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Most visitors arrive via a 1.5-hour bus ride or rental car from El Calafate, 78 kilometers to the east. The drive follows Route 11 straight to the boardwalks inside Los Glaciares National Park.
Route 11, Los Glaciares National Park, Santa Cruz Province, Argentina
Highway coaches and local operators run daily departures from the main terminal in El Calafate. Morning schedules depart around 8:00 AM or 9:00 AM, returning at 4:00 PM. Afternoon buses leave at 1:00 PM and return at 7:00 PM. The 80-kilometer drive takes up to two hours depending on park entrance queues. Pack your own lunch and snacks to eat on the outdoor benches, as the restaurant near the main parking lot is expensive and has limited seating. Buy the two-day promotional pass if you plan to return the next day for a trek; the second entry costs 50% less if used within 72 hours.
Driving provides the flexibility to arrive before the tour buses or stay until the park closes. Route 11 connects El Calafate directly to the glacier over 80 kilometers of well-maintained pavement. Plan to arrive between 8:00 AM and 9:00 AM to photograph the 60-meter-high ice wall in the soft morning light. Pull over at the Curva de los Suspiros (Curve of Sighs) for an initial panoramic view of the glacier before reaching the main parking lot. Between June and August, heavy snowfall frequently closes the access road. Check road conditions with local authorities in El Calafate before departing.
Taxis and private remises can be hired directly from El Calafate hotels or local agencies. The driver covers the 80-kilometer distance in 90 minutes and waits at the national park while you walk the four kilometers of multi-tiered steel boardwalks. Splitting the fare among three or four passengers brings the per-person cost close to a bus ticket. Arrange a specific wait time with the driver beforehand. Ensure you return to the vehicle before the park gates close at 8:00 PM in summer or 6:00 PM in winter.
Public buses travel 350 kilometers from Puerto Natales to El Calafate. Travel times routinely exceed six hours due to unpredictable queues at the Chile-Argentina border crossing. Private day tours operate this route starting at $110 USD, but the immense driving distance leaves minimal time on the glacier's viewing platforms. Spend the night in El Calafate to avoid a rushed visit. The park closes at 8:00 PM during the summer season, leaving same-day return travelers with a narrow window to walk the trails or board the one-hour catamaran cruises.
The main parking lot sits next to a small restaurant near the boardwalk entrance. A dedicated accessible lot is located closer to the main gates. Taxis hired from El Calafate drop passengers off and typically wait on-site for a few hours.
| From | Mode | Time | Cost | Tip |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| El Calafate Bus Terminal | Bus | 1.5 to 2 hours | $25 - $35 USD one way | Take the 8:00 AM or 9:00 AM departure to maximize your time on the boardwalks before the 4:00 PM return trip. |
| El Calafate | Rental Car | 1.5 hours | $55 - $150 USD per day | Drive Route 11 early to beat the tour buses or stay late until the park closes at 8:00 PM during summer. |
| El Calafate Hotels | Taxi / Remis | 1.5 hours | $75 - $130 USD round trip | Split this fare among three or four passengers for a direct ride where the driver waits at the park for a few hours. |
| Puerto Natales, Chile | Bus | 6+ hours | $25 - $30 USD one way | Border control queues frequently delay this route, making an overnight stay in El Calafate necessary to avoid a rushed visit. |
Pass through the park gates between 8:00 AM and 9:00 AM to beat the highway coaches from El Calafate. Early arrival guarantees empty steel boardwalks and clear sightlines of the 5-kilometer-wide ice wall. Tour groups flood the viewing platforms by mid-morning.
Ask for the promotional pass at the entrance booth if you plan to return the following day. This ticket cuts your second consecutive entry fee in half. You must use the second admission within 72 hours of the first.
Tour operators strictly enforce age brackets for glacier hikes and check passports before boarding. Big Ice participants must be between 18 and 50 years old, while Minitrekking allows ages 8 to 65. Booking outside these limits results in denied entry at the crampon station without a refund.
Renting a vehicle in El Calafate costs between $55 and $150 USD per day. Splitting this expense among four passengers often matches the $25 to $35 individual bus fares. Driving Route 11 yourself ensures you can stay until the park closes at 8:00 PM during summer.
Pack sturdy hiking boots or running shoes with deep traction. The multi-tiered metal grating of the walkways turns into a slip hazard when coated in rain or snow. Dropping temperatures also require a windproof jacket, gloves, and a beanie to handle the glacier's localized freezing microclimate.
The 80-kilometer drive west along Route 11 takes exactly 90 minutes by rental car or taxi. Public buses departing from the main terminal take up to two hours to reach the park gates. Winter travelers should check road conditions before departing, as heavy snow between June and August frequently forces temporary closures.
Regular highway coaches depart daily from the El Calafate Bus Terminal for $25 to $35 USD each way. Morning buses typically leave at 8:00 or 9:00 AM and return at 4:00 PM. An afternoon schedule departs at 1:00 PM, bringing passengers back by 7:00 PM.
Hiring a taxi or remis for a round trip costs between $75 and $130 USD. The driver picks you up from your El Calafate hotel, drives the 80 kilometers to the park, and waits at the parking lot for several hours while you explore. Sharing this fare among four passengers makes it comparable to individual bus tickets.
Public buses cover the 350-kilometer route starting at $25 USD, but border control queues routinely push the travel time past six hours each way. Private day tours run $110 USD. Booking a hotel in El Calafate for the night prevents a rushed itinerary and guarantees enough time on the boardwalks.
Foreign adults pay ARS 45,000 (roughly $31 USD) for the 2025-2026 season, rising to ARS 50,000 on June 1, 2026. Argentine residents pay ARS 15,000. Purchasing a two-day promotional pass grants a 50 percent discount on your second consecutive day if used within 72 hours.
Summer hours run from 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM between September 1 and April 30, with the final admission allowed at 6:00 PM. Winter operations shrink to a 9:00 AM opening and a 6:00 PM closure. Arriving right at the 8:00 AM summer opening guarantees empty boardwalks before the tour buses pull in.
A dedicated accessible parking lot sits closer to the main entrance than the general visitor spaces. Visitors with limited mobility can use an elevator from this area to bypass the stairs and reach the main upper viewing deck. The flat upper walkways provide clear sightlines of the 5-kilometer-wide ice front without requiring steep climbs.
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