Minitrekking is about an hour on the glacier inside a 4.5-hour trip from the port or a 10-hour day from El Calafate. The classic walk takes ages 8–65 from $346; Minitrekking 2 doubles the ice time for ages 18–55.
Eight listings, one hour on the ice, all from Puerto Bajo las Sombras — the package and price are what differ.
Take the classic walk if anyone in your group is under 18 or over 55; otherwise the long version gives twice the ice for about $25 more. Both share the boat across Brazo Rico and the refuge where crampons go on. Minitrekking 2 walks 5–5.5 km over moraine and ice and reaches the Cotorras waterfall, with a helmet added.
Six sellers offer the classic walk and two the long one; the hour on the ice is the same, the package and price are not. The cheapest classic walk is sold by Hielo y Aventura itself; the most-reviewed one costs about $170 more on the same dates but keeps groups to one guide per 10.
Prices — GetYourGuide, adult, checked Nov 2026. The trekking tour and cruise advertises "from $424"; its bookable price on November and December dates was $519.
Most listings sell two packages under one name. Without transfer you meet at the port at 10:00 or 13:00 and are back by mid-afternoon; with transfer you are collected from your hotel between 7:00 and 8:30, visit the walkways and return around 17:00. The transfer package costs $66–125 more.
You need no experience: guides fit the crampons, show you how to walk and cut steps where the ice is steep. Walk flat-footed with legs slightly apart, so the spikes bite and do not catch your trousers. Groups are about ten to a guide and move slowly, stopping at crevasses and small blue lagoons.
The ice walk itself is about an hour on the classic route and two on Minitrekking 2; the rest of the day is the boat, the forest and, with transfer, the walkways.
Crampons, guides and the boat are in every listing; the differences are the transfer, the walkways visit and the extras. Park entry is not included unless the listing says so.
With transfer the day runs about ten hours: pick-up from 7:00, the walkways around 10:00, the boat at midday, an hour on the ice and back in town by 17:00–18:00. Without transfer it is 4.5 to 5 hours from the port.
7:00–8:30 in El Calafate.
Transfer packages only.
20 minutes across Brazo Rico.
Briefing at the refuge.
About 10 per guide.
17:00–18:00.
Four things catch people out — each has a simple fix.
Without transport from $346, with transport from $412 — free cancellation up to 24 hours before.
Dates and prices on GetYourGuide — Mini-trek with crampons.
About one hour on the ice for the classic walk and about two hours for Minitrekking 2. The programme from the port takes 4.5–5 hours; with transfer from El Calafate it is a 10-hour day.
Yes, the classic Minitrekking accepts children from 8. Anyone aged 8 to 17 needs written authorisation from a parent or guardian, and the child must manage about 3.5 km of walking.
Yes — the walkways show the glacier from the front; minitrekking puts you on it, among crevasses and lagoons you cannot see from the shore. Without transfer you skip the walkways and save $66–125.
Laced hiking or sports shoes with a firm sole. Crampons go over them; rubber boots, après-ski boots and heels are not accepted.
Colder than in town and often windy, but you are moving. Wear layers, gloves and sunglasses — the ice reflects strong sunlight.
The longer version of the classic walk: about two hours on the ice over 5–5.5 km, with a helmet and a waterfall stop, for ages 18–55 from August to May.
Pick the date first — summer departures fill weeks ahead — then the package.
Dates and prices on GetYourGuide — Mini-trek with crampons.
Hike formats
Minitrekking 8 hikesMinitrekking 2 2 hikesBig Ice 4 hikesGuides
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