Perito Moreno boat tour from El Calafate: Glaciares Gourmet

Ice, water, and a very long day await. The Glaciares Gourmet boat tour from El Calafate offers two things I especially like: five glacier viewpoints in one trip and the option to walk the Perito Moreno boardwalks before returning to town. The main concern is the name: the standard lunch is a box meal, not a restaurant-style gourmet feast.

At $245 per person, this is a costly excursion, but it covers a remarkable stretch of Lake Argentino in a single day. I also like the comfortable catamaran, large windows, open-air decks, bilingual guides, and the well-organized hotel transfers. Just prepare for 10 to 12 hours on the move, some wind, and possible crowding around the best viewing spots.

Key points before you book

• Five glaciers in one day: The route includes Upsala, Heim, Seco, Spegazzini, and Perito Moreno, although Upsala may be viewed from a considerable distance.
• Perito Moreno boardwalk option: Choose the disembarkation option if you want about two hours on land at the famous glacier.
• Four open-air decks: The catamaran gives you room to move, while large indoor windows help when the weather turns cold or windy.
• Standard lunch is a box meal: It includes a sandwich, sides, dessert, and drinks. The premium package adds a four-course meal and open bar.
• Early start, late finish: Hotel pickup begins around 7:00 a.m., and the boardwalk option returns to El Calafate at about 7:00 p.m.
• Reserve ahead: The tour is often booked about 42 days before departure, especially during the busy Patagonia season.

What the Glaciares Gourmet boat tour actually offers

This is not a quick cruise to one famous wall of ice. It is a full-day route across Lake Argentino inside Los Glaciares National Park, with time devoted to several glaciers, floating ice, a short guided walk, lunch, and a final visit to Perito Moreno.

The boat travels roughly 220 kilometers according to the tour information. That distance explains both the tour’s appeal and its weak point. You see far more than you could from a single shore excursion, but the day can feel stretched if you prefer short, tightly edited outings.

The catamaran has four open-air decks and indoor viewing areas with large windows. A VIP upgrade provides a private outdoor deck, while the premium food option covers a higher level of lunch and drinks. These are separate choices to check carefully when booking. Paying more does not mean walking on the glacier itself.

The maximum group size is 50 people. That is not a tiny expedition, but the boat is spacious enough to spread out. Still, prime places near the railings can fill quickly, and reserved seats may limit your choices. I would arrive ready to board promptly rather than assuming you can wander on at the last minute and find the perfect seat.

Starting in El Calafate at 7:00 a.m.

With hotel pickup, the day starts around 7:00 a.m. in El Calafate. The drive to Puerto Privado La Soledad takes you about 47 kilometers from town, so the transfer is a useful part of the package. It saves you from arranging transport to a remote port before sunrise.

If you book without pickup, you must reach Puerto Privado La Soledad on your own. This option can reduce the package price or suit people with a rental car, but it removes one of the day’s easiest features. Make sure you understand the exact meeting point, called Cruise Port Marpatag, Puerto Bandera, or Puerto La Soledad in the tour details.

By about 8:15 a.m., everyone gathers at the port. A guide helps with the entrance process for Los Glaciares National Park, but the park admission fee is not included in the $245 tour price. Budget for that separate charge, and keep the morning schedule in mind because boarding begins at 8:30 a.m.

The boat leaves promptly at 9:00 a.m. This is one reason I would not cut the port arrival close. A late arrival could mean missing the vessel, while the scenic route itself cannot wait.

Upsala Glacier and the first three hours on Lake Argentino

The first major section takes you toward Upsala Glacier, the second-largest glacier in South America. Its ice field is so broad that it can appear several times wider than the ship. Even before you reach the glacier, the floating ice and mountain views create the sense that you have entered a much larger, wilder part of Patagonia.

Safety rules keep the catamaran about 10 kilometers from the front of Upsala because the glacier can produce enormous calvings. That distance matters. You will not get the close wall-of-ice view associated with Perito Moreno, but you gain a striking view of the glacier’s vast scale.

The ice can appear blue and almost lit from within. The exact view depends on weather, light, and floating ice, so do not expect one fixed photo opportunity. The captain turns the boat near glacier walls and large ice blocks to give people on both sides a fair chance to see and photograph the scenery.

This part lasts about three hours, making it the longest stretch of the cruise. Use the indoor areas when you need warmth, then head outside when the boat approaches ice. Wind on the open decks can be strong, even on a beautiful day, and the best strategy is to treat the boat as a moving viewing platform rather than staying outside nonstop.

