Grey Glacier Cruise from Puerto Natales: Lake Grey boat tour

Drift past icebergs and cruise to the glacier wall on Lake Grey

A full-day boat tour from Puerto Natales that crosses Lake Grey to the Grey Glacier inside Torres del Paine National Park. Hotel pickup and return transport are included. You walk the shoreline, board the GREY III for a 3-hour cruise past drifting icebergs to the glacier face, and receive a complimentary pisco sour on board. The tour runs 6 to 7 hours total and operates with an English or Spanish-speaking guide, though boat departure depends on weather conditions.

Step-by-step itinerary

Grey Glacier boat tour and hike

• Pickup from Puerto Natales hotel
• Drive to Hotel Lago Grey (2h 15m)
• Check in and free time at hotel
• Short transfer to Grey Beach
• Walk 30-45 minutes along Grey Beach
• Board GREY III boat
• Cruise 3 hours on Grey Lake
• Enjoy complimentary pisco sour on board
• Return walk along Grey Beach to hotel
• Shuttle back to Puerto Natales

The experience

Your day starts with pickup from your hotel in Puerto Natales and a 2-hour-15-minute drive to Hotel Lago Grey inside the national park. After check-in and a short break, you'll walk 30 to 45 minutes along Grey Beach toward the water, taking in views of the lake and the surrounding landscape before boarding the GREY III. During high season (October to April), weather permitting, you may skip the walk and take a hotel-operated boat directly to the cruise vessel instead. This option gets confirmed only at check-in and depends on conditions.

The boat cruise lasts roughly three hours. As you cross Lake Grey, you'll pass icebergs calved from the glacier, each one a different shape and shade of blue, before the boat brings you close to the towering glacier wall itself. A professional guide travels with you and explains what you're seeing. The crew serves a complimentary pisco sour or non-alcoholic drink on board so you can mark the moment. After the cruise, you retrace the shoreline walk back to Hotel Lago Grey, regroup, and board the shuttle for the return to Puerto Natales.

Weather on Patagonian lakes is unpredictable and can shift fast. The boat tour may be canceled, even minutes before departure, if conditions turn unsafe. If that happens, the operator suggests the Balmaceda and Serrano Glaciers Boat Tour as an alternative, as it tends to be less affected by wind. Keep your schedule flexible on tour day and bring layers.

What’s included

• Round-trip hotel pickup and transport from Puerto Natales to Hotel Lago Grey.
• a professional guide speaking English or Spanish.
• the 3-hour boat cruise aboard the GREY III.
• a complimentary pisco sour or non-alcoholic beverage served on board.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 06:00, 09:30 and 12:30

Book up to2d before

AgesAdult (12 to 90 years) · Child (5 to 11 years) · Infant (under 5): free

GroupUp to 20

Live guideEnglish and Spanish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 38 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsNo refund if you cancel.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

ConfirmationConfirmation within 48 h

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Low physical effortPublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Howlanders

Is this one for you?Book this tour if you're staying in Puerto Natales without a rental car, since pickup from your hotel and the full round-trip transport are included. You don't need to arrange your own way to the national park or to the boat dock. The fixed schedule also means the entire day, from pickup to return, is settled in one booking.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Spanish.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (5 to 11 years); Infant (under 5): free.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. No refund if you cancel.

What is the Grey Glacier and why does it matter to see it from the water?

The Grey Glacier is one of Patagonia's largest glaciers, fed by the Southern Patagonian Ice Field. Seeing it from the lake lets you approach the glacier face directly and watch icebergs drift across the water. A perspective you cannot get from land alone, and the reason the boat tour is the primary way visitors experience it inside Torres del Paine.

Do I need to book the national park entrance separately, or is it included?

National park entrance is not included in this tour price and must be arranged separately. The tour itself covers your transport to and from Puerto Natales, the boat cruise, the shoreline walk, and your guide.

What happens if the weather cancels the boat tour?

If conditions become unsafe, the boat may be canceled at any time, even just before departure. The operator will not charge you if this occurs, and you can reschedule or choose an alternative tour. The Balmaceda and Serrano Glaciers tour is often a good backup since it is less affected by wind.

Is the walk along Grey Beach difficult, and can I skip it?

The walk takes 30 to 45 minutes at an easy pace along the shoreline and is suitable for all fitness levels. During high season (October to April), you may be able to skip it and take a hotel boat directly to the GREY III instead, but this option depends on weather and is only confirmed at check-in. In low season (May to September), the walk is part of the standard route.

How long is the full tour, and when do I return to Puerto Natales?

The entire experience runs 6 to 7 hours from pickup to drop-off, including the 2-hour-15-minute drive each way, check-in, the shoreline walk, and the 3-hour boat cruise. You'll be back in Puerto Natales in the late afternoon.