Exploring Argentina’s Glacial Wonderland

Argentina is a land of extremes – from the vast grassland Pampas to the towering Andes Mountains, and from the warm vineyards of Mendoza to the icy façade of the Perito Moreno glacier. Perito Moreno is a popular destination for tourists and locals alike, with a Perito Moreno glacier trek at the top of almost everyone’s bucket list for adventure. Keep reading if you want to hike Perito Moreno and explore this big, blue icy wonder up close!

What Is The Perito Moreno Glacier?

The Perito Moreno glacier is a natural wonder that sits tucked away in the southwest of Argentine Patagonia at Los Glaciares National Park. The glacier itself is 19 miles long and encompasses 100 square miles, making it larger than the entire city of Buenos Aires! That means there is plenty to explore during a Perito Moreno glacier trek.

Unlike most other glaciers in the world, Perito Moreno is one of the few glaciers that is actually advancing. As the glacier grows in size, cracks and crevasses appear at the terminus, which results in chunks of ice breaking off and crashing into the ice field below. This means that the glacier is growing – albeit slowly. Scientists have actually measured the glacier’s growth, and have estimated that Perito Moreno grows six feet per day.

Five Fun Facts About the Perito Moreno Glacier

While many tourists opt to hike Perito Moreno and explore the glacier’s surface on an Argentina glacier hike, you don’t have to be an Arctic explorer to see the glacier up close. You can view this incredible natural wonder from the series of metal walkways that surround it. The vista from these walkways is sensational and a whole series of viewing platforms are scattered along the way, allowing visitors to see different sides of the glacier and take photographs.

But before you embark on your chilly adventure, here are a few fun facts about the Perito Moreno glacier that we’d like to share with you:

• The Perito Moreno glacier is part of the South Patagonian Ice Field. The glacier sits at the edge of the ice field, towering 250 feet above Lake Argentino. Lucky tourists will be able to see the glacier calf, meaning they will be able to watch big chunks of ice split from the glacier and drop into the lake below with a thunderous crash!
• How did the glacier get its name? Perito Moreno was named after a 19th-century Argentine explorer, Perito Francisco Moreno. “Perito” was a title granted to Moreno by the Argentinian government, to honor his role in reconciling the border dispute between Argentina and Chile.
• If you book a guided Argentina glacier hike, you will learn that glacier ice is blue because it is dense and compressed, which means the air bubbles have been squeezed out of the ice. As a result, the glacier’s surface reflects the blue colors of the light spectrum. This means that we see a beautiful blue color when we look at Perito Moreno, rather than a transparent block of ice.
• The Perito Moreno glacier is part of the Southern Patagonian Ice Field, which is the world’s second-largest ice field and one of the world’s biggest reserves of fresh water.
• Why is the Perito Moreno glacier so popular with tourists? Easy! It’s one of the most accessible glaciers in Argentina! The glacier itself is conveniently located near the entrance of Los Glaciares National Park. If you are planning to hike Perito Moreno, you don’t have to travel too far into the park’s icy wilderness to see the majestic glacier.

How To Get To The Perito Moreno Glacier

The Perito Moreno glacier is located on Lake Argentina, near the town of El Calafate, in the famous Patagonia region of the country. If you are traveling from Buenos Aires for an Argentina glacier hike, the easiest way to get to El Calafate is by airplane. The flight from Buenos Aires to El Calafate takes about 3 hours and is offered by multiple airlines. Once you arrive in El Calafate, it’s only a short drive (approximately an hour long) to Los Glaciares National Park. It’s easy to rent a car and get to Perito Moreno by yourself; however, if you want to experience a Perito Moreno glacier hike, you’ll have to book a tour with a specialized guide!

Hike Perito Moreno For An Adventure of a Lifetime!

While it’s true you can experience Perito Moreno glacier from the walkways surrounding Lake Argentino, many visitors schedule an Argentina glacier hike with a tour operator to experience the glacier up close! A Perito Moreno glacier trek involves a half-day adventure – known as a mini-trekking tour – or a full day on the glacier’s surface – aka a Big Trekking adventure.

Mini-Trekking Tour	Big Trekking Tour
Suitable for people 8-65 years old.	Best suited for people 18-50 years old.
Less physically demanding.	Requires participants to have a moderate level of physical fitness.
Includes ice trekking gear – crampons and safety helmets.	Includes ice trekking gear – crampons and safety helmets.
Limited to 10-20 travelers at a time, and includes a professional bilingual guide.	Limited to 10 travelers at a time, and includes a professional bilingual guide.
Three hours to explore the surface of the ice, with plenty of time to take photographs.	Double the time of a mini-trekking tour, allowing the group to see more of the glacier’s unique landscape.
Includes transportation to and from the glacier from El Calafate.	Includes transportation to and from the glacier from El Calafate.
The tour fee includes entrance to the national park.	Tour fee includes entrance to the national park

What To Pack for a Perito Moreno Glacier Trek

While the tour operator will provide you with the appropriate safety gear to hike Perito Moreno, you will want to make sure you pack enough cold-weather clothing to make your Argentina glacier hike comfortable and safe! Here is a recommended list of gear you will want to bring along on your adventure:

• Warm outerwear: In addition to the cold temperatures on the glacier’s surface, you may experience a lot of wind during your trek! Make sure to bring a warm, water-repellent jacket and a winter hat to keep the chill off.
• Gloves: This must-have item will keep your hands warm and protect you from the sharp surface of the glacier if you fall and catch yourself with your hands! Many trekkers opt for warm, wool fingerless gloves so that they can operate their camera as they hike Perito Moreno.
• Footwear: Any shoes or hiking boots will work, although you may want to consider adding a pair of warm wool socks to your outfit. Your tour operator will provide crampons, which can be fitted to any shoe size.
• Backpack: A pack of some sort is very helpful for holding any snacks, drinks, and other items you bring with you for the Perito Moreno glacier trekking tour.
• Camera: You’ll want to remember your Perito Moreno glacier trek after you return home! Don’t forget to pack a camera to record your adventure for posterity.

An Awesome Argentina Glacier Hike To Remember

If outdoor adventure is your idea of the perfect vacation activity, Argentina is the place for you! Try a bike ride along the Ruta Vino, skiing and snowboarding in Bariloche, or a Perito Moreno glacier trek in Los Glaciares National Park for a truly incredible vacation experience. Book now with Gondwana Ecotours and reserve your spot with a once-in-a-lifetime small group tour that is nothing short of extraordinary. From the cosmopolitan streets of Buenos Aires to the wind-swept icy façade of Perito Moreno, Argentina is a vacation destination that offers visitors more than they could ever imagine!