Want to see Patagonia’s glaciers from the walkways, step onto the ice, or spend the day navigating between remote glacier fronts? El Calafate offers the widest choice, while Torres del Paine, Puerto Natales, the Carretera Austral and Ushuaia provide very different routes into the ice fields.
TLDR: Choose Perito Moreno Glacier and Walkways for the most accessible first glacier day; Minitrekking for a guided introduction to walking on the ice; Todo Glaciares for a classic Lago Argentino cruise; Grey Glacier Navigation during a Torres del Paine trip; or Laguna San Rafael from Puerto Río Tranquilo for a more remote Chilean experience.
Our tour price bands use the current regular or entry price per person, divided by the full calendar duration. They provide a broad comparison and are not live quotes.
- $: Under $150 per person per day
- $$: $150 to $299 per person per day
- $$$: $300 to $599 per person per day
- $$$$: $600 or more per person per day
Prices were checked on August 15, 2026. Rates can change by departure date, accommodation type and party size.
Best Accessible Perito Moreno and Upsala Glacier Tours
These tours provide close glacier views without a full ice hike. Choose the walkways for flexibility, Safari Azul for a shore-level approach, the short boat trip for a water-level view, or Estancia Cristina when Upsala Glacier and a remote ranch day appeal more.
Perito Moreno Glacier and Walkways
A practical full-day trip with hotel transfers, a bilingual guide, and more than three hours to explore the Perito Moreno walkway network. The regular listed price is ARS 110,000 per person; park entry, meals, and an optional boat trip are separate.
Safari Azul
Safari Azul combines forest, shore, and boat access near Perito Moreno for travelers who want to get closer to the glacier without wearing crampons. Rates start from ARS 120,000 per person; confirm the exact transfer configuration before booking.
Navegación frente al Glaciar Perito Moreno
A focused one-hour navigation for travelers already visiting the park who want a water-level view of Perito Moreno's southern ice wall. It is a useful complement to the walkways, rather than a full substitute for a day in the park.
Estancia Cristina - Mirador Glaciar Upsala
A 4x4 route to a high Upsala viewpoint that ordinary Lago Argentino cruises cannot reach. It works well for travelers who want a memorable glacier view without a long, demanding trek.
Best Patagonia Ice Hiking and Glacier Kayaking Tours
Ice hiking and paddling place greater demands on fitness, balance and weather tolerance. Operators enforce their own age, health and footwear rules, so check the current requirements before paying.
Minitrekking
The established first glacier-walking experience, with crampons and a published maximum of 20 participants. Prices start from ARS 320,000 per person; confirm the exact product name, ice time, and age rules for your selected departure.
Minitrekking 2.0
The middle option in Hielo & Aventura's ice-trekking range, for travelers who want more time in crampons than standard Minitrekking without Big Ice's demanding twelve-hour format. Confirm the selected departure's age rules and exact ice time.
Big Ice
Big Ice is the longest established Perito Moreno ice trek, suited to fit adults who want a more demanding day on the glacier. Current seller pricing starts from ARS 550,000 per person, and eligibility restrictions should be checked before you book.
Perito Moreno Kayak Experience
A kayak trip for active travelers who prefer a water-level perspective on Perito Moreno to a crampon walk. Prices start from ARS 370,000 per person, but seller descriptions vary between ticket-only and full-day formats, so confirm exactly what is included.
Vinciguerra Glacier Trekking
A serious full-day mountain outing through the Andorra wetlands to Laguna de los Témpanos and the retreating Vinciguerra ice, with technical kit supplied when conditions permit glacier travel.
Best Glacier Cruises from El Calafate
The main Lago Argentino cruises cover several glacier fronts in one long day. Premium options usually improve onboard space, viewing areas or service rather than changing the core geography, so compare the vessel and cabin category carefully.
Todo Glaciares
A full-day Lago Argentino navigation for travelers who want Upsala and Spegazzini in one accessible boat trip. The published ARS 240,000 rate is valid through September 2026, so recheck the applicable fare for later travel.
Todo Glaciares - Captain's Club
The same Upsala and Spegazzini route as Todo Glaciares, upgraded to a more private cabin with dedicated service, meals, and drinks. Compare it directly with the food-led Glaciares Gourmet Premium Salon.
Glaciares Gourmet
A broader standard navigation that combines Upsala and Spegazzini with views of Perito Moreno and a short landing at Puesto de las Vacas. It is a strong alternative when seeing the fullest possible glacier mix matters more than a premium cabin.
Glaciares Gourmet Premium Salon
A more comfortable version of the main Lago Argentino glacier navigation, with a quieter salon, food, and drinks. The research total is ARS 460,000 per person for the base fare and premium supplement, both of which change by season.
Best Glacier Tours in Chilean Patagonia
Chile’s glacier trips are more geographically dispersed. Grey Glacier fits a Torres del Paine visit, Balmaceda and Serrano depart from Puerto Natales, while San Rafael and Exploradores require time on the Carretera Austral.
