Choosing a visit to Los Glaciares National Park
Los Glaciares National Park in Argentina's Santa Cruz province includes the Perito Moreno Glacier, the northern arm of Lago Argentino and the area around El Chaltén. These places offer different ways to visit: a network of walkways faces Perito Moreno, guided activities take visitors onto its ice, and longer boat trips navigate the lake's glacier channels.
El Calafate is a base for the southern sector. It is important to select the access point for the activity you actually want, since a day on the walkways and a boat departure from Punta Bandera do not begin at the same place. The park was established in 1937 and has been a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1981. Those dates describe its protected status, not the age of its ice.
Our picks: park visits
Our take: Choose an ice hike for a guided walk on the glacier or a day trip with optional sailing. The lake navigation visits Upsala and Spegazzini.
Hand-picked tours, booked through Viator and GetYourGuide. Prices are indicative starting prices in US dollars (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
Guided ice hiking and boat crossing
- Boat ride
- Ice hiking equipment
- Bilingual guide
Hotel pickup and the walkways depend on the option selected. The guide confirms the start time the day before.
Check availability →
Upsala and Spegazzini navigation
- Navigation through Lake Argentino
- Access to Spegazzini Base & Refuge
- Spegazzini Glacier walkways
Check the meeting point for your selected option or book the optional transfer. Park admission is extra.
Check availability →
Glacier day trip with optional sailing
- Professional bilingual guide
- Air-conditioned vehicle
A boat ride is available when you select the option that includes it.
Check availability →Ways to experience Los Glaciares
Choose between a walkway visit, guided ice activity and a boat excursion on Lago Argentino.
Perito Moreno: walkways and ice
Perito Moreno faces the Península de Magallanes across Lago Argentino. The park authority describes more than 4.5 kilometres of walkways with viewpoints, stairs and alternatives for visitors with reduced mobility. Not every path has the same difficulty. A self-directed walk allows you to choose among available routes, whereas an organised excursion can also take care of the journey from El Calafate.
Use the walkway guide to compare the routes and their historical map times. The available sections and facilities should be checked for your visit, particularly when step-free access is essential. A walkway visit looks out toward the ice; walking on the glacier itself is a separate guided activity.
For the latter, the Minitrekking guide explains the boat crossing, approach and time on ice. Big Ice is a more demanding format with a longer approach. Equipment and physical requirements belong to the individual programme, so compare those details when choosing.
Boat trips on Lago Argentino
A short navigation near Perito Moreno and a northern arm cruise are different days out. Puerto F. P. Moreno is near the walkways, while Bajo de las Sombras is associated with other activities on the lake. Northern arm itineraries use the Punta Bandera area. Your meeting point determines how you organise the road journey.
The park authority describes trips through Brazo Norte and the Upsala and Spegazzini channels with a stop at Base Spegazzini. One operator gives seven hours from Punta Bandera for its excursion. Hotel transfers add road time when included. See the Upsala and Spegazzini guide for landing and meal options, or compare shorter and longer trips in the boat tour guide.
Think about whether you want to spend your main visitor day on the peninsula, on the water or on a guided ice walk. Combining activities can change the pace and the transport arrangements, so read the selected itinerary as a whole.
El Chaltén and the northern sector
El Chaltén is the gateway to another part of Los Glaciares. It is distinct from the northern arm boat departure at Punta Bandera, despite both being described in relation to the park's north. If your trip includes both areas, give each its own travel and access plan rather than assuming that a glacier cruise and a walk from El Chaltén share the same starting point.
Park entry, camping reservations and any route-specific registration are separate matters. Our El Calafate surroundings guide gives a short introduction to El Chaltén as a day trip and explains how it differs from the southern glacier visit.
Tickets and park rules
Park admission and the price of an excursion are distinct. The general day tariff is 50,000 ARS under the rate effective from 1 June 2026. Other categories have eligibility conditions, and a passport or identification is required. A second visit within 72 hours in the same park receives a 50 percent reduction. The entrance guide covers categories and passes.
Remain on open paths, take rubbish away and do not feed animals. The park's visitor guidance prohibits drones, pets and fires. These rules protect a landscape containing Patagonian forest and steppe as well as glaciers and lakes. Check current access arrangements before setting out, since a map describes routes rather than the status of every path on a particular day.
Frequently asked questions
Is Perito Moreno in Los Glaciares?
Yes. It faces the Península de Magallanes across Lago Argentino in the park's southern visitor area.
Can I walk on the ice independently?
Ice walking is a separate guided activity. The park's walkways are a different way to view the glacier.
Does an excursion price replace park admission?
Allow for admission separately and read the inclusions of the selected excursion. The general day tariff effective from June 2026 is 50,000 ARS.
Is El Chaltén the same departure point as Punta Bandera?
No. El Chaltén is a northern visitor gateway; Punta Bandera is a departure area for lake cruises.