El Calafate Travel Forum

If I reach El Calafate around 2pm and fly out the next day at 4pm, will I have enough time to see the Perito Moreno Glacier. All the tours I looked at were full day excursions. Does anyone know if half day tours or excursions lasting a couple of hours are available? I am also thinking of renting a car and driving the 80kms from El Calafate to the Parque Nacional Los Glaciares.

I suggest to check the day you'll be there if possible to do an half day tour.
BTW try to arrange meanwhile the transfer to airport on the way back from the "Glaciares".
I don't know when you want to go, it's winter now, easy to find snow and ice on the way there.
Plus I don't remember a lot of paved roads but some years have gone since I've been.

p.s. don't take anything eatable like fruit with you when you'll arrive at Calafate airport, I heard SENASA makes controls.

regarding car rentals, you are not allowed in the park without a guide, which is why many people take tours.

I did a half day horseback riding excursion....but that was after 2 days of seeing the glaciers!

We made a tour to the glacier, which started at 2.30 pm from El Calafate.
Our hostel made the arrangements, so try to contact them (www.americahostel.com.ar)

happy travels
jaap

Hi Jaap, nice to read you.

The tour beggining at 2:30 (or at 3:00, different companies) takes you back to the city at about 8:00 pm. I think it runs only during the early afternoon during Summer time. You will have the opportunity of looking the ice crests shinning when the Sun goes down.

Look at the Bus Station, because some bus companies departing from the Terminal will take you there from about 7 am, and will come back to the city at midday. They are not exactly tour companies, they will only take you to the Glacier and later again to the city.

Gracias por tus saludos Ana !!!

You (MarcoPolo360) did not say when you'll go, don't forget it's winter there.

Local time there is 7:05 AM now and still dark as today July 16, 2006 sun rise 9:41 AM and set 6:09 PM at Lago Argentino/El Calafate, length of visible light: 9h 43m, length of day 8h 28m, (tomorrow will be 2m 5s longer).
ALL the advice Ellen, Ana and Jaap are all right and it's exactly what I found when I've been there, but was Juannary and summertime when daylight is long.

More info about weather
http://www.wunderground.com/cgi-bin/findweather/getForecast?query=-50.33,-72.30

I do not know if things are different during the S. American winter, but you do not need a guide to enter the park during the summer. My family and I rented a car this March and drove into the park, without a guide, at least three times. You may need a guide to access certain areas, but if you just want to walk along the balconies that overlook the Perito Moreno glacier, you can do that on your own. You can also buy a ticket to take a 30-minute boat ride up to the face of the glacier in the park without a guide.

That said, there may be different rules in the winter and, even if there aren't, it may be difficult to drive to the glacier because of snow and ice. I don't know about that. Check out the official website for the park: http://www.losglaciares.com/en/index.html