Glaciares Gourmet Premium Lounge boat Tour + El Calafate pick up

Icebergs bigger than the boat set the tone for this long day on Lake Argentino. From El Calafate, you ride to Puerto Privado La Soledad, board a large catamaran, and spend the day among Upsala, Spegazzini, Perito Moreno, Heim, and Seco glaciers.

I like the private premium lounge, with its own terrace, open bar, private bathroom, and clear viewing position. I also like the four-course lunch, which turns a cold-weather boat ride into a proper day out. The main drawback is the price: at $445 per person, this is a splurge, and a group of up to 16 people may feel a little large for a VIP area.

• Upsala Glacier’s icebergs can tower above the catamaran, though the boat stays about six miles from the glacier front for safety.
• The premium lounge includes a four-course tasting menu and open bar, with alcoholic drinks available only to people over 18.
• A one-hour stop at Puesto de las Vacas adds a quiet walk and a glimpse of old Patagonian estancia life.
• Spegazzini Glacier rises about 425 feet above the lake, nearly twice the height of Perito Moreno.
• The private terrace matters on rainy days, when it gives you a sheltered place to take photographs.
• The Perito Moreno walkway visit may depend on the option selected, so check exactly what your booking includes.

Why This Boat Tour Costs $445

This is not the cheapest way to see the glaciers around El Calafate. The price includes hotel pickup and drop-off, the catamaran ride, the premium lounge, a four-course meal, and an open bar. You still pay the entrance fee for Los Glaciares National Park.

I see the value mainly in comfort and time. A standard boat trip can leave you searching for a good place to stand when the captain turns toward a glacier. Here, you have access to a dedicated indoor room and terrace in what is described as the best viewing part of the ship. You can eat, warm up, use a private bathroom, and return outside when the ice appears.

That matters because this is an 11-hour day. You leave El Calafate around 7 a.m. and may not return until about 7 p.m. If you select the version without the Perito Moreno walkways, the return is closer to 6 p.m. The premium setup takes some of the strain out of a very full schedule.

Still, the price is not automatically justified for everyone. If your main goal is to see glaciers from the deck, the standard boat areas may be enough. The premium option makes more sense if you value good food, drinks, sheltered viewing, and a quieter place to sit during long stretches between glacier stops.

Starting at 7 a.m. in El Calafate

Pickup is available from main hotels, with additional meeting points around El Calafate. The vehicle leaves from town at about 7 a.m. and travels roughly 29 miles to Puerto Privado La Soledad.

This early start is useful rather than decorative. The boat boarding process begins around 8:30 a.m., and the route covers a large part of Lake Argentino. You should be ready at your pickup point on time, since the day has several scheduled sections and the return transfer waits for the boat schedule.

The entrance fee to Los Glaciares National Park is not included. Guides help you buy the ticket, but there are different entrance options, so keep this extra cost in your budget. The tour is offered in English, and confirmation is sent within 48 hours of booking, subject to availability.

The group size is capped at 16 people. That is small compared with a large sightseeing bus, but it does not mean the premium lounge will feel intimate. One couple found 16 people too many for the price and suggested that eight to 10 would have been more comfortable. That is a fair point, especially if you picture a quiet private room rather than a shared VIP section.

The Premium Lounge and Four-Deck Catamaran

Boarding begins at 8:30 a.m. The ship is a large catamaran with four outdoor decks, so you have several places to watch the water, mountains, icebergs, and glacier walls.

The premium lounge is the reason to choose this version of the trip. You receive access to an indoor room with its own terrace, plus a private bathroom. An open bar runs throughout the journey, and the package includes a four-course tasting menu with two starters, a main course, and dessert.

The lounge is especially useful when weather changes. One couple found that rain affected the first three glacier stops, but their private balcony still gave them a comfortable place to take photographs. That is a practical benefit in Patagonia, where wind and rain can change the feel of an outdoor deck quickly.

You should not treat the lounge as a substitute for going outside. The best views come from moving around as the catamaran turns and approaches ice. The indoor area gives you a base, not a reason to stay inside all day.

The open bar includes alcoholic drinks for people over 18. One memorable detail from the onboard service was whiskey served over ice taken from a glacier. It is a small touch, but it fits the setting nicely. The meal and drinks also help justify the premium price if you would otherwise spend extra on food and beverages during a full-day outing.

