Minitrekking 2: the longest version of the Perito Moreno ice hike
5.0 / 5 · 1 traveler reviews
"Minitrekking 2" began operating in 2023 and is the best alternative for travelers wishing to hike longer on the Perito Moreno Glacier. This tour offers an intermediate-level hike (more demanding than the Minitrekking but not as difficult as the Big Ice). You’ll hike about 3 miles (5 km) instead of the minitrek’s nearly 2 miles (3 km). When you book, you can include pick-up in El Calafate or meet directly at Puerto Bajo Las Sombras. Starting with a boat tour along Perrito Moreno's south wall, you’ll reach the shore and then hike to the glacier´s moraine. Your group will continue until reaching the ice hike’s starting point, where you’ll put on your crampons before getting onto the glacier. Let´s begin!! For almost two hours, hike on the glacier using crampons. After, take a short walk to a waterfall and finally, get back onboard to return to the port. The package with pick-up also includes a one-hour visit to the footbridges of Perito Moreno before returning to El Calafate.
Your experience
Stop 1
1) If you have selected the package with pick-up, at 8:30 a.m. you will be picked up at your accommodations or the pick-up point indicated. You’ll start the tour with an hour-long trip to Puerto Bajo Las Sombras, in Los Glaciares National Park. 2) If you have selected the package without transfers, you’ll go directly to the port. Once the group has gathered, your guides will assist you with the purchase of the entrance tickets before boarding the boat.
Stop 2
If you have booked a reservation without pick-up, you’ll meet the group directly at Puerto Bajo Las Sombras at 10:45 a.m. After the group is together, we’ll board the ship to take a 10-minute boat ride on Lake Rico, along the south wall of the Perito Moreno. Upon arrival, the mountain guides will be waiting for the group to begin the walk along the shore that leads into the glacier's moraine. The moraine is a rocky terrain next to the glacier itself, so from this point onwards, you’ll be walking adjacent to the ice. Finally, you’ll reach the starting point of the ice walk where tour guides will help you strap on your crampons.
Stop 3
For the next 3 miles (5km) you’ll walk on the glacier and see formations inaccessible from the walkways: deep crevasses, water sinkholes, turquoise lagoons, and even seracs (dangerous blocks of ice formed by crevasses). The route over the ice does not follow a fixed journey due to the ever-changing nature of a living glacier. This allows your guide to modify the itinerary each day for the group. Finally, after treading across the glacier, we’ll return to the glacier walk’s starting point to give back the crampons and continue the adventure.
Stop 4
We’ll make our way back to the beach to the site of our disembarkation. On the route back to the boat, we’ll visit a waterfall and Puma Bay Beach, where the boat will be waiting to take us back to the port. 1) At this point, the activity ends for travelers who booked the package without transfers. 2) For the travelers who booked transfers, you’ll visit the Perito Moreno Footbridges before heading back to town.
Stop 5
Travelers who’ve booked the package with transfers will continue the tour with a one-hour visit to the famous Perito Moreno footbridges. Upon arrival, the guide will explain the different routes and you’ll have time to explore them on your own for about an hour. After, you’ll go to the meeting point to take the shuttle bus to El Calafate.
What’s included
- Bilingual guide
- Crampons
- Boat tour
- Transfers from El Calafate + Perito Moreno footbridges (when booking tour with pick-up included)
Not included
- Entrance ticket to Los Glaciares National Park
- Food & drinks
Meeting and pickup
The tour has several daily departures at different times. The exact departure time of your tour will be confirmed by Whatsapp the day before, starting at 6:00PM. If you book the tour without pick-up, your activity can start between 8:30 AM and 3:00 PM.
Before you go
- Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
- Not recommended for pregnant travelers
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Travelers should have a high level of physical fitness
- Only suitable for people from 18 to 55 years old (both included). No exceptions.
Cancellation policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Check the policy for your selected date and option before booking.
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