The Spirit Of The Glaciers: 1 Night Guided Cruise from Calafate

The best glacier views come from the water. This two-day cruise from El Calafate brings you close to Patagonia’s ice fields while avoiding the feel of a rushed day trip. I especially like the small-ship atmosphere and the chance to combine scenic sailing with short walks ashore. I also like that breakfast, lunch, dinner, beverages, and wine with meals are included. The main catch is the price, $800 per person, plus the separate National Park entrance fee.

You board at 5:45 p.m. at La Soledad Private Port and return there at about 4:00 p.m. the next day. A recent departure had only 12 people aboard, though the stated maximum is 38, so the mood can be pleasantly personal. Still, this is a short cruise with a packed schedule, not a long, leisurely voyage with hours to spare at every glacier.

Key points before you reserve

• Two glacier routes: One itinerary focuses on Spegazzini and Upsala, while the other centers on Perito Moreno.
• One night aboard Spirit of the Glaciers: You sail into Lago Argentino, dine onboard, and sleep on the boat.
• Short walks add variety: The program includes viewpoints, forest paths, a waterfall walk, and glacier walkways.
• Meals and wine are covered: Breakfast, lunch, dinner, beverages, and wine at lunch and dinner are included.
• A small group is possible: The boat accepts up to 38 people, but one departure had just 12.
• Budget for the park fee: National Park admission is not included in the $800 price.

Why this cruise feels different from a standard glacier outing

Most visitors to El Calafate see the region by road, then spend several hours at a glacier viewpoint or on a day boat. This trip changes the rhythm. You leave the port in the early evening, sleep on the water, and wake among the cold blue channels of Lago Argentino.

I like that the boat is not simply a floating viewing platform. You have time to sit down for a proper meal, watch the shoreline from the deck, and then step ashore for guided walks. That combination makes the trip feel more complete than a quick cruise past the ice.

The route also gives you several kinds of Patagonian scenery. You may see cliffs, forest, narrow channels, glacier fronts, and local wildlife from the boat or during the walks. The scenery does not arrive at a single famous viewpoint. It changes as the vessel moves through the lake.

The tradeoff is that the program is tightly timed. The first evening includes boarding, departure, a scenic route, dinner, and overnight accommodation. The second day has breakfast, a shore excursion, more navigation, lunch, and a return to port. If you want long independent hikes or quiet time at one glacier, this may feel too structured.

Boarding at Puerto La Soledad at 5:45 p.m.

The meeting point is Cruise Port MarPatag, also called Puerto La Soledad, at Puerto Bandera in Santa Cruz Province. Boarding begins at 5:45 p.m., with departure scheduled for 6:00 p.m.

That late start works well if you are already based in El Calafate and want to use most of your day before the cruise. Pickup is offered, but the supplied details do not specify the pickup areas or exact pickup time. I would confirm those details before booking, especially if your hotel is outside the central area.

The boat sails on Lago Argentino, the large glacial lake that serves as the gateway to several famous ice fields. The first evening is more about settling in and watching Patagonia pass by than about a major shore visit. Bring a warm layer to the deck. Even if the evening begins pleasantly, open water and moving air can feel cold quickly.

Route A: Spegazzini and Upsala over two days

On Route A, the first evening includes Escuadra Bay and the Condor Nesting Wall, followed by navigation toward Puesto de las Vacas. These places give you a chance to watch the lake and shoreline in changing light before dinner.

Dinner is scheduled for 8:00 p.m., followed by the overnight stay. Since the sailing begins at 6:00 p.m., you get roughly two hours of evening navigation before sitting down to eat. The itinerary does not give a detailed cabin description, so you should ask the operator about room arrangements if accommodation details matter to you.

After breakfast the next morning, a guide meets you for a shore visit near Spegazzini Glacier. You disembark to see the site of an old settler post, then walk to a viewpoint for the glacier. This is a useful contrast to viewing ice from the boat. You get a closer sense of the terrain around the water, not just the glacier’s front wall.

The Spegazzini portion lasts about four hours. After returning to the boat, the cruise continues toward the glacier itself. The extended time matters because Spegazzini is not treated as a quick photo stop. You have a guided walk, a viewpoint, and additional navigation.

