That day was not the first time I visited Perito Moreno Glacier, it was the second time. It was part of the 5-days Argentina Trip that I had planned for about a year. On the first and second day, I explored the wonderful city of Buenos Aires. Then, on the third day, I visited Perito Moreno Glacier and explore the national park by foot from El Calafate. On the fourth day, I hiked towards Laguna de Los Tres (Mount Fitz Roy) from El Chalten. That same day, after hiking Mount fitz Roy, me and my cousin went back to El Calafate and stay overnight at El Calafate. We had planned something we both excited about: Kayak at Perito Moreno Glacier !!!
Table of Contents
What and Where is Perito Moreno Glacier
Perito Moreno Glacier is located in Parque Nacional Los Glaciares, Santa Cruz (Not in Perito Moreno city which is 600 kilometers away from this glacier). In fact those two are different things. Perito Moreno name comes after Argentine explorer Francisco Moreno, where Perito was his nickname and it means Explorer in Spanish. The nearest City where you can access this glacier is El Calafate. It takes about 40-50 minutes by car to reach the National Park from El Calafate.
Los Glaciares National Park was declared UNESCO “World Heritage” in 1981 and it’s still growing. The fresh water glaciar spans 19 miles long, and 240 feet above the water and covers 121 square miles, in which its location shared between Argentina and Chile. Height of the 18,000 years-old glaciar (from the water to the top of the glaciar) is 73 meters. Visitor of Perito Moreno Glacier can enjoy the glacier up close and personal from different vantage point along the wooden walking path.
How to get to Perito Moreno Glacier
As the nearest city to the National Park is El Calafate, your trip starts from that City. If you rent a car, you can drive to the national Park from El Calafate and back in one day. It takes about 40-50 minute’s drive from El Calafate to the National Park. The other options are to book transfers, excursions, or tours.
So many agencies offer transfer only from Hotel to the Glaciar and back. For private transfer, the price around 20-25 USD per pax for round trip (from El Calafate to the glacier and back). If you want to do activities, you can also book excursions and package Tours.
We left the airport of El Calafate with VES Choike Tour (its website is www.vespatagonia.com.ar ) – as of now I checked the website and it’s already expired, you may want to re-check as well. We booked the round transfer for 4000 ARS (2 person) on a private car. Other notable company/bus are:
| Number | Travel Company Name | Information |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | CAL TUR | departure times are at 9:00 am with Return from the park at 4:00 pm. 2nd departure time: 1:00 pm, the return bus is taken at 7:30 pm on the walkways. Approximate time of stay is 5 hours. The company also sells guided tour, minitrekking, as well as cruise around the glacier. |
| 2 | Patagonia Dreams | This company offers roundtrip transfer to glacier at 1462 ARS (19 USD/180,000 IDR) with group (not a private) |
| 3 | Always Glacier | The bus departure 01.00 pm from El Calafate bus Station and return at 08.00 pm – for transfer only option and entrance fee to the national park is not included at 24 USD |
| 4 | Taqsa | no information available |
| 5 | Chalten Travel | no information available |
Note: some of this service offer transfer only, so you have to purchase the ticket by yourself at the entrance. At that time (November 2018), I bought the ticket for 600ARS (115,000 IDR/ 8 USD). As of 2019, the cost is 800 ARS.
Kayaking at Glacier Perito Moreno
Varying activities to do in Perito Moreno Glacier
As i mentioned on my post titled: “The ultimate Guide to Perito Moreno Glacier”, there are so many activities one can do in Perito Moreno Glacier. These are some of them:
1. Walk around the walkway
We can admire the vastness and the grand beauty of the glacier by taking the stroll on the wooden walkway from one corner to another, which can take up to 8 hours. This is what I did on the third day in Argentina.
2. Cruising Lago Argentino
The cruise will sail around Lago Argentino and getting closer to some of the best glacier in the national park.This includes Upsala Glacier, Spegazzini Glacier, and the famous Perito Moreno Glacier. Usually the duration is 7-8 hours (one day activity).
3. Trekking on the Glacier
This unique activities will allow tourists to walk on the glacier using crampon, an up-close and personal experience not everyone has a chance to do, only with guided tour. The tour usually includes a walk on the wooden walkway around the glacier as well, but you have to ensure whether it’s included or not.
