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Ice treks on the Perito Moreno

Minitrekking or Big Ice

Three ways onto the glacier with crampons, separated mainly by age window, time on the ice and season.

Top picks
Minitrekking on the Perito Moreno with crampons
Hielo y Aventura · 4.5 to 10 hours, depending on the option Minitrekking on the Perito Moreno with crampons Age limit: 8 to 65, no exceptions
★ 4.8 (33) from $330
Book now
Big Ice, the long trek into the heart of the Perito Moreno
Hielo y Aventura · 7.5 to 12 hours Big Ice, the long trek into the heart of the Perito Moreno Age limit: 18 to 50
★ 4.8 (33) from $459
Book now
Minitrekking 2, the longer glacier hike with boat
Howlanders · 5 to 10 hours Minitrekking 2, the longer glacier hike with boat Age limit: 17 to 55
★ 5.0 (7) from $370
Book now
Compare all 3 options

All three treks start with the same boat from Bajo de las Sombras and end on the ice of the Perito Moreno. What separates them is how long you stay on the glacier and who is allowed to come. The youngest and oldest person in your group usually make the decision before anyone else has a say.

The age of your group decides first

Minitrekking

Pick this if your group includes children from 8 or adults over 50.

  • Ages 8 to 65, under 18 with written parental permission
  • The shortest walk on the ice, with a day of 4.5 to 10 hours
  • The lowest price level of the three

The Minitrekking in detail

Minitrekking 2

Pick this if everyone is between 17 and 55 and the standard walk feels too short.

  • A longer walk on the ice than the standard Minitrekking
  • Sold by Howlanders with optional transfer, 5 to 10 hours
  • No season stated in the listing

Minitrekking 2 in detail

Big Ice

Pick this if all of you are 18 to 50, fit, and travelling between September and April.

  • About three hours and 12 km on the glacier
  • Pickup from 6:45, a day of up to 12 hours
  • The highest price level of the three

Big Ice in detail

The three ice treks side by side

None of them includes the park fee. Season and age window are the columns to read first.

Photo Trip Ice face or route Duration Age limit Season Reviews ↕ Price ↕ Book
Minitrekking Hielo y Aventura On the ice 4.5–10 h 8–65 Sources differ ★ 4.8 (33) $330 per person Book now
Big Ice Hielo y Aventura On the ice, about 12 km 7.5–12 h 18–50 Sep–Apr ★ 4.8 (33) $459 per person Book now
Minitrekking 2 Howlanders On the ice, longer 5–10 h 17–55 Not stated ★ 5.0 (7) $370 per person Book now

Prices are per person and refresh from GetYourGuide; the checkout page shows the final amount for the day you sail.

The three treks in detail

Each card lists port, ice face, age limit, season and what the listing says about the park fee. Open it for the full details.

Minitrekking on the Perito Moreno with crampons
Hielo y Aventura

Minitrekking on the Perito Moreno with crampons

Sold by Hielo y Aventura, the company that runs the Minitrekking.

  • Duration: 4.5 to 10 hours, depending on the option
  • Port: Puerto Bajo de las Sombras
  • Ice face or route: Guided ice walk on the glacier, with crampons
  • Season: Sources differ; main season October to April
  • Hotel pickup: Hotel pickup in El Calafate
  • Age limit: 8 to 65, no exceptions
  • Park fee: Not included

✓ Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start

from $330 ★ 4.8 (33 reviews)
Book on GetYourGuide
Full trip details

About this trip

Hielo y Aventura runs the Minitrekking: a boat from Bajo de las Sombras across the Brazo Rico, then a guided walk on the glacier with crampons.

The age window of 8 to 65 is applied without exceptions. Guests aged 8 to 17 need written permission from their parents, and every guest fills in a medical form.

Know before you go

  • Medical form required for every participant
  • Ages 8 to 17 only with written parental permission

Facts from the product page on the booking platform and the operators’ own information, checked in October 2026.

Big Ice, the long trek into the heart of the Perito Moreno
Hielo y Aventura

Big Ice, the long trek into the heart of the Perito Moreno

About three hours and 12 km on the ice, for fit adults up to 50.

  • Duration: 7.5 to 12 hours
  • Port: Puerto Bajo de las Sombras
  • Ice face or route: Long ice trek, about 3 hours and 12 km on the glacier
  • Season: September to April
  • Hotel pickup: Hotel pickup, from 6:45
  • Age limit: 18 to 50
  • Park fee: Not included

✓ Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start

from $459 ★ 4.8 (33 reviews)
Book on GetYourGuide
Full trip details

About this trip

Big Ice is the long trek: about three hours and roughly 12 km on the glacier, rated as high fitness by the operator. Pickup starts at 6:45, and the day lasts up to 12 hours.

