Perito Moreno boat tour from El Calafate: Glaciares Gourmet

Icebergs make a fine breakfast view. This full-day cruise from El Calafate is a smart way to see five glaciers in one outing, including Upsala, Spegazzini, Heim, Seco, and Perito Moreno. I like the roomy catamaran, the bilingual guides, and the captain’s careful turns that give both sides of the boat a good look.

I also like the choice between a simple lunchbox and a premium meal, plus the option to get off for the Perito Moreno walkways. The main catch is the name: the standard meal is a sandwich box, not a restaurant-style feast, and the long day can feel stretched if you are not excited by boat time.

The tour costs about $245 per person, runs roughly 10 to 12 hours, and has a maximum of 50 people. That is not cheap, but the boat covers a large stretch of Lake Argentino and reaches glaciers that are difficult to see together by land.

Five useful things to know before booking

• Five major glaciers in one day: You see Upsala, Heim, Seco, Spegazzini, and Perito Moreno from the water.
• Perito Moreno walkways are optional: Choose the disembarkation option if you want two hours on land near the famous glacier.
• The standard lunch is a box meal: It includes sandwiches, sides, drinks, and dessert, but the word Gourmet may set your expectations too high.
• The boat has four open-air decks: Large windows and indoor seating help when wind and cold make the outside decks uncomfortable.
• Transfers are not automatic: Hotel pickup from El Calafate must be selected when booking, or you must reach Puerto Privado La Soledad yourself.
• Book ahead in busy periods: This experience is commonly reserved around six weeks before departure.

The early start from El Calafate

With hotel pickup, your day begins around 7:00 a.m. The transport takes you from El Calafate to Puerto Privado La Soledad, about 47 kilometers away. If you book without pickup, you must arrange your own way to the port, so the transfer option is worth considering unless you already have reliable transport.

By about 8:15 a.m., everyone should be at the port. Your guide helps you purchase the entrance ticket for Los Glaciares National Park. That ticket is not included in the tour price, an easy extra cost to overlook when comparing excursions.

Boarding starts at 8:30 a.m., and the catamaran leaves at 9:00. That early departure is useful because this is a long day with several separate stops. It also means you should have breakfast before pickup or bring something small for the road.

The group can reach 50 people. That is a manageable size for a large boat, but it does not mean a quiet private cruise. Some seats may be reserved, and arriving early helps you find a good place before the boat fills.

Four decks and two ways to watch the ice

The catamaran has four open-air decks, indoor seating, and large viewing windows. I consider this one of the tour’s strongest practical features. You can move outside for clear photographs, then return indoors when the wind becomes sharp.

Patagonia is not shy about wind. The outside deck gives you the best sense of scale and the cleanest view, but it can be cold and gusty. Bring extra layers, even if El Calafate feels mild when you leave your hotel.

The captain works the boat around icebergs and glacier walls so people on different sides can see the action. This matters because a glacier face is never just one static wall. The view changes as the ship turns, and the captain’s positioning can make the difference between a good photograph and a view blocked by another passenger.

A VIP upgrade adds a private outdoor deck. The supplied information does not give a separate price or specific seating layout for this upgrade, so check the exact booking terms before paying extra. The regular boat already offers several outdoor decks and indoor windows.

Upsala Glacier and the first big ice views

Once the boat leaves port, the route heads into the wide ice fields around Upsala Glacier. Ice can extend far beyond the ship, at times appearing several times larger than the catamaran. This first section gives you the scale of the area before the tour turns toward individual glacier faces.

Upsala is described as the second-largest glacier in South America. It is also a glacier you view from a distance. Large calving events have made a closer approach unsafe, so the boat keeps roughly 10 kilometers away.

That distance sounds disappointing until you see the ice. Upsala remains enormous from far out on the lake, and the floating ice around it gives the scene a wild, open feeling. You are not getting a close wall-side encounter here. You are getting size, silence, and a broad view of an immense ice field.

This part lasts about three hours, including the approach and time around the ice. If you enjoy watching scenery change slowly, it is one of the best parts of the cruise. If you need constant activity, bring patience. The boat ride is the main event, not just transport between short stops.

Heim and Seco, glaciers hanging above the lake

The route then passes hanging glaciers known as Heim and Seco. They cling to the mountain slopes without reaching the surface of Lake Argentino. Their form is different from the great glacier fronts that meet the water, so this section adds variety to the day.