Upsala Glacier and the First Icebergs

A few minutes after departure, the boat reaches the Upsala area. Floating icebergs appear on the water, and some can be up to four times larger than the catamaran itself.

This is often the first dramatic moment of the day. Icebergs are not simply chunks of white ice. Their shapes change as they float, and the blue tones can look different from one side to the next. You may see huge blocks separated from the Upsala Glacier, with the scale becoming clear only when the boat passes nearby.

The catamaran does not approach the front wall of Upsala Glacier closely. For safety, it stays about six miles away. That distance may disappoint you if you expect to reach the glacier face, but the floating ice makes the stop worthwhile. The captain spends about 30 minutes in the area and positions the boat so the glacier and ice can be viewed from inside and from the outdoor decks.

Use this time to switch between the lounge terrace and the open decks. The premium room gives you comfort, but the outside decks help you understand the size of the ice and the lake.

Heim and Seco, Glaciers Hanging Above the Water

The route continues to Heim and Seco glaciers. These are hanging glaciers, named for their position on the mountains without reaching the water of Lake Argentino.

They offer a different view from Upsala. Upsala brings massive floating ice and a distant glacier wall. Heim and Seco sit above you, attached to the mountain slopes. Their position makes the surrounding rock and height as important as the ice itself.

The boat spends about 30 minutes in this area. The captain again moves the catamaran so you can see the formations from the lounge and the decks. If you like comparing glacier types, this is an important stop. You are not seeing the same scene repeated five times. Each glacier has a different shape, setting, and relationship to the lake.

The practical issue is weather. Rain, cloud, and low visibility can soften the details of hanging glaciers. A sheltered terrace helps, but you still need some luck for the clearest photographs.

Puesto de las Vacas and a Quiet Hour Ashore

At Puesto de las Vacas, the engines stop and you leave the boat for a guided walk lasting about an hour.

This is one of the most valuable parts of the route because it breaks up the long time on the water. Puesto de las Vacas is an old Patagonian estancia within the national park. You may see horses, old houses, and other remains connected with the region’s early settlers.

The walk is coordinated by the guide team, who explain the story of the place. It is not presented as a demanding hike. Instead, it is a quiet look at an unusual settlement in the middle of a protected area.

I like this stop because it adds human scale to a day dominated by giant ice. You get time to hear about the people who lived and worked here, rather than simply moving from one glacier viewpoint to another.

Wear clothing suited to wind and cold, since conditions beside the lake can feel raw even when El Calafate itself seems comfortable. The tour data does not give a detailed packing list, so use sensible Patagonia basics: layers, a waterproof outer layer, and shoes suitable for a short walk.

Spegazzini Glacier and Lunch on Board

Spegazzini is one of the day’s major sights. The portion overhanging the lake reaches about 425 feet, or 130 meters, making it almost twice as high as Perito Moreno.

The boat spends about 30 minutes near the glacier. This is a good time to compare the vertical scale of Spegazzini with the lower, more active face of Perito Moreno later in the route.

Lunch is served on board at this point. The four-course menu includes two starters, a main course, and dessert. The premium package also includes the open bar, so you can settle in for a proper meal instead of relying on a packed snack.

Food quality is a major strength of this tour. The service has been praised for both the appetizers and the main meal, and the staff are described as attentive. That does not turn the boat into a restaurant, but it does make the long cold day more comfortable.

Keep your camera ready even during lunch. The boat continues to offer views, and glacier light can change quickly. You can eat inside, then step onto the terrace or one of the outdoor decks as the catamaran shifts position.

Canal de los Témpanos and Perito Moreno

After lunch, the catamaran travels through the Canal de los Témpanos toward the northern part of Perito Moreno Glacier.

Perito Moreno is famous for its activity. The ice can crack and send a deep roar across the water. You may see a piece break away, but no one can schedule the moment. The pleasure is in waiting, listening, and watching the glacier front for movement.

This section gives you a different kind of glacier encounter. Upsala is about giant icebergs. Spegazzini is about height. Perito Moreno brings sound and motion. The sudden crack of ice can be more powerful than a posed photograph because it makes the glacier feel alive.

The captain spends around 30 minutes in the area, moving the boat for views from different sides. The premium terrace is useful here, but do not stay fixed in one place. The best angle may change as the boat turns.

Perito Moreno Walkways or an Earlier Return

Depending on the option selected, you may disembark at the Perito Moreno walkways and spend more than an hour on land. You then return to El Calafate by minibus, arriving around 7 p.m.

