Trek on the Perito Moreno Glacier in Santa Cruz, Argentina
Mini trekking or Big Ice Trek?
The trek on the Perito Moreno Glacier in Argentina’s Patagonia is one of those epic, once in a lifetime experience that you can’t miss. My colleagues and I went on two different treks and in my opinion, it was worth every single penny. Each of them are great options but they involve different amounts of time in the ice and physical conditions. If you have never done a trek on a glacier before, this is the perfect place for splurge while in Argentina. Read the following information in order to understand what each of them implicate.
Perito Moreno Glacier Hikes
There are two Perito Moreno Glacier hike options: The Big Ice Trek or Minitrekking. Both are full day excursions from El Calafate but involve different amounts of time on the ice.
• The Big Ice Trek is more demanding with nearly seven hours of trekking (3.5 hours of which are spent on the ice) .
• The Minitrekking involves three hours of trekking total, both on and off the ice. The groups are a little larger and it’s more age inclusive.
You get to go on the glacier with both treks but mini trek you are closer to the edge of the glacier, while the big trek you hike over an hour before going on the ice (so you are towards the middle of the glacier).
With the Big Ice there are more running streams and crevices you can explore, deeper blues in the water. You also get to see the deeper end of the glacier that you can’t see from the edge.
The groups are split you into smaller groups and have a pair of guides that are very skilled and helpful. You will feel safe and thoroughly enjoy your time. Three hours on the glacier may sound a lot but it will flow by because it is an unforgettable experience.
Mini trekking or Big Ice Trek?
Mini Trekking
We highly recommend the trekking on the glacier if you want to truly experience the beauty and vastness of the Perito Moreno glacier.
We took two tours to the glacier- mini-trekking and it really covered all the highlights. You get to spend enough time walking on the glacier to enjoy it, and not get exhausted. Your guide will also take you to a vista where you get to see how enormous the glacier is. Mini-trekking was not very exhausting, so as long as you have no disabilities, you will be fine. Bear in mind the requirements: age between 10 and 65 years and fitness (good coordination and balance)
Big ICE ....
Big Ice Trek is a very demanding tour that will take a walk of 4 hours on the glacier. The tour begins at the pier "Under the Shadow" from where you cross by boat the Brazo Rico of Lago Argentino. From there you will walk up the side of the glacier where you put the crampons for walking on the glacier. You will enjoy a unique experience watching crevasses, caves, blue lagoons, sinks and other glacial formations.
*Requirement of the tour: age 18 to 45 years and excellent physical conditions.
If you are less than 45 years old and you can handle a multi-hour hike on flat land normally - you'll be fine! By far the hardest part was climbing uphill along the moraine of the glacier for just north of an hour until we finally put the crampons on and started climbing into the heart of the glacier. Once on the glacier, it's easy. Make no mistake, this is not a stroll through the park, or a photo safari.
VERY IMPORTANT!
Due to the level of effort and difficulty present in this activity, is not suitable for people with the following conditions:
• Overweight.
• Pregnancy.
• Physical or mental disability that affects attention, march or coordination.
• Peripheral or Central Cardiovascular diseases, use of stent, by-pass, pace-maker or other prosthesis.
• Use of anticoagulants or varicose veins degree III (tick and multiples).
• Respiratory diseases (COPD, asthma, emphysema).
Many clients in their 50s and 60s are very fit and want to do the Big Ice on the Perito Moreno Glacier. But the Big Ice Trek is only authorized up to 45 years old. Even when you are really fit (marathon runners) or if you have done the Machu Picchu Trek or the W Trek in Torres del Paine, there are no exceptions. Your documents will be requested and if you are older than 45 you won’t be able to do the Big Ice Trek regardless your excellent physical condition.
For those of you who can't do big Ice, Mini trekking on the glacier is available for a wider age range and fitness levels and it is a fantastic experience. And if you can't do either - or aren’t interested in either, sitting at the rails and watching the glacier calve would be plenty of entertainment for a day!
The Mini Trekking or Big ICE tours can be arranged for smaller groups of travelers who may not want to join a group tour, but would like to be led by our expert guides on an amazing and highly stimulating journey.
Book excursion early, there is only one group that goes on big ice per day and only one operating tour group (I think the national parks limits it to help preserve the glacier) and it makes the experience even more special because you feel like you are the only ones on the glacier!
Please do not hesitate to contact us for further information on this excursion. We are glad to clarify and answer to any doubts you may have.
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