Glaciar Perito Moreno, where Patagonian ice meets Lake Argentino
Published on 09/12/2026 at 18:12 | Editorial responsibility: Rafael Müller, Editor-in-Chief AD HOC NEWS
Glaciar Perito Moreno is a vast river of ice in southern Patagonia, flowing from the Andes down towards Lake Argentino and the plains around El Calafate in Argentina. Named after the Argentine explorer Francisco Pascasio Moreno, it occupies a prominent position within Los Glaciares National Park and forms one of the most accessible glacier fronts in the region.Francisco Pascasio Moreno
An advancing wall of ice in Los Glaciares National Park
Glaciar Perito Moreno descends from the Southern Patagonian Icefield in the Andes and terminates in the waters of Lake Argentino in Santa Cruz Province, Argentina.Southern Patagonian Icefield The glacier sits inside Los Glaciares National Park, a protected area that has been inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List since 1981 because of its concentration of large outlet glaciers and spectacular mountain scenery.UNESCO World Heritage
The visible front of Glaciar Perito Moreno stretches for several kilometres across the Brazo Rico arm of Lake Argentino, with the ice face rising tens of metres above the water.Brazo Rico arm Behind this front, the glacier extends back into the mountains as part of a larger mass of ice that covers a surface area of around 250 km², making it larger than the city of Buenos Aires.around 250 km²
Dimensions, structure and the drama of calving ice
The glacier front at Glaciar Perito Moreno presents a multi-level wall of ice, with its highest sections rising roughly 70–80 m (230–260 ft) above the lake surface and reaching depths of around 170 m (560 ft) below.about 70 m above The terminus is about 5 km (3 mi) wide where it meets the water, giving visitors a view of an extensive ice face broken into towers, ridges and deep blue crevices.5 kilometres at the front
Glaciar Perito Moreno is notable among large temperate glaciers for maintaining a roughly stable, sometimes advancing, position rather than undergoing sustained retreat.stable to advancing As the glacier flows into Lake Argentino, it periodically blocks a narrow channel, causing water levels on one side of the ice to rise until pressure leads to dramatic ruptures when sections of the ice dam collapse.regular ruptures Smaller calving events, where chunks of ice break off the front and fall into the lake, are part of the glacier’s ongoing movement and can be observed from the viewpoints along the shore.
Patagonian setting and access from El Calafate
Glaciar Perito Moreno lies west of the town of El Calafate, on the southern shore of Lake Argentino in Argentina’s Santa Cruz Province.west of El Calafate The glacier is reached by road that follows the southern edge of the lake and enters Los Glaciares National Park, with the final section winding through lenga forest and open viewpoints towards the peninsula facing the ice front.Provincial Route 11
Walkways and viewing platforms on the Magallanes Peninsula provide structured access to different vantage points along the lakeshore opposite the glacier.walkways along the shore From these routes, visitors see the full width of the glacier front framed by the surrounding peaks of the Andes and the milky waters of Lake Argentino, with paths arranged at varying levels to reveal contrasting perspectives of the ice face and the lake.
Visiting Glaciar Perito Moreno: what travellers from Western Europe should know
- Glaciar Perito Moreno is reached from El Calafate by road heading west across the plains towards Los Glaciares National Park, following the southern shore of Lake Argentino.
- The viewpoints stand on the Magallanes Peninsula, where walkways above the lakeshore include steps and ramps that climb between different balcony levels facing the glacier front.
- The surrounding landscape combines Andean foothills and Patagonian steppe, so weather around the glacier can be cooler and windier than in El Calafate even within the same season.
- Glaciar Perito Moreno lies in Argentina, where the official language is Spanish and the currency is the Argentine peso.
- Entry requirements depend on your nationality; UK travellers can check the FCDO travel advice at gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice, Irish travellers the Department of Foreign Affairs at ireland.ie.
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Frequently asked questions about Glaciar Perito Moreno
Where is Glaciar Perito Moreno located?
Glaciar Perito Moreno lies in Los Glaciares National Park in Argentina’s Santa Cruz Province, west of El Calafate and beside Lake Argentino in southern Patagonia.
What can visitors expect when they reach the glacier?
Visitors encounter a broad glacier front rising tens of metres above Lake Argentino, viewed from walkways and platforms on the Magallanes Peninsula with multiple vantage points along the shore.
What makes Glaciar Perito Moreno distinctive among large glaciers?
Glaciar Perito Moreno combines a stable, sometimes advancing, position with a lakeside terminus that periodically forms and ruptures an ice dam, creating a striking meeting of moving ice and lake water.
