The Perito Moreno Glacier is in Los Glaciares National Park, in Argentine Patagonia, near El Calafate. You can see it from a circuit of walkways and viewpoints facing its ice front, from a boat on Lago Argentino or on a guided walk on the ice. Park entry costs 50,000 Argentine pesos at the general rate since 1 June 2026, and access to the glacier sector is open from 8 am to 6 pm from September to April, and from 9 am to 4 pm from May to August. This page brings together the park’s official rules, the summer and winter hours, El Calafate’s climate normals, sunrise and sunset times month by month and the mistakes to avoid.
The Perito Moreno is the highlight of any trip to southern Argentina: for the regional context, see our guide to visiting Patagonia, our page on the best time to visit Patagonia and our Argentina travel guide.
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Perito Moreno: key facts
- Park entry (South Zone): general rate 50,000 pesos; Argentine residents 25,000; provincial residents 8,000; students (enrolled in Argentina) 15,000; free up to and including age 6 — values in force since 1 June 2026, checked on 27 October 2026 on argentina.gob.ar
- Payment in the South Zone: on site by credit card (Visa, Mastercard), debit card or in cash (Argentine pesos), or online
- Mitre-Glaciar Moreno corridor hours: 1 September to 30 April, 8 am–6 pm (presence allowed until 8 pm); 1 May to 31 August, 9 am–4 pm (until 6 pm) — checked on 27 October 2026 on argentina.gob.ar
- Walkways: more than 4.5 km (2.8 mi) of circuits, easy to moderate difficulty, with an accessible option (ramps and wheelchair, accompaniment required)
- Prohibited: pets, drones, feeding wildlife; speed limited to 40 km/h (25 mph) in the park
- Entry requirements: see entry requirements for Argentina
Why visit the Perito Moreno Glacier?
Los Glaciares National Park was created in 1937 and listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1981. It protects more than 726,000 hectares (1.8 million acres) of Patagonian forest and steppe and part of the Patagonian continental ice field, which the national parks administration describes as the third largest in the world.
Of all the glaciers in the park, the Perito Moreno is the most famous, according to the park, for two reasons: how easy it is to reach and its spectacular ruptures. As it advances, the glacier butts against the Magallanes Peninsula and cuts off the flow of water between the main body of Lago Argentino and the Rico Arm; the water pressure eventually breaks through the ice dam, an event that happens irregularly. Outside these ruptures, it is common to hear the front crack and to see blocks falling into the lake from the viewpoints.
Tickets: where to buy park entry
The entry fee is collected by the Administración de Parques Nacionales. For the South Zone (the Río Mitre-Glaciar Moreno gates and Punta Bandera port), the ticket is bought at the gate or online on the Argentine government’s official website. In the North Zone (El Chaltén), it can only be bought online, by card: cash is not accepted. Prices are the same for both zones.
| Category | Official price (since 1 June 2026) |
|---|---|
| General rate (including international visitors) | 50,000 pesos |
| Argentine residents | 25,000 pesos |
| Residents of Santa Cruz province | 8,000 pesos |
| Students (proof from an Argentine institution) | 15,000 pesos |
| Children aged 0 to 6 inclusive, people with disabilities (equivalent document from their country of origin) | Exempt |
Official ticket or excursion?
The entry fee covers neither transport from El Calafate, nor boat trips, nor the ice walk. These services are sold by concession companies and agencies, often with the transfer. Whichever channel you use, check three points: is the park entry fee included or payable on top at the gate? how long on the walkways is planned? is the ice activity run by a provider authorized by the park?
Booking an excursion or a transfer
For a boat trip, a glacier walk or a round trip by bus from El Calafate, compare the offers from local providers and booking platforms. The park notes that you can get there by private or rental vehicle, by scheduled bus from El Calafate’s terminal, by remise (car with driver) or on an organized excursion.
Opening hours and access
Only the Mitre-Glaciar Moreno corridor has access hours. Elsewhere in the park there is no official schedule, but the central and northern zones depend on the weather and the condition of the tracks.
