Glaciers Gourmet Perito Moreno Navigation Full Service & Transfer

Glaciers Gourmet Perito Moreno Navigation Full Service & Transfer is interesting because you do more than just watch glaciers. You get a full day on the water, a short walk in the national park, then a prime approach to Perito Moreno from the boat while you also explore along the shore.

What I really like here is the balance: on-board lunch that is actually part of the experience, plus round-trip hotel transfers so you are not juggling ports and timing. The biggest consideration is budget creep, since the Los Glaciares National Park entrance ticket is not included and must be paid in cash.

Key Things to Know Before You Go

• Boat route covers multiple glaciers, not just one, starting with Spegazzini and moving through the canal system.
• Navigation through the Canal de los Témpanos brings you toward the North Wall of Perito Moreno.
• Premium deck is small-group sized (maximum 16 passengers) with a plated tasting menu.
• Classic option is lunch-box style, with different meat and vegetarian choices plus drinks included.
• Optional footbridges come with a guide and are only available if you select that add-on.
• Season matters: May to July runs only on even-numbered dates, while September to December is daily.

Why This Glacier Cruise Works in One Long Day

If you are planning just one day around El Calafate, this kind of itinerary makes sense. You are not forced into a “bus, then one viewpoint” pattern. Instead, you move through Lake Argentino and glacier bays, and you end with the most famous glacier face in the region.

You also get a real sense of glacier geography. Perito Moreno is fed by the Southern Patagonian ice field, while the other stops show different styles of glacier fronts and retreat. It helps you understand why the glaciers look different from boat level versus shoreline level.

The timing is another part of the design. You start early, then the boat portion fills most of the day, with lunch in the middle and a hike and canal visit afterward. That rhythm keeps you from feeling like you are constantly transferring.

Getting From El Calafate to Puerto Privado La Soledad (and Why Pickup Time Matters)

The tour starts with hotel pickup in Calafate. Pickup happens around 7:15 AM, and departures are scheduled for about 7:30 AM onward, with embarkation at Puerto Privado La Soledad at about 8:30 AM.

This is full service only when you choose the WITH TRANSFERS option. If you choose the classic service without transfers, you are on your own to reach Private Port La Soledad (Punta Bandera) by 8:30 AM.

One practical note: pickup can be slower than you expect when a vehicle needs to make multiple hotel stops. If you are staying near the center, you tend to lose less time. If you are staying farther out, give yourself more buffer and do not schedule a tight plan right after your return.

Spegazzini Glacier, Seco, Heim, and What the “First Half” Actually Gives You

This cruise is built in sections. The morning is about seeing glacier variety, then the later portion brings you to the Perito Moreno highlight.

Spegazzini Glacier: the first big glacier impression

You sail and visit Bahía Escuadra and Muralla de Condoreras, then Seco, Heim, and finally Spegazzini. Spegazzini sits in the broader Los Glaciares system, and what I like about starting here is that it sets your expectations for glacier scale before you hit Perito Moreno.

From a viewing standpoint, early stops are often when the boat is freshest and your eyes are still adjusting to that bright ice light. You also get time to spot how glacier tongues meet water, and how that changes the look of the front.

Seco Glacier and the story of a retreating tongue

Seco is known as a glacier in recession, meaning you can see parts of the eroded tongue from earlier times. It is also tied to a measurement nickname: it is called Totalizador because it averages between 1500 and 1800 mm of annual precipitation in that area.

Even if you are not chasing science facts, this matters. A retreating glacier can look like it has “stepped back,” with older scoured surfaces visible. It changes the photo and it changes your understanding of glacier motion.

Heim Glacier and the feeling of scale

Heim is one of the other glacier stops along the route. You will see it from the boat during the sail days, which is one of the reasons this tour works so well for first-time visitors: you are not forced to choose between boat views and land views. You get both over the day.

Lake Argentino, the Upsala Canal, and Your Short Walk Into the National Park

After lunch on board, you disembark at Puesto Las Vacas and do a hike, plus you visit the Upsala Canal. This is where the tour turns from pure cruising into land-based exploration.

Lake Argentino is the largest and southernmost of Argentina’s great Patagonian lakes. It has a main body plus two long irregular western arms inside Los Glaciares National Park, and it collects meltwater from glaciers like Perito Moreno and Upsala.

