Glaciares Gourmet boat tour

Pick-up in El Calafate - Los Glaciares National Park

This tour offers transfers from El Calafate.

If you select the “pick-up” option, the tour starts at 7:00 am when you will be picked up at your accommodation. If you choose “without pick-up,” you will be responsible for getting to Puerto Privado La Soledad, 29 mi (47 km) from El Calafate.

By 8:15 am all passengers will be at the port and with your guide’s assistance, you’ll purchase the entrance ticket to Los Glaciares National Park because it is not included in the tour price.

Puerto La Soledad

The adventure begins! At 8:30 am, boarding begins on a large boat called a catamaran with four outdoor decks, allowing you to comfortably observe the spectacular scenery of Lake Argentino. The boat features a VIP area with a private outdoor deck. To enjoy this perk, remember to select this VIP extra when making your reservation!

Upsala Glacier and Canal

The boat departs at 9:00 am sharp and in just a few minutes you will find the greatest expanse of ice floes in the park, often measuring up to four times bigger than the ship itself! 

Upsala is the second largest glacier in South America. The calving is so enormous, that for the ship’s safety it will not come within ten kilometers of it. Despite viewing it from so far away, it still looks immense. Even the color of the ice is an impactful sight to see, almost as if its been illuminated by a mysterious light. 

Each time the boat approaches a glacier wall or a large block of ice, the captain will skilfully turn the boat so that it can be seen perfectly from inside the boat as well as from any of the decks. This allows for passengers to enjoy each glacier no matter where they are on the boat.

Heim and Seco Glaciers

As the captain continues to steer the ship about the lake, you’ll come across the most curious hanging glaciers. These glaciers, called the Heim and Seco Glaciers, hang from the mountain without touching the lake that sits beneath it: Lake Argentino. 

Las Vacas Ranch 

The sweet silence of nature! In this portion of the tour you will disembark at El Puesto de Las Vacas and take a quiet walk led by the team of guides. 

El Puesto de Las Vacas (The Cow Stall) is an old Patagonian cattle ranch that sits in the heart of the National Park. Here you will find horses, old homes, and several creations left behind by the pioneers of Patagonia. Admire the crisp air and nature while your guides explain the history of this unique part of Patagonia.

Spegazzini Glacier - Lunch on board

The Spegazzini Glacier is impressive to see from any angle. The portion overhanging the lake reaches as high as 425 ft (130 m) and measures nearly twice as high as the Perito Moreno Glacier. And if the cold makes you hungry, this is your moment to enjoy a meal: it’s lunch time! Bite into a savory Patagonian lamb sandwich with a side of baked vegetables.

If you choose the premium option while booking, you’ll get to enjoy a special four-course menu: two starters, a main course, and dessert. For both options, drinks are included with the meal. The premium option also features an open bar during the entire El Calafate Boat Tour.

Los Témpanos Channel - Landing in Perito Moreno 

Now armed with a full belly and a happy heart, the boat tour continues through the Canal de Los Témpanos to reach the northern part of the Perito Moreno Glacier. 

Perito Moreno is an immensely large glacier with a surprising amount of activity. From the safety of the ship, you might see the ice crack then hear the unmistakable sound of the roar of water as the chunk of ice falls into the depths of Lake Argentino.

From this point, two options are offered:

Option 1. Disembark at Perito Moreno

After sailing along the glacier wall, at approximately 3:30 pm the boat will approach a dock where passengers will disembark to make their way to the Perito Moreno trails. For about two hours, passengers can stretch their legs and walk about the trails of the most famous glacier in the park before returning to El Calafate via shuttle bus. Arrival time in the city is about 7:00 pm.

*Howlanders TIP: 

The option to disembark is highly recommended for travelers who do not plan on taking another tour at the Perito Moreno such as the Minitrekking.

Option 2. Tour without disembarkation

After sailing along the Perito Moreno wall, the captain will steer the ship back to Puerto Las Soledad, where passengers will disembark at 5:00 pm. If you have selected the option with transfers, the shuttle bus will be waiting to take you back to your accommodation in El Calafate. Arrival to the city is around 6:00 pm, just in time to begin your rest after an unforgettable day enjoying the Gourmet Glaciers Tour.

In case you have not selected the option with transfers, you will have to return El Calafate by your own means.