Between November 3 and 7, a historic pilot test was conducted in El Calafate: the nighttime excursion to the Perito Moreno Glacier under the full moonlight.
The initiative, organized by the Association of Travel and Tourism Agencies of El Calafate (AAAVyT) along with the Los Glaciares National Park, gathered more than a thousand participants including tourists and residents and left open the possibility of establishing itself as a new tourist product for the destination.
A historic event for Los Glaciares National Park
It had been almost two decades since nighttime access to the Perito Moreno Glacier was allowed, making this experience a unique event.
“Seeing the glacier with a full moon is something unique in the world,” highlighted Daniel Salum, a member of AAAVyT, to the Ahora Calafate portal. “Today we managed to do it in a planned, safe, and professional way. It is a very important achievement for El Calafate.”
The groups were small and accompanied by authorized guides, allowing them to enjoy the naturally illuminated glacier in a safe and controlled environment.
Immediate impact and international projection
The proposal generated great interest both among the local public and national and foreign agencies.
“As soon as the initiative became known, we started receiving calls from different parts of the country and abroad, asking how it could be commercialized,” Salum recounted.
The AAAVyT anticipated that in the coming days they will meet with National Parks, AGUISAC, and tourism agencies to evaluate the results and define the next steps. If everything progresses as planned, the nighttime excursion could become a new tourist product to offer to the world.
Positive impact on the tourism offer
The representative of AAAVyT emphasized that this proposal extends the activity schedule, diversifies the offer, and creates new job opportunities in the region.
The superintendent of Los Glaciares National Park, Horacio Pelozo, agreed that the experience was extremely positive:
“The challenge is to continue generating new experiences within the protected area, also translated into new services, like this nighttime visit.”
Respect and commitment from visitors
Pelozo highlighted the exemplary behavior of the participants, who experienced the event with respect, silence, and harmony. He also valued the commitment of agencies, guides, and park rangers, which ensured the success of the pilot test.
“There were no problems of any kind. We just need to adjust some aspects related to staff availability and management schemes, so this continues to work as well as it has so far,” he noted.
A new product in development
The pilot test marked a starting point to establish a new tourist product in El Calafate.
With the possibility of repeating the experience during upcoming full moons, a new stage opens in the diversification of activities within Los Glaciares National Park.
The heritage value of Los Glaciares National Park
Located in the province of Santa Cruz, Los Glaciares National Park is the largest in Argentina, with more than 726,000 hectares. It was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its scenic beauty and ecological value.
The incorporation of innovative experiences like nighttime visits reinforces its position as one of the most attractive natural destinations on the planet.
