafate
19:00
Drop off at hotel
Included ActivitiesOptional ActivitiesTimings, order, and activities may vary based on the day's organization
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Frequently Asked Questions
Discover the questions other travelers also had before booking.How is it recommended to dress for the excursion?
As the weather in Patagonia can be unpredictable, we recommend dressing in layers, including:
- Thermal clothing.
- Fleece sweater or jacket.
- Waterproof jacket or windbreaker.
- Waterproof pants.
- Hiking boots (mandatory requirement).
It is also important to bring:
- Gloves.
- Sunglasses.
- Sunscreen.
- Backpack.
If one person in the group does not book this excursion, can he/she still travel with the rest of the group but take a different excursion?
Unlike other Perito Moreno Glacier excursions, Big Ice does not allow combining participants with different activities due to specific boarding and disembarking schedules. For this reason, if other group members have another activity at the glacier, you will not cross paths during the day.
Does the excursion include food and drinks? If not, are there places to eat within the National Park?
The excursion does not include food or drinks. For this reason, you must take a lunchbox from El Calafate because although there is a restaurant inside the National Park, it is important to note that it will be closed when you visit the glacier balconies.
Can the excursion have schedule changes?
Big Ice Perito Moreno does not modify the start and end times; however, it is not recommended to have another commitment on the same day due to the long duration of the activity.
Why does this excursion have such strict participation requirements?
This excursion has strict participation requirements due to the physical demand and the high level of difficulty it requires. To protect the well-being of passengers, pregnant women, children under 18 or people over 50, people with obesity (BMI equal to or greater than 30), with a history of heart disease or cardiovascular disease, with respiratory conditions, or with physical or mental disabilities that may affect gait, coordination, or attention cannot participate. People with other medical conditions that could be aggravated by the required physical effort also cannot participate.
What happens if the excursion cannot be carried out?
Although it is highly unlikely that this excursion will be canceled, in case exceptional situations prevent it from taking place, you can choose to do it on a new date, use the paid balance for another experience or request the corresponding refund.
Is the toast with whiskey and glacier ice done on the Perito Moreno Glacier?
In this excursion, the toast with whiskey and glacier ice takes place on board the boat during the navigation back to the port, so it does not take place on the surface of the Perito Moreno Glacier. Of the three ice trekking excursions, the only one that includes a toast made directly on the glacier is Minitrekking Perito Moreno.
Is it possible to take photos or videos during the ice trekking?
Yes, it is possible to take photos and record videos during the walk on the glacier. However, for safety reasons, this will only be allowed at the times and places indicated by the mountain guide.
Are crampons included in the excursion?
Yes, crampons are included in the tour. Before starting the glacier hike, each passenger will have them fitted over their footwear. A short briefing will then be given on the proper use of the equipment and the necessary recommendations for a safe activity. It is important to note that crampons are a metal structure that attaches to your footwear; they are not the footwear itself. Trekking boots are recommended for this excursion.
During the glacier trek, are formations like the ones in the photos usually found?
During the excursion, it is possible to observe natural formations such as cracks, seracs, sinkholes, small lagoons, and even ice caves. However, their presence may vary depending on the conditions of the glacier at that time, as these are natural phenomena in constant change. For this reason, the images are illustrative and do not guarantee that those exact formations will be found during the visit.
Is the experience suspended due to bad weather?
The excursion is not suspended due to weather conditions, as it takes place in Patagonia, where it is common for the weather to change constantly, and it is considered a mountain activity. For this reason, it is recommended to follow the clothing instructions to be prepared for any eventuality during the experience.
Can you walk from the balconies to Port Bajo de Las Sombras?
Port Bajo de Las Sombras is located about 6 km (3.7 miles) from the Perito Moreno Glacier balconies. For this reason, it cannot be reached on foot and it is recommended to take a vehicle transfer.
Is it necessary to book in advance?
It is recommended to book in advance once your travel dates have been confirmed, as this is a highly demanded excursion with limited availability and spaces subject to confirmation.
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