I like this stop because it shows that glaciers are not all alike. Some push directly into the lake, while others remain high on the mountain, suspended above the water. The guides provide commentary in Spanish and English, although the sound system may not be equally clear from every seat.

One useful tip is to move closer to a speaker when the guide begins explaining the geology or route. Some passengers found the descriptions hard to follow from a distance or too fast through the speakers. You can still enjoy the views without catching every word, but the commentary adds useful context when you can hear it clearly.

A quiet hour at El Puesto de Las Vacas

The boat stops at El Puesto de Las Vacas, a historic cattle ranch inside the national park. You get off for a guided walk among horses, old buildings, and objects linked to early settlers in Patagonia.

This is a pleasant change after several hours on the boat. You can stretch your legs, breathe fresh air, and see a more human side of the park. The quiet is part of the appeal. There is no glacier drama here, just open space and traces of a former ranch.

I would not call this stop essential for everyone. Some people enjoy the short walk and the ranch story, while others feel it adds time to an already long day. If your priority is ice, every hour away from the boat may feel like a compromise. If you appreciate local history and a break from fixed seating, the stop earns its place.

The walk is guided and lasts about an hour. The supplied details do not describe a strenuous route, and most people can take part in the activity, but you should still consider your own comfort with getting on and off the boat and walking at the stop.

Spegazzini Glacier and the lunch question

Spegazzini is one of the visual highlights. Its glacier wall rises as high as 130 meters above the lake, making it nearly twice the height of Perito Moreno in the section described for this tour. The boat gives you time to view it before lunch is served.

The standard meal is a gourmet lunchbox with a Patagonian lamb sandwich, baked vegetables, drinks, and dessert. I would describe it as a practical included lunch rather than fine dining. Several people found it generous and tasty, while others felt the sandwich and coffee did not match the Gourmet name.

That distinction matters at this price. If you are paying for scenery and a well-run cruise, the food is a useful inclusion. If you are specifically paying for a high-end culinary experience, choose the premium option or lower your expectations.

The premium package includes a four-course meal with two appetizers, a main course, and dessert. It also includes an open bar during the boat tour. The exact premium price is not supplied, so compare the upgrade cost with how much value you place on the meal and drinks.

Lunch takes about two hours, which is a substantial pause. Some people enjoy eating while surrounded by ice and water. Others may wish the cruise moved faster. That is the central tradeoff throughout this experience: more time means a fuller day, but also a longer day.

Perito Moreno from the lake

After lunch, the boat travels through the Canal de los Témpanos toward Perito Moreno Glacier. This is the glacier most people associate with El Calafate, and seeing it from the lake gives you a different angle from the famous viewing platforms.

Perito Moreno is active. You may hear ice crack before you see anything happen, followed by the heavy roar of a section breaking away and falling into Lake Argentino. There is no promise that a large calving event will occur during your crossing, but even the possibility keeps everyone watching the glacier face.

From the water, you see the northern side of Perito Moreno. That is an important detail. The boat view is excellent, but it does not replace the land-based walkways or a separate ice hike. One of the strongest combinations is this cruise plus another visit that lets you see the glacier from the south or from the park platforms.

At this point, your booking choice matters.

Choosing the Perito Moreno disembarkation

If you select disembarkation, the boat reaches the dock around 3:30 p.m. You then have about two hours to explore the Perito Moreno walkways before returning to El Calafate by shuttle, with arrival expected around 7:00 p.m.

I strongly prefer this option if you are not planning another Perito Moreno visit. The walkways give you time to see the glacier from land, hear it without the boat engine, and choose several viewpoints. Two hours is not enough for every path at a leisurely pace, but it is enough to make the stop meaningful.

This option also breaks up the day. After many hours on the water, walking on land feels good. The tradeoff is a later return and a longer final stretch after an already full itinerary.

Do not confuse disembarkation with walking on the glacier. You walk the park trails and viewing platforms. You do not step onto the ice itself. A separate activity, such as Minitrekking, is needed for that kind of experience.

Choosing the cruise without disembarkation

If you stay on board, the boat turns back after viewing Perito Moreno and reaches Puerto La Soledad around 5:00 p.m. With included transfers, you should reach El Calafate around 6:00 p.m.

