Glaciares Gourmet boat and Spegazzini Glacier
upsala channel boat
Boat Tour of Lake Argentino Glaciers
Passengers boarding Gourmet Glaciares tour boat
Tour boat navigating Lake Argentino
Passengers walking on Puesto de Las Vacas trails
Boat Tour the five Lake Argentino Glaciers
Inside the boat of Gourmet Glaciers Tour
Interior of Gourmet Glaciers Boat
Interior of Gourmet Glaciers Boat
Interior of Gourmet Glacier Boat
Interior of Gourmet Glacier Boat
Premium lounge interior
Premier lounger interior
Kids area interior of Gourmet Glacier Boat
A couple gazing at Perito Moreno Glacier
Passenger photographing Gourmet Glacier Boat
Boat with glacier in the background
Boat navigating around a large glacier
Boat navigates around a glacier
Spegazzini Glacier
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Glaciares Gourmet boat tour

Boat tour from El Calafate to appreciate the main glaciers. Optional disembarkation at the Perito Moreno's footbridges.

(47 reviews)
El Calafate
1 day
Spanish and English
Starts: From El Calafate at 7:00 am or from Puerto La Soledad at 8:15 am (depending on selected option)
Ends: To El Calafate or Puerto La Soledad (place and time according to selected option)
Free cancellation!

Briefing

El Calafate Glacier Boat Tour is the most comprehensive boat tour in Glaciares National Park. 

Aboard a modern cruise ship, your group will sail Lake Argentino and visit the Upsala, Spegazzini, Perito Moreno, Heim, and Seco Glaciers. It is the only boat tour that provides visits to the five main glaciers of the national park all on the same day.

During the El Calafate Boat Tour, you will also take a one-hour walk through the forest on Puesto de Las Vacas, a small island located in the Spegazzini Channel. Finally, you’ll have time to enjoy a delicious Patagonian meal on board.

The tour offers three different transportation options:

1- Tour with transfers: includes boat tour and transfers from El Calafate (round trip).

2- Tour with transfers + Perito Moreno Path: includes the boat trip with a transfer from El Calafate (round trip) and a visit to the trails at Perito Moreno.

3- Tour without transfers: only includes the boat trip, not the transfers from El Calafate. You will have to go directly to the port in your vehicle.

Tour details

Included

  • Boat tour
  • Lunch with drinks and dessert
  • Bilingual guide Spanish / English
  • Round trip transfers from El Calafate (according to selected option)

Not included

  • Entrance to Los Glaciares National Park

Important information

Remember! Mastercard is NOT accepted to purchase the entrance ticket to Los Glaciares National Park. You can pay with a VISA card or in cash with Argentine Pesos when you arrive at the park. Do not forget your ID, passport, or identity card.

Cancellation policy

Free cancellations!

If you cancel at least 48 hours before the tour starts, you will receive a 100% refund of the amount paid. After this time, or in case of a no-show, no refunds will be provided.

Tour itinerary

El Calafate Boat Tour El Calafate - Los Glaciares National Park - Puerto La Soledad- El Calafate

7:00 AM

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.

Entrance to Los Glaciares National Park

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!

Boat docked at Puerto La Soledad

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.

Passengers photographing the Upsala Glacier

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. 

Views of the Heim Hanging Glacier

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.

Walk the trails at Puesto de Las Vacas

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.

Lunch on the boat

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.

Disembarkation at Perito Moreno

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.

Passenger enjoying the views from the deck

What to bring to Glaciares Gourmet boat tour

  • Passport (the same passport used to book the tour)
  • Trekking boots (preferably waterproof and thick-soled)
  • Sunglasses
  • Hat
  • Gloves
  • Sunscreen
  • Lip balm
  • Raincoat or waterproof poncho
  • Waterproof jacket
  • Comfortable and warm clothing
  • Long trousers (waterproof or mountain trousers preferred)
  • Medium backpack
  • Food and snacks
  • Water bottle

Where does the tour Glaciares Gourmet boat start

El Calafate is located 1,864 mi (3,000 km) from Buenos Aires and 202 mi (325 km) from Río Gallegos, the capital of the province of Santa Cruz. The airport has direct daily connections to Buenos Aires, Ushuaia, Bariloche, Trelew, Cordoba, and Rosario. Although several airlines operate this route, Aerolíneas Argentinas provides the most frequent flights. At Howlanders, we also recommend flying with LADE Airlines. 

