Perito Moreno National Park from El Calafate or Río Gallegos

Experiences

Perito Moreno National Park — Small Group Trekking Tour from El Calafate or Río Gallegos

One of Patagonia's most remote and untouched wilderness areas. Explore Perito Moreno National Park on a private, small-group guided trek departing from El Calafate or Río Gallegos — off the beaten path, deep into Patagonia.

Located in northwest Santa Cruz Province, Perito Moreno National Park shelters turquoise lakes, hanging glaciers, and mountain ranges where human presence is minimal. Unlike mass-tourism Patagonia destinations, this park receives very few visitors each season — making it one of the last truly wild corners of South America.

We offer private, fully customizable trips departing from El Calafate or Río Gallegos, combining seamless logistics, comfortable lodging, and genuine wilderness immersion. Every itinerary begins with an overnight in Gobernador Gregores and ends at Estancia La Oriental, where a traditional Patagonian dinner closes the journey.

Perito Moreno National Park, Península Belgrano, Patagonia Argentina

Not the glacier — something far less visited and equally stunning

Perito Moreno National Park is not the same as the Perito Moreno Glacier. While the glacier near El Calafate draws hundreds of thousands of visitors each year, this national park — located over 300 km away in the northwestern corner of Santa Cruz — remains largely unknown to international travelers. No paved roads reach its trails. No crowds. Just raw Patagonian wilderness.

Wildlife roams freely throughout the park. Common sightings include guanacos, grey foxes, Andean condors, upland geese, Andean flamingos, and several endemic Patagonian bird species. The park is also home to a healthy puma population, one of the highest densities in Argentina, thanks to the absence of human pressure. For wildlife photographers and birdwatchers, it's an exceptional destination.

Centinela Explora is one of the very few licensed tour operators authorized to run guided treks inside the park — a permit held by only 3 to 4 agencies in Argentina.

Two routes into Perito Moreno National Park

1. From El Calafate

The most convenient option for international travelers, given El Calafate's direct flight connections from Buenos Aires and full range of tourist services. The route crosses the Patagonian steppe to Gobernador Gregores for the first overnight, then heads deep into the park to hike the Península Belgrano circuit (16.8 km or 9.6 km via shortcut), the Río Lácteo Valley circuit (11.5 km), and the Laguna de los Témpanos trail (5.2 km).

  • Day 1: Pick-up in El Calafate and drive to Gobernador Gregores. Overnight in Gregores.
  • Day 2: Enter Perito Moreno National Park. Hike the Península Belgrano circuit (16.8 km or 9.6 km via shortcut). Overnight in a refuge or dome inside the park.
  • Day 3: Transfer to the Río Lácteo Valley circuit (11.5 km). Hike and overnight at the Doug & Christine Tompkins Refuge.
  • Day 4: Trek to Laguna de los Témpanos (5.2 km) and return to the refuge. Overnight at the refuge.
  • Day 5: Descent through the Río Lácteo Valley, pick-up and transfer to Estancia La Oriental. Dinner and overnight at La Oriental.
  • Day 6: Return to El Calafate.
Doug & Christine Tompkins Refuge - Perito Moreno National Park

2. From Río Gallegos (includes Monte León National Park)

The ideal route for travelers flying into Río Gallegos or those wanting to combine Atlantic Patagonia with the Andean wilderness. Before heading inland, enjoy a guided visit to Monte León National Park — home to Magellanic penguins, South American sea lions, and dramatic coastal cliffs. From there, the journey continues to Gobernador Gregores and into Perito Moreno National Park for all three circuits.