That matters because your hike and the canal views are not random add-ons. They are your way of connecting glacier activity to the lake that receives it. You see how ice reaches water and how water shapes the scenery around it.

Footbridges option: a guided way to slow down

If you choose the WITH FOOTBRIDGES option, you get a guided visit that lasts about 2 hours, with a return to your hotel starting around 7:00 PM.

Even if you are not the type who loves walking tours, footbridges are useful here. They give you structured viewpoints, and the guide can help you make sense of what you are seeing while the glacier scenery is still “fresh” in your mind.

Perito Moreno: The North Wall by Boat Navigation, Then the Shoreline Effect

Perito Moreno is the reason most people come. This tour addresses it in the way that most travel days cannot: navigation through the Canal de los Témpanos, aimed toward the North Wall.

You are watching a thick mass of ice that advances at the ice front in a way glaciologists keep tracking and debating. The advance front is around 5 kilometers wide, and it rises roughly 74 meters above Lake Argentino, with total ice depth estimated around 170 meters.

You do not need to memorize the numbers to benefit from the approach. The boat positioning and the canal timing are what create the scale you feel in person. When you see it from the water, the front looks more vertical and more immediate. When you later experience it as part of the shoreline walk and viewpoints, it feels like a different scene, not just a repetition.

A realistic expectation

This is a guided day with multiple glacier stops, not a standalone Perito Moreno “all day” trek. If you want to spend hours at just one viewpoint, another itinerary might fit better. But if you want variety plus the signature glacier, this tour is designed for you.

Food on the Water: Premium Menu Tasting vs Classic Lamb Box Lunch

Food is a real part of your decision with this tour because lunch is built into the sailing day, not tacked on at the end.

Premium deck: gourmet tasting menu

If you upgrade to the premium experience, you eat on the premium deck and your lunch is a tasting-style meal. The included Premium menu lists items like:

• Amuse Bouche with tail-on shrimp and patagonian trout pâté, plus mushroom cream and honey-garlic dressing
• Roasted pumpkin soup with toasted seeds and black olive croutons
• A main course of slow-cooked lamb shoulder and baked ribs with pea purée and seasonal vegetables
• Dessert mousse of chocolate with southern fruits, pinot wine reduction, and almond croquant

This option is also smaller in group feel. Premium service has a maximum of 16 passengers, which often translates into smoother service flow and a more relaxed meal moment.

Classic deck: lunch box with drinks and dessert

The classic option is a gourmet lunch box. You still get drinks, including a soft drink or a cup of red wine, plus dessert (dulce de leche mousse, chocolate bay biscuit, and nuts praline).

Classic lunch choices include:

• Lamb sandwich with caramelized onions, homemade mustard, and criollo cheese
• Chicken box lunch with pulled chicken, garlic cream, bacon, candied tomatoes, and cheddar
• Vegetarian sandwich with grilled vegetables, chickpea humus, and tybo cheese
• Pork sandwich with pulled pork and pâtégras cheese on French bread, plus barbecue sauce

If you have a dietary need like gluten-free, ask for the gluten free option. The tour data specifically says to ask for it.

VIP Cabin and Group Size: Why It Changes the Vibe

There are several ways this operator manages comfort and capacity.

• The premium saloon navigation is tied to the premium deck experience.
• Premium service is limited to maximum 16 passengers.
• The classic service can go up to maximum 200 passengers.
• The VIP Cabin is mentioned as a preferential cabin for only 15 people.

In plain terms, this matters because Perito Moreno days can be photo-heavy and can get busy. A smaller cabin setup can make it easier to move, sit, and enjoy lunch without feeling packed in. The “VIP option is really fun” comment highlights the social side too, with people finding common ground during the day.

If you are the type who values quieter pacing, smaller capacity is the lever. If you are more budget-focused and just want the route, classic can be totally fine.

Entrance Ticket Reality Check: Why Your Total Cost Can Surprise You

The tour price is $305 per person, and it includes the boat day, lunch (classic lunch box or premium tasting menu), and the guided navigation plan. It also includes hotel pickup and drop-off in Calafate for options with transfers.

But the Los Glaciares National Park entrance fee is not included. The data gives it as ARS45,000.00 per person, and it says the price is subject to change. You also need to pay it in cash.

