Perito Moreno Glacier

Perito Moreno Glacier and Argentino Lake from the air

Enjoy Los Glaciares National Park. Including flights, transfer, hotel & Excursions.

The Perito Moreno Glacier is the most important one of the thirteen at the Los Glaciares National Park in Santa Cruz province.

This is one of the most spectacular views one can experience. A huge wall of ice extending up into the mists that hang over a long valley. The front is 4 Km long, and it is more than 60 meters high. An endless field of crystal blue glacial ice constantly clashes down into the Argentino lake.

You can approach it two ways. A launch takes you out on Argentino lake up to about 300 m from the front of the glacier. It looms large over you, and icebergs float past. The front face is incredibly craggy, broken and twisted, and also a deep blue color. The second approach is from a bluff toward which the glacier is advancing.

The Perito Moreno Glacier (50°29'S 73°03'W) is a glacier located in the Los Glaciares National Park in the south west of Santa Cruz province, Argentina. It is one of the most important tourist attractions in the Argentine Patagonia.

The Los Glaciares National Park is part of the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Watch the UNESCO video of Los Glaciares National Park

The 250 km² ice formation, of 30 km in length, is one of 48 glaciers fed by the Southern Patagonian Ice Field located in the Andes system shared with Chile. This icefield is the world's third largest reserve of fresh water.

The Perito Moreno Glacier is one of only three Patagonian glaciers that are not retreating. Periodically the glacier advances over the L-shaped "Lago Argentino" ("Argentine Lake") forming a natural dam which separates the two halves of the lake when it reaches the opposite shore. With no escape route, the water-level on the Brazo Rico side of the lake can rise by up to 30 meters above the level of the main lake. The enormous pressure produced by this mass of waters finally breaks the ice barrier holding it back, in a spectacular rupture event. This dam/rupture cycle is not regular and it naturally recurs at any frequency between once a year to less than once a decade.

The glacier first ruptured in 1917, taking with it an ancient forest of arrayán (Luma apiculata) trees. The last rupture occurred in March 2006, and previously in 2004, 1988, 1984, 1980, 1977, 1975, 1972, 1970, 1966, 1963, 1960, 1956, 1953, 1952, 1947, 1940, 1934 and 1917. It ruptures, on average, about every four to five years.

The Perito Moreno glacier, located 78 km from El Calafate, was named after the explorer Francisco Moreno, a pioneer who studied the region in the 19th century.

Size of Perito Moreno Glacier

Magic colours of Perito Moreno Glacier

Glacier Trekking:

Glacier trekking is the most first-hand way to experience the Perito Moreno formation. By mini-trekking across the icy surface, you'll feel the chill of Patagonia, hear the roar of falling ice blocks, and see beautiful vistas of Lake Argentina. This is typically a half-day tour, including a brief walk through the glacial forests, and introductory discussion on glaciology, and an hour long hike on the glacier itself. Because of the complex nature of the Perito Moreno Glacier, only guided tours are allowed to trek on the ice. Thus, travelers should remember to book their mini-trekking excursion in advance. Unfortunately, children under eight years of age are not permitted on the glacier trek.

Glacier Viewing Cruises:

There are a number of boat excursions that allow visitors to observe the vastness of the Perito Moreno Glacier without actually setting foot on the ice's surface. While the boat will likely maintain a safe distance from the glacial walls, you'll still experience the exhilarating feel of rocky waters caused by the icy debris falling from the glacier. Atop a turquoise sea of chilly waters spotted with countless icebergs, your journey can last anywhere from a single hour to an entire day.

