Is the Perito Moreno Minitrekking Worth It?
Is the Minitrekking worth it against a walkways day for a fraction of the price? What the hour on the ice adds, what reviewers say, and who should book which.
Yes, if you want to stand on the glacier: the Minitrekking is the shortest walk onto the Perito Moreno’s ice, about an hour of it, and Hielo y Aventura’s own Mini-Trek is from US$346 a person (checked November 2026) for the 4.5-hour walk from the port. If seeing the glacier is enough, a walkways day such as Patagonia Dreams’ from US$80 shows you its whole front for a fraction of the price, and some reviewers of the ice walks found the time on the ice not worth what they paid.
What the money buys
| Minitrekking | A walkways day | |
|---|---|---|
| Listing | Mini-Trek (Hielo y Aventura S.A) | Perito Moreno Glacier & Optional Boat Cruise (Patagonia Dreams) |
| From, per person | US$346, from the port; US$412 with hotel pickup on 20 January and 27 March 2027 | US$80, with hotel pickup; the boat options cost more |
| On the ice | About an hour, in crampons | None: you look at the ice from the walkways |
| The glacier’s front | From the boat and the far shore; the walkways only on the 10-hour option | About 3 hours on the walkways facing the front |
| Ages | 8 to 65 | No age limit listed |
| Park entrance | Not included | Not included |
Prices from the listings (GetYourGuide checked November 2026).
The hour on the ice is what you pay for. On the walkways you see the front of the glacier from many angles and levels; on the Minitrekking you see it from the boat, then stand on it among the crevasses and blue pools. With the 10-hour pickup option you get both in one day.
What reviewers say
The case for the ice comes from a reviewer of Hielo y Aventura’s longer walk, Big Ice (29 March 2026): “Seeing Perito-Moreno ice from the lake shore is less than 5% of total impression. I would recommend to take at least mini-trekking.” The Mini-Trek’s own reviews are almost all five stars: 53 of the 57 we read on 8 November 2026, back to 26 April 2026, and one (3 November 2026) calls the walk the highlight of the trip.
The case against comes from people who expected more adventure or paid another seller’s price for the same walk. Of Patagonia Dreams’ 350 newest reviews of its Minitrekking day, at least four at three stars or below say it is too expensive for what it is. One (20 November 2024) found “very safe trails” and a “Very easy hike with minimal difficulty”, good for families but not much of an adventure; another (4 November 2025, in Polish) compared the walk on the glacier to a walk in the park, on a fenced-off stretch with prepared steps and handrails. A third (3 March 2026, in German) found the view on the way to the glacier lovely but the time on the ice not worth the price.
Read together: the Minitrekking is a guided, prepared walk on the ice for people who have never stood on a glacier. It is not a mountaineering day, and if that is what you want, it will feel tame.
Who should book which
Book whichever fits you:
Mini-Trek: Hike on the Perito Moreno Glacier with crampons
Hielo y Aventura's Minitrekking: about an hour on the glacier in crampons, ages 8 to 65. The from-price is the 4.5-hour walk from the port.
Check dates →El Calafate: Perito Moreno Glacier & Optional Boat Cruise
Patagonia Dreams' walkways day: a hotel pickup and about 3 hours on the walkways facing the glacier, no walk on the ice, no age limit listed.
See the day →El Calafate: Perito Moreno Glacier Trekking Tour and Cruise
Patagonia Dreams' Minitrekking day: hotel pickup, the same walk on the ice, a sail along the north wall and the walkways, 11 hours.
See the day →Prices, ratings and review counts from the listings (GetYourGuide checked November 2026). Operators price by date and season, so treat the figures as the shape of the market, not a quote.
A family with a child of 8 or older can do the Minitrekking together. A traveller over 65 cannot, and the walkways day is the way to see the glacier.
Around El Calafate
More from El Calafate with Open Dates
Boats in front of the glacier, the walkways and day trips from El Calafate with live availability. What each includes and its cancellation terms show before you book.
If You Want to Stand on the Ice
Hielo y Aventura's Minitrekking: the boat, crampons and about an hour on the glacier, for ages 8 to 65. The park entrance is not included; free cancellation up to 24 hours before.
Check dates