Glaciares Gourmet Navigation: Spegazzini, Upsala & Perito Moreno

Glaciers Gourmet Navigation is interesting because it stacks several Los Glaciares highlights into one smooth day on Lake Argentino, ending with the famous Perito Moreno glacier. It is a long-ish day, but you get big-picture views plus a few short land moments.

Two things I love about it: the boat route brings you in range of major glaciers like Spegazzini and Seco, and the experience includes real guided explanations from bilingual staff. One possible drawback to plan for is that entrance fees for Los Glaciares National Park are not included, so your final cost depends on paying that add-on fee.

Key Things to Know Before You Go

• Classic vs Premium deck: Classic is a box lunch plus one non-alcoholic drink, Premium adds a 4-course gourmet lunch.
• Close-approach factor: You approach Spegazzini to about 300 meters from the highest glacier in the park.
• Puesto Las Vacas walk: A short guided walk in the Andean Patagonian forest helps break up all-day boat time.
• Perito Moreno from the water: You navigate toward the northern face, then spend focused time viewing it.
• Bring binoculars: Upsala can be farther out, so binoculars really help.

A Lake Argentino Glacier Cruise From El Calafate: What You Are Really Paying For

This day trip is basically a “big glacier day” with low physical effort. You start early at the private La Soledad port area and spend about 11 hours cruising Los Glaciares National Park waters, with lunch on board.

The value is not just seeing one glacier. You are watching several named ice areas from the boat, plus getting a short guided walk at Puesto Las Vacas. If you only want one-stop glacier viewing, you may find this is overkill. If you want the full Patagonia glacier sampler, it makes a lot of sense.

The price is $225 per person, but there is one money detail that matters: Los Glaciares National Park entrance fees are extra (listed as ARS 45,000.00 per person). That means the true cost is your tour price plus that park fee, so budget for it early.

Finally, keep expectations realistic about distance. On a boat cruise, you cannot control cloud cover, wind, or how close the ship can get at each moment. The itinerary gives you the right targets, but the weather sets the vibe.

Classic vs Premium Deck Lunch: Which Option Is Better Value?

You have two main onboard food experiences. The Classic deck option includes a box lunch with one non-alcoholic drink. The Premium deck option includes a 4-course gourmet lunch, which is the main upgrade.

If you care most about saving money, Classic can work well. Some people are happy with the box lunch, and you still get the full glacier route either way. If you care about comfort and a more complete meal experience, Premium is often the better buy because it turns lunchtime into an actual sit-down meal instead of a quick grab-and-go.

One more practical point: you can request vegetarian and celiac options at booking. Still, based on the food comments I saw in the data, it is smart to be specific when you book. For example, note what “vegetarian” means for you, and confirm your needs for celiac support.

Morning Cruise on Lago Argentino: The Route That Sets Up Everything

Boarding starts around 8:30 am at La Soledad Private Port, with sailing around 9:00 am. Right away, you are not just floating. You are moving through parts of Lago Argentino that help explain how the region works.

Early on, the ship heads toward the northwest, crossing Punta Avellaneda and Boca del Diablo. Boca del Diablo is described as the narrowest passage in the lake, which is exactly the kind of detail that makes the day feel more intentional than just sightseeing.

Then you visit areas like Escuadra Bay and Muralla de Condoreras, where you can spot condor nesting wall viewpoints (season and visibility will vary). From there, the glaciers start showing up as the route unfolds.

This part is also where a lot of first-time glacier cruisers get the “wow” feeling. You are learning names in real time, and you get your first close views of ice formations without having to hike to anything. If you get motion-sick, this is also the time to take it seriously. Bring whatever helps you normally with boat travel.

Spegazzini and Seco: Hanging Glaciers and the Close-Approach Moment

Stop-by-stop, the day is designed around how ice looks from water. The cruise specifically includes Glaciar Seco and Glaciar Spegazzini, plus you will also pass views connected to Heim.

For Seco, you spend a short period seeing hanging glaciers such as the Dry Glacier and the Heim Glacier. Hanging glaciers can look like ice shelves or dramatic drapes, and on a calm day the shapes read clearly from the water. If the wind picks up, you still get the forms, but it may be harder to take sharp photos.

Then comes Spegazzini, and this is the “distance math” moment. You are scheduled to approach to about 300 meters from the highest glacier in Los Glaciares National Park. That is close enough to feel the scale without needing to cram onto land for a full hike.

The timing at each glacier is limited, but that is part of the design. You get focused viewing windows that keep you moving toward the day’s big finale, rather than waiting around for one spot to be perfect.

Puesto Las Vacas Walk: The Short Land Break That Feels Like Patagonia

Midday, you get a land moment at Puesto Las Vacas. This is not a long hike. It is a short guided walk through the Andean Patagonian forest, designed to stretch your legs and reset your eyes from blue-white ice back to real earthy textures.

You will step off for about 15 minutes for the walk, with guides explaining the history of the place. That guided context is what turns a quick walk into something memorable.

Also, note the operational detail: the ship engines are stopped where you will walk. That matters more than it sounds. When the engine noise fades, you can actually hear what the day feels like, and the pause makes the glacier views feel less like a drive-by.

If you want a cruise that is kid-friendly or easier for older travelers, this short walk is one reason the day works. You still get land time, but it is not a marathon on the ground.

