Perito Moreno Glacier opening hours by season
Perito Moreno Glacier opening hours are set for the Río Mitre to Glaciar Moreno corridor. The national park lists summer from 1 September to 30 April, with entry from 08:00 to 18:00 and a permitted stay in the corridor until 20:00. In winter, from 1 May to 31 August, entry is from 09:00 to 16:00 and the corridor stay ends at 18:00.
These are three different planning points: when entry begins, the latest time to enter and when the corridor stay ends. Arriving at the last entry time leaves less room for walking and viewing than arriving earlier. The park also charges admission, described on the entrance fee page.
The walkways have a separate closing time. A press report dated 31 August 2026, covering the change from 1 September, gives 19:30 in summer and 17:30 in winter. Use the earlier walkway deadline when planning time on the platforms, rather than treating the corridor's final hour as walking time.
A glacier day trip
Our take: Plan your visit with a guided day trip and optional navigation.
Hand-picked tours, booked through 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.
A day at the glacier
A guided day trip can organize the journey from El Calafate and a visit to the glacier viewpoints.
How much time should you leave for the walkways?
The park describes a network of walkways and viewpoints with steps and accessible alternatives. The individual routes differ, so the time you need depends on which paths you select and how long you stop to look at the ice. A historic park map from 2024 gives one hour for Sendero Central and half an hour for Sendero Accesible. Those map times are orientation, not a promise that every section is open on your visit.
Allow additional time to move between viewpoints and to reach the visitor area. If mobility is a consideration, choose a route with its steps and access in mind instead of assuming the entire network has the same surface. Our walkway guide explains the route choices and their different levels of difficulty.
Boat and ice activity times are separate
The corridor schedule is not a boat timetable. A navigation departing from a port has its own meeting and departure arrangements; the time spent on the water is different from the time needed to travel there from a hotel. The boat tour guide distinguishes the ports and different types of navigation.
The same distinction applies to ice activities. A guided glacier walk can include a boat crossing, walking on land and time on the ice, depending on the program. Compare the complete itinerary with the hours available for the walkways rather than treating the ice portion as the whole day. See Minitrekking for the activity and its conditions.
Travel from El Calafate and daily conditions
El Calafate is the base for the road to the glacier via RP 11. Whether you use a bus, a vehicle or an organized excursion, allow for the road journey as well as your time in the park. A hotel pickup and a port departure are different starting points. An excursion's stated duration and meeting details are the useful guide for that particular option.
In winter, road conditions matter to a self-drive itinerary. The park's road advice refers to studded tires or chains for winter travel. Check the day's road and walkway conditions before setting out, particularly when your plan depends on a specific section or accessible facility. The published seasonal timetable does not itself tell you which individual facilities are operating that day.
Daytime access and full-moon visits
The ordinary corridor hours describe a daytime visit. A local report dated 9 September 2026 describes a full-moon format for the 2026 to 2027 season through authorized companies with express park permission. Treat that as a separate arrangement rather than an extension of ordinary access. For a regular visit, plan around the applicable seasonal entry and closing times.
Opening hours questions
When is the last summer entry?
The park lists 18:00 as the last entry from 1 September to 30 April, with the corridor stay ending at 20:00.
When do the walkways close?
A 31 August 2026 press report gives 19:30 in summer and 17:30 in winter. Check conditions on the day.
Do these hours give boat departure times?
No. Boat departures have their own arrangements, and the port start is separate from a hotel pickup.
Can I enter at night?
Plan a normal visit during the corridor hours. The reported full-moon format uses authorized companies and express park permission.