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Planning · Weather and season

Weather and season on Lago Argentino

Which trips run in which months, how cold it gets on deck, and what rain means for your booking.

Top picks
Todo Glaciares, the All Glaciers cruise to Upsala and Spegazzini
Solo Patagonia · About 10 hours Todo Glaciares, the All Glaciers cruise to Upsala and Spegazzini
★ 4.5 (322) from $285
Book now
Perito Moreno ice trekking from El Calafate
Tangol · 8 to 10 hours Perito Moreno ice trekking from El Calafate Age limit: 8 to 65
★ 4.5 (125) from $406
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
Compare all 6 options

El Calafate is dry and cool, with mild summers and frosty winter nights. The season on the lake follows that rhythm: from October to April almost everything runs, and from May to August the choice narrows to the short boats, a reduced Todo Glaciares timetable and, depending on the source, the Minitrekking. Little rain falls over the year, but a wet day on the water is cold, and the operators sail anyway.

When each trip runs

The trips with a published season, from the year-round Safari Náutico to Big Ice, which stops for the winter. For the other listings no season is stated.

Photo Trip Season Ice face or route Duration Reviews ↕ Price ↕ Book
Todo Glaciares Solo Patagonia All year, fewer in winter Upsala, no Perito Moreno 10 h ★ 4.5 (322) $285 per person Book now
Minitrekking (Tangol) Tangol Early Aug–early Jun On the ice 8–10 h ★ 4.5 (125) $406 per person Book now
Big Ice Hielo y Aventura Sep–Apr On the ice, about 12 km 7.5–12 h ★ 4.8 (33) $459 per person Book now
Minitrekking Hielo y Aventura Sources differ On the ice 4.5–10 h ★ 4.8 (33) $330 per person Book now
Safari Náutico Hielo y Aventura All year South face 1 h ★ 4.6 (13) $67 per person Book now
Mayo Spirit Southern Spirit Lago Argentino Oct–Apr Seno Mayo + north face 8–10 h ★ 4.9 (10) $150 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 trips in the season table

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

Todo Glaciares, the All Glaciers cruise to Upsala and Spegazzini
Solo Patagonia

Todo Glaciares, the All Glaciers cruise to Upsala and Spegazzini

The north-western arms of the lake with a landing at Spegazzini; the Perito Moreno is not on this route.

  • Duration: About 10 hours
  • Port: Punta Bandera, 47 km from El Calafate
  • Ice face or route: Upsala, Spegazzini, Seco, Heim and Peineta; no Perito Moreno
  • Season: Daily September to April, every second day May to August
  • Hotel pickup: Optional
  • Age limit: Not stated
  • Park fee: Not included

✓ Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start

from $285 ★ 4.5 (322 reviews)
Book on GetYourGuide
Full trip details

About this trip

Solo Patagonia runs Todo Glaciares from Punta Bandera to the Upsala, Spegazzini, Seco, Heim and Peineta glaciers, with a landing at the base of the Spegazzini and its refugio. The Perito Moreno is not part of the route, even when a listing title mentions it.

Reviewers name the weather as the main drawback and describe the English commentary as shorter than the Spanish. Hotel pickup is an option and covers the town area only.

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

Perito Moreno ice trekking from El Calafate
Tangol

Perito Moreno ice trekking from El Calafate

The Minitrekking with transfer; the listing asks for the park fee in cash pesos.

  • Duration: 8 to 10 hours
  • Ice face or route: Guided ice walk on the glacier, with crampons
  • Season: Early August to early June, according to the listing
  • Hotel pickup: Yes
  • Age limit: 8 to 65
  • Park fee: Not included

✓ Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start

from $406 ★ 4.5 (125 reviews)
Book on GetYourGuide
Full trip details

About this trip

Tangol sells the Minitrekking as a full day with transfer.

The park fee is not included; the listing asks for it in cash, in Argentine pesos, at the entrance.

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 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.

Safari Náutico, one hour in front of the south face
Hielo y Aventura

Safari Náutico, one hour in front of the south face

The classic short boat trip, run by the operator that also runs the ice treks.

  • Duration: About 1 hour on the boat
  • Port: Puerto Bajo de las Sombras
  • Ice face or route: South face of the Perito Moreno
  • Season: Year-round
  • Hotel pickup: Not clear: a transfer to the park is listed, hotel pickup is not
  • Age limit: Not stated
  • Park fee: Not included

✓ Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start

from $67 ★ 4.6 (13 reviews)
Book on GetYourGuide
Full trip details

About this trip

Hielo y Aventura sails from its own pier at Bajo de las Sombras on route 11, about 7 km before the glacier, across the Brazo Rico to the south face of the Perito Moreno. The boat spends about an hour in front of the ice.

