El Calafate: “Perito Moreno Glacier with the Tour – Blue Safari”.

The glacier gets better the closer you get. El Calafate’s Blue Safari combines a short boat crossing, a guided Patagonian forest hike, and a close approach to the southern face of Perito Moreno Glacier. You will also have time at the famous viewing walkways, so the day gives you both intimate ice views and broad panoramas.

I especially like the way the tour reaches the glacier from two angles: first on foot beside the lake, then from a boat only a few meters from the ice. The small group, limited to 10 people, is another real plus. The main drawback is cost. At $321 per person, you still need to pay the Los Glaciares National Park entrance fee separately and bring your own food and drinks.

Key points to know before booking

• The boat crosses Brazo Rico in about 20 minutes, taking you from Puerto Bajo las Sombras toward the glacier.
• The guided hike lasts about 1.5 hours and covers roughly 1.5 km through forest and along the shore.
• You approach the southern wall of Perito Moreno Glacier on foot, then see it again from the water.
• The optional transfer includes time at the glacier walkways, with about two hours to explore independently.
• The tour suits active visitors, but it is not available to children under 6 or people over 70.
• Bring lunch, water, warm layers, gloves, sunscreen, and sunglasses, since food and the park fee are not included.

Why the Blue Safari feels different

Many visits to Perito Moreno Glacier focus on the elevated walkways across the Brazo Rico side of the park. Those paths are excellent, but they keep you at a distance. The Blue Safari adds a quieter, more physical approach, taking you across the water and along a natural trail toward the ice.

That change in viewpoint matters. From the walkways, you see the glacier as a huge wall stretching across the water. On the hike, you notice the forest, the shoreline, the changing blue tones, and the scale of the ice building in front of you.

The tour also gives you a chance to hear the glacier. Perito Moreno is not silent. Cracks, pops, and larger rumbles can come from the ice as it shifts. A calving event is never guaranteed, but the guides explain the glacier’s formation and movement, helping you understand what you are seeing instead of simply taking a photograph and moving on.

The group limit of 10 is useful here. A small party makes the guided walk easier to follow and gives you a better chance of hearing the guide on the trail. It also avoids the feel of being moved through the experience in a large crowd.

Leaving El Calafate for Puerto Bajo las Sombras

The excursion begins in El Calafate, the main base for visiting Los Glaciares National Park. You can add pickup from your hotel or accommodation with a reception service, or arrange your own transport to the port.

The transfer option is the simpler choice for most people. The vehicle takes you from El Calafate to Puerto Bajo las Sombras, which is about 7 km from the glacier walkways. Pickup can take time, though. Waiting of approximately 40 minutes is possible, so do not plan a tight connection afterward.

There is an important limit on pickup arrangements. The service can collect you only from a hotel, cabin resort, or accommodation with reception operating during the scheduled pickup period. A private rental without reception may require you to use the meeting point instead.

If you do not book transportation, you must make your own way to the port. The access trip is about 80 km, and you need to arrive 30 minutes before the scheduled departure. The port is not the same as the walkway entrance, so check your plans carefully. The walkways are not included in the self-arranged transport option.

The 20-minute crossing over Brazo Rico

At Puerto Bajo las Sombras, you board a boat for the crossing of Brazo Rico, part of Lake Argentino. The ride takes about 20 minutes and gives you an early taste of the wide Patagonian setting around the glacier.

This is not the main glacier viewing section, but it is an important transition. You leave the road and viewing infrastructure behind and approach the glacier from the water. The crossing also offers broad views of the lake and the surrounding terrain.

You should dress for the boat even if the weather in El Calafate looks mild. Cold air over the water can make the ride feel sharper, and the tour specifically recommends thermal clothing, a hat, gloves, and weather-appropriate layers.

After the crossing, the group begins the hike together. The guide leads the way and explains the area as you walk. English and Spanish tours are available.

A 1.5-hour walk through forest and along the shore

The guided route covers about 1.5 km and takes approximately an hour and a half. It passes through Patagonian forest before following the lake shore toward the southern wall of Perito Moreno Glacier.

This is the part of the tour that requires the most attention when deciding if the Blue Safari suits you. The walk is not presented as a technical mountain hike, but you should be comfortable walking on natural trails for around 90 minutes. Comfortable hiking shoes are essential, and waterproof footwear is a wise choice in changeable conditions.

The forest adds variety to a day that could otherwise be mostly open views and boat rides. You get a closer sense of the plants and terrain around Lake Argentino, while the glacier appears and disappears through the trees and along the shoreline.

The trail also slows the experience down. That is valuable in a place as large as Perito Moreno. You are not simply looking at a distant wall of ice from a platform. You are walking toward it, noticing how the view changes with every section of the route.

The guide’s role is especially useful here. The tour includes explanations about the glacier’s history, formation, and movement. You can ask questions as the group walks, and the small party makes the commentary easier to hear.

Reaching the southern wall of Perito Moreno

The first close view of the glacier is the emotional center of the excursion. At the southern wall, the ice rises in large shapes above the water, with blue tones that shift according to the light and the structure of the ice.

The supplied tour details describe the approach as only a few meters from the ice. That proximity gives you a very different impression from the walkways. You can see cracks, folds, ridges, and textures that are harder to make out from a greater distance.

Allow yourself time to watch rather than photograph every second. The glacier may creak, crack, or release ice while you are there, but no guide can promise a large calving. The value of this stop is the close scale of the ice and the chance to observe its changing surface.

