As the most accessible glacier inside Argentina’s Los Glaciares National Park, the Perito Moreno glacier has become a big pull for the small town of El Calafate.

Many who visit do so expressly to see it, opting for a boat cruise which brings them face to face with the glacier where they can admire impressive ice formations and witness the occasional, magnificent shedding of huge chunks from the safety of the deck. The more adventurous choose to get up close and personal on the ice.

A stable ice mass, 5km wide and 60m tall, Perito Moreno is one of the few glaciers in the world to be still advancing in spite of global warming and one of few where ice trekking is a safe and viable option.

Perito Moreno at sunset. (Photo: Trey Ratcliff)

Between the months of September and April, Hielo y Aventura, the only company authorised to step foot on the ice, offers guided treks atop the glacier.

With no prior on ice trekking experience and no specialist equipment required besides a pair of crampons, ice trekking becomes a surprisingly accessible activity.

Demanding only a moderate level of fitness, the Mini Trekking and Big Ice excursions are open to everyone aged ten and upwards, with a maximum age of 65 years reduced to 50 for the longer trek.

The Mini Trekking option allows for a little over one and a half hours on the ice, and like the Big Ice and the Lago Rico sailing excursions, leaves El Calafate by bus and transports trekkers across Lago Argentina.

Once besides the ice, bilingual guides offer an introduction to the trek, explaining a little about the glacier and how the walk will be conducted, and then, two enthusiastic experts, followed by a group of up to 20 adventurous amateurs, take their first tentative steps on the ice.

Trekking on Perito Moreno can be a daunting task. (Photo: nanalahoz)

From the outside, the glacier’s dagger-like edges make walking inside it appear impossible, but what the glacier opens up is a beautiful landscape of streams, small lagoons, gullies and bright blue crevasses where every ridge reveals an unexpected detail and a different view.

Once on the ice, a marked out trail steers clear of the trickier, steeper ice terrain so that hostile jagged cliffs turn to the safe gentle slopes ideal for novice ice-trekkers.

Filled with impressive photo opportunities, the route taken by the trek showcases the glacier in various shades of blue, and every so often a profound roar breaks a heavy silence as chunks of the glacier fall to meet their end in Lago Argentino.

The guides are eager to share their knowledge of glacial landforms, and happy to help out in the more difficult parts although the trek itself is moderate. Whilst the crampons are a little tricky to get used to, going uphill becomes easier than going down and being prepared with sunglasses, sun cream, waterproof clothing, removable layers, and some comfortable footwear will all help maintain comfort throughout the trek.

Along with the priceless panoramas, a complimentary alfajor and a glass of whisky, enjoyed literally “on ice”, can’t fail to top it off.