Boating in El Calafate is the most comprehensive way to experience Los Glaciares National Park . From the water, you can see up close ice walls over 100 meters high, channels covered in icebergs, and areas of the park inaccessible by land.
The most frequently asked question before booking is which one to choose, because glacier navigation in El Calafate It's not just one excursion, but several , with very different durations and routes. This guide organizes the options according to the time you have available: from short one-hour walks that complement the classic Perito Moreno Glacier visit , to full-day cruises to the Upsala and Spegazzini Glaciers , and even a luxury experience with an overnight stay on board.
You'll also find the departure ports for each trip, and some direct comparisons between the most similar options. If you already know what type of sailing you're interested in, you can directly check the boat excursions in El Calafate available for your travel dates.
How to choose your glacier sailing excursion in El Calafate
It's worth clarifying something from the outset: there isn't one single "best" sailing experience for everyone. Someone staying only one day in El Calafate will prioritize a short sailing trip, combined with visits to the Perito Moreno Glacier walkways. Someone with several days available, on the other hand, might add a full day to Upsala and Spegazzini, or even spend a night on board.
This guide is organized from shortest to longest duration, so you can quickly find the option that fits your itinerary and travel budget.
Lake Argentino has several arms, and each one contains a different glacier or group of glaciers: the Brazo Rico is opposite the Perito Moreno , the Brazo Norte leads towards the Upsala and the Spegazzini , and there are sectors even further from the classic circuit that are only visited on full-day excursions.
Before booking, it's worth considering two simple questions: how much time do you have available that day , and whether your priority is to add a short boat trip to the visit to the Perito Moreno walkways, or to dedicate a full day (or more) to exploring the glaciers furthest from the lake, with all the logistics of transportation and lunch already taken care of within the tour package.
A common misconception is that all boat tours in El Calafate offer the same views of glaciers from the same vantage point. In reality, each departure port provides access to a different section of the National Park . Therefore, two tours that initially appear similar can end up showcasing quite different landscapes, both in the shape of the ice and the number of icebergs visible during the voyage.
One thing to keep in mind: the entrance fee to Los Glaciares National Park is generally not included in the price of the tour , and is paid separately before boarding.
Short boat trips in front of the Perito Moreno Glacier
If you've already planned a visit to the Perito Moreno Glacier walkways, adding a short boat trip is the easiest way to see the glacier from a different perspective. The Perito Moreno Glacier Nautical Safari takes you along the Brazo Rico arm of Lake Argentino in about an hour. During the trip, you'll get close to icebergs calving from the glacier's face; it's a complement to, not a replacement for, walking along the walkways.
A different option within this same group is the Blue Safari , which combines a short boat trip with a 1.5 km guided hike through Patagonian forest trails, offering close-up views of the glacier's southern face . It does not include walking on the ice: it's an intermediate option between a pure boat trip and a glacier trek, designed for those who want to stretch their legs without reaching the demanding level of a Minitrekking or a Big Ice trek .
Full-day cruises to Uppsala and Spegazzini
To see the Upsala and Spegazzini glaciers, located on the North Arm of Lake Argentino, a full day is needed. Lake Argentino boat trip: All Glaciers The tour departs from Punta Bandera Port and sails first towards Upsala , one of the largest lakes in the park. Afterwards, there is a landing and free time at Spegazzini Base before approaching the face of Upsala, the tallest in all of Los Glaciares National Park, with walls between 80 and 135 meters above the lake level.
A more comprehensive option within this same group is the Gourmet Glaciers Experience , aboard the María Turquesa Cruise from Puerto La Soledad . The tour sails towards the Upsala Glacier, continues to the Spegazzini Glacier, and includes a one-hour disembarkation at Puesto de las Vacas, with a guided hike through the forest to panoramic viewpoints overlooking the glacier.
Towards the end of the day, the cruise also passes by the north face of the Perito Moreno Glacier , with the option to add two hours of walkways. Lunch is prepared with regional products and served on board.
The difference between these two excursions isn't so much the route itself, but rather the level of service on board and the number of stops along the way. Those who prioritize fine dining and an additional day trip with a hike tend to opt for the Gourmet Glaciers Experience, while the All Glaciers tour is a more direct option for seeing both glaciers in a single day.
Luxury cruising with overnight stay on board
If you have more than one day available and are looking for an experience different from a single-day excursion, the Spirit of the Glaciers is the perfect plan for you. This two-day, one-night cruise is aboard the Santa Cruz Cruise, with private cabins and full board . The Southern Patagonian Ice Field is the second largest continuous ice sheet on the planet after Antarctica, and sailing it for two full days allows you to appreciate a scale that a single-day excursion simply can't capture.
The itinerary covers Lakes Upsala and Spegazzini on the first day, with stops for short walks in bays like Bahía Toro , and spends the night sailing on Lake Argentino. The following day, the voyage approaches the northern face of the Perito Moreno Glacier.
It is, by far, the most exclusive proposal on this list: it combines gourmet gastronomy, bilingual guides and the type of access to the glaciers that can only be obtained by spending the night inside Los Glaciares National Park itself .
Boat trips in El Calafate to remote areas of the park
In addition to the classic circuits, Los Glaciares National Park has even less visited areas , which can only be accessed by combining navigation with sections of trekking.
These excursions are designed for those who have already visited the main glaciers, or for those who prefer a more active day than a leisurely cruise. The visits are less crowded and at a more relaxed pace, allowing you to explore every corner of the Patagonian landscape.
