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

Perito Moreno Glacier is best seen from more than one angle. The Blue Safari takes you across Brazo Rico, through a Patagonian forest, along the shore, and close to the glacier’s southern ice wall before giving you time on the famous walkways. I love the mix of quiet walking and boat views, and I like that the group is limited to 10 people.

The main consideration is the price, listed at $321 per person before the national park entrance fee. You also need to bring your own food and warm waterproof gear, and the optional hotel pickup can involve a wait of about 40 minutes.

Key points at a glance

• A short boat crossing begins the adventure: From Puerto Bajo las Sombras, you cross Brazo Rico in about 20 minutes.
• The glacier is reached on foot: A guided 1.5 km route follows the lake shore and passes through Patagonian forest.
• You get close to the southern ice wall: The final boat trip lets you study blue ice, cracks, and textures from the water.
• The walkways add the big panorama: With the transfer option, you receive about two hours to explore the public viewing routes.
• The group stays small: A maximum of 10 participants makes it easier to hear the English or Spanish guide.
• Plan for extra costs and cold weather: Park entry, lunch, snacks, and drinks are not included.

Why the Blue Safari feels different from a standard glacier visit

Many trips to Perito Moreno Glacier focus on the viewing walkways alone. Those paths are excellent, but they show the glacier from across the water. The Blue Safari adds a boat crossing and a guided approach on foot, so you see the ice from several distances and heights.

I like this structure because the glacier reveals itself slowly. First, you see it across Brazo Rico. Then the forest trail brings you along the shore toward the ice. Finally, the boat takes you near the wall, where details that look small from the walkways become easier to notice.

The tour also gives you a better sense of place. The forest, lake, wind, and changing light are not just filler between photo stops. They help you understand that Perito Moreno is part of a large wild setting, not simply a blue wall placed at the end of a road.

This is still an active day. The walking route covers about 1.5 km and lasts roughly an hour and a half, with uneven natural trails. You do not need technical hiking skills based on the information provided, but comfortable shoes and proper layers matter.

Leaving El Calafate for Puerto Bajo las Sombras

You can book the outing with or without transportation. With the transfer option, pickup and return are offered from a hotel, cabin resort, or accommodation with reception service during the agreed pickup time. Pickup is not available from every type of lodging, so check this point before paying.

The drive takes you to Puerto Bajo las Sombras, about 7 km from the Perito Moreno walkways. If you arrange your own transport, the total road trip from El Calafate is about 80 km, and you must arrive at the port 30 minutes before the scheduled departure.

The included transfer is useful because the excursion uses two separate places: the port and the glacier walkways. A private ride or taxi plan may be less simple than it first appears, especially if you want to coordinate the boat, hike, and later return to El Calafate.

One practical warning: pickup waiting time can reach about 40 minutes. I would bring a jacket and keep your schedule flexible at the start of the day. The trip is not ideal if you need a perfectly timed departure.

Crossing Brazo Rico in about 20 minutes

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 look at the open water and the mountains around the glacier area.

This crossing is short, but it sets the tone for the day. You are not simply driven to a viewpoint and released beside a crowded path. The boat carries you to the quieter side of the lake, where the walk begins.

Bring sunglasses even on a cool day. Open water and pale ice can make the light feel strong, while wind may make the crossing seem colder than the temperature suggests. Gloves, a hat, thermal clothing, and a windproof outer layer are sensible choices.

The 1.5 km forest walk to the ice

After landing, you begin a guided hike of about an hour and a half. The route passes through Patagonian forest and follows the lakeshore toward the glacier’s southern wall.

The walk matters because it changes your sense of scale. From the public paths, Perito Moreno can look like a broad, distant mass. On this route, the ice becomes the destination of the walk, and the sound of the glacier grows more important as you approach.

The guide explains the glacier’s formation, history, and movement during the route. At the ice wall, listen for the creaking and cracking sounds. You may also hear or see calving, when a section of ice breaks away into the water, although the timing of such events cannot be promised.

The trail is one of the strongest parts of the outing for me because it joins scenery with movement. You get time to notice tree cover, shorelines, and the changing blue of the ice instead of rushing from a vehicle to a photo platform.

Still, this is not a walk for anyone wanting a completely effortless day. Natural trails can feel tiring in cold or wet weather, and the route requires suitable footwear. The tour is not suitable for children under 6 or people over 70, according to the stated conditions.

Meeting the southern face of Perito Moreno Glacier

At the end of the hike, you reach the southern wall of Perito Moreno Glacier. This is the point where the Blue Safari earns its name and its premium over a basic walkway visit.

The ice can show deep blue tones, vertical cracks, rough ridges, and clean edges where pieces have broken away. From close by, the wall feels less like a single object and more like moving ice, shaped by pressure, meltwater, and time.

Your guide adds useful context here. The tour is not only a photo stop. You learn how the glacier formed and how its ice moves, which makes the sounds and shapes easier to understand.

The tour information describes the boat and hike as an exclusive combination, but you should not read that as private access to the glacier. You are visiting a famous national park site with established routes and regulations. The appeal is the route and viewpoint, not complete solitude.

The final boat view, just meters from the ice

After the walk, you return to the boat for a cruise in front of the glacier. The boat approaches within a few meters of the ice wall, allowing you to see parts of the glacier that are difficult to make out from land.

