Visiting the Perito Moreno Glacier walkways
The Perito Moreno Glacier walkways face the ice across Lago Argentino from the Península de Magallanes. Paths, viewing platforms and stairs provide different perspectives without stepping onto the glacier itself. You can visit independently or choose an excursion from El Calafate that includes time at the viewpoints. Think about the amount of walking you want to do before deciding how much of the network to explore.
Los Glaciares National Park describes more than 4.5 kilometres of walkways, with accessible alternatives for visitors with limited mobility. The whole network is not accessible without stairs, so route choice matters. The official trail map published in 2024 is useful for orientation, while access to individual sections should be checked for the day of your visit.
Our picks: glacier visits
Our take: A local specialist can accompany your visit. The other guided day trips offer a boat ride when you select the relevant option.
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.
Guided glacier day with optional boat
- Bilingual professional guide
- Air-conditioned vehicle
Choose the navigation option for a one-hour boat ride in front of the glacier.
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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 →
Glacier viewpoints with local guide
- Specialist local guide
- Air-conditioned vehicle
Visit the glacier walkways with a local guide and hotel pickup.
Check availability →Walkway visits from El Calafate
Choose an excursion with time to see the glacier from the park's viewing paths.
Sendero Central, Inferior and Bosque
The 2024 park map rates Sendero Central as low difficulty, with a length of 600 metres and a map time of one hour. It is a starting point for comparing the routes, but a map time is an estimate rather than a promise about how long your own visit will take. Allow time to stop at viewpoints and consider the stairs when planning your route.
Sendero Inferior is the more demanding choice in the map: 1,100 metres, two hours and high difficulty. Its stairs and longer walking time make it a different undertaking from a short viewpoint visit. Sendero del Bosque is listed as medium difficulty, at 570 metres and one hour. Choose the section that fits your group instead of trying to cover the whole network simply because it appears on the map.
Sendero Costa, Accesible and Témpanos
Sendero de la Costa is shown as 1,117 metres and one and a half hours, with medium difficulty. Sendero Accesible is marked very low difficulty, 565 metres and half an hour. Sendero de los Témpanos is also marked very low difficulty, at 150 metres and ten minutes. These descriptions come from the 2024 map and are historical orientation, not a statement that each path is open today.
For a visitor with limited mobility, start with the accessible alternatives and ask park staff which sections are available. The park's directions place ordinary private vehicles in the lower parking area and vehicles carrying visitors with limited mobility in the upper area. Conditions at the paths and facilities can change, so leave room in your plan to adjust the route.
Independent visit or guided excursion?
An independent visit lets you arrange your own transport from El Calafate and select the paths when you arrive. A guided excursion combines the journey and glacier visit in the chosen itinerary. Some itineraries offer a boat option; a boat ride and a walk on the ice are separate experiences from walking the platforms. Compare the details of the option you select and allow time for the road as well as the visit itself.
The national park entrance is a separate part of the budget. The general daily rate from 1 June 2026 is 50,000 ARS; other categories have eligibility requirements. Bring identification and read the park entrance guide for the categories and passes. The transport guide explains the road from El Calafate, while the opening hours distinguish entry times from the time at which the walkways close.
Seeing the ice from another angle
From the platforms you look across the water towards the glacier. A boat excursion offers a water-level perspective, while a guided ice hike is a separate activity with equipment and mountain guides. Neither is needed to enjoy the walkways, and each calls for a different amount of time and preparation.
Stay on the paths open to visitors, take your rubbish away and do not feed wildlife. Bring clothing for changing conditions and leave enough time to return from your chosen route. The viewpoints are a place to observe the glacier rather than schedule a particular icefall: the timing of a major ice bridge rupture is unpredictable.
Walkway questions
Can I visit the walkways without a guide?
Yes. You can arrange transport independently and walk the visitor paths that are open. Guided excursions from El Calafate are another way to organise the day.
Are all the paths accessible without stairs?
No. The network includes stairs and accessible alternatives. Ask park staff about the available sections when planning a visit with limited mobility.
Does a walkway visit include a boat ride?
A boat trip is a separate activity, and some excursions offer it as an option. Look at the itinerary you choose for its included services.
Is the park entrance included in every excursion?
Allow for the park entrance separately when comparing the cost of your visit. The applicable rate depends on your category and the pass you choose.