Just far enough from the bounds of civilization and urban dwelling, veiled by towering mountains and an expansive lake, the Perito Moreno Glacier epitomizes the natural beauty and splendor of Argentina. Unique in a variety of facets, including its size, scientific significance, and accessibility, the glacier is an essential stop for any traveler to the region. Visitors spend hours exploring its wonders and taking in its breathtaking vistas, barely believing their eyes as they gaze upon the picturesque sight which lies before them. At first sight, you will be taken aback by the sheer magnitude of Perito Moreno, one of the largest glaciers in both Glaciers National Park and South America. Its walls tower over two-hundred vertical feet (forty meters) from the ground, where the ice meets the Lago Argentino, or Lake Argentina. At this height, equivalent to that of a fifteen-story building, the glacier maintains a commanding presence for approximately five kilometers of horizontal distance. At times the glacier will form an imposing panoramic wall, stretching as far as the eye can see in either direction. This undeniable physical beauty is only amplified when one learns of the scientific significance that the formation brings to Patagonia. The most notable feature about the Perito Moreno Glacier is its dynamic and ever-changing facade. Unlike nearly every other glacier on the planet, which recede and dwindle in size over time, the Peritio Moreno formation actually swells with each passing day. Deemed an "advancing glacier," the ice is continually growing and expanding outward, gradually occupying more and more territory. While the glacier is said to move outward at a pace of up to seven feet each day, large chunks of ice falling from the walls make this growth a bit more subtle. This phenomenon also makes viewing the glacier all the more unpredictable and exciting. There are many ways to experience the Perito Moreno Glacier, including Glacier Trekking and Viewing Cruises. Regardless of the option you choose, however, you'll never forget the time you spend exploring this one of a kind South American wonder. From Bariloche (my previous review) we flew to El Calafate. If you have made reservation with a travel agency, they will come to pick you up. If you are the adventurous / spontaneous type and didn’t make reservations, you have 2 options. Take a taxi or a shuttle, the shuttle is about 5 dollars cheaper, maybe less, the only problem is that they make multiple stops to drop off passengers. We learned our lesson and took a taxi on the way back. It takes about 20 minutes to get to the city from the airport, therefore if you want to go by your own schedule, take a taxi. It allows you more time to go shopping or relax. People complained to us that they were picked up 2 hours before their flight, while we left 40 minutes before our flight. We stayed in El Calafate 3 days and 2 nights. I thought it was more than plenty; unless you plan to take a horse back ridding tour to Perito Moreno. We stayed in “Posada Los Alamos”, a very nice hotel, we got a chance to see “Calafate Parque Hotel” and it seemed a very nice hotel. Los Alamos has a golf course across the street from the hotel as well as their restaurant where a complementary breakfast is served every day. At check in the hotel provides each guest with a voucher for a complementary drink. The bellboys at the hotel were very courteous; they wait at the curb to help their guests with their bags. The first day we tour the town; there is only one main street, Av. Libertador where most of the shops and restaurants are. 2 good restaurants that we tried were “La Vaca Atada” (good trout) and Ricks Café. Now if you want to get the most for your dollar, go to Rick’s café it is a “tenedor abierto” in other words ALL you can eat “Parrilla”. They had great choices, “Biffe de Chorizo”, lamb, sausage and rabbit. It cost us $20 (59 Pesos) for 1 buffet, 1 regular plate (pasta) and a bottle of wine. For Perito Moreno, all tours leave really early in the morning since it is located far from the city, about 2 hours… it depends how many people are in your tour. We chose the mini-trekking with a 2 hour stop at the rails. It cost about $100 with the Park entrance fee. (Make sure to ask if your tour includes the fee). I am not sure if the $100 were per person or for the 2 of us. The bus first stops for pictures in front of the “Los Notros” hotel. It is a very beautiful hotel with an incredible view, they charge about $1,000 a night but it includes everything… The bus then takes you to the rails where you get to see the glacier up close… I have been to 3 other glaciers (Peru, Alaska and Ushuaia) and this one is the best by far!!!. The picture does not come close to the real beauty of the glacier. Pieces of ice fall all the time which makes a very loud noise, very similar to thunder, the bigger the pieces the bigger the noise and the splash. After the rails the bus takes you to a boat which first takes you very close to the glacier, as it maneuvers through small icebergs you get to see how high the glacier really is (200 feet). After the ride the boat takes you to land where groups are formed with multiple guides (English and Spanish). The guides will give you and help you put on the spikes to climb the glacier. The hike last about 2 hours, bring your camera and food. We brought cookies and mix of nuts with raisins, don’t worry about water, the glacier water is very good. The one thing the tour gave us on top of the glacier was water, chocolate and scotch. The hike is not that difficult. A 70yr old man made it… granted, he had his own guide and in some instances he had to crawl… but at the end he made it. I hope I can do that at 70. I hope that this information was helpful. If I ever go back, I heard that there is a 2 day horse back ridding tour that starts from El Calafate and it goes all the way to Perito Moreno. If anyone has done it, please post.