- From El Calafate: provincial road 11 to the glacier; the « Horarios y cómo llegar » page gives 80 km (50 mi), and the « Actividades » page places the access gate (Seccional Río Mitre) 50 km (31 mi) from El Calafate.
- Parking: two car parks near the glacier, the lower one for private vehicles, the upper one for visitors with reduced mobility (pregnant women, people with disabilities…).
- By plane: El Calafate’s « Comandante Armando Tola » international airport receives daily flights from within Argentina and international flights depending on the season (according to the park).
- By bus: the El Calafate and El Chaltén terminals are served from Argentina and southern Chile (Punta Arenas, Puerto Natales).
- In winter: studded tires or approved chains are mandatory on park roads when there is snow, frost or ice.
What to see: walkways, boats and ice
The walkway circuit
More than 4.5 km (2.8 mi) of walkways cross the Andean-Patagonian forest to the glacier front, with several viewpoints. Changes in level are managed with steps; there is an accessible route. The park advises hiking shoes with ankle support, as the ground is made of metal grating. A restaurant (10:30 am–6 pm) and a snack bar (10:30 am–5:30 pm) are on site, with restrooms and ramps.
Boat trips
From the walkway area, boats go to the south face or the north face of the glacier (« Safari Náutico », « Moreno Spirit », packages combined with the walkways). From Punta Bandera, boat trips reach the Upsala, Spegazzini, Seco or Heim glaciers; from Lago Roca, trips go to the Rico Arm and the south face. The names and contents of these excursions are those listed by the park; their prices are set by the concession holders.
Ice trekking and kayaking
You can walk on the Perito Moreno with crampons and specialist guides, in several formats suited to different fitness levels. The park also mentions a two-hour kayak trip on Lago Argentino facing the glacier, with no previous experience required.
When to visit the Perito Moreno
The park recommends coming from September to April. Summer brings strong winds; autumn colors the vegetation. From May to October, temperatures are low and snow, heaviest in winter, makes some activities and trails harder to reach. The El Calafate normals, from a dry town sheltered by the Andes, show low rainfall all year: it rains and snows more near the glaciers.
| Month | Max temp | Min temp | Rain | Glacier access | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 19.1 °C (66 °F) | 7.2 °C (45 °F) | 6.9 mm (0.3 in) | 8 am–6 pm (exit 8 pm) | ✅ recommended season |
| February | 19.2 °C (67 °F) | 6.8 °C (44 °F) | 13.7 mm (0.5 in) | 8 am–6 pm (exit 8 pm) | ✅ recommended season |
| March | 16.6 °C (62 °F) | 4.7 °C (40 °F) | 16.7 mm (0.7 in) | 8 am–6 pm (exit 8 pm) | ✅ recommended season |
| April | 12.9 °C (55 °F) | 1.1 °C (34 °F) | 19.5 mm (0.8 in) | 8 am–6 pm (exit 8 pm) | ✅ recommended season |
| May | 8.7 °C (48 °F) | −1.7 °C (29 °F) | 20.3 mm (0.8 in) | 9 am–4 pm (exit 6 pm) | ⚠️ winter, reduced access |
| June | 5.5 °C (42 °F) | −3.7 °C (25 °F) | 14.6 mm (0.6 in) | 9 am–4 pm (exit 6 pm) | ⚠️ winter, reduced access |
| July | 5.2 °C (41 °F) | −4.4 °C (24 °F) | 13.6 mm (0.5 in) | 9 am–4 pm (exit 6 pm) | ⚠️ winter, reduced access |
| August | 6.9 °C (44 °F) | −2.8 °C (27 °F) | 14.2 mm (0.6 in) | 9 am–4 pm (exit 6 pm) | ⚠️ winter, reduced access |
| September | 11.1 °C (52 °F) | −0.8 °C (31 °F) | 11.4 mm (0.4 in) | 8 am–6 pm (exit 8 pm) | ✅ start of season (cool) |
| October | 13.5 °C (56 °F) | 1.3 °C (34 °F) | 13.5 mm (0.5 in) | 8 am–6 pm (exit 8 pm) | ✅ recommended season |
| November | 15.8 °C (60 °F) | 4.0 °C (39 °F) | 6.9 mm (0.3 in) | 8 am–6 pm (exit 8 pm) | ✅ recommended season |
| December | 17.9 °C (64 °F) | 6.2 °C (43 °F) | 9.5 mm (0.4 in) | 8 am–6 pm (exit 8 pm) | ✅ recommended season |
Light and sunset times
At 50° south, day length varies sharply. The calculation below crosses sunrise, sunset and the corridor’s hours: in December, the sun sets after the mandatory exit time (8 pm); in June, the day lasts less than 8 hours and the site closes at 4 pm.