This is a fine time to keep your camera ready, but do not spend the whole crossing looking through a screen. Watch the water for movement, listen for cracking, and study the wall from different angles as the boat changes position.

The boat view also helps you understand why the glacier is so impressive. From the walkway, you mainly see the front face across the channel. From the water, the wall rises directly ahead, with more visible texture and depth.

Conditions on the lake can affect comfort. The supplied information does not promise calm water, so anyone prone to motion sickness should plan accordingly. A warm outer layer remains useful even if the day began in sunshine.

About two hours on the glacier walkways

With hotel transportation, the vehicle takes you to the Perito Moreno walkways after the boat and hike. You receive about two hours of free time to explore at your own pace.

This portion gives you the broad views that the Blue Safari cannot provide from the shore. The walkways offer several angles and heights, making it possible to compare the glacier’s full width with the close-up perspective from the boat.

Two hours is enough to see the main viewing areas at a sensible pace, but it is not unlimited time. If you like to stop at every platform, photograph changing light, and wait for a possible crack or calving event, you may need to choose your route carefully.

There is an important distinction here: the walkways are not included if you book the no-transfer option. In that case, you make your own way to the port and must arrange the rest of your day independently. Read the option details closely before booking, since the transport choice affects how easily the port, glacier approach, and public viewpoints fit together.

What the $321 price includes, and what it does not

At $321 per person, this is a high-priced day excursion. Its value comes from combining several services that would otherwise require planning separately: the transfer option, boat crossing, guided forest walk, close glacier cruise, and time at the public walkways.

The small group size also helps. With no more than 10 participants, you have a better chance of hearing the guide and asking questions than on a large coach outing. The tour is offered in English and Spanish.

The national park entrance fee is not included and must be paid separately at the entrance. Food and drinks are also extra. I would pack a substantial lunch, snacks, and enough water for the full outing rather than count on finding supplies at the right moment.

The value is strongest if you want an organized day with both active walking and boat access. It is weaker if you only want a quick look at the glacier from the public paths. In that case, the extra cost may not feel justified.

Clothing and packing for a cold day outside

Patagonia can make a mild forecast feel much colder beside open water and ice. Wear thermal layers under comfortable clothing, then add a waterproof and wind-resistant outer layer.

Pack these basics:

• Warm jacket and thermal clothing
• Waterproof or weather-appropriate outerwear
• Comfortable hiking shoes
• Gloves and a hat
• Sunglasses and sunscreen
• Water, lunch, and snacks

The advice to bring waterproof clothing is practical, not decorative. You will be near the lake and glacier, and conditions can shift during the day. Good shoes are equally important on natural trails.

You also need complete participant information for confirmation, including full name, date of birth, nationality, and passport number. Keep those details ready when booking.

Who will get the most from this excursion

I would choose the Blue Safari if you want more than a viewpoint and enjoy a moderate amount of walking. It suits adults who like nature, photography, boat rides, and guided interpretation in one package.

The small group is a good fit if you value a quieter format and direct access to a guide. The guides have been praised for being kind, enthusiastic, and clear, with service described as excellent and the overall experience worth the investment.

The tour is less suitable for anyone who dislikes boats, cold weather, or natural trails. It also may not work for families with children under 6, people over 70, or anyone who needs a very short and simple outing.

Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before the activity, and you can reserve now and pay later. Those options help if your El Calafate schedule depends on weather or other park plans, but you still need to read the final confirmation carefully.

Should you book the Blue Safari?

Book it if you want a full Perito Moreno day built around variety: boat, forest, shoreline, close ice, and public walkways. The strongest reason to choose it is the change in viewpoint. You do not see the glacier only from a distance, and you do not spend the whole day on a bus.

Skip it if your priority is the lowest-cost glacier visit, or if you prefer to explore the walkways slowly without a fixed boat and hiking schedule. Remember to add the park entrance fee and your own meals to the $321 price.

For the right visitor, this is a well-balanced way to meet Perito Moreno. Bring serious cold-weather clothing, arrive prepared for a long day, and leave room in your schedule for the ride and possible pickup delay.

FAQ

Where does the Blue Safari take place?

The excursion begins from El Calafate in Santa Cruz Province, Argentina, and visits Puerto Bajo las Sombras, Brazo Rico of Lake Argentino, the southern face of Perito Moreno Glacier, and the glacier walkways.

How long does the activity last?

The stated duration is between 3 and 8 hours, depending on the selected schedule and option. The described program includes a 20-minute boat crossing, about a 1.5-hour guided hike, a final boat ride by the glacier, and about two hours at the walkways when transportation is included.

Is hotel pickup included?

Pickup is optional. It is available only from a hotel, cabin resort, or accommodation with reception service during the contracted pickup time. Waiting time for pickup may be about 40 minutes.

Can I book without transportation?

Yes. Without the transfer option, you must travel to the port on your own. The port is reached by an approximately 80 km trip from El Calafate, and you should arrive 30 minutes before the scheduled time.

Is the national park entrance fee included?

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

Are food and drinks provided?

No. Bring your own packed lunch, snacks, and water for the day.

What languages are available?

The live tour guide service is available in English and Spanish.

How large is the group?

The activity is offered as a small-group experience with a maximum of 10 participants.

Who cannot take this tour?

The activity is not suitable for children under 6 years old or people over 70 years old.