Perito Moreno boat tour from El Calafate: Glaciares Gourmet

Lake Argentino is the star here. From a large catamaran, you cruise among icebergs and five major glaciers, including enormous Upsala and the towering Spegazzini, before reaching Perito Moreno. The captain turns the boat carefully so you get good views from both sides.

I like the range of scenery and the choice to disembark for two hours at the Perito Moreno walkways. I also like the indoor viewing area, useful when Patagonia sends cold wind across the deck. The main drawback is the length: a 10 to 12-hour day can feel stretched, and the standard lunch is a box meal, not a true gourmet feast.

The day at a glance

• Five glaciers in one cruise: See Upsala, Heim, Seco, Spegazzini, and Perito Moreno from Lake Argentino.
• Two ways to see Perito Moreno: Walk the famous boardwalks for about two hours, or stay aboard and return earlier.
• A comfortable catamaran: Four open-air decks, large windows, indoor seating, and an optional VIP outdoor deck.
• A bilingual guide: Commentary is provided in Spanish and English throughout the activities.
• Lunch is included: The standard option includes a gourmet lunchbox, drinks, and dessert. A premium booking adds a four-course meal and open bar.
• Plan for a full day: Hotel pickup begins around 7:00 a.m., with return to El Calafate around 6:00 or 7:00 p.m., depending on your choice.

Why five glaciers make this a strong El Calafate day trip

Many excursions from El Calafate focus on Perito Moreno alone. This one gives you a wider view of Los Glaciares National Park from the water.

That matters because each glacier has a different character. Upsala is known for its broad ice field and huge floating blocks. Spegazzini rises dramatically above the lake. Perito Moreno is famous for its active ice front and thunderous calving. Heim and Seco hang on the mountain slopes without reaching the lake.

The boat covers roughly 220 kilometers during the day. You are not simply motoring to one viewpoint, taking a few pictures, and turning around. You spend long stretches on Lake Argentino, watching icebergs change shape as the boat moves past them.

The tradeoff is obvious. You see a great deal, but this is not a quick outing. The day lasts about 10 to 12 hours, and some people find the middle portion slow. I would choose it if you want a broad introduction to the park. If your only goal is maximum time at Perito Moreno, a shorter land-based outing may suit you better.

Leaving El Calafate before the crowds

With hotel pickup, the day starts at about 7:00 a.m. in El Calafate. The port, Puerto Privado La Soledad, is about 47 kilometers from town, so the transfer is part of the practical value of the package.

Without pickup, you must reach the port yourself. That option can work if you have a rental car or your own transport, but the tour does not include your return journey in that case. Check this carefully when booking. A low headline price can become less attractive if you must arrange both legs on your own.

By about 8:15 a.m., passengers gather at the port and the guide helps with the entrance ticket for Los Glaciares National Park. The ticket is not included in the $245 tour price, so budget for that extra cost.

Boarding begins around 8:30 a.m. The catamaran has four open-air decks and large windows inside. The open decks are best for photographs and fresh air, while the indoor area is a welcome refuge when the wind picks up. A VIP upgrade provides a private outdoor deck, but it does not mean you will walk on a glacier.

The boat can carry up to 50 people. That is not a tiny expedition vessel, and seating can become competitive, particularly for families who board late. I would arrive ready to board promptly and bring a warm layer even if the morning in El Calafate feels mild.

Upsala Glacier and the first great ice views

The boat leaves at about 9:00 a.m. Soon, the floating ice begins to dominate the view.

Upsala is the second-largest glacier in South America. Because the glacier produces such large pieces of ice, the boat stays at least 10 kilometers away for safety. That distance sounds considerable, but it does not make the glacier feel small. The ice field can look several times wider than the boat, and the pale blue color is especially striking in clear weather.

The captain works to give people on both sides of the boat a view. This is important on a vessel of this size. You will not always have an unobstructed position, but the boat turns near glacier walls and large ice blocks so you can photograph them from different angles.

