What Should You Wear On A Perito Moreno Glacier Tour?
Patagonia can hand you sun, wind and sleet inside an hour, and the glacier generates its own cold air on top of that. What you pack depends on whether you are staying on the walkways or stepping onto the ice.
Allow a full day for the journey, boat crossing and guided ice walk.
At a glance: MiniTrekking and Big Ice differ in age limits and walking demands. Transfer and walkway time depend on the selected option.
Planning update, September 2026: dollar amounts below are earlier estimates, not current quotes. Compare your actual date and full party; admission, pickup, meals and cancellation terms depend on the selected product and option.
The wind at Perito Moreno does not come from the weather forecast. It comes off the ice itself, pouring downhill off the Southern Patagonian Ice Field and across the lake, which is why people in shorts on a warm El Calafate morning look miserable by the time they reach the balconies 78 km away. Dress for the glacier, not for the town you left.
What Should You Wear On A Perito Moreno Glacier Tour?
Three layers, always: a base layer that moves moisture, a fleece or light down mid layer, and a waterproof windproof shell on top. Add a warm hat, gloves, sunglasses and sunscreen regardless of the month, and closed-toe shoes with real grip. That set works in January and in July. The shell is the piece people skip and regret. Rain here arrives sideways, and a jacket that beats wind matters more than one rated for deep cold. Everything else is adjustable: you will shed the mid layer walking uphill between viewpoints and want it back within ten minutes of standing still at a railing. Our month-by-month weather guide covers what each season actually delivers.
Why Does Layering Matter More Here Than At Home?
Because conditions change faster than you can plan around. Sun, cloud, wind and sleet can rotate through a single afternoon at the balconies, and the temperature at the ice face runs noticeably colder than in El Calafate thanks to air draining off the glacier itself. One thick coat gives you two settings, on and off. Three thinner pieces give you four or five, and that range is what keeps you outside long enough to actually watch the face. There is a second argument for layers, less obvious: tours run long. A glacier day is eight to eleven hours from pickup to drop-off, which means you are dressing for morning cold, midday sun and late-afternoon wind in the same outfit. If the weather turns severe enough to cancel, our note on what happens when weather cancels a tour explains how operators usually handle it.
What Footwear Do You Need?
Wear grippy, closed footwear suitable for wet trails. The verified MiniTrekking operator recommends waterproof hiking or athletic shoes; do not assume a blanket rigid-boot rule. Guides fit the supplied crampons. Check the footwear instructions for your exact booking, and bring warm layers, gloves and a waterproof shell. Related reading: the walkways.
What Packs Differently For Walkways Versus Ice Trekking?
Walkways-only is light. You can do the balconies in what you would wear for a windy coastal walk. Ice trekking is more technical: boots that take crampons, gloves you can still grip with, and warmer layers, because ninety minutes standing on ice is colder than ninety minutes standing beside it.
| Item | Walkways only | Ice trekking day |
|---|---|---|
| Footwear | Closed-toe shoes with grip | Hiking boots, ankle support, stiff enough for crampons |
| Outer layer | Waterproof, windproof jacket | Same, plus waterproof trousers if you own them |
| Hands and head | Gloves and a warm hat | Gloves you can move your fingers in, warm hat, both essential |
| Eyes and skin | Sunglasses, sunscreen, lip balm | Same, applied before you step onto the ice |
| Bag | Small daypack, water, snack | Daypack that leaves both hands free, water, snack |
| Spares | An extra layer | Dry socks and a change of layers for the ride back |
If you are still choosing between the two formats, our comparison of walkways, boat and ice trek lays out what each one gives you, and the Mini Trekking explainer covers what a trekking day involves.
Do You Really Need Sunglasses And Sunscreen?
Yes, and on overcast days especially. A glacier is an enormous white reflector, so ultraviolet light hits you from below as well as above, and the burn people bring home from Patagonia is usually caught under thin cloud when nobody thought to reapply. Sunglasses do double duty against glare and wind-driven grit. Cover the parts you would normally forget: under the chin, under the nose, the ears. Lip balm with sun protection is small enough that leaving it behind is a poor trade. Photographers get caught out more than most, because framing shots at the viewpoints worth shooting from means standing exposed for a long time without noticing.
What Is Provided, And What Can You Buy In El Calafate?
Crampons and the safety briefing come from the guide on any ice-trekking tour, so there is no technical gear to buy for a single morning. Clothing is on you. El Calafate has outdoor shops on and around the main street if you arrive underdressed, which plenty of people do. Buying there costs more than buying at home, so treat it as a backstop rather than a plan. The warm hat and gloves are the items visitors most often skip in January and most often wish they had at the ice face. If you have a spare afternoon before the glacier day, our list of things to do in El Calafate covers where the shops sit relative to everything else. When your kit is sorted, you can book a guided glacier tour and see live prices on the listing.