Kayaking at the Edge of the World: Perito Moreno Glacier in Patagonia, Argentina
Kayaking at Perito Moreno Glacier, Los Glaciares National Park, Patagonia, Argentina
Our travels to the Chilean and Argentinian Patagonia in September 2023 were full of surprises - constantly-changing weather at the southern end of the planet, wild animal appearances when we least expected them, and some of the most incredible scenery we had ever experienced. Among those epic adventures, kayaking up to the 97 square mile Perito Moreno glacier in Los Glaciares National Park, Argentina, was one for the books.
Perito Moreno is one of the most beautiful places to visit in Argentina, and is a part of the larger Patagonia region that stretches thousands of miles across southern Chile and Argentina. We made our visit to the National Geographic favorite as a day trip from El Calafate, where we were staying during the Argentinian portion of our Patagonia trip.
Although the kayaking excursion was certainly not inexpensive (it ended up being over $400 for both of us), it included everything we needed for the full day trip (transportation, food, and the activity). We only had to bring the fee for the park’s entrance in cash with us, as that was not included in our tour price. We also had the peace of mind of having the advance booking, as kayaking in Perito Moreno is a world-famous activity and is often booked up well in advance. Make sure to book ahead of time! The excursion we booked and loved is below:
The Kayaking Experience
We started our day around 8:00am with the hotel pickup, and then settled in for the 1-hour drive to the park — even though we typically fall asleep on long car rides, it was impossible to on this one. The winding paths, bright blue waters, and incredible ever-changing moutainous scenery, including the occasional wild animal, kept us staring out the windows.
A condor on our drive out to Los Glaciares National Park
Once we got through the park entrance, we got out at the Kayaking Center. While we waited for the rest of our group to arrive via separate transportation, we sipped on hot coffee and water, and enjoyed plenty of photo opportunities to the backdrop of the stunning glacier, as well as the picturesque mountains.
At around 10:00am, our tour guides gathered the group, provided the tutorial of how to use the equipment, and then we changed into our wetsuits. Because the water is incredibly cold regardless of the time of year, wetsuits are always necessary. Once we were all set, we headed down to the edge of the lake and, with the help of our guides, pulled our kayaks out into the water.
Being on the water was perfectly serene and peaceful — when the group was quieter, the only sounds were the soft swishes of the oars through the water and the wind. At times, we would start to hear what sounded like thunder, then portions of the glacier would melt and fall into the water with a huge crash. Seeing that from the vantage point in the water put the size of the glacier into perspective, since the walls of the glacier towered way over us in our kayaks. We spent over an hour out on the water, and loved every minute of it.
Kayaks on the edge of the lake at Perito Moreno
Out on the water, the guides do not allow cameras but will allow you to take your phone at your own risk as long as it is secured to your body (to prevent anything from falling into the water and disturbing the environment) — we would recommend having a waterproof case over your phone and a secure way to hang it from your neck, since you’ll need your hands to row. We’ve linked a good option that we used below — it wont keep your phone completely dry if it actually falls in the water, but you can access the touch screen through the front without removing it from the pouch, and the lanyard easily hangs around your neck.
After the Kayaking Experience
After we finished up kayaking, we were free to have the provided box lunch, go to the restaurant and gift shop up above Perito Moreno, and walk the suspended walkways over the Perito Moreno Glacier for a view of it from up above. The national park installed miles-long metal structured walkways up over the glacier that can take over an hour to walk through, but the views and photos from this point were stunning. There are a number of professional photographers who will take professional photos for a small fee, but if you have a phone, tripod, or camera, you can take your own as well.
The view of Perito Moreno glacier from the suspended walkways
At around 4:00pm, we got back in the vans and were taken back to our hotel in El Calafate. We still had enough time to relax and then head out to the town for the evening — overall one of the best days we spent in Argentina!
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