El Calafate Boat Tour: Perito Moreno from the water

Boat at Puerto Bajo Las Sombras, drift past icebergs to glacier's 60m ice wall

You travel by coach along Lake Argentino's shore to Los Glaciares National Park, walk the multi-level viewing platforms facing Perito Moreno's 60-meter ice wall, and watch chunks calve into the water below. The optional boat cruise takes you within meters of the glacier's face, navigating between floating icebergs for a full hour. You return to El Calafate in the late afternoon with free time for lunch near the park.

Step-by-step itinerary

• Travel by coach along Route 11
• View glacier at Curve of Sighs
• Explore glacier walkways and viewpoints
• Optional boat ride near glacier front
• Free time and lunch near glacier
• Return to El Calafate by coach

The Experience

The coach pulls away from El Calafate early, and for the first hour you're skirting the edge of Lago Argentino—the water so still it looks like glass, the mountains beyond it sharp and colorless in the Patagonian light. Your guide talks about the ice fields, about how much fresh water is locked up in these glaciers, but mostly you're just watching the landscape get bigger and emptier. And then the road curves, and there it is: Perito Moreno, the glacier itself, white and jagged against the sky like something broke and froze mid-collapse. That's the Curva de los Suspiros—the Curve of Sighs—and you understand the name the moment you see it.

Once you're inside Los Glaciares National Park, the walkways let you move around the glacier at different levels, so you get it from above, from the side, from angles that shift the whole thing every few steps. The ice formations catch the light in ways that photographs never quite capture—blues and grays and whites that seem to come from inside the glacier itself. And then, without warning, you hear it: a crack like thunder, and a chunk the size of a building tips into the lake. The sound follows a second later. People around you gasp or go quiet. It happens again maybe twenty minutes later, and you're still not ready for it.

The boat ride is the part that changes everything. You leave from Puerto Bajo Las Sombras and head out onto the Rico Arm, and the glacier gets closer and taller until you're looking up at the ice wall from water level—the boat small, the glacier enormous, icebergs drifting past you like the glacier is shedding pieces as it moves. The guide cuts the engine sometimes so you can hear the creaks and groans coming from inside the ice. It's a full hour, and it goes fast. On the way back to El Calafate, the coach is quieter than it was in the morning. People are still looking out the windows, but they're looking back.

What’s included

• Your day includes hotel pickup and drop-off in El Calafate, transport by air-conditioned coach along Route 11, a local professional guide, access to Los Glaciares National Park's multi-level walkways and viewpoints, and (if selected) a one-hour boat cruise across the Rico Arm of Lago Argentino.
• The national park entrance fee is not included and must be paid separately in cash (Argentine pesos) at the park gate.
• Lunch and snacks are not included, though free time is built in near the park for you to eat at nearby restaurants with glacier views.

Good to know

Easy physical levelWheelchair accessibleStroller friendly

Operated by Tangol

Is this one for you?A good fit if you're based in El Calafate and want to see Perito Moreno without arranging your own transport or park logistics—the coach, guide, and timing are handled. The boat upgrade is worth it if you want to experience the glacier from the water; the walkways alone give you the scale and the calving, but the boat puts you inside the landscape itself.

Traveler reviews

4.58★★★★★★★★★★

240 verified traveler reviews

5 ★179

4 ★36

3 ★16

2 ★2

1 ★7

Read all the reviews ›

Top questions

How long is the full day trip from El Calafate?

The tour is a full day, with coach travel, park walkways, and return to your hotel. If you add the boat ride, plan for the boat portion to take about one hour.

Is the boat ride included, or is it extra?

The boat ride is optional and can be added for an upgrade. The base tour includes the coach, park entry walkways, and a guide.

What's included in the price?

Hotel pickup and drop-off, air-conditioned coach transport, a local professional guide, and access to the park's walkways and viewpoints. The national park entrance fee is not included and must be paid separately in cash (Argentine pesos) at the gate.

Can I bring children or use a stroller?

Yes. Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller on the walkways. The tour is suitable for all fitness levels, though the walkways involve some walking at different elevations.

What should I wear?

Wear warm, comfortable clothes and sturdy shoes. Bring water, snacks, and sunscreen. Patagonia's weather can change quickly, so layers are a good idea.

Is the tour wheelchair accessible?

Yes, the tour is wheelchair accessible. The walkways and viewpoints are designed to accommodate wheelchairs.

What if I want to cancel?

Cancellations between December 24 and January 2 are not refunded—all sales are final during that period. Outside those dates, check the cancellation policy when you book.

Do I need to book the boat ride in advance?

It's best to arrange the boat upgrade when you book the tour, though availability can sometimes be confirmed closer to your travel date.

How far is El Calafate from the glacier?

The drive is roughly one hour each way along Route 11, which runs along the shore of Lago Argentino.

Will I definitely see ice calving?

Ice calving happens regularly at Perito Moreno, but it's a natural event and timing cannot be guaranteed. The glacier is active year-round, so you're likely to witness it, but it's not promised.