balmaceda serrano bernardo o higgins
howlanders girl walking on the trail overlooking serrano glacier
glass of whiskey
penguin colony
girl taking pictures on the boat
balmaceda and serrano glacier tour
sea lions
exterior of estancia perales
exterior of estancia perales with the boat in the background
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Balmaceda and Serrano Boat Full Day Tour

Boat tour to Balmaceda and Serrano glaciers from Puerto Natales

(56 reviews)
Puerto Natales
1 day
Spanish and English
Starts: From the meeting point in downtown Puerto Natales at 7:00 AM or from Puerto Bories at 7:30 AM (from April to August, one hour later)
Ends: At the meeting point between 4:30 PM and 5:00 PM (from April to August, one hour later)
Free cancellation!

Briefing

The Balmaceda Serrano Glaciers Tour is the most popular boat tour in Puerto Natales, a full day discovering one of the most iconic sites in Patagonia.

Aboard a magnificent ship, you will visit the two most impressive glaciers in Chile: the Balmaceda and Serrano Glaciers. During the boat ride, you will see sea lions, cormorants, waterfalls, and more! You’ll have a chance to disembark in the Bernardo O'Higgins National Park to walk to the Serrano Glacier viewpoint. The trails that lead into the forest are also great for exploring. Upon your return to the ship, you’ll be offered a glass of whiskey with millenary ice from the glaciers, a cup of coffee, or a warm cup of tea. A traditional Patagonian estancia will be served for lunch before returning to Puerto Natales.

Are you ready to venture out to the glaciers? 😊 Here are all the details of the tour:

Tour details

Included

  • Navigation
  • Guide
  • Coffee or tea on board the vessel
  • Glass of whiskey with millenary glacier ice
  • Hike to the base of Serrano Glacier
  • Traditional Patagonian food

Not included

  • Alcoholic beverages on the vessel

Important information

The tour does not include pick-up from your accommodation. We request your accommodation details only to contact you in case you don’t show up for the tour. You must go to one of the two meeting points at the scheduled times, depending on your travel date:

  • Departures from September 1 to March 31: from downtown Puerto Natales at 7:00 AM or from Puerto Bories at 7:30 AM.
  • Departures from April 1 to August 31: from downtown Puerto Natales at 8:00 AM or from Puerto Bories at 8:30 AM.

📍 You'll receive directions to both meeting points in your booking confirmation.

The tour requires a minimum of 25 passengers to confirm the reservation. In the very unlikely event that it cannot be confirmed, you’ll be offered a new date, an alternative activity, or a full refund.

Cancellation policy

Free cancellations!

  • Reservations of 4 passengers or less: if you cancel at least 48 hours before the tour starts, you will be refunded 100% of the amount paid.
  • Reservations of 5 passengers or more: if you cancel at least 10 days before the tour starts, you will be refunded 100% of the amount paid.

After this time, or in case of a no-show, no refunds will be given.

Tour itinerary

Balmaceda and Serrano Boat Tour

🕗 Duration: 10 hours
✅ Departure: All year

Puerto Natales

At the scheduled time, you'll need to head to the meeting point located in downtown Puerto Natales. After a brief tour introduction, you'll take the transport to Puerto Bories, located about 3 miles (5 km) away. You can also go directly to Puerto Bories. Once you arrive and the entire group is on board, the navigation begins.

Howlanders Tip 💙: Seats on the boat are assigned on a first-come, first-served basis, so we recommend being on time to catch one of the first transfers from Puerto Natales—or even better, head straight to Puerto Bories.

Tourists boarding a catamaran at Puerto Bories for the Balmaceda and Serrano glaciers tour

Balmaceda and Serrano Glaciers

Setting sail towards the Balmaceda and Serrano Glaciers, will take you through the Ultima Esperanza Fjord. In this first part of the tour, you’ll witness the overflowing nature of Patagonia. The boat will approach the cormorant colonies, the sea lion ravine (where you will observe sea lions), the condor cliff, and the great waterfalls.

Passengers on board the catamaran sailing through fjords and waterfalls in Bernardo O’Higgins National Park

Bernardo O'Higgins National Park

The tour continues to Bernardo O'Higgins National Park. Passengers can disembark at Puerto Toro, and take a 40-minute walk along a path to the lush forest of coihues and southern beeches. At the end of the route, is the main viewpoint in front of the great Serrano Glacier, where you have the most spectacular views of this great glacier.

At this point, you’ll have some free time to enjoy the glacier views and explore the trails on the way back to the boat.

Girl with a backpack seen from behind admiring the Serrano Glacier in Bernardo O’Higgins National Park

Estancia Perales

After returning to the ship, the crew will welcome you with a glass of whiskey chilled with millenary glacier ice, a cup of coffee, or a hot cup of tea.

The ship will then sail to a traditional Patagonian estancia, where you will disembark once more to enjoy lunch: salad, soup, grilled lamb, potatoes, and dessert, accompanied by Chilean wine or another beverage of your choice. If you are vegetarian, there are also options for you. 😉

Wooden dining room at Estancia Perales, where travelers enjoy lunch during the boat tour

Return to Puerto Natales

After lunch, you’ll board the boat again and head back to Puerto Natales. You'll arrive at Puerto Bories, and if you wish, a transfer can take you to the city center, where you’ll arrive around 4:30 or 5:00 PM (between April and August, between 5:30 and 6:00 PM).

Tourist bus departing from Puerto Bories to Puerto Natales

What to bring to Balmaceda and Serrano Boat Full Day tour

The weather in Patagonia can change quickly, and during the navigation you'll be able to step out onto the boat's deck. There's also a walk through the National Park, so it's important to come well prepared. Here are our recommendations:

  • Original passport (the same one you used to book the tour)
  • Waterproof shoes with thick soles
  • Sunglasses
  • Gloves
  • Hat
  • Sunscreen
  • Rain jacket or poncho
  • Warm clothing

Where does the tour Balmaceda and Serrano Boat Full Day start

The tour begins at the meeting point in downtown Puerto Natales or from Puerto Bories.

If you're traveling from Santiago de Chile, you can fly directly to Puerto Natales or take a flight to Punta Arenas. From there, you can take a bus that will bring you to the Puerto Natales bus station in just 3 hours and 15 minutes, or book a private transfer from Punta Arenas Airport to Puerto Natales, or from Punta Arenas city to Puerto Natales.

If you're coming from El Calafate (Argentina), there are direct buses to Puerto Natales that take about 5 hours, or you can book a private transfer from El Calafate to Puerto Natales.

Questions & Answers

  • What is the boat's capacity?

    Up to 150 people can travel on the boat.

  • Can the tour be canceled due to bad weather?

    Yes, in case the weather conditions are unsafe, especially due to wind, the tour will be canceled and you will be offered another date or a full refund.

  • Does the Balmaceda and Serrano Glacier tour depart all year round?

    Yes, the Balmaceda and Serrano Glacier tour departs all year round however during the winter months and low season (May-August) the number of departures is reduced.

Balmaceda and Serrano Boat Full Day tour reviews with Howlanders

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