A Patagonia Glacier Climb is an epic gritty and beautiful challenge.  If you want the ultimate adventure ecotrip experience where you learn about glaciers whilst pushing yourself to your limits, this is for you!  If you are already going to trek in the iconic Torres Del Paine national park in Chile or see the stunning granite peaks of mount Fitz Roy in Argentina why not go for an adventure on a glacier? Learning to ice climb in Patagonia is one of the best things you can do in Patagonia.  This is a very practical guide to everything you need to know to book your own Patagonia glacier climb experience. A great way to really connect with this ice climbing experience though, is to check out the photos and honest review at the bottom of this post.

Ice Climbing in Patagonia

Ice Climbing in Patagonia is a phenomenal experience that push you to your limits, whilst reminding you the planet his limits too! WHAT!?  There is something very sobering about spending time on glaciers that are rapidly receding due to climate change.  When you go with the local Patagonia glacier climbing companies we’re going to tell you about, you book so much more than an Ice climb.  We had so many questions about the glacier and our well educated guide was happy to educate us on everything we wanted to know about the glacier itself.  It was such a wholistic experience to learn how to ice climb in a responsible way whilst learning about and seeing first hand why we must work towards being more environmentally responsible!

Where is the Best place to book a Patagonia Glacier Climb in 2021?

There are many Patagonia glacier experiences, so picking the right one can be difficult.  We spent a lot of time researching first hand and found that El Calafate was the best area for climbing glaciers with responsible companies.  There are two main companies that operate Patagonia glacier climbs in this area.  Both are based in Argentina and both have offices in El Calafate and both offer a range of options and prices are comparable. Hielo y Adventura get you trekking on the Perito Moreno glacier which approximately 30 miles to the west of El Calafate and is very impressive. As it is better known, naturally it also more frequented. Hielo y Adventura offer ‘Mini ice trekking’ and ‘Big ice trekking’ depending on how long you want explore.

Viva Patagonia glacier climb (AKA Patagonia Adventura) operate on the lesser frequented and equally impressive Videma Glacier which is 15 miles to the south west of El Chalten. With an area of 380 square miles, the Viedma glacier is that largest in Argentina. At present Viva Patagonia are the only company offering ice climbing and they are incredible at what they do; friendly, highly competent and great equipment.

If you just want to take the boat and go on a guided trek to experience a Patagonia glacier, they offer a great trip departing from both El Calafate and El Chalten depending on what best suites you. BUT… IF … If you really want to take it to the next level, they offer Videma Pro which where you take the boat, trek and then learn to CLIMB glaciers! On the ice climb you are taught the skills and techniques that enable you to ascend some challenging ice climbs and some awesome opportunities to put these new skills to practice.

What should you bring for ice climbing?

• Small back pack
• Camera with plenty of memory space and batteries!
• Sun cream and sun glasses
• Warm hat
• Warm gloves
• Wind-proof layer (there is almost always a wind on the glacier)
• Ice climbing boots (ankle support and rigid soles)
• Packed lunch
• Water and snacks (high energy food will always go down well)

Best climbing crampons and where to rent them

If you are planning to ice climb a Patagonia glacier, it is very important to have proper ice climbing boots. Viento Oeste is an outdoor shop who rent boots for both ice trekking and ice climbing.

Address: 898 Avda. San Martin

How to find Viento Oeste. Walk north along Avda. San Martin (the main road running through town). Viento Oeste is on the left near the end of the town- before you reach the start of the Fitz Roy trek. It takes around 15 minutes to walk to Viento Oeste from the centre of town. Rental costs are:

Ice trekking boots: 72$ARS (at the blue rate £3.50 or $5.00)

Ice climbing boots: 90$ARS (at the blue rate £4.50 or $6.00)

You will also need to leave some ID as a deposit. One day rental is from the evening before your tour to the evening after you have finished. Most rental places are open fairly late (9pm) but may take a siesta in the early afternoon.

Best time to go to Patagonia? 

If you want to experience Patagonia at a quieter time with good weather spring days can be stunning on the glaciers. October – November is a great time to visit during the Patagonian spring. If you want the best chance of good weather summer is the best season from December – February. The weather at this latitude can be variable even in the summer and summer is high season so more likely to be busy. If you want to see ice tunnels, late season is the best time. Ice tunnels are formed by wind erosion and melting and you may be able to see them in the Patagonian Autumn (March-April).

Note: Patagonian winter is May-September; tours do not operate during the winter months.

The whole area to be fantastic in spring because hostels and treks are not busy but the weather was gorgeous! The 5 day forecast of www.weather.com to be a very reliable for this region.

Other Patagonia glacier climbing options for Viedma?

Viedma Light: A stunning boat ride across Viedma Lake, to the front of the Glacier where you can see the ice cliff towering up to 40m high above the lake. A great way to see this beautiful glacier.

