Perito Moreno

Perito Moreno Glacier is a glacier in Los Glaciares National Park in the southwest of Santa Cruz Province, Argentina.

streetcar services

The Perito Moreno is just breathtaking. Here is our guidebook on how to get from El Calafate to the construction site, an outline of the admission fees and some advice on how to make the most of the time. There are only shuttles for "public transport" to the summit; there are no "local" busses passing the door.

We suggest you validate your sailing dates and buy your ticket the days before visiting the ice, as there is a high uptake. Usually leaves at 07:30 or 08:15 and costs $550ARS per passenger (updated . That gives everyone the opportunity to take the cruise that will bring you nearer to the ice (surcharge of $350 per passenger - as of November 2016).

So, we chose the slightly less costly version ($450ARS pp - Update November 2017) with a 09:30 descent and a 16:30 com back. We' d suggest this if you didn't take care of the yacht; it left us a lot of site work and it helped us save a little money on an already costly outing.

It takes about 90 min. from the coach station to the ice age. There are no stop at lookouts or guided tours; you only pay for the transportation from A to B. Balking at this cost for a 90-minute coach, we checked if a cab would be less expensive.

There are also a number of guesthouses that offer trips to the ice, so ask where you are going to stay to see if it's a good offer. If you are not so interested in transportation or have a little more in your pockets, there are a number of trips that offer a variety of options, including a boating trip through the ice or a walk on the ice (this is the "Big Ice" walk, about which you have probably already been reading, and trips that only offer transportation and a tour leader.

Based on our own experiences, we can verify that last minutes and last minutes bookings with firms to get a better price do not really work here, so if you have a definite route and want to be organized, it may be rewarding to book in advanced. Non-German tourists are paying much more than the natives, with entry to the Parque Nacional Los Glaciares, which include Perito Moreno, who costs $500 per capita (updated in November 2017 - for those who don't think Argentina's business is in the bathroom, we half of that was already paying less than 18 month ago!

It will be charged as soon as your coach reaches the door and is separated from travel and transportation expenses, so please be sure to take enough money with you. You will be taken to a wide range of observation platforms so that you can admire the ice from all angles and take a few resting places with seats where you can have snacks or just relax and admire the enchanting views.

You could circle the vantage points in a few hour, but since you have no choice but to await your coach in the afternoons, we recommend that you drive slowly, take your own leisurely strolls and visit one of the world's most unbelievable sight. It will be full of large groups throughout the whole morning, but we were amazed that we actually had plenty of alone moments to explore the Iglacier. (see our photojournal for some breathtaking shots).

Of course, the restaurants are too expensive and despite the costs for the tickets, only the meals bought there can be eaten at the desks (it is also the only seat in the hall). We therefore suggest that every guest brings their own snack, bottled waters and a pack of lunches, which you can sit on one of the banks with the unbelievable views and crackling icecream music.

Here is an outline of what we paid per capita on our daily excursion to Perito Moreno from El Calafate. If, like us, you have a limited overall cost, the only two options are to cut costs, take the slightly less expensive coach and avoid the restaurants for your own lunches.

All of the above charges have been translated using the current foreign currency rates at the date of the trip (October 2015, £1 = ARS $22, $1 = ARS $15). Using the quoted foreign currency rates, the overall cost would be nearer 40/$77 per capita.

When you don't know the course, you must study this article before travelling to Argentina. In addition, entrance and travelling expenses in Argentina may vary several months a year due to government policy and the country's economy. In early 2015, the Perito Moreno coach was $305 and the entrance fee was $215.

Whether you need a cuisine for cooking or not, El Calafate has virtually a dozen guesthouses and guesthouses to offer - and we've dragged our rucksacks around the city for a long while to find the best one!

For those who like to wake up to stunning vistas (believe us - this place is full of them!), we recommend America del Sur Youth Hostel.