This is one of the tour’s strongest features. You do not need to spend the entire morning guarding one place at the rail. Move between the indoor windows and open decks as the view changes.

Heim and Seco, glaciers on the mountain

The cruise then passes the hanging glaciers known as Heim and Seco. They cling to the mountain slopes above the lake rather than reaching the water.

These glaciers provide a useful contrast to Upsala and Perito Moreno. At the lake level, the main drama comes from ice walls and calving. Here, you look upward at ice held high on the mountainside. The view also gives you a better sense of how the park’s ice fields connect the peaks to the lake.

This section is quieter and less immediately famous. If you are expecting a major glacier wall at every turn, it may seem less exciting. I think it earns its place because it breaks up the cruise and shows a different form of glacial ice.

A quiet hour at El Puesto de Las Vacas

The boat stops at El Puesto de Las Vacas, translated as The Cow Stall, for a guided walk of about an hour.

This is not a glacier hike. You walk through a historic Patagonian cattle ranch area inside the national park, with horses, old buildings, and objects connected with early settlers. The guides explain the site’s past while you enjoy a short stretch of quiet ground.

Some people will appreciate the pause after several hours aboard. It gives you fresh air, a little movement, and a closer look at the human side of Patagonia. Others may feel that the stop makes an already long day longer, especially since the major attraction is the ice.

I would keep it in the schedule, but with realistic expectations. It is a gentle walk, not a demanding trail or a major archaeological visit.

Spegazzini Glacier and the lunch question

Spegazzini is one of the day’s visual high points. Its section above the lake reaches about 130 meters, or 425 feet, nearly twice the height of Perito Moreno’s visible wall.

The scale is hard to grasp from a photograph. From the boat, the glacier rises sharply above the water, framed by mountains and floating ice. The captain again positions the boat so passengers on different decks can see the face.

Lunch is served during this part of the cruise. The standard package includes a sandwich-style lunchbox, baked vegetables or side dishes, drinks, and dessert. Some people find it filling and perfectly acceptable for a long day outside. Others expect more from the word gourmet and are disappointed by the sandwich and coffee.

That distinction matters at this price. I would think of the included meal as practical boat-trip food, not restaurant dining. If food is central to your choice, the premium option includes two appetizers, a main course, dessert, and an open bar for the boat tour. The supplied information also describes a four-course premium meal, so check the exact menu when booking.

Perito Moreno from the Canal de los Témpanos

After lunch, the boat travels through the Canal de los Témpanos toward the northern side of Perito Moreno Glacier.

Perito Moreno is active. You may hear a crack before seeing anything happen. Then a piece of blue-white ice can break from the wall and fall into Lake Argentino with a deep roar. There is no guarantee of a major calving event during your crossing, but the glacier is constantly changing, and even small cracks are memorable.

Seeing Perito Moreno from the lake is a different experience from seeing it from the shore. The boat lets you study the ice wall at close range and understand its scale from water level. Still, it does not replace the famous boardwalk viewpoints, which show the glacier from the front and from several elevations.

This is why I recommend selecting the disembarkation option if you are not planning another Perito Moreno visit. Around 3:30 p.m., you leave the boat and have roughly two hours to walk the trails before returning to El Calafate by shuttle, arriving around 7:00 p.m.

The walkways add a second angle and a chance to stretch your legs after a long cruise. They also make the day feel more complete. If you have already booked a separate Perito Moreno land tour or Minitrekking outing, staying aboard may be sensible.

The return option and the day’s real timing

If you choose not to disembark, the boat turns back after cruising along Perito Moreno’s face. You leave the boat at Puerto La Soledad at about 5:00 p.m., with an expected arrival in El Calafate around 6:00 p.m. when transfers are included.

This version is shorter and avoids the final shuttle. It may suit you if you want the glacier cruise but prefer not to spend another two hours on trails. It also reduces the amount of walking.

The disembarkation version gives you more variety but gets back around 7:00 p.m. In practical terms, both are full-day commitments. Do not schedule an evening activity in El Calafate too tightly, particularly if weather or road conditions affect the return.