  • Day 1: Pick-up in Río Gallegos, guided visit to Monte León National Park, and drive to Gobernador Gregores. Overnight in Gregores.
  • Day 2: Transfer to Perito Moreno National Park. Hike the Península Belgrano circuit (16.8 km or 9.6 km via shortcut). Overnight in a refuge or dome inside the park.
  • Day 3: Transfer to the Río Lácteo Valley circuit (11.5 km). Hike and overnight at the Doug & Christine Tompkins Refuge.
  • Day 4: Trek to Laguna de los Témpanos (5.2 km) and return to the refuge. Overnight at the refuge.
  • Day 5: Descent through the Río Lácteo Valley, pick-up and transfer to Estancia La Oriental. Dinner and overnight at La Oriental.
  • Day 6: Return to Río Gallegos.
Magellanic penguins at Monte León National Park, Atlantic Patagonia

How the experience works

Departures from El Calafate

Full experience (4 nights inside the park + dinner & overnight at Estancia La Oriental)
Our complete immersion package: private transport, specialist naturalist guide, refuge or dome accommodation inside the park, all meals during the stay, and a closing dinner at Estancia La Oriental. Designed for hikers, wildlife photographers, and nature travelers who want to go beyond the tourist trail.

Departures from Río Gallegos (includes Monte León)

Complete Parks Route (Monte León + Perito Moreno + 4 nights inside the park + dinner & overnight at La Oriental)
The most comprehensive option: start with a guided visit to Monte León on the Atlantic coast — Magellanic penguins, sea lions, and spectacular coastal cliffs — then travel inland to Perito Moreno National Park for the full trekking experience, with all transfers, specialist guide, park accommodation, meals, and the traditional closing dinner at Estancia La Oriental.

Prices are provided upon inquiry based on travel dates and group size.

Trip details & what to expect

  • First overnight in Gobernador Gregores included in all options.
  • Final night at Estancia La Oriental with a traditional Patagonian field dinner.
  • Available season: November through February.
  • Fitness level required: good physical condition needed to hike up to 16 km per day. Trails have gentle gradients but are long — rated high difficulty due to distance.
  • Group size: private and customizable, up to 4 travelers. No fixed departure dates.
  • Additional services: meals, estancia and refuge lodging, specialist naturalist guides, guided treks.
  • Trail distances: Península Belgrano (16.8 km or 9.6 km via shortcut) · Río Lácteo Valley (11.5 km) · Laguna de los Témpanos (5.2 km).
  • Pricing: per person, double occupancy. Payment in Argentine pesos accepted at the Banco Nación (BNA) seller rate on the payment date.

Frequently asked questions

No — they are completely different places. The Perito Moreno Glacier is located near El Calafate inside Los Glaciares National Park and receives hundreds of thousands of visitors per year. Perito Moreno National Park is situated over 300 km away in the northwest of Santa Cruz Province, has no paved road access, and welcomes very few visitors each season. The name they share honors the same explorer, Francisco Moreno, but the destinations are entirely distinct.

The park supports one of the most intact wildlife populations in Argentine Patagonia. Common sightings include guanacos, grey foxes, Andean condors, upland geese, and Andean flamingos. The park is also home to a significant puma population — one of the highest densities in the country, thanks to minimal human disturbance. For birdwatchers, several endemic Patagonian species can be spotted along the lakeshores and in the Andean scrub. Wildlife photographers consistently rank it among the best destinations in the region.

The trails have gentle gradients but cover significant distances — the Península Belgrano circuit is 16.8 km and the Río Lácteo Valley circuit is 11.5 km. Travelers should be in good general fitness, comfortable walking on natural terrain for several hours, and equipped with proper hiking footwear. No technical mountaineering experience is required.

All departures are private and fully customizable. There are no fixed group sizes or scheduled departure dates — each trip is organized around your availability and can accommodate 1 to 4 travelers. This allows the pace, timing, and activities to be adapted to your group.

The park is open for guided visits from November through February (Southern Hemisphere summer). December and January offer the longest days and most favorable temperatures. November tends to be windier but less crowded. February marks the end of the season and combines good conditions with lower demand. We recommend booking at least 60 days in advance for December and January departures.

No. Flights to El Calafate or Río Gallegos are arranged independently by each traveler. The package covers all ground transport, the specialist guide (where included), accommodation inside the park and in Gobernador Gregores, and meals as specified for each option.

Departing from El Calafate is more straightforward and benefits from more frequent direct flights from Buenos Aires. Departing from Río Gallegos adds a guided visit to Monte León National Park on the Atlantic coast — Magellanic penguins, South American sea lions, and dramatic sea cliffs — making it an ideal option for travelers who want to experience both coastal and Andean Patagonia in a single journey.
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See more photos and trip details in our Experiences section.

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