Upsala Canal and Lunch On Board: When Binoculars Earn Their Keep

After the forest break, the cruise shifts to Upsala territory via Upsala Canal. You get a panoramic view of the Upsala and Bertracchi glaciers, and this is also when lunch is served onboard.

Lunch timing is short and practical (about 30 minutes mentioned), so do not plan on linger time after you eat. This is a day with a lot of boat windows, and the schedule is designed around getting you into position for Perito Moreno.

Now here is the consideration: Upsala can feel distant depending on what the ship can do and where you are sitting on deck. One key tip from the experience data is to bring binoculars. Even basic binoculars help you “pull the ice closer” visually when you cannot get physically close from the water.

If your deck choice matters to you, the Premium deck is a stronger value here because you are pairing better lunch with another viewing section where you want to stay comfortable.

Canal de los Témpanos to Perito Moreno: The Main Event From the Northern Face

This is the payoff. You navigate along Canal de los Témpanos toward the northern face of the Perito Moreno Glacier. The itinerary frames the Perito Moreno segment as focused viewing time from the water, not a distant postcard.

On paper, the schedule says you will have roughly 9 hours exploring the area and return to La Soledad by around 6:00 pm. In reality, what you care about is how much of that time is spent near Perito Moreno and how long you can keep getting good angles from your viewing spot.

Perito Moreno is dramatic because of how it towers and how it changes. Even if you only catch a few seconds of calving or shifting, the glacier still delivers that “living ice” feeling that makes you stop talking and just watch.

Practical tip: dress for wind during this stage. The northern face view is often clearer with steady, layered clothing, since your body will spend more time in cold air at the water level than you expect.

What to Pack for a Long Glacier Day in El Calafate

Glacier cruises are not the time for summer fantasies. Your clothing list is basically the weather-proof plan.

Bring:

• Warm and waterproof jacket
• Thermal shirt and socks
• Gloves
• Hat and scarf
• Hiking boots or sneakers
• Sunscreen and sunglasses
• Camera
• Binoculars

One review detail that matches the reality here: January can be cold and windy, and the day can feel wet from mist and spray near the water. Layers are the win. If you only bring one heavy coat, you might overheat indoors and still feel cold on deck.

Also, consider a small day snack stash. Lunch is included, but the day can have a long stretch between bites and the timing is built around viewing windows.

Service, Guides, and Onboard Comfort: What Makes the Day Flow

The cruise includes bilingual guidance and local guidance. You also get guided explanations tied to what you are seeing, not generic facts read off a card.

A name that came up in the provided experience data is Maurizio, mentioned as warm and highly informative. I like that you can count on a guide style that helps you make sense of what you are looking at, from glacier names to how the lake route works.

Comfort gets a lot of attention too. The ship is described as clean and comfortable, and there is mention of deck space across levels so you can find a good viewing angle. With up to 200 travelers, it is not a small private boat, but deck space should still keep you from feeling trapped below.

One more practical extra: the data points to a professional photographer onboard. If that service is offered during your departure, it is a nice option because cold weather makes people want to stop taking photos and start watching.

Who This Cruise Suits Best (and Who Might Want Another Plan)

This is a strong match if you want:

• A one-day way to see multiple glaciers
• Mostly boat viewing with only short land walking
• A guided day with bilingual support
• Options for vegetarian and celiac needs

It is also a reasonable choice for families, since the physical effort is limited. That said, if you are the kind of traveler who needs maximum closeness at every single glacier, you may find some sections less dramatic than the Perito Moreno finale. For example, Upsala views can be farther out, so plan to rely on binoculars and deck positioning.

If you are traveling with limited time in El Calafate and you want the headline glacier day without transfers between multiple operators, this itinerary layout is efficient.

Should You Book Glaciares Gourmet Navigation With MarPatag?

Yes, if you want a full glacier day that balances comfort, guided context, and multiple iconic stops. The biggest reasons to book are the close-approach setup for Spegazzini, the short but meaningful Puesto Las Vacas walk, and the water-based viewing of Perito Moreno.

Book Premium if you think lunch quality and a sit-down meal format matter to your enjoyment. Book Classic if you are mainly paying for the route and you prefer to spend less on onboard extras.

Before you commit, do two quick checks:

• Confirm the park entrance fee is something you will pay on your side, since it is not included.
• Decide whether you need the Premium deck for comfort and meal value, especially on a long day.

If you do those two things, you end up with a glacier cruise that feels like a best-of Patagonia day rather than a single stop and done.

FAQ

What is the duration of the cruise?

The tour is listed at about 11 hours, approximately.

Where does the tour start and end?

It starts at the cruise port meeting point: Cruise Port Marpatag, SOLITUDE, Puerto Bandera, Santa Cruz Province, Argentina, and ends back at the same meeting point.

Is lunch included, and how does Classic compare to Premium?

Yes. Classic includes a box lunch with one non-alcoholic drink. Premium includes a 4-course gourmet lunch.

Are Los Glaciares National Park entrance fees included?

No. Entrance fees are not included and are listed as ARS 45,000.00 per person.

Is there a vegetarian or celiac meal option?

Yes, vegetarian and celiac options are available. You should advise your needs at booking.

Do I need to book transfers?

Transfers are included only in the options that specify CLASSIC or PREMIUM with transfer. If you choose options without transfers, you need to arrange them yourself.

What should I wear for this day trip?

Wear hiking boots or sneakers, and bring a warm and waterproof jacket, thermal layers, gloves, and a hat or scarf. Sunscreen and sunglasses also help.