One practical drawback is that commentary can be hard to follow from every seat. Some people have found the announcements too fast or difficult to hear unless they are close to the speaker. If the geology and park history matter to you, position yourself near the guide or announcement area when possible.

Heim and Seco, the hanging glaciers

As the boat crosses Lake Argentino, you pass the Heim and Seco glaciers. These are hanging glaciers, attached to the mountain slopes rather than reaching the surface of the lake.

This is a different kind of glacier sight. Upsala gives you breadth, while Heim and Seco show how ice can cling to steep mountain terrain. The boat spends about an hour in this section, and the views help break up the longer open-water stretches.

Do not expect the same close approach or dramatic calving action at every stop. The value here is variety. You are seeing several forms of glacial ice within one route, not simply repeating the same view five times.

The quiet hour at El Puesto de Las Vacas

The boat stops at El Puesto de Las Vacas, translated as The Cow Stall, for a guided walk of about one hour. You leave the vessel and spend time on land among old buildings, horses, and objects connected with early cattle ranching in Patagonia.

This is the calmest part of the day. After several hours of lake travel, a short walk gives you a chance to stretch your legs and breathe fresh air away from the boat. The guide explains the site and its links to early settlers, adding a human side to a day otherwise dominated by ice and water.

The stop will not suit everyone equally. If your main goal is maximum glacier time, the walk may feel like an interruption. One of the tour’s trade-offs is that this hour adds variety and a bit of local history, but it also lengthens an already long day.

Wear shoes suitable for a gentle walk and bring layers. The information provided does not describe the trail as strenuous, and most people can participate, but conditions in a national park can change with weather.

Spegazzini Glacier and the lunch question

Spegazzini is one of the visual highlights. Its ice rises about 130 meters above the lake, or roughly 425 feet, making the hanging face nearly twice the height of Perito Moreno’s visible wall.

The boat spends about two hours in this area, including lunch. The captain works to position the ship for good views, and the open decks are useful here if you want an unobstructed look at the glacier. Large indoor windows provide a sensible backup when wind or cold becomes too much.

The included standard meal is described as a gourmet lunchbox with drinks and dessert. In practice, you should expect a substantial boxed lunch, often centered on a sandwich with sides and a sweet item. Some people have found it tasty and filling, while others felt that the food did not justify the word gourmet, particularly when the sandwich and coffee were disappointing.

That distinction matters at this price. I would book this tour for the glaciers, boat, and route, not because I expect a fine-dining experience. The meal is a useful convenience during a remote full-day excursion, but it should not be the main reason you choose the tour.

The premium option changes the food experience. It includes two appetizers, a main course, dessert, drinks, and an open bar throughout the boat trip. If the meal and onboard comfort are important to you, check that you are selecting the premium package rather than simply assuming the standard ticket includes it.

Perito Moreno from the Canal de los Témpanos

After lunch, the catamaran continues through the Canal de los Témpanos toward the northern side of Perito Moreno Glacier. This is the glacier most people associate with El Calafate, and the boat gives you a chance to watch its active front from the water.

Perito Moreno is constantly shifting. You might see cracks open in the blue-white ice and hear a sharp crack followed by the heavy roar of ice falling into Lake Argentino. Calving is unpredictable, so nobody can promise a dramatic collapse during your visit. Even without a major fall, the broad glacier wall and floating ice make this one of the day’s strongest sections.

The boat’s approach gives you a northern view. That is important because the famous walkways provide a different angle. The cruise and the boardwalks complement each other rather than replacing one another.

Choose the Perito Moreno walkways if you can

At about 3:30 p.m., the disembarkation option brings you to a dock near Perito Moreno. You then have about two hours to explore the glacier walkways before taking a shuttle back to El Calafate, arriving around 7:00 p.m.

I strongly favor this option for anyone who is not already planning a separate Perito Moreno activity. The boardwalks let you leave the boat, walk at your own pace, and see the glacier from several land-based viewpoints. You may also hear and see calving from a different position than on the catamaran.

This is not glacier hiking. You do not walk on the ice, even with the more expensive package. A separate activity such as Minitrekking is needed for that, and the boat tour does not include it.

The two-hour visit is long enough to make the transfer worthwhile, but not long enough to cover every possible path at a slow pace. Keep an eye on the meeting instructions and return time. The day has several moving parts, and the shuttle cannot wait indefinitely.