| Month | Sunrise | Sunset | Day length |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 06:03 | 21:59 | 15 h 56 |
| February | 06:57 | 21:14 | 14 h 17 |
| March | 07:45 | 20:15 | 12 h 30 |
| April | 08:35 | 19:08 | 10 h 33 |
| May | 09:20 | 18:16 | 8 h 55 |
| June | 09:52 | 17:53 | 8 h 01 |
| July | 09:46 | 18:11 | 8 h 25 |
| August | 09:02 | 18:52 | 9 h 51 |
| September | 07:57 | 19:39 | 11 h 42 |
| October | 06:51 | 20:26 | 13 h 35 |
| November | 05:55 | 21:19 | 15 h 24 |
| December | 05:35 | 22:00 | 16 h 25 |
Common mistakes to avoid
- Setting out without warm layers: the park advises layered clothing, a light waterproof windbreaker, a hat and water, as nights stay cool even in summer.
- Relying on your phone: the signal is weak or absent in some areas (Wi-Fi at the glacier restaurant only).
- Arriving without cash: ATMs are in El Calafate and El Chaltén, and there is only one bank in El Calafate (according to the park).
- Flying a drone or bringing a dog: both are prohibited.
- Driving fast: 40 km/h (25 mph) maximum in the park; in winter, chains or studded tires.
- Lighting a fire outside authorized fire pits: only at the Río Mitre fogones (until 5 pm) and at the campsite, bringing your own wood.
What to see nearby
El Calafate is also the base for the Upsala and Spegazzini glaciers and for El Chaltén (220 km / 137 mi of paved road according to the park), Argentina’s trekking capital at the foot of Fitz Roy. Further south, our guide to Ushuaia covers Tierra del Fuego; on the Chilean side, see our Chile travel guide.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to enter the Perito Moreno?
The general rate for Los Glaciares National Park is 50,000 Argentine pesos since 1 June 2026, valid for the South Zone and the North Zone. Children up to and including age 6 do not pay.
What are the Perito Moreno’s opening hours?
From 1 September to 30 April, access from 8 am to 6 pm with presence allowed until 8 pm; from 1 May to 31 August, from 9 am to 4 pm with presence allowed until 6 pm.
Can you pay the entry fee in cash?
Yes in the South Zone (Argentine pesos, or card); no in the North Zone, where the ticket can only be bought online by card.
What is the best season to see the Perito Moreno?
The park recommends September to April. From May to October, cold and snow limit some activities.
Are the walkways wheelchair accessible?
The park has an accessible trail with ramps and a wheelchair for the circuit, with accompaniment required, and a reserved car park.
Do you need a visa for Argentina?
It depends on your nationality: see entry requirements for Argentina before you book.
Our sources
- Administración de Parques Nacionales (argentina.gob.ar): Los Glaciares park, Home, Tarifas, Horarios y cómo llegar, Actividades, Panorámica, Servicios and Recomendaciones pages, consulted on 27 October 2026
- Servicio Meteorológico Nacional, 1991–2020 normals for the El Calafate Aero station, via the Wikipedia article « El Calafate », consulted on 27 October 2026
- Astronomical calculations: NOAA solar algorithm, applied by Destination de Voyage to the glacier’s coordinates (Wikipedia) (15th of each month, year 2027, clear horizon)
- Our methodology
Updated November 2026.