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Hello!
Last time, I shared my amazing experience doing the Big Ice in the Perito Moreno, where I made some unforgettable memories.
This time, I will tell you about my experience sailing in Glaciers National Park, specifically with the Glaciers Gourmet Boat Tour.
If you’re heading to El Calafate and are curious about Glacier National Park boat tours, this is definitely a must-do! Let’s dive in!
Is Glaciares Gourmet the best boat tour in El Calafate?
We decided to take the Glaciares Gourmet tour for several reasons:
1. You can only see the big glaciers surrounding Lake Argentino from a boat. You can’t get a good view of the famous Upsala and Spegazzini Glaciers from land, but with this tour from the water, you can.
2. You get the chance to visit the Perito Moreno Glacier and other smaller ones.
3. The icebergs floating on the lake are a spectacle we did not want to miss.
4. With this tour, we were going to see three of the most impressive glaciers in Patagonia.
5. Ah! And with good food aboard a very comfortable boat, it must be said.
Despite the fact it was an incredible sail, it’s not the only option available to visitors, for example, this tour that sails to the Glaciers can be a perfect option if you’re traveling with children or want a more active tour because you can leave the ship in front of the Spegazzini Glacier, and for several hours have lunch in its restaurant, and walk freely along its trails overlooking the glacier. 
Pick-up in El Calafate and transfer to Puerto de la Soledad
The day before, we arranged with our driver to be picked up at 7:30 am, and just minutes before, we could see him waiting for us from our window.
We got in the car and within two minutes we were hit with a caffeine craving, so we made a stop and bought coffee to go with a croissant.
Back on the road, we were about 50 minutes out from Puerto de La Soledad, inside Glaciers National Park, from El Calafate. The drive itself felt like part of the adventure.
With the stunning views of Lake Argentino in the distance and our driver, Gonzalo, doubling as our guide, we quickly realized this experience was going to be worth every penny.
We purchased our entrance ticket to the park right next to the pier and then boarded the boat. Keep in mind that the seat you choose at the start is yours for the entire glacier boat tour, with shared tables and window seats being the first to fill up. Pro tip 💡: Review all ticket options before your trip to Glacier Lake National Park and try to pay in cash (Argentine pesos) or with a VISA card, as not all cards are accepted.
Los Glaciares National Park Boat Tour
Once we set sail, the crew gave a rundown of the itinerary and answered any questions we had. Meanwhile, the natural spectacle unfolded around us: we only had to glance out the window, step onto the second-floor deck, or venture up to the third-floor terrace for breathtaking views. Naturally, we explored the ship, including the bar and cafeteria, before heading out on deck to truly experience the sensation of sailing—with the cold wind on our faces and sometimes on our entire bodies. 💡 Pro tip: Bring a good coat—ideally a windbreaker, or even a raincoat if you have one. Depending on your luck that day, you’ll find yourself surrounded by glaciers and crisp, chilly air. Sturdy footwear is also essential, because the deck can get wet and too slippery for flat shoes.
For anyone considering boat tours, Glacier National Park, or things to do in the region, these tips will ensure you stay comfortable and make the most of the adventure!
For almost two hours while on the glacier boat cruise, we sailed Lake Argentino, seeing big, small, white, and blue icebergs…Some of them were even fished out of the lake by the crew to be served at the bar.
Yes, your drink will have glacier ice 😱.
Finally, we reached the wall of the first glacier: the Dry Glacier.
At each stop, the captain would wait for a reasonable amount of time and do a complete lap around the glacier so that everyone could enjoy it regardless of their seat or place on deck.
This was repeated several times with the different glaciers, each one better than the last: Upsala, Heim, Spegazzini. In all of them, the guide gave us explanations well in advance so that we knew what we would see before going out on deck to enjoy it.
Glaciers Gourmet Sailing Itinerary
Here you can see the Glacier National Park map and the boat’s route. 👇🏽
I’m not going to explain the views, because it’s worth coming to discover them for yourself.
If photos are not able to capture the amazingness of the place, let alone words. Anyway, I am leaving you here a picture so you can get an idea.
After 12:00 pm, we disembarked at Puerto de Las Vacas to walk along a beautiful trail.
The guides talked about the park and we understood what life was like for the ancient (and not-so-ancient) inhabitants of the park.
After this walk (less than an hour), we returned to the ship and were served lunch with three options: chicken, lamb, or vegetarian.
We opted for the glass of wine and dulce de leche dessert, as it could not be otherwise. Then we continued on to the last stop: the Perito Moreno Glacier.
Once here, we had two options.
On the one hand, enjoy the glacier from the ship and continue on our way back to the port.
On the other hand, we could disembark at the Perito Moreno and see it from the walkways, and this is what we did. After an hour and a half, we returned to El Calafate in a van that took us to our lodging.
This was our experience with glacier boat tours in the Glacier National Park.
As you can see, it is a very comfortable tour to enjoy the best glaciers in Patagonia.
It is not as adventurous as the mini trekking on the Perito Moreno, but a trip to Glacier National Park is worth it to enjoy a place as impressive as this, in fact, whenever a friend asks me what to do in El Calafate I recommend walking on the ice doing a mini trekking or Big Ice (or at least visit the walkways of the glacier) and take a boat tour, so you have a complete view of the park and the Perito Moreno.
Have I made you a little envious?
Come and see it for yourself!