4. Kayaking Lago Argentino
In an attempt to vary the activities we did in Argentina, me and my cousins choose the Kayaking. This way, it allow us to be in the lake Argentino AND getting closer to the glacier.
5. Exploration of the southern glacier
While Perito Moreno Glacier is definitely the magnet for tourist, Los Glacier National Park has many beautiful spots to discover. This activity, is for those who wants additional activity in the National Park such as exploring Estancia Nibepo Aike, a region south of Perito Moreno, and a chance to explore Lago Roca, as well as Lenga Forest.
Not every tour operators offer activities such cruising, kayaking, or trekking in the glacier. So, it was difficult for us to select which operator to choose.
Varying The Tour Operators
It is to be noted that from time to time, the operator name and company may be changed or different in search engine. Although I will share some tour operators that I found during my research, it is necessary for you to recheck in you search engine if there’s new or better operator in the game.
Getting several operators is also good for pricing and service comparison, and thus helping us to select operator that suit us best.
| Type of Activity | Tour Providers | Activity/ Tour Package Description |
|---|---|---|
| Walk around the Perito Moreno Glaciar | Patagonia Dreams | Guided tour, duration 8.5 hrs |
| Argentina 4U | Guided tour, duration 8 hrs | |
| Chalten Travel | Guided tour, duration 8 hrs | |
| Cruising Lago Argentino /other lake in the National Park | Patagonia Dreams | Duration 7 hrs |
| Hielo & Aventura | Sunset at Glacier, starts at 2 pm, duration 7 hrs | |
| Hielo & Aventura | Duration 1 hr | |
| Trekking on the Glacier | Patagonia Dreams | Minitrekking, duration 10 hrs total - 1,5 hrs above the ice |
| Patagonia Dreams | Big Ice: 3 hrs hiking Patagonia forest, 3 hrs walking on Perito Moreno Glaciar, total tour 12 hrs | |
| Argentina 4U | Minitrekking Perito Moreno - Duration 10 hrs | |
| Argentina 4U | Big Ice: 11 hrs total duration | |
| Hielo & Aventura | Minitrekking, duration 10 hrs | |
| Hielo & Aventura | Big Ice: 12 hrs total, 7 hrs walking | |
| Kayaking | Patagonia Dreams | Available in Half day (3 hrs duration) and full day (8.5 hrs duration option |
| Argentina 4U | Kayak and Hiking at La Leona River - duration 9 hrs | |
| MIL Outdoor | Peddling in Lago Argentino, near Perito Moreno Glacier, Duration 10 hrs | |
| Exploration of the Southern Glacier/Los Glaciares National Park | Patagonia Dreams | Exploring Lake Roca - 7,5 hrs |
| Argentina 4U | Kayak & Hiking at La Leona River - 9 hrs | |
| Argentina 4U | Exploring Cerro Frias - 5hrs | |
| Argentina 4U | Exploring Estancia Cristina - 14 hrs | |
| Glaciar Sur | South Glacier Pioneer: Explore Estancia Nibepo Aike - 10 hrs | |
| Glaciar Sur | South Glacier Adventure: Explore Los Pioneros & Lake Frias Superior - 11 hrs |
Please also note that above table is based on my research on October 2020. When I did my research on 2018, some of the tour operator wasn’t even exist. I also don’t put the price, as it may be changed often. If you want to know the price of each excursion/package, simply click the tour operator inside the table that has been linked to the particular excursion.
The Kayak Experience
Before the kayak started, there was this safety briefing and instructions on how to put the safety suits. The suit is included in the price and they don’t take it lightly. It has multiple layers to keep us dry and prevent us from cold. It has inner layer, Dry Suit, Live vest, Spray skirt as well as waterproofs shoes.
The kayak duration in the water is about 1,5 hours. We even paddle near the iceberg, but not that close, as it may crumble upon us anytime.
After finished kayaking, our guide took big chunk of ice from the floating iceberg and poured as a bottle of wine as celebratory gesture. It was such a fine, fine day.
After we put off our kayak suits, we were allowed to walk around the glacier viewpoint walkway for another hour. Best Day Ever!
