Perito Moreno Glacier tour from El Calafate: sail and walk

Sail past floating icebergs and explore Patagonian forests on Lake Argentina

A full-day glacier tour from El Calafate that sails Lake Argentina among floating ice, stops at three glacier viewpoints, and includes a 30-minute forest walk and optional boardwalk descent on Perito Moreno Glacier itself. The boat departs at 9:00 AM from Puerto La Soledad, 47 km outside town, with a live guide in English, Spanish or Portuguese, lunch aboard, round-trip hotel transfers, and park entry arranged. You return by 6:00 PM.

Step-by-step itinerary

Glacier navigation and nature walk

• Depart from Puerto La Soledad at 9:00 AM
• Sail along North Channel among icebergs
• View Uppsala Glacier from Uppsala Canal
• See hanging glaciers including Dry Glacier
• Disembark for 30-minute Patagonian forest walk
• Enjoy lunch on board while sailing to Spegazzini Glacier
• Approach Spegazzini Glacier, highest in park
• Optional 1.5-hour walk on Perito Moreno Glacier walkways
• Return to El Calafate by 6:00 PM

The Experience

The day starts with a pickup from your El Calafate hotel and a drive to Puerto La Soledad, where you board for a full navigation of the park's three main glacier systems. The boat sails north along Lake Argentina's North Channel, passing between floating icebergs as you approach the Uppsala Canal. From the water, you see the Upsala Glacier from 10 km away—the distance keeps the ice stable and the view unobstructed. The route then curves into the Spegazzini Canal, where hanging glaciers including the Dry, South Heim and Peinetta line both sides of the waterway. You approach within 300 meters of Spegazzini Glacier, the highest in Los Glaciares National Park.

Midway through the morning, you disembark at Posto de Las Vacas for a 30-minute interpretive walk through Patagonian forest and along the glacial beach—a chance to stand on land and see the ice from a different angle. Back aboard, lunch is served as the boat sails toward the final stop. The guide narrates throughout, and non-alcoholic drinks are included; alcoholic beverages are available to purchase. The return journey gives you time to rest and absorb the scale of what you've seen.

The optional final step is the one most visitors come for: disembarkation onto the Perito Moreno Glacier's official boardwalks for a 1.5-hour walk across the ice itself. This is not a climbing expedition—the walkways are established trails on the glacier's surface—but it is the closest most people get to touching an active glacier. If you choose to walk, the boat waits; if you prefer to stay aboard, you return to El Calafate by 6:00 PM. Park entry is paid separately at arrival (cash or Visa in Argentine pesos; Mastercard is not accepted), and you'll need your passport or national ID.

What’s included

• Round-trip hotel transfer from central El Calafate.
• live guide in English, Spanish or Portuguese.
• lunch aboard (sandwich, dessert and soft drink).
• non-alcoholic beverage of choice.
• insurance.

Good to know

Easy physical levelWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportStroller friendlyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Patagonia Dreams

Is this one for you?Book the option with transfers if your hotel is in central El Calafate and you want the pickup included; choose without transfers if you're arranging your own ride to Puerto La Soledad. The boardwalk descent on Perito Moreno is optional—select the disembarkation option if you want to walk the glacier, or stay aboard if you prefer to view it from the water.

Traveler reviews

4.62★★★★★★★★★★

76 verified traveler reviews

5 ★60

4 ★6

3 ★7

2 ★3

1 ★0

Read all the reviews ›

Top questions

What's the difference between seeing the glaciers from the boat and walking on Perito Moreno?

From the boat, you see the glaciers from the water and from a distance—the Upsala Glacier from 10 km away, and Spegazzini from 300 meters. The boardwalk on Perito Moreno Glacier puts you on the ice itself for 1.5 hours, walking established trails across the glacier's surface. The boardwalk is optional; if you skip it, you stay aboard and return to El Calafate by 6:00 PM.

How long is the full day, and when does the boat leave?

The tour runs 11 hours total, departing at 9:00 AM from Puerto La Soledad (47 km from El Calafate) and returning by 6:00 PM. The drive from your hotel to the port is included in the transfer.

What happens during the 30-minute forest walk at Posto de Las Vacas?

You disembark and walk through Patagonian forest and along the glacial beach with the guide, who explains the landscape and ecology. It's a break from the boat and a chance to see the glaciers and lake from the shore.

Is the boardwalk walk on Perito Moreno Glacier difficult or dangerous?

The boardwalks are established, maintained trails on the glacier surface—not a climbing or mountaineering experience. The walk lasts 1.5 hours and is suitable for all physical fitness levels. Infants can ride in a pram or stroller on the boat, though the forest trail is not wheelchair accessible and the glacier boardwalk has its own terrain.

What's included in the price, and what do I pay separately?

Included are the boat, guide, round-trip hotel transfer, lunch (sandwich, dessert and soft drink), non-alcoholic beverages, and insurance. You pay separately for Los Glaciares National Park entry at arrival (cash or Visa in Argentine pesos only). Alcoholic beverages are available to purchase aboard.

Which language will the guide speak?

The guide speaks English, Spanish or Portuguese. Confirm your language preference when you book.