This is also where the guide’s explanations add real value. Perito Moreno is not just a pretty blue wall. It is a moving body of ice, and understanding that movement makes the sounds and shapes more meaningful.

The final boat view from the water

After the hike, you return to the boat for a close cruise in front of the glacier. The water gives you a second look at the ice from a lower and more open position.

From the boat, the southern face appears as a continuous wall. The contrast between the dark water and the pale blue ice is striking, while the boat’s movement lets you see details that may not be visible from the trail.

The description promises a distance of only a few meters from the ice. Conditions on the lake and safety requirements can affect the exact route, so think of this as a close boat viewing rather than a guaranteed fixed distance at every moment.

The boat portion is brief compared with the walking section, but it completes the tour well. The hike takes you toward the glacier, and the cruise lets you step back enough to understand its size.

Two hours at the glacier walkways

For visitors who book the transfer option, the next stop is the Perito Moreno viewing walkway system. You receive about two hours of free time to explore at your own pace.

The walkways provide something the Blue Safari cannot: broad, structured views from different heights and angles. You can look across the full glacier front, watch the water below, and revisit the ice after seeing it close up on the trail and from the boat.

Two hours is enough to get a strong sense of the viewing area, but you will still need to manage your pace. The structures cover several sections, and you may want to stop often for photographs or wait quietly for movement in the ice.

This portion is also one reason the transfer option offers better value for many visitors. Without it, you would need to arrange your own visit to the park walkways separately. With the transfer, the day combines three distinct views: trail, boat, and walkway.

The supplied details say the walkways are not included in the excursion for those arranging their own access. Confirm exactly what your selected option includes before paying, since the transport choice changes the practical shape of the day.

What the $321 price really covers

At $321 per person, this is an expensive day by ordinary sightseeing standards. The price is easier to justify if you value the guided hike, the boat crossing, the close approach, the small group, and the additional walkway time in one organized outing.

You are paying for more than transport to a viewpoint. The excursion links a guided natural trail with two boat sections and free time at the viewing platforms. That combination would take more planning and coordination if arranged independently.

Still, the extra costs matter. The Los Glaciares National Park entrance fee is not included, and you must pay it separately at the park entrance. Food and drinks are also excluded, so add the cost of a packed lunch, snacks, and water.

The value depends on your priorities. If you only want a distant view of Perito Moreno, the walkways alone may be enough. If you want to get physically closer to the glacier and prefer a guide to handle the route and timing, the Blue Safari offers a fuller day.

What to pack for the changing weather

Patagonia can feel cold beside the lake, even during warmer months. Pack thermal layers rather than relying on one bulky coat. You can remove layers during the walk and add them again for the boat.

Your day bag should include:

• Warm and weather-appropriate clothing
• Thermal layers
• Waterproof or sturdy hiking shoes
• Gloves and a hat
• Water
• Packed lunch and snacks
• Sunscreen and sunglasses

The advice about sunscreen is easy to overlook. Bright conditions around ice and water can be hard on your eyes and skin. Sunglasses are useful even when the air feels cold.

There is no indication that food is provided, so do not assume you can buy lunch during the outing. Bring enough for the full schedule, especially if your option includes transport, the hike, the cruise, and two hours at the walkways.

Who will enjoy this tour most

I would choose the Blue Safari if you want more than a quick photograph from a viewing platform. It suits you if you like walking, small groups, guide commentary, and changing viewpoints.

It is also a strong choice for first-time visitors to Perito Moreno who want the day organized from El Calafate. The transfer removes much of the transport work, while the guide helps you understand what the glacier is doing.

You should think twice if you dislike natural trails, have difficulty with a 1.5-hour walk, or want a very short sightseeing stop. The total duration can range from about 3 to 8 hours depending on the selected option and schedule, so check the timing before booking.

The age restrictions are firm in the supplied details. The tour is not suitable for children under 6 or people over 70. The booking also requires complete participant information, including full name, date of birth, nationality, and passport number.

Is the Blue Safari worth booking?

Yes, if close glacier access is your main goal. The combination of a forest hike, a boat ride across Brazo Rico, a close view of the southern ice wall, and time at the walkways gives you a fuller understanding of Perito Moreno than a walkway visit alone.

The strongest parts are the kind, enthusiastic guiding, the small group, and the excellent range of viewpoints. The main cautions are the high price, the separate park fee, the need to bring food, and the possibility of a long pickup wait.

I would book the transfer option if you are staying in El Calafate and want a straightforward day. Choose the self-arranged option only if you already have reliable transport and understand that the access to the port and the walkway visit require more planning.

FAQ

Where does the Blue Safari start?

The experience departs from El Calafate, with optional pickup from a qualifying hotel, cabin resort, or accommodation with reception service. Without the transfer, you must reach Puerto Bajo las Sombras independently.

How far is Puerto Bajo las Sombras from the glacier walkways?

The port is located about 7 km from the Perito Moreno Glacier walkways.

How long is the boat ride across Brazo Rico?

The crossing takes approximately 20 minutes.

How long is the guided hike?

The guided walk lasts about an hour and a half and covers roughly 1.5 km along natural trails, through Patagonian forest, and beside the lake shore.

Is the national park entrance fee included?

No. The entrance fee to Los Glaciares National Park must be paid separately at the park entrance.

Is food included in the tour?

No. Food and drinks are not included. You should bring a packed lunch, snacks, and water.

Which languages are available?

The tour offers live guides in English and Spanish.

Can I cancel the booking?

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund. The reserve now and pay later option lets you hold a place without paying immediately.