Grey Glacier Navigation with Transport
A convenient way to add the Grey Glacier navigation without staying inside the park, with Puerto Natales transport packaged around the sailing. The operator lists CLP 170,000 per person and an approximate US$180 to US$190 reference; check the weather cancellation terms and detailed inclusions before booking.
Balmaceda & Serrano Glaciers with Estancia Lunch
The benchmark full-day option from Puerto Natales: a long fjord sailing, Balmaceda from the boat, a short walk to Serrano and a substantial estancia lunch before returning to town.
Balmaceda & Serrano Half-Day Navigation
The time-efficient glacier choice: it covers the same core fjord and glacier scenery as the longer tours but returns around lunchtime and omits the estancia meal.
Laguna San Rafael Full Day from Puerto Río Tranquilo
The essential glacier-navigation day in southern Aysén, pairing the dramatic Valle Exploradores road with a long boat journey to the calving face of San Rafael.
Glacier Exploradores Viewpoint Day
The responsible Exploradores option while ice-trekking access remains uncertain: it focuses on the remarkable valley road and glacier viewpoints without selling a walk on the ice.
How We Chose These Patagonia Glacier Tours
We compared current glacier products with enough published information to judge the route, physical demands, price and booking relationship. The shortlist gives priority to tours with a clear point of difference and a usable current operator or seller page.
Our assessment focused on the following factors.
- Which glacier or ice-field sector the tour reaches
- Time spent close to the ice
- Activity level and published restrictions
- Transport and major inclusions
- Vessel, group format or hiking style
- Current price and direct booking access
Closely related premium cabin options remain separate only when the onboard experience changes enough to affect the purchase decision.
Choosing the Right Glacier Region
El Calafate is the strongest base when glacier tours are the main purpose of the trip. Perito Moreno supports accessible walkways, boat trips, shore walks, kayaking and several levels of ice trekking. Lago Argentino cruises add Upsala and Spegazzini sectors.
Grey Glacier works best as part of a Torres del Paine itinerary. Travelers staying in Puerto Natales can also reach Balmaceda and Serrano by sailing through Última Esperanza Fjord. These options involve less specialized equipment than an ice trek, though long navigation days remain exposed to wind and changing conditions.
San Rafael requires more travel time and suits a Carretera Austral itinerary. The route from Puerto Río Tranquilo combines a road transfer with a substantial boat journey. The Exploradores option in this guide is a viewpoint day rather than a walk on the glacier.
Ice Trek, Boat Trip or Walkways
Choose the Perito Moreno walkways when mobility, flexibility or mixed fitness levels matter. Visitors can select different viewing circuits and spend the day without committing to specialized equipment.
Ice trekking provides the closest contact with the glacier, but each product has strict health, age and equipment requirements. Big Ice is considerably more demanding than Minitrekking. A higher price does not remove the physical challenge.
Boat tours exchange physical effort for a longer day on the water. Check where the vessel boards, how much outside deck space is available and what happens when wind or ice conditions alter the route. Kayaking requires confidence on cold, exposed water even when technical experience is not required.
What to Check Before Booking
Park entry is commonly excluded, even when hotel transport and the main activity are included. Confirm the current entry fee, pickup zone, meals, footwear rules and cancellation policy in writing.
For premium cruise categories, check whether the price buys a separate lounge, a smaller passenger area, enhanced food or only priority service. For remote Chilean trips, verify the exact road and boat departure point because the tour name alone may not explain the transfer time.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which Patagonia glacier tour is best for a first visit?
Perito Moreno Glacier and Walkways is the most straightforward introduction. It provides extensive glacier views with an easy activity level and does not require the age, fitness or footwear rules of an ice trek.
Is Minitrekking or Big Ice better?
Minitrekking is the more accessible introduction to glacier hiking. Big Ice spends longer on more demanding terrain and is better for fit travelers who meet the operator’s stricter requirements.
Can I see several glaciers in one day?
Yes. Todo Glaciares and Glaciares Gourmet navigate Lago Argentino toward several major glacier sectors. The exact route remains subject to lake, wind and ice conditions.
What is the best glacier tour in Chilean Patagonia?
Choose Grey Glacier when Torres del Paine is already in your itinerary. Balmaceda and Serrano are easier to combine with Puerto Natales, while Laguna San Rafael is the stronger fit for a Carretera Austral journey.
Are national park fees included?
They are often excluded. Check the written inclusions for the exact departure and purchase any required park ticket through the official channel before travel.
Do I need special equipment for an ice trek?
Operators provide technical glacier equipment such as crampons. Travelers still need suitable clothing and footwear that meet the current product rules. Review those requirements before booking because unsuitable footwear can prevent participation.
How far ahead should I book?
Book ice-trekking products early for peak summer because capacity and eligibility rules limit the available places. Standard boat and walkway tours usually offer more inventory, but premium cabins and remote departures can also fill.