The listing names a transfer to the national park but no hotel pickup, so check how you reach the pier. Reviewers mention other passengers blocking the best photo spots on deck.

Know before you go

  • Departures listed by the local tourism portal include 10:00, 11:30, 13:00 and 14:30
  • The park entrance is not included; buy the pass online or pay at the gate on the way to the pier

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

Mayo Spirit, boat and walks in the Seno Mayo with the north face
Southern Spirit Lago Argentino

Mayo Spirit, boat and walks in the Seno Mayo with the north face

Boat, hikes at Bahía Toro and Cerro Negro, then the north face and the walkways.

  • Duration: 8 to 10 hours
  • Port: Puerto Moreno
  • Ice face or route: Seno Mayo, Bahía Toro, Cerro Negro, north face of the Perito Moreno, walkways
  • Season: October to April
  • Hotel pickup: Optional
  • Age limit: Not stated
  • Park fee: Not included

✓ Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start

from $150 ★ 4.9 (10 reviews)
Book on GetYourGuide
Full trip details

About this trip

Southern Spirit takes this boat into the Seno Mayo arm of the lake, with walks at Bahía Toro and Cerro Negro, then along the north face and on to the walkways. The listing calls it a trek, so expect time on foot.

It runs from October to April. A reviewer described the day as windy and very chilly.

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

Temperatures in El Calafate

19 °C / 7 °CJanuary, average high and low
13 °C / 1 °CApril and October
5 °C / −4 °CJuly

These are the long-term averages at El Calafate airport (Servicio Meteorológico Nacional, 1991 to 2020). The town gets only about 160 mm of rain a year, and the lake softens the extremes. On a boat or on the ice it feels colder than these figures suggest, because you stand still on deck or walk on a frozen surface for hours. A warm layer, a waterproof jacket, gloves and a hat belong in the bag in every month.

Southern summer, October to April

This is the main season. Big Ice runs from September to April, Mayo Spirit from October to April, and Todo Glaciares sails daily from September. October to April is also the main season for the Minitrekking.

Southern winter, May to August

  • Safari Náutico keeps sailing all year.
  • Todo Glaciares runs every second day, so check the calendar before you fix your dates.
  • Big Ice and Mayo Spirit do not run.
  • For the Minitrekking the sources differ: some describe it as year-round, the Tangol listing gives early August to early June.

July averages stay below 6 °C in the daytime and below freezing at night.

Rain, wind and cancellations

Hielo y Aventura and Solo Patagonia do not cancel for rain. On a wet day the boat windows fog up, and low cloud can hide much of the ice; reviewers of Mayo Spirit describe the day as windy and very chilly, and a Big Ice reviewer walked in rain, wind and cold. The SALUM listing promises a full refund if the sailing itself does not take place. Every trip on this site except the kayak at the glacier can be cancelled free of charge up to 24 hours before the start, which is the practical tool: look at the forecast two days ahead and move the booking if it looks poor.

The park pass is bought separately from the trip; if you end up visiting twice, the second day within 72 hours costs half.

Reviews about the weather on the day

Two of these reviews come from cold, wet days and are among the lowest on this site. They show what rain does to the view and to a long trek. The third, from an April day on Mayo Spirit, shows the other side: views, walks and time at the glacier.

“Very disappointed The tour suggest we arrive 15 minutes earlier . On arrival they were cleaning the boat so we had to stay in the bridge getting wet with cold rain Once inside in the boat it was very cold … all the boat windows were very foggy so there was no view …”
Verified traveler · United States · October 2025 Safari Náutico · 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
“Epic! So worth the money! You get two easy hikes, waterfalls, epic views through the lake, adequate time at the main glacier viewpoint and a ride up close to the glacier. All you really need to see the whole thing in one day!”
Jake · United States · April 2026 Mayo Spirit · Southern Spirit

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

FAQ

What is the best month for a Perito Moreno boat trip?

October to April is the main season, when Big Ice, Mayo Spirit and daily Todo Glaciares sailings all run. Safari Náutico sails all year.

Do the boats run in winter?

Some do. Safari Náutico sails all year and Todo Glaciares every second day from May to August. Big Ice and Mayo Spirit pause. For the Minitrekking the sources differ.

Are trips cancelled when it rains?

Usually not. Hielo y Aventura and Solo Patagonia sail in rain. Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start lets you move a booking when the forecast is poor.

How cold is it on the boat?

Colder than in town. Even in January the average low in El Calafate is around 7 °C, and on deck you stand in the wind near the ice. Bring a warm layer and a waterproof jacket in every season.

Related on this site

Safari Náutico

The boat that sails all year.

Big Ice

September to April only, ages 18 to 50.

Upsala and Spegazzini cruise

Daily in summer, every second day in winter.

Match the trip to your travel month

Season, ice face and duration of the trips with a published calendar.

Open the comparison