Perito Moreno Glacier hosts night visits on 24 and 25 October
Published on 10/04/2026 at 06:07 | Editorial responsibility: Rafael MĂĽller, Editor-in-Chief AD HOC NEWS
Perito Moreno Glacier will host the first night visits of the 2026 season on 24 and 25 October in Los Glaciares National Park near El Calafate, Argentina. The programme returns visitors to the glacier viewing platforms after dark, under an organised schedule linked to the October full moon.
Night visits return to Perito Moreno Glacier on 24 October
The experience, called Moreno under moonlight, was confirmed for 24 and 25 October 2026 by the El Calafate branch of the Argentine Association of Travel and Tourism Agencies. The same calendar includes further nights in November and December 2026, followed by dates in March and April 2027. The October calendar places the activity on the glacier’s viewing platforms inside Los Glaciares National Park.
The October programme is not a general overnight opening of the national park. Visits must be arranged through authorised operators, and groups must be accompanied by an accredited guide. The operating plan also requires equipment and procedures for activity in the protected area, including a torch for visitors and safety equipment for guides.
Why the moon programme fits the glacier’s setting
The glacier forms part of Los Glaciares National Park, a protected area in south-western Santa Cruz Province. UNESCO describes the Perito Moreno Glacier as reaching Lake Argentino, where its moving ice front regularly releases blue icebergs into the water. The World Heritage property was inscribed in 1981 and includes a large section of the Southern Patagonian Ice Field.
That setting gives the night programme a precise connection to the site rather than simply providing an evening excursion. Visitors follow the existing viewing infrastructure towards an ice front that UNESCO records as reaching up to 60 metres above the lake. The dark conditions change when the platforms can be used, but they do not change the glacier’s protected status or its position within the World Heritage landscape. UNESCO’s park description identifies the glacier, Lake Argentino and the protected area’s management framework.
Weather and authorisation remain part of the October plan
The announced dates are subject to operational coordination, safety conditions and the weather. Cloud cover may prevent moonlight from reaching the glacier face, so the calendar does not guarantee the same visibility on every night. A regional report also says that the activity depends on authorised providers operating in the platform sector. Details of the 2026-2027 plan state that ten nights are scheduled across five full-moon periods.
Visiting Perito Moreno Glacier: what travellers from Western Europe should know
- The October night visits take place on 24 and 25 October 2026 at the viewing platforms in Los Glaciares National Park.
- The programme is not a general night opening. Access is arranged through authorised operators and includes an accredited guide.
- El Calafate is the gateway town for the glacier and the wider Los Glaciares National Park in Santa Cruz Province. The national tourism board describes the town as the base for visits to the glacier and its panoramic walkways.
- The visitor experience uses elevated viewing paths facing the moving ice front and Lake Argentino. Warm clothing and suitable walking shoes are appropriate for an outdoor mountain environment.
- Argentina’s official language is Spanish and its currency is the Argentine peso.
- Entry requirements depend on your nationality; UK travellers can check the FCDO travel advice at gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice, Irish travellers the Department of Foreign Affairs at ireland.ie.
Searching for Perito Moreno Glacier on social platforms
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Frequently asked questions about Perito Moreno Glacier
When do the night visits take place at Perito Moreno Glacier?
The first October dates are 24 and 25 October 2026. Further dates are scheduled in November and December 2026, then in March and April 2027.
Where is Perito Moreno Glacier and how do you get there?
It is in Los Glaciares National Park in Santa Cruz Province, with El Calafate serving as the main gateway. Visitors reach the park from the town by arranged transport or private vehicle.
What is Perito Moreno Glacier?
It is a moving glacier that reaches Lake Argentino within Los Glaciares National Park. The park is a UNESCO World Heritage site inscribed in 1981.