600$ARS (At the blue rate £31 or $40) Low season (October, March and April)

650$ARS (At the blue rate £33 or $43) High season (November- Feb)

Ice Trek: This Patagonia glacier tour starts with a stunning boat ride across Viedma lake passing the front of the glacier, followed by a short walk up ancient cooled volcanic rock. Crampons (ice shoes) are fitted and then you trek on the Glacier with a professional guide. Recommended for those with a reasonable level of fitness (approximately 2 hours on the ice)

1550$ARS (At the blue rate £80 or $100) Low season (October, March and April)

1700$ARS (At the blue rate £85 or $113) High season (November- Feb)

Viedma Pro: This Patagonia glacier tour starts with a stunning boat ride across Viedma lake passing the front of the glacier, followed by a short walk up ancient cooled volcanic rock. Harness, helmet and ice shoes are fitted and you are given ice axes. You are taught climbing techniques and given the chance to practice these with the supervision and help of a professional guide (Departs at 8am and returns to El Chalten around 6pm. You spend approximately 6 hours on the ice)

3000$ARS (At the blue rate £145 or $200) high and low season

For each of the tours you need to pay an additional 170$ARS (At the blue rate £7.50 or $11) for the bus from El Chalten to the boat port, unless you have your own transport.

For an additional cost Patagonia Adventura can also organise transfer from El Calafate for the Videma Light and the Viedma Ice Trek tours. However, if you wish to do the Videma Pro tour (with this ice climbing!) you will need to spend at least one night in El Chalten because the Viedma pro departs at 8am.

Booking requests can be made by email: calafate@patagonia-aventura.com, chalten@patagonia-aventura.com, reservas@patagonia-aventura.com

Phone + 54 2902 491293

Find Somewhere to Stay in El Chalten

El Chalten is a dreamy little town for anyone with an adventurous heart.  If often gets overlooks or people only visit for a minimal amount of time.  If you have a few nights and want to both Ice climb and do some beautiful Eco treks, book yourself a longer stay here! There are campsites and some lovely basic hostels that you can book in advance. Camping starts are around £10 and basic hostels rooms start at £20.  You can find the cheapest accommodation option here, just remember to set the filters low to hight. If you would like something a little more special, Laguna Condor is a dreamy eco lodge, truly stunning! It might be the most beautiful place you ever stay, crafted out of wood, lake side location and a HOT TUB! It tends to cost around £150 so is more of a splash out, but it does include breakfast and dinner and in many ways is an experience in its’ self.

A Very Honest Review of Ice Climbing In Patagonia 

What looks like rage, but is just enthusiasm mixed with lack of technique.

This is the Ecotrip I had been dreaming of! Though, Vertical limit isn’t the best film to think of before you set off on a Patagonia glacier climb, but it does keep you on your toes!

We hit it lucky by arriving early in the season. There was only the guide, Pete and I on the adventure. We were  fortunate enough to have a full day of Federico’s undivided expert attention. You can have up to 15 on a climb; if this is the case they send a second guide.

After a beautiful boat ride you trek over volcanic rock to access the glacier. Learn to ice climb on a Glacier in Patagonia

Once we were booted up and harnessed up we began trekking across the Patagonia glacier in search of good climbing spots. There is something unnerving about trekking on something that appears to be solid and stationary, but is in fact moving and can give way the moment you put a foot wrong…

Federico began teaching us how to scale and traverse steep sections of the Patagonia glacier before setting up an anchor for our first attempt at ice climbing.

Ice Climbing Tips from Our Teacher

Excited and nervous I swung my ice axe for the first time. All the excitement and enthusiasm caused me to swing it obscenely far, as if trying to hack my way to the centre of the earth! You know you have gone far too far when you have to expended more energy trying to retrieve your axe then you took to swing it in. … A rookie mistake … that I made again and again … and again.

With warm guidance from our teacher I began developing my technique on a forgivingly convex slope that makes you feel like you’re winning. When you kick your toe in, it must be perfectly perpendicular to the ice to the tune of 90^o to ensure the front spikes go completely in. It must be hard enough to pierce the ice but not so hard you shatter where you intend to stand.With time and practice and a great teacher, i found I started to pick it up through out the day and feel like I can now say I have Ice climbed in Patagonia! … well, Ice shuffled and Ice climbed. 

 Don’t let the smile fool you! I was terrified at this point!

An epic, exhilarating and exhausting day!

HIGHLY HIGHLY recommend this. If you ever get a chance, just do it! Even if it is somewhere indoors like Ice Factor.

Though the scenery in Patagonia is an epic bonus, I found it was the actual activity that I adored and wanted more of …

Find Somewhere to Stay in El Chalten

El Chalten is a dreamy little town for anyone with an adventurous heart.  If often gets overlooks or people only visit for a minimal amount of time.  If you have a few nights and want to both Ice climb and do some beautiful Eco treks, book yourself a longer stay here!

Planning to Trek the famous Patagonia W Trail?

We have put together an extensive guide to help you plan an independent 5 day trek through the very beautiful W trail in Torres Del Paine.  It truly is one of the most epic treks in the world and we have put together everything you need to do the Patagonia W trek responsibly for the lowest cost possible. Planning your meals on an independent 5 day trek when you are carrying everything is tricky, so we have got you covered there too and  have put together a plan, tried and tested! Check out our 5 day meal plan for the W trek here. The other big challenge is packing exactly what you need, no more, no less as it is a long way to carry everything. It’s also a long way if you have forgotten anything! SO, again, we got you covered! Here is our tried and tested packing list for the 5 day W trek.