So do the math before you book. Your all-in budget depends on the current entrance fee, plus any local cash you need ready that day. If you want less stress, plan to withdraw cash before pickup time.

Season and Scheduling: Even Days, Daily Departures, and Your Best Booking Window

Your travel month affects departure frequency.

• From May to July, the service runs only on even days. On odd days during low season, it will be closed.
• From September to December, departures are listed as daily.

Also, some months have different availability patterns, so your best move is to check your exact calendar date before you lock in flights. This is especially true if you have only one day in town.

What to Expect Day-Of: Timeline You Can Plan Around

This tour is built around a long day starting early.

A practical version of the schedule looks like:

• Around 7:15 AM pickup from your hotel
• 8:30 AM embarkation at Puerto Privado La Soledad
• Sail and visit multiple glacier areas including Bahía Escuadra, Muralla de Condoreras, Seco Glacier, Heim Glacier, and Spegazzini Glacier
• Disembarkation at Puesto Las Vacas, hike, and visit to the Upsala Canal
• Lunch on board
• Navigation through the Canal de los Témpanos toward the North Wall of Perito Moreno Glacier
• Arrival back at the port around 5:00 PM, then hotel drop-off around 6:15 PM

If you select the footbridges option, your return plan shifts, with hotel return starting around 7:00 PM.

Plan your next day with a little breathing room. Glacier day trips run on tight clocks, and pickup delays can happen if the route needs to collect multiple hotels.

If You Want the Best Value: Who This Tour Suits (and Who Should Rethink It)

This cruise is a strong match if you want:

• A guided glacier day with boat navigation plus a hike, not just one viewing platform
• The chance to see multiple glaciers in one outing, including Spegazzini and Seco before Perito Moreno
• A meal included that ranges from classic lunch box to a premium tasting menu
• Full service with pickup and drop-off so you are not stuck figuring out ports

Consider another style of trip if:

• You are the type who wants hours of free time at Perito Moreno alone
• Your schedule is extremely tight after 5:00 PM without any buffer
• You strongly prefer guaranteed small-group sizes, since classic can have up to 200 passengers (though premium stays much smaller)

Booking Advice: Should You Book This Perito Moreno Navigation Cruise?

I would book this tour if you value balance: boat time, multiple glacier stops, and a real national-park moment, all wrapped into one day. The premium deck is often the sweet spot for comfort, especially because the premium service is limited to 16 passengers and the meal is a true tasting menu instead of a simplified box.

If budget is your main driver, classic still gets you the route and lunch, and you can spend the money you saved on a better viewpoint day or a longer stay in town.

The only caution I give is practical, not dramatic: bring cash for the park entrance ticket, pick a day that actually runs (especially even days in May to July), and do not schedule your departure flight like the day is guaranteed to be smooth to the minute. When operations face safety or technical issues, the priority will be vessel readiness, and that can disrupt plans.

FAQ

What time does the tour start in El Calafate?

Pickup starts around 7:15 AM, with embarkation at Puerto Privado La Soledad at about 8:30 AM.

How long is the tour?

It runs about 11 hours on average.

Are hotel transfers included?

They are included for options with transfers. Pickup and drop-off cover hotels located in Calafate.

What if I choose Classic without transfers?

You need to make your own way to the Private Port La Soledad (Punta Bandera) at 8:30 AM.

Is the Los Glaciares National Park entrance ticket included?

No. The entrance fee is not included and is paid in cash. The data lists ARS45,000.00 per person, subject to change.

What glaciers and areas do we visit?

You sail and visit Bahía Escuadra and Muralla de Condoreras, Seco, Heim, and Spegazzini. You also navigate toward the North Wall of Perito Moreno and visit the Upsala Canal.

Is there a hike?

Yes. After disembarkation at Puesto Las Vacas, you do a hike and then visit the Upsala Canal.

What is included with the premium deck option?

The premium option includes a gourmet menu tasting for lunch. Premium service maximum is 16 passengers.

What is included with the classic deck option?

The classic option includes a gourmet lunch box, drinks, and dessert, with menu choices like lamb, chicken, vegetarian, and pork.

When are departures available during May to July?

From May to July, departures operate only on even days. Odd days are closed during the low season.

Is the tour offered in English?

Yes, English is offered.