Price, comfort, and what gourmet really means

At $245 per person, this is a significant excursion. The price covers the boat, bilingual guide, lunch, drinks, dessert, and hotel transfers if you select that option. It also gives you access to five glaciers in one day, which is the main reason the cost can make sense.

You still pay the Los Glaciares National Park entrance fee separately. The VIP deck and premium meal cost extra, too. Add those only if they solve a real problem for you. VIP access may appeal if you want a quieter outdoor viewing area. The premium meal is more worthwhile for someone who cares about the dining side of the trip.

The standard boat itself is a comfort advantage. You can sit inside by large windows, then move outside for photographs. That flexibility is more valuable than it sounds in Patagonia, where wind can make a sunny deck feel cold within minutes.

The weak point is the label gourmet. Expect a generous lunchbox unless you book the premium version. I would not choose this trip for fine dining. I would choose it for the glaciers, the boat, and the chance to combine several major sights in one day.

Who will get the most from this cruise

I think this tour suits you if:

• You have one full day in El Calafate and want to see several glaciers.
• You prefer viewing ice from a comfortable boat rather than committing to a long hike.
• You want Perito Moreno from both the lake and the boardwalks.
• You value hotel pickup and a guide who explains the park in Spanish and English.
• You are traveling with family and want indoor seating, toilets, and a steady boat platform.
• You are comfortable with a long day and a group of up to 50 people.

It may not suit you if you dislike long boat rides, need a quiet small-group setting, or want a true glacier walk. The premium booking does not put you on the ice. It improves the food and adds the open bar, but the activity remains a sightseeing cruise.

The boat can be windy and crowded on deck. Arrive early for boarding, especially if your group wants to sit together. Bring a warm jacket, hat, sunglasses, and enough patience for a day with long stretches of lake travel.

Should you book Glaciares Gourmet?

Book it if your priority is a broad, comfortable tour of Lake Argentino’s major glaciers. The combination of Upsala, Heim, Seco, Spegazzini, and Perito Moreno is the real value, and adding the Perito Moreno walkways gives you the best version of the day.

Choose the standard package if you see lunch as fuel. Pay for premium only if a four-course meal and open bar genuinely matter to you. I would also choose hotel pickup unless you already have reliable transport to Puerto La Soledad.

Skip it if you want only Perito Moreno, a short outing, or a glacier hike. For everyone else, this is a strong one-day introduction to the ice fields, provided you accept the long schedule and keep your expectations about the word gourmet in check.

FAQ

How long does the Glaciares Gourmet tour last?

The experience lasts approximately 10 to 12 hours. Hotel pickup begins around 7:00 a.m., and the return to El Calafate is expected around 6:00 p.m. without disembarkation or around 7:00 p.m. with the Perito Moreno walkways.

What glaciers can I see?

The cruise visits or passes five glaciers: Upsala, Heim, Seco, Spegazzini, and Perito Moreno.

Is the Los Glaciares National Park entrance fee included?

No. The national park entrance ticket is not included in the tour price. The guide helps passengers purchase it at the port.

Is hotel pickup included?

Hotel transfers from El Calafate are included only when you select the pickup option during booking.

Where does the boat depart?

The boat departs from Puerto Privado La Soledad, also known as Puerto Bandera, in Santa Cruz Province. The port is about 47 kilometers from El Calafate.

Can I walk at Perito Moreno Glacier?

Yes, if you select the disembarkation option. You will have about two hours to explore the Perito Moreno walkways before returning by shuttle bus.

Can I stay on the boat at Perito Moreno?

Yes. With the no-disembarkation option, you remain aboard after viewing the glacier and return to Puerto La Soledad around 5:00 p.m.

What food is included?

The standard option includes a gourmet lunchbox with drinks and dessert. The premium option includes a four-course meal, with two appetizers, a main course, dessert, and an open bar during the boat tour.

Is the tour offered in English?

Yes. A professional guide provides the activities and commentary in Spanish and English.

How many people can join the boat tour?

The activity has a maximum of 50 passengers.