Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
381
How to See the Glacier
Do not miss the chanc e to see the majestic P erito Moreno Glacier, one of the
world's most stunning sites and a great lesson in nature. You've got a number
of options f or mak ing your visit w orthwhile, depending on y our time frame
and budget.
• Rent a car and driv e t o the glacier fr om t own. This option is not cheap
unless you are a g roup of f our. It's helpful if y ou have a midda y flight and
gives you freedom to come late in the af ternoon, when the cr owds have
petered off.
• Take the local bus that has thr ee depar tures daily . I t's the best budget
option, and a good choic e if y ou want t o stick t o your own schedule.
• Hop on a local t our. This g ives you more information and understanding
of what y ou're looking at. But y ou're stuck with the t our's schedule. Some
tours off er a shor t hike along Ic ebergs Channel ( Canal de los Témpanos)
or boat trips along the nor th wall . M ost ar e bilingual , and some include
snacks.
• Sign up f or Hielo y A ventura's Minitrekking, to take a walk on the ic e and
get a good look at its southern wall along the R ico Arm of Lago Ar gentino.
It's a half- day outing; y ou can include a str oll on the boar dwalks.
• For an in-depth and unforgettable exploration of the big white sheet, Hielo
y Aventura's Big Ic e is the most c omplete glacier experienc e. A good lev el
of fitness is r equired.
12
OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES
You can see the Perito Moreno glacier close up on your own in a half-day's outing by taxi,
rental car, or bus (giv e yourself a minimum of 1 hr . at the glacier). B ut several exciting
activities in the P erito Moreno region afford a mor e in-depth and thrilling experience.
“Minitrekking”
(although there is nothing “mini” about it) takes guests of all ages and
abilities for a walk upon the glacier. The trip begins with a 20-minute boat ride across the
Brazo Rico, followed by a 30-minute walk to the glacier . From here guests are outfitted
with crampons and other safety gear, and then they spend approximately 1
1
/
2
hours atop
the ice, complete with a stop for a whiskey on the thousand-y ear-old “rocks.” This great
trip gives visitors the chance to peer into the electric-blue crevasses of the glacier and fully
appreciate its siz e. More experienced, fit, and adv enturous visitors can opt for the
Big
Ice
option, which has a mor e technical appr oach and giv es you much mor e time
(upwards of 4 hr .) to walk on the glacier . Both B ig Ice and M initrekking are organized
exclusively b y
Hielo y A ventura,
which has its main office at A v. del Liber tador 935
(
&
02902/492205;
www.hieloyaventura.com). Big Ice costs $175 (£118) including the
transfer from El Calafate. Minitrekking will run you $135 (£74) with transfer. Remem-
ber, you have to bring your own lunch from town. And don't forget the sunscreen!
Solo P atagonia,
A v. del Liber tador 867 (
&
02902/491105;
www .solopatagonia.
com), offers visitors navigation trips through the Brazo Rico to the face of Perito Moreno
for $50 (£34), departing hourly from 10:30am to 3:30pm from the Muelle Moreno port
next to the glacier 's visitor center. Their
Todo Glaciares
trip depar ts from Puerto
