Perito Moreno Glacier: 6 Things to Know Before You Go
I put these six tips on TikTok on 22 January 2026, the day after our glacier visit, and a couple of them are mistakes we made ourselves. We booked Patagonia so late that we only had one day for Perito Moreno, and that one decision cost us the chance to walk on the ice.
The rest of the day worked so well. We had a private driver, we were in the park soon after it opened, and we had the walkways almost to ourselves! Here's what I'd tell you before you go, short and sweet. It was one day of our six nights in Patagonia (the whole route is in my guide to planning a trip to Patagonia without camping), and if you want every detail of the glacier itself, it's all in my full Perito Moreno Glacier guide.
Perito Moreno Glacier Tips, My Quick Answer
Short answer is book early, give El Calafate an extra day, buy your park ticket online, get a private driver to the 9am opening, think twice about the boat, and don't feel you need all four hours.
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| Tip | Why |
|---|---|
| 1. Book early | Tours sell out or only have limited times |
| 2. Add a day or two in El Calafate | So you have time for the ice trek, and the town is stunning |
| 3. Pre-book park entry | It's separate from almost every tour, and you skip the queue |
| 4. Book a private driver | Be there at 9am, before the tours arrive around 11 to 12 |
| 5. Skip the boat | The walkways give you every angle |
| 6. You don't need four hours | We walked the park in about two and a half |
1. Book Your Perito Moreno Tour Early
This was my biggest tip on the day, and it's the one I learnt the hard way. When we went looking, a lot of the tours online were already booked out, and some of what was left was too long for the time we had. As soon as you know you want to do this, just book everything, because then you'll be able to get everything that you want.
If you'd like to see what's available for your dates, you can browse Perito Moreno glacier tours here. We booked our driver in person in El Calafate, so that's the bookable alternative rather than what we did.
2. Add a Day or Two in El Calafate
We didn't, and it's my one real regret! Because we only had one day for the glacier, with a bus to El Chaltén that afternoon, there wasn't time for the mini trek on the ice, and I'd have loved to do it. Give yourself a buffer day too, because Patagonia's weather changes so fast.
Plus, as I said in my TikTok, "the town is stunning." El Calafate has a bit of a Queenstown feel to it, and it's a lot bigger than I thought it was going to be. There's more on what we did there in my El Calafate guide.
3. Pre-Book Your Perito Moreno Park Entry
Your driver, shuttle or tour almost certainly won't include park entry. We bought ours online the night before, and it was 45,000 pesos each for tourists in January 2026, which came to about A$47 per person (locals pay a fraction of that). It's the same price at the gate, but buying online means you just show your passport and walk in, which matters when the tour buses arrive and the queues build up!
Screenshot your ticket. There's no phone reception at the glacier, only wifi at the visitor area.
The vlog shows us buying the park tickets from 5:53, and the whole glacier day straight after it.
4. Book a Private Driver and Arrive at Opening
This is the tip that made our whole day! In a tour office in town, we were offered a private car for only $10 more than the shuttle, which came to A$90 each there and back. It meant we could leave when we wanted, keep our luggage in the car, and ring the driver when we were ready to go.
The park opens at 9am and it's about an hour and a half from El Calafate. We got there about twenty minutes after opening, and there was literally no one around! In my TikTok I said it straight: "Tours arrive around 11 to 12:00 and it starts to get really busy." Be there at 9 and you get the quiet part.
5. Skip the Perito Moreno Boat (Unless You Really Want It)
Here's the thing nobody told us: you drive past the boat dock on the way in, before you've seen the glacier, so you have to decide on the boat before you know what the walkways are like. We decided against it, and I don't regret it for a second.
From my TikTok: "the boats don't actually go as close as we thought and they were super packed." The walkways give you every angle, from down near the water to high up across the whole ice field. I did see people kayaking, though, and honestly, that looked better than the boat! I've compared the boat, the ice trek, kayaking and the walkways properly in Perito Moreno glacier tours.
6. You Don't Need All Four Hours at Perito Moreno
Tours give you four hours at the glacier, but "We walked around the park in about two and a half hours." Then we walked back up to the cafeteria, had an Americano for A$7, and called our driver to come and get us. That's one more reason the private driver worked, because when you're done, you can just leave.
Just don't rush the walkways themselves. We spent twenty minutes photographing one iceberg and missed a huge chunk of the glacier falling into the water, which was so loud we heard it from behind the trees (we caught a few more later, thankfully!).
Where to Stay in El Calafate for the Glacier
El Calafate is where you sleep for Perito Moreno, and if you're catching a bus the same day like we did, staying near the terminal makes life easier. I only recommend places rated above 9.0 with more than 50 reviews on Booking, and I checked these on 10 October 2026. This is where we'd stay:
Mabra Suites
Rated 9.3 from 507 reviews, about 270 metres from the centre of town.
Santa Monica Aparts
Rated 9.4 from 203 reviews, about 240 metres from the centre. We cooked most of our meals in El Calafate, and a kitchen is how I'd do it again.
Folk Hostel
Rated 9.1 from 1,298 reviews, about 400 metres from the terminal, so it's an easy walk to your bus after the glacier.
There are more options, area by area, in where to stay in El Calafate.
Still planning? Here is our complete Patagonia planning guide and the full Perito Moreno guide.
FAQs About Perito Moreno Glacier Tips
Do you need to book Perito Moreno in advance?
Yes, in summer. A lot of the tours online were booked out when we looked in January. Book your transport and your park ticket as soon as you know your dates.
Is park entry included in Perito Moreno tours?
Almost never, unless it's one of the really expensive ones. We paid 45,000 pesos each for tourist entry in January 2026, about A$47, bought online.
What is the best time of day to visit Perito Moreno?
First thing. The park opens at 9am, and the tour buses start arriving around 11. We were in at about twenty past nine and had it almost to ourselves.
Is the Perito Moreno boat tour worth it?
For us, no. The boats don't go as close as we expected and they were packed. Decide before you arrive, because you pass the dock on the way in.
How many days do you need in El Calafate for Perito Moreno?
More than the one we had. Two or three nights gives you time for the glacier, the ice trek if you want it, and a buffer for weather.
Final Thoughts: What Should You Know Before Visiting Perito Moreno?
If you only take one thing from this, make it the timing. A private driver to the 9am opening gave us the walkways almost to ourselves, and it was easily one of the most incredible things we have ever seen!
And please learn from us and give El Calafate an extra day, so the glacier isn't squeezed in before a bus. When you're ready, you can browse Perito Moreno glacier tours here, and the full story of our day is in my Perito Moreno Glacier guide.