These excursions also depart from different ports than those on the classic circuit , so it's advisable to double-check the meeting point before booking. Unlike the previous cruises, the initial transfer here is usually a significant part of the day, as these areas of the park are farther from the city of El Calafate and the other ports.
Navigation and trekking to southern glaciers
The trekking and sailing tour to the southern glaciers combines a boat trip through a more remote section of the National Park with a 14-kilometer hike, including a boat crossing and a second trekking leg to a glacial amphitheater. It is one of the most comprehensive excursions in El Calafate in terms of physical activity.
Unlike the shorter boat trips on Brazo Rico, this full-day excursion takes up the entire day, so it's best to book it well in advance of your itinerary . It's also a good option for those who have already done the All Glaciers tour or the Gourmet Glaciers Experience on a previous trip and are looking to explore a less crowded area of the park on this new visit.
This type of glacier navigation excursion in Calafate combines two different ways of approaching the ice : the boat trip, which allows you to move quickly between channels and icebergs, and the trekking, which forces you to slow down and pay attention to the immediate surroundings, something that shorter navigations do not offer due to the limited time available at each stop.
Practical information for choosing your sailing in El Calafate
This final section summarizes the most frequently asked operational information when booking: from which port each excursion departs, to what to bring, and when it's best to book in advance . It's the information many people only look for after choosing their excursion, when it's time to organize the day's details.
Having this clear beforehand avoids common confusions, such as arriving at the wrong port or discovering, too late, that you need to pay for park entry separately.
Departure ports and duration of each voyage
Short boat trips in front of the Perito Moreno Glacier (Nautical Safari and Blue Safari) depart from the Puerto Bajo de las Sombras area, on the Brazo Rico , and last about an hour.
Full-day cruises to Upsala and Spegazzini depart from either Puerto Punta Bandera (All Glaciers) or Puerto La Soledad (Gourmet Glaciers Experience and Spirit of the Glaciers). Both are located on the North Arm of the lake. Trips last between 10 and 12 hours for one-day excursions, or two full days for the overnight option.
The trekking and sailing excursion to the southern glaciers has its own meeting point , different from the ports mentioned previously, as it covers a more remote area of the park. It's advisable to confirm the exact meeting point when booking, as it may vary depending on the operator and the season.
Tips before booking your boat trip
The weather in Patagonia changes quickly, so it's best to dress in layers, with a warm layer and a waterproof and windproof outer layer . On full-day cruises, there's a lot of time spent outdoors on the different decks of the boat, so the cold is felt more intensely than on a shorter cruise, even in the summer months.
Several of these cruises don't operate daily during the low season (May to August), so it's best to confirm available dates before finalizing the rest of your itinerary. And if you plan to combine the cruise with a visit to the Perito Moreno Glacier walkways on the same day, carefully check the disembarkation times for each excursion. Not all tours include this section automatically; some offer it as an optional extra when booking .
It's also worth considering navigation within the rest of the itinerary in El Calafate:
- If your trip includes only a few days in the city, a short boat trip like the Nautical Safari or the Blue Safari leaves the rest of the day free for other activities , such as a city tour or a horseback ride around Lake Argentino.
- If you have the flexibility to dedicate a full day (or two) solely to glaciers, the All Glaciers, Gourmet Glaciers Experience, or Spirit of the Glaciers tours make the best use of that time. Much of the value of these excursions lies in the variety of glaciers seen on a single route, something a one-hour boat trip simply can't offer.
What is the best sailing excursion in El Calafate for a first trip?
If it's your first time, a short boat trip like the Nautical Safari or the Blue Safari, combined with the classic visit to the Perito Moreno walkways, is usually the most recommended combination: it allows you to see the glacier from land and water on the same day, without having to dedicate a whole day of the trip to it.
How long does a boat trip in El Calafate last?
It depends on the type: short trips in front of Perito Moreno last about an hour, full-day trips to Upsala and Spegazzini take around 10 to 12 hours, and the luxury version with an overnight stay extends to two full days.
Is it possible to combine a boat trip with the Perito Moreno walkways on the same day?
Yes, although not all excursions include it automatically. The Glaciers Gourmet Experience, for example, offers the option of adding two hours of walkways at the end of the tour, while short boat trips are generally offered as a complement to a walkway visit already planned separately.
What is the difference between Todo Glaciares and the Gourmet Glaciers Experience?
Both sail to Upsala and Spegazzini from different ports (Punta Bandera and La Soledad, respectively), but the Glaciers Gourmet Experience adds a landing with a walk at Puesto de las Vacas, a gourmet lunch on board and the possibility of also seeing the north face of Perito Moreno towards the end of the tour.
Is the two-day excursion with an overnight stay on board worth it?
It depends on how many days you have in El Calafate and your budget. It's the most comprehensive option in terms of scenery and comfort, as it allows you to see the three main glaciers (Upsala, Spegazzini, and Perito Moreno) with more time and less rushing than on a day trip, but it's also the most expensive and takes up the most time in your itinerary.
Is it possible to do more than one sailing trip on the same journey?
Yes, and in fact many travelers combine a short sailing trip (Nautical Safari or Blue Safari) with a full-day trip (All Glaciers or Gourmet Glaciers Experience) on different dates of the same trip, since each one showcases a different sector of Los Glaciares National Park and provides its own perspective on the Patagonian ice.