It runs from September to April, only for ages 18 to 50, with a medical form. One reviewer had expected more time on the ice; the three hours are what the operator describes.

Know before you go

  • Medical form required
  • High fitness level required

Facts from the product page on the booking platform and the operators’ own information, checked in October 2026.

Minitrekking 2, the longer glacier hike with boat
Howlanders

Minitrekking 2, the longer glacier hike with boat

A longer walk on the ice than the standard Minitrekking, for a narrower age group.

  • Duration: 5 to 10 hours
  • Ice face or route: Longer guided ice walk on the Perito Moreno
  • Hotel pickup: Optional
  • Age limit: 17 to 55
  • Park fee: Not included

✓ Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start

from $370 ★ 5.0 (7 reviews)
Book on GetYourGuide
Full trip details

About this trip

Howlanders sells Minitrekking 2, described as the longer version of the ice walk on the Perito Moreno, with the boat crossing and an optional transfer.

The age limits are stricter than for the standard Minitrekking: 17 to 55.

Facts from the product page on the booking platform and the operators’ own information, checked in October 2026.

What the numbers mean on the ice

TrekAgesOn the iceSeason
Minitrekking8 to 65Short guided walkSources differ
Minitrekking 217 to 55Longer walkNot stated
Big Ice18 to 50About 3 h, 12 kmSep to Apr

For the Minitrekking the sources give different times on the ice, so we do not state one. Big Ice is the only trek with a published distance. The operator rates it as high fitness, and Hielo y Aventura asks every participant on its Minitrekking and on Big Ice for a medical form.

Reviewers on effort and weather

One Big Ice reviewer recommends taking at least the Minitrekking, because seeing the glacier from the shore is only a small part of the impression, and adds that Big Ice is quite hard even though a group of non-athletes managed it. Another walked Big Ice on a rainy, windy and cold day and would only recommend it in good weather and very good shape. Hielo y Aventura does not cancel for rain, so that risk stays with you on either trek; weather and season explains what to expect month by month.

Outside both age windows

Children aged 6 and 7 and adults up to 70 can join the Blue Safari, which reaches the south face on a 1.5 km shore path without crampons. For anyone outside that, the Safari Náutico and the north face boat state no age limit.

Reviews from the ice treks

Three of the four reviews are positive. The one-star review is the clearest warning on this site about fitness and weather on Big Ice.

“Absolutely worth the money, all guides were excellent - once in a lifetime experience which is definitely worth doing!”
Verified traveler · United Kingdom · August 2026 Minitrekking · Hielo y Aventura
“Really helpful and knowledgeable guides who went out of there way to make this a unique experience”
John · United Kingdom · October 2026 Minitrekking 2 · Howlanders
“Tour worth it. Seeing Perito-Moreno ice from the lake shore is less than 5% of total impression. I would recommend to take at least mini-trekking. It is quite hard, but we had rather non-sportspersons and everything went good. …”
Kirill · Russia · March 2026 Big Ice · Hielo y Aventura
“I strongly advise against this tour. Unless you have a perfect weather conditions (sun and clear skies) and you are in a VERY good physical shape, you will have a terrible time. They took us to the tour on a rainy, windy and cold day. …”
Masa · France · December 2025 Big Ice · Hielo y Aventura

Reviews by travellers after their day on the lake, from GetYourGuide.

FAQ

Is Big Ice much harder than the Minitrekking?

Big Ice spends about three hours and 12 km on the ice, and the operator rates it as high fitness. The Minitrekking is a much shorter walk and open to a far wider age range.

Can a 60-year-old do Big Ice?

No. Big Ice is limited to ages 18 to 50, applied strictly. The Minitrekking accepts guests up to 65.

Which ice trek can teenagers join?

The Minitrekking from age 8, with written parental permission up to 17. Minitrekking 2 starts at 17, Big Ice at 18.

Can I do an ice trek in July?

Big Ice does not run from May to August. For the Minitrekking the sources differ, so check the booking calendar for your dates.

Related on this site

Minitrekking

Every listing of the short ice walk, with transfer and season.

Big Ice

The long trek: requirements, the day from 6:45 and weather.

Blue Safari

Touch the ice without walking on it, ages 6 to 70.

Choose your time on the glacier

Age window, duration and season for the three ice treks.

Open the comparison