Perito Moreno GlacierAbout Perito Moreno Glacier
Perito Moreno Glacier is a large glacier located in Los Glaciares National Park in Santa Cruz Province, Argentina, notable for terminating in Lago Argentino and for frequent visible calving events. It is one of the region’s most accessible large glaciers and a major tourist attraction in Patagonia.
Walkways and viewing platforms at the glacier’s face provide visitors with direct views of the ice front, and boat trips on Lago Argentino offer frontal perspectives and photographic opportunities. The glacier’s dynamic calving into the lake is a key highlight for visitors.
The glacier formed from the Patagonian icefield’s flow of ice through valleys and has experienced episodic advance and retreat over decades; its behaviour differs from many regional glaciers, which have generally been retreating in recent decades.
Perito Moreno lies in southwestern Argentina’s icefield region within Los Glaciares National Park, on the southern shore of Lago Argentino in Santa Cruz Province, surrounded by glacial lakes and mountain terrain.
- Calving viewing: The glacier calves directly into Lago Argentino, allowing close viewing from shoreline platforms and boat excursions on the lake.
- Glacier behaviour: Unlike many shrinking glaciers, this ice front is noted for periodic advance and frequent large calving events that are visible from established viewpoints.
Best Time to Visit Perito Moreno Glacier
Visit in the austral summer and shoulder months (roughly December-March) for the mildest conditions and best access, or go in shoulder months for fewer crowds.
Weather & Climate near Perito Moreno Glacier
Perito Moreno Glacier's climate is classified as Subpolar Oceanic - Subpolar Oceanic climate with cool summers (peaking in January) and cold winters (coldest in July). Temperatures range from -2°C to 16°C. Moderate rainfall (838 mm/year), distributed fairly evenly throughout the year.
| Month | Comfort | Temp | Feels | Rain | Sky | Humidity | Wind | UV | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | Good | 6° - 16° | 11° | 72 mm | overcast | 88% | 7.8 m/s | 1.9 very high | 15.6h |
| February | Good | 6° - 15° | 11° | 70 mm | overcast | 88% | 7.0 m/s | 1.5 very high | 14.1h |
| March | Acceptable | 4° - 14° | 6° | 78 mm | overcast | 90% | 6.3 m/s | 0.9 moderate | 12.3h |
| April | Acceptable | 3° - 11° | 3° | 85 mm | overcast | 91% | 5.9 m/s | 0.3 low | 10.4h |
| May | Poor | 0° - 7° | -1° | 76 mm | overcast | 93% | 4.9 m/s | 0.1 low | 8.7h |
| June | Poor | -2° - 5° | -3° | 65 mm | overcast | 94% | 4.7 m/s | 0.1 low | 7.9h |
| July | Poor | -2° - 5° | -3° | 74 mm | overcast | 94% | 4.6 m/s | 0.1 low | 8.3h |
| August | Poor | -1° - 6° | -2° | 64 mm | overcast | 93% | 5.2 m/s | 0.2 low | 9.7h |
| September | Poor | 1° - 8° | 0° | 57 mm | overcast | 91% | 6.0 m/s | 0.6 moderate | 11.5h |
| October | Acceptable | 3° - 11° | 3° | 68 mm | overcast | 89% | 7.0 m/s | 1.0 high | 13.5h |
| November | Acceptable | 4° - 13° | 5° | 60 mm | overcast | 88% | 7.6 m/s | 1.6 very high | 15.2h |
| December | Acceptable | 5° - 14° | 7° | 69 mm | overcast | 88% | 7.9 m/s | 2.0 very high | 16.1h |
How to Get to Perito Moreno Glacier
Perito Moreno Glacier is reached by road from the town of El Calafate - it’s roughly an 80 km drive (about 1.5-2 hours) from El Calafate and is the usual gateway. Regular shuttle buses, private transfers and day‑tour operators depart El Calafate daily to the Los Glaciares National Park; once at the park parking areas the main viewing boardwalks are a short, level walk from the visitor facilities.
Tips for Visiting Perito Moreno Glacier
- Arrive with one of the earliest shuttles from El Calafate to beat the mid-morning tour-bus rush and enjoy quieter views from the walkways before peak crowds arrive.
- Take the short boat trips that depart from the Bajo de las Sombras pier to get close to the glacier's face-these provide perspectives and photo angles you can't get from the shore walkways.
- Walk the full network of terraces: the central viewpoints are busiest, so continue along the northern walkways for calmer outlooks and different angles of the glacier's moraine and ice walls.
- If you want more than views, book glacier-trekking or the boat/ice-combo well in advance in high season; these activities are limited and often sell out.