If your booking does not include the walkway visit, you return to the port and take transportation back to El Calafate, arriving around 6 p.m. This difference matters. The walkways give you a land-based view of Perito Moreno, while the boat provides the lake-level perspective.

Check this detail carefully before booking. The tour description presents the walkway visit as dependent on the selected option, and it is not included in the basic list of tour inclusions. You do not want to assume that the $445 price includes the same final stop in every version.

If you choose the walkway option, the day becomes even longer. The reward is a chance to see Perito Moreno from above and from several fixed viewpoints after seeing it from the water. If you prefer a shorter day, returning directly to the port may suit you better.

Guides, Service, and the Feel of the Day

The guide Juan receives special praise for giving clear instructions and keeping the day engaging. That matters on a trip with several transfers, boat movements, a shore stop, and different glacier viewpoints.

The onboard staff are described as attentive, with strong marks for service, food, and drinks. The guides also explain details about the ice and the color of the water. One explanation covered how glacier ice can appear blue because of the way light passes through it, rather than because the ice is simply blue by nature.

You should expect a polished, organized outing rather than a rough expedition. The boat is comfortable, the food is planned, and the guide team directs each stage. The tradeoff is that the schedule is fixed. You do not control how long the captain stays at each glacier, and you cannot wait indefinitely for a calving event.

Who Will Get the Most From This Tour?

I would choose this boat tour if you want to see several major glaciers in one day and care about comfort as much as scenery. It suits you especially well if you enjoy good meals, drinks, a sheltered viewing area, and a planned pickup from El Calafate.

It is also a strong choice for a special occasion. The private lounge, terrace, four-course meal, and glacier ice served with whiskey give the day a celebratory feel without removing the wild setting.

You may want a different outing if your budget is tight or if you want a small, quiet boat with a more informal feel. A group of up to 16 can still feel busy in the premium section, and the park entrance fee is extra.

The activity is designed so most people can participate, and it is near public transportation, though pickup is offered from main hotels and city meeting points. The full duration is about 11 hours, so you should be comfortable with a long day that includes road transfers, boat travel, and a shore walk.

Practical Details Before You Book

Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Changes or cancellations made less than 24 hours before the start time are not accepted for a refund, and the cut-off follows local time.

The tour is offered in English. The maximum group size is 16, and confirmation arrives within 48 hours of booking if space is available.

Bring your phone or printed booking details, dress for changing weather, and keep your camera accessible. The boat has four outdoor decks, but rain can make the sheltered premium area especially important. Also budget for the Los Glaciares National Park entrance fee.

FAQ

What is included in the Glaciares Gourmet Premium Lounge boat tour?

The tour includes the premium lounge, a four-course lunch, an open bar for people over 18, and pickup and drop-off from El Calafate.

Is the Los Glaciares National Park entrance fee included?

No. The park entrance fee is not included. Guides assist you with buying the ticket, and different entrance options are available.

What time does the tour start?

Pickup begins at about 7 a.m. Boarding at Puerto Privado La Soledad begins around 8:30 a.m.

How long does the tour last?

The full outing lasts approximately 11 hours. Return to El Calafate is around 6 p.m. without the Perito Moreno walkways option, or around 7 p.m. with that option.

Does the tour visit the Perito Moreno walkways?

The walkway visit depends on the option selected. If included, you spend more than an hour there before returning to El Calafate by minibus.

What food and drinks are included?

The premium package includes two starters, a main course, and dessert. It also includes an open bar, with alcoholic drinks available only to people over 18.

How many people can join the tour?

The activity has a maximum of 16 people. The premium lounge is shared within that group and includes its own terrace and private bathroom.

Should You Book It?

Book this tour if you want a full day of glacier viewing with the best available comfort, a serious meal, drinks, hotel transport, and time at several different ice formations. The private terrace is especially useful when rain or wind makes the open decks less pleasant.

At $445, I would not choose it simply because it is the most luxurious option. I would choose it because you value the lounge, food, open bar, and easier viewing enough to pay for them. Confirm the park fee and the Perito Moreno walkway option before you pay.

For a special day on Lake Argentino, the combination is strong: enormous icebergs at Upsala, hanging glaciers at Heim and Seco, the towering face of Spegazzini, a quiet stop at Puesto de las Vacas, and the cracking ice of Perito Moreno. If those sights matter more to you than keeping costs low, this premium boat tour is a sound splurge.