If you choose the cruise without disembarkation, the boat turns back after viewing Perito Moreno and reaches Puerto La Soledad at about 5:00 p.m. With transfers, you return to El Calafate around 6:00 p.m. This version is shorter and avoids the extra bus ride, but it misses the boardwalks. I would choose it only if you already have another planned visit to Perito Moreno or strongly prefer staying on the boat.

Comfort, crowding, and the practical details

The catamaran is a strong part of the experience. You can move between indoor viewing areas and four outdoor decks, which makes the long cruise easier to manage. The large windows are especially valuable when the deck is windy or cold.

The main comfort issue is crowding. A boat carrying up to 50 people can feel busy near the railings, and reserved seats may reduce the open seating available. Arrive early for boarding if sitting with family or staying near a preferred viewing side matters to you.

The guides speak Spanish and English during the activities. The service is generally organized and helpful, with hotel pickup and drop-off receiving particularly strong praise when included. Still, announcements may be difficult to hear from some parts of the vessel, so move closer when a key explanation begins.

Bring warm layers, a waterproof outer layer, sunglasses, and protection from wind. The information supplied does not provide a detailed packing list, but the open decks, cold lake air, and changing Patagonia weather make flexible clothing sensible.

Most people can participate, and the tour has a maximum of 50 people. The boardwalk portion involves walking, and one past booking problem involved a difficult uphill return arrangement for older participants. Confirm your transfer and drop-off details if stairs, slopes, or long walks are a concern.

Is $245 a fair price?

At $245 per person, this is not a budget boat ride. The value comes from combining transport, a full-day cruise, five glacier areas, a guided shore walk, food, bilingual guiding, and, if selected, the Perito Moreno boardwalks.

The price makes more sense if you want to see several glaciers without arranging separate transport and activities. It is also useful if your time in El Calafate is limited and you want one large outing rather than multiple shorter bookings.

The value is weaker if you mainly want Perito Moreno. A boat-only route can feel long when your real goal is the famous glacier, and the standard lunch may not feel special enough to justify the word gourmet. In that case, compare it with a direct Perito Moreno visit or a glacier hiking excursion.

The premium upgrade is worth considering only if you care about the meal, drinks, and open bar. It does not provide glacier walking. Read the inclusions carefully so you do not pay extra for something you thought was included in the basic package.

Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before the start time. Changes or cancellations within 24 hours are not refunded, and the separate national park entrance fee remains outside the tour price.

Who should book this full-day glacier cruise?

I would recommend Glaciares Gourmet to you if you want a broad introduction to the ice fields around El Calafate. Families, couples, and anyone who values a comfortable boat over a physically demanding outing will find a lot to like.

It also suits photographers who want repeated chances to frame icebergs, glacier walls, and mountain views. The captain’s positioning helps people on different sides of the boat, though you should still move around and use both indoor and outdoor viewing areas.

I would be more cautious if you dislike long days, crowded boats, or packaged lunches. The experience is carefully organized, but it is still a 10 to 12-hour excursion with long stretches on the lake.

Should you book Glaciares Gourmet?

Book it if you want to see Upsala, Heim, Seco, Spegazzini, and Perito Moreno in one ambitious day, and choose the disembarkation option if you do not have another visit planned at Perito Moreno.

Skip it if the word gourmet is your main attraction, if you want to walk on a glacier, or if you prefer a short, focused outing. For most people, the best version is the standard cruise with hotel transfers and Perito Moreno walkways, unless the premium meal and open bar are genuinely important to you.

The glacier views are the reason to go. The boat comfort, attentive organization, and range of viewpoints make the long day worthwhile, while the lunch and occasional crowding are the compromises you should accept before booking.

FAQ

How long is the Glaciares Gourmet boat tour from El Calafate?

The full experience takes approximately 10 to 12 hours. Hotel pickup begins around 7:00 a.m., and the return time depends on whether you disembark at Perito Moreno.

Is hotel pickup from El Calafate included?

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

Which glaciers can you see on the cruise?

The route includes Upsala, Heim, Seco, Spegazzini, and Perito Moreno glaciers. The boat stays about 10 kilometers from Upsala for safety because of its large calvings.

Is the Los Glaciares National Park entrance fee included?

No. The park entrance ticket is not included in the tour price. A guide helps passengers purchase it at the port before boarding.

Does the tour include a walk at Perito Moreno Glacier?

Only if you select the disembarkation option when booking. That option provides about two hours to explore the Perito Moreno walkways before returning to El Calafate by shuttle.

Is the lunch really gourmet?

The standard option includes a lunchbox with a sandwich, sides, drinks, and dessert. The premium option includes two appetizers, a main course, dessert, drinks, and an open bar.