What a Perito Moreno Glacier hike involves
A Perito Moreno Glacier hike takes you beyond the viewpoints and onto the ice with mountain guides. Minitrekking and Minitrekking 2 are distinct guided activities, with a boat crossing and equipment for the glacier section. The walk across ice is only one part of the excursion: reaching the meeting point, crossing the water and walking to the ice also shape the day.
Read the time on ice separately from the walking time and the total duration. Options with transport from El Calafate take in a road journey as well. A visit to the walkways may depend on the selected transfer option. Park admission and personal walking gear are additional considerations when planning.
Our picks: ice hikes
Our take: Minitrekking 2 specifies two hours on the ice. Compare it with the guided options that include hotel pickup or an optional walkway visit.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide and Viator. 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.
Glacier minitrek with hotel pickup
- Professional guide
- Minitrekking on the glacier
Join a guided minitrek on the glacier with hotel pickup and drop-off.
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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.
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Minitrekking 2 on the glacier
- Crampons for glacier walking
- Boat ride across Lago Rico
- Mountain guides
The four-hour hike includes two hours on ice. Walkways are included with the transfer option; park admission is extra.
Check availability →Guided glacier hikes
Compare guided ice walks, boat crossings and the available transfer arrangements.
Minitrekking and Minitrekking 2
The municipal Minitrekking description gives about one and a half hours on ice. Minitrekking 2 is a separate, longer variant. One listed Minitrekking 2 option describes four hours of walking including two hours on the glacier, with crampons, mountain guides and a boat ride across Lago Rico. Do not add the two ice hours to the four hours: they are already part of the walking figure.
That option includes the walkways when the transfer option is booked. Without the transfer, reaching the assigned meeting point is part of your own arrangements. The transport guide explains the road from El Calafate. The park entrance is separate from the listed activity.
Guides, equipment and the crossing
A boat crossing forms part of the approach. The guide leads the glacier walk and technical equipment is used for walking on ice. Crampons are included in the Minitrekking 2 offer described above. Personal trekking gear and food are not included in that offer, so prepare clothing and supplies for a long outdoor day.
The national park administration lists Hielo y Aventura as the concessionaire for Minitrekking and Big Ice. The ice is a changing environment, and the exact features encountered on a walk vary. The aim is to experience the glacier under the direction of the guides, rather than to reach a promised formation.
Age, season and physical demands
A comparison published on 28 October 2026 described Minitrekking for ages 8 to 65 and Minitrekking 2 for ages 12 to 60. It gave a season of 15 August to 31 May for Minitrekking 2. These are source-specific descriptions, not a universal admission decision for every person or departure. The complete current health conditions should be obtained with the selected activity.
Both variants involve walking beyond the boat crossing. Consider your ability to manage the walking described for the selected itinerary and allow time for the whole outing. Layered clothing helps you adjust during the day; follow the activity instructions for footwear and personal equipment.
Big Ice or the walkways?
The Big Ice programme is a longer, demanding guided trek with a substantial approach. The municipal description gives approximately two hours across the moraine and three hours on ice for its itinerary. Those figures belong to that programme and should not be transferred to a Minitrekking booking.
The walkways are a separate way to see the glacier without walking on the ice. They can be visited independently or as part of an excursion. For the wider choice of guided days and optional navigation, see Perito Moreno tours. The admission guide covers park rates and identification.
Frequently asked questions
How much of Minitrekking 2 is on ice?
One listed option describes four hours of walking, including two hours on the glacier.
Is the boat the entire activity?
No. The crossing is part of the approach to a guided walk on the ice.
Can I visit the glacier without trekking on ice?
Yes. The walkways provide viewpoints independently of the guided ice activities.