We have great news from Patagonia! The local authorities in El Calafate informed that night visits to Glaciar Perito Moreno under a full moon are now allowed. It´s a a fresh and exciting way to experience one of Argentina’s natural treasures in Patagonia. Check more details below:
Visiting Perito Moreno Glacier by night
After more than two decades during which night-time access was suspended, Parque Nacional Los Glaciares has reopened the possibility of visiting the Perito Moreno Glacier at night — but only on certain nights of full moon. Please check with our team about available dates and book with us
This initiative began as a pilot test. The first nighttime visit took place on November 5, 2025 — coinciding with what was called the “Beaver Supermoon.” The experience was amazing.
The experience is offered exclusively through authorized tourism agencies. You can book with us! Visitors are guided along the usual passarelas (walkways) and the park restricts access outside these guided tours for reasons of safety and conservation.
Perito Moreno Glacier Full Moon Tour
A magical night under the moonlight
From Price: USD99
Perito Moreno Glacier Full Moon Tour
A magical night under the moonlight
From Price: USD99
What the night tour in Perito Moreno Glacier involves
Tours generally start around 7:00–8:00 p.m. when they pick up visitors in El Calafate and lead them into the national park.
Once inside the park, the group walks along illuminated (but non-invasive) passarelas under the moonlight, sometimes with the help of headlamps or flashlights supplied by the tour operator. Visitors are treated to a very different sensory experience: the silence of night, the distant sounds of ice shifting or calving, and the glacier’s ice surfaces glowing softly by moonlight — quite different from the usual daytime visit.
Purpose & importance of the new modality
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The idea behind reopening night-time access is to “re-discover” the glacier from a new, more intimate perspective — under a starry Patagonian sky and moonlight — offering a unique, almost mystical experience.
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For tourism in the region, it represents a diversification of the kind of experiences available — thus helping to extend and enrich what visitors can enjoy at the glacier beyond the typical daytime tourist schedule.
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From a conservation viewpoint, the controlled, guided-tour format underlines that the visits are regulated: they aim to balance access with protection of the natural environment.
Perito Moreno Glacier by night: The first results
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In the first night of the reopened visits, around 150 people took part — some chosen via a special draw for local residents in El Calafate. It was a sucess!
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Over the pilot program’s span (five nights), total attendance reached over 1,000 people — indicating strong public interest and a successful outcome, at least in this first stage
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Based on this success, local authorities and tourism operators are now evaluating whether to make night tours a regular option for full-moon nights inside the park.
Is it worth visiting the Perito Moreno Glacier at night?
Absolutely — and here’s why the night experience is becoming a true highlight in Patagonia
Visiting the Perito Moreno Glacier at night, especially during the newly authorized full-moon nights, offers an experience that is completely different from the traditional daytime visit. While the classic daytime views showcase the glacier’s bright blues, massive walls, and frequent calving events, the night visit transforms the atmosphere into something far more intimate, immersive, and almost mystical.
1. A unique sensory experience
At night, the glacier behaves differently. The ambient silence is deeper, the sounds of cracking ice resonate more clearly, and the moonlight creates a soft silver glow over the ice field. This combination produces a surreal landscape that most visitors never get to witness.
2. Full-moon illumination is truly special
The park only allows night visits during specific full-moon nights. Under this natural light, the glacier becomes visible without artificial lighting, enhancing both safety and the sense of wonder. The shimmering reflections and contrasts of light and shadow are something you simply cannot experience during the day.
3. A new perspective after decades of prohibition
For more than 20 years, night visits were not permitted. The recent pilot program—and the strong positive reaction from travelers—has turned the experience into a novelty. Knowing that this is something only a few groups have ever done adds exclusivity and excitement.
4. Guided, small-group access only
Because the tour operates with controlled and limited access via authorized agencies, the atmosphere is peaceful, uncrowded, and respectful of the environment. This creates a far more personal encounter with the glacier than during the busy daytime hours.
5. Exceptional photography opportunities
For photographers or travel enthusiasts, moonlit ice offers rare composition opportunities. Long-exposure shots, silhouettes of the glacier, and reflections on the lake create images that are impossible to obtain in daylight.
Perito Moreno Glacier Full Moon Tour
A magical night under the moonlight
From Price: USD99
Final verdict: worth it?
Perito Moreno Glacier Full Moon Tour
A magical night under the moonlight
From Price: USD99
Yes — it is absolutely worth it.
If you have the chance to align your visit with a full moon, the nighttime experience is one of the most extraordinary and memorable ways to discover the Perito Moreno Glacier. It adds emotional depth, exclusivity, and a sense of being part of something truly unique in Patagonia.
Conclusion
This reopening of night‐time visits under a full moon is a remarkable development. For decades the idea of walking among ice walls under moonlight was more a dream than a practical possibility. Now, thanks to the coordinated effort of the park authorities and tourism agencies, it’s real — and offers a deeply different way to connect with nature and the landscape.
If you plan to travel to Patagonia, Ramiro — it might be worth timing your trip with a full-moon night to try this unique experience.