This is the better choice if you have already scheduled the park walkways on another day or if you want to return earlier. It keeps the experience focused on the boat and avoids the extra shuttle ride.

Without hotel transfers, you are responsible for getting back from the port. That may be simple if you have arranged a vehicle, but it is one more piece of planning after a long day. Read the pickup and return details carefully before choosing the no-transfer rate.

Is $245 good value?

At roughly $245 per person, this is a major excursion expense. You also need to add the Los Glaciares National Park entrance fee, which is not included.

I think the value is strongest for a first visit to El Calafate when you want one organized day covering several glaciers. The boat, bilingual guide, lunch, and possible hotel transfers are bundled together, and you avoid arranging separate transport across a large area.

The value is weaker if you mainly want Perito Moreno. A shorter visit focused on the glacier walkways may suit you better, especially if you dislike long boat rides. The five-glacier route earns its price through range, not speed.

The maximum group size of 50 is another value point. You are not booking a private experience, but you are also not joining a huge ferry-style crowd. The catamaran’s size helps absorb the group, though reserved seats and busy decks can still make movement awkward.

What to pack and how to make the day easier

I would bring warm layers, a waterproof outer layer, sunglasses, sunscreen, and a camera with spare battery power. The wind can make the open decks feel much colder than the temperature in town.

Arrive early for boarding if you care about seat choice. The captain turns the boat so both sides get views, but good seating still makes a long cruise more comfortable. Use the indoor windows when the weather turns rough, and step outside when the boat approaches ice.

Choose the disembarkation option if you have not already visited Perito Moreno by land. Choose the no-disembarkation option if you have another glacier day planned or want the earlier return.

Free cancellation is available if you cancel at least 24 hours before the start time. Changes or cancellations inside that window are not accepted for a refund.

Who should book Glaciares Gourmet?

I would recommend it to first-time visitors who want a broad introduction to the glaciers around El Calafate, families who value a comfortable boat and indoor seating, and photographers who want several kinds of ice views in one day.

It also suits you if you like a steady, organized schedule and do not mind spending much of the day on the water. The bilingual guide service, lunch, and optional transfers reduce the number of details you need to manage.

I would hesitate if you want a true gourmet meal, a small private group, or a physically active glacier day. The standard lunch is functional rather than luxurious, and the cruise itself is the focus. The El Puesto de Las Vacas walk is gentle compared with a glacier trek, while the Perito Moreno stop involves walkways, not ice walking.

Should you book it?

Book Glaciares Gourmet if you want five glaciers, a large viewing boat, and a full day with transport and lunch options handled for you. Select hotel pickup and Perito Moreno disembarkation for the easiest first visit.

Think twice if your main goal is an upscale meal or a quick look at Perito Moreno. In that case, the title may promise more than the standard lunch delivers, and the 10 to 12-hour schedule may feel excessive.

For most first-time visitors with one free day, I see this as a worthwhile, scenery-heavy introduction to Los Glaciares National Park. Just bring warm clothes, arrive early, budget for the park entry, and treat the regular lunch as fuel for a remarkable day rather than the star of the show.

FAQ

How much does the Glaciares Gourmet boat tour cost?

The listed price is $245 per person. Entrance to Los Glaciares National Park is not included, so you must pay that separately.

How long does the tour last?

The complete experience takes approximately 10 to 12 hours. With hotel transfers and Perito Moreno disembarkation, return to El Calafate is expected around 7:00 p.m. The no-disembarkation option with transfers returns around 6:00 p.m.

Does the tour include pickup from El Calafate?

Hotel transfers are included only if you select the pickup option when booking. Without pickup, you must travel to Puerto Privado La Soledad, about 47 kilometers from El Calafate.

Which glaciers can I see on the cruise?

The route includes Upsala, Heim, Seco, Spegazzini, and Perito Moreno glaciers.

Is lunch included?

Yes. The standard option includes a lunchbox with a Patagonian lamb sandwich, baked vegetables, drinks, and dessert. The premium option includes a four-course meal and an open bar during the boat tour.

Can I get off the boat at Perito Moreno?

Yes, if you choose the disembarkation option when booking. You receive about two hours to explore the Perito Moreno walkways before returning to El Calafate by shuttle.

Does the tour include walking on Perito Moreno Glacier?

No. The disembarkation option takes you to the Perito Moreno walkways, not onto the glacier itself. A separate activity is required for glacier walking.