If you prefer to arrive via the road, buses are a good option. The trip from Buenos Aires to El Calafate is about 36 hours. From Río Gallegos, the trip is shorter at four hours. If coming from Puerto Natales, a bus ride is about five hours, and for easy booking, you can hire a private service with us. Finally, if you are traveling from Ushuaia, please check the wait times for crossing the Strait of Magellan or the stopover in Rio Gallegos.

Questions & Answers

  • Should we choose Option 1 (walk Perito Moreno trails) or Option 2 (stay on the boat to return to Puerto Soledad)?

    If you have another excursion planned for the next day in the national park, such as mini trekking or walking the trails, we suggest choosing Option 2, so you won’t have to see the same sites twice. But, if you’re not going to be returning to the park, we highly recommend Option 1 because you won't have another chance to experience the beauty of Perito Moreno.

  • Is the entrance fee to Los Glaciares National Park included?

    The entrance fee to the National Park is not included in the tour. This allows you to purchase the type of entry that best suits your plans. Remember to bring Argentine Pesos, because the entrance fee is paid at the National Park in local currency. Don't worry, your guide will help you choose the correct entry ticket on the day of the tour.

  • Will I be picked up at my accommodation in El Calafate?

    You will be picked up if you select the transfers option when booking your reservation. Direct pick-up applies to all accommodations located in El Calafate with reception (hotels, hostels etc.). However, if you are staying in an Airbnb or an accommodation without reception, we will coordinate a convenient meeting point in downtown El Calafate where you can be picked up.

  • If I book the extra Perito Moreno landing, will I return at the same time to El Calafate?

    Whether you book the landing or not, you will return to El Calafate between 6:00 pm and 7:00 pm.

  • What is the Glaciares Gourmet boat like?

    The boat has two lounges (one located on the main deck with a capacity of 180 passengers and the other on the first deck with a capacity of 16 passengers). You will only be able to access the exclusive deck if you book the "Premium Lounge" extra when making your reservation.

  • What advantages do I have if I book the "Premium Lounge" extra?

    The Premium Lounge features a comfortable room located on the second floor with a private terrace that offers one-of-a-kind views, a private bathroom, and a four-course meal. True luxuries to have the BEST experience!

  • Is the Glaciers Gourmet Tour adapted for people with reduced mobility?

    Yes, Glaciares Gourmet Experience is suitable for people with reduced mobility.
  • How is the food on board?

    In the lounge, you’ll be served a lamb, chicken, or vegetarian sandwich with a side, a drink, and a dessert. A hot and hearty lunch at midday is a great break from the chilly lake and glacier watching. You’ll have the choice of a soft drink or wine to wash it all down, then top off your meal with a sweet dessert. If you’ve booked the Premium Room then you’ll be treated to a four-course meal that includes: two starters, the main course, and a dessert.

  • Are there vegetarian and celiac options for lunch?

    Yes, there are vegetarian and celiac options. Just mention it in the comment section when booking your reservation to enjoy a meal according to your needs. If you prefer, you can also bring snacks on board.

  • Why do you recommend Glaciares Gourmet Tour?

    This is undoubtedly the classic sailing excursion if you visit El Calafate. Embarking you will see glaciers that you could not see from land, and you will have a very complete panorama of Los Glaciares National Park. We have written a post in our blog in which we tell you about our experience during the Glaciares Gourmet tour.

Glaciares Gourmet boat tour reviews with Howlanders

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