Lunch follows, with the boat heading toward the Upsala Arm and Upsala Glacier. The route then returns to Puerto La Soledad, with disembarkation at Bahía Tranquila scheduled for 4:00 p.m.

Upsala is a good reason to choose this route if you want broad views of a major ice field and its surrounding waterways. The supplied schedule gives only about three minutes for the Upsala stop as a named itinerary segment, which appears to describe navigation rather than a shore excursion. Do not expect a long walk at Upsala. The main experience here is seeing the glacier from the boat.

Route B: Perito Moreno with forest and glacier walkways

Route B begins in a different direction. At 6:00 p.m., the boat leaves Puerto La Soledad for Seno Mayo, with dinner and overnight accommodation at 8:00 p.m.

The next morning starts with a guided walk in Andean-Patagonian forest. The program includes a natural setting, a waterfall, and an introduction to local flora. This part is valuable because it gives you a break from the open water and ice. It also adds a little natural history to a trip otherwise focused on glaciers.

The Perito Moreno day lasts about seven hours, making it the fuller of the two second-day programs. After the forest walk, the boat navigates through the Canal de los Témpanos toward Perito Moreno Glacier. You disembark at Puerto Perito Moreno and walk along the glacier walkways.

Those walkways provide a different view from the boat. You can study the glacier from land, then board again for navigation along its north face. That two-sided approach is one of the strongest parts of Route B. You see the ice from a controlled public viewpoint and from the water, where the scale of the glacier becomes easier to appreciate.

Lunch is included during the route, followed by navigation through the Los Témpanos Channel on the return to Puerto La Soledad. Disembarkation is scheduled for 4:00 p.m. The long day should suit you if Perito Moreno is the main reason you came to El Calafate and you want both a walk and a boat view.

The limitation is simple: this is not a private, flexible Perito Moreno visit. You follow the group schedule, and the exact route matters. If you want to spend many hours at the famous boardwalks on your own, a dedicated land tour may give you more freedom.

Short hikes, wildlife, and the value of getting ashore

The walks are short, but they make an important difference. On Route A, you walk to the Spegazzini viewpoint and visit the old settler post. On Route B, you walk through Andean-Patagonian forest, see a waterfall, look at local plant life, and visit the Perito Moreno walkways.

I would not book this expecting a serious trekking holiday. The descriptions emphasize short guided walks rather than long mountain routes. That makes the cruise suitable for people who want some movement without committing to a strenuous hiking program.

Wildlife observation is also part of the appeal. You may spot local animals from the boat or during the walks, and the Condor Nesting Wall adds a specific bird-watching point on Route A. The data does not promise sightings, so think of wildlife as a possible bonus rather than a guaranteed feature.

The guide works in Spanish and English. That matters on a small group cruise, where a guide can help explain what you are seeing instead of leaving you to guess at the names of bays, channels, and ice fields.

Dining aboard Spirit of the Glaciers

The package includes dinner on the first night, breakfast the next morning, and lunch on the second day. Beverages are included, and wine is included with lunch and dinner.

That is a real part of the value. At $800, you are paying for more than transport between glacier sites. You are also paying for an overnight stay, onboard meals, guided shore visits, and the slower pace of a small cruise. A good meal while the boat is moving through glacial water can be one of the most memorable parts of the trip.

The information describes the food as gourmet, but it does not provide menus or details about dietary requests. If you have food allergies or special requirements, ask in advance rather than assuming the kitchen can accommodate them.

The evening dinner time, 8:00 p.m., is also useful to know. You will not be eating immediately after boarding. If you are hungry before departure, plan accordingly, since the schedule allows about two hours of sailing first.

Group size and the feel of the boat

The maximum group size is 38 people. That is far smaller than the large excursion boats commonly associated with popular glacier routes. A recent trip had 12 people onboard, creating a friendly and personal atmosphere.

The small-group format is especially useful during shore visits. You can stay closer to the guide, hear explanations more easily, and avoid the sense of being one person in a crowd. One French-speaking participant described the staff as professional and kind, and the small group made the visit feel personalized.

Do keep the maximum in mind. The experience may feel intimate with 12 people, but it will not necessarily be that quiet or private on every departure. Ask about the expected group size if that detail affects your decision.

Is $800 a fair price?

The price is $800 per person, before the National Park entrance fee. That is expensive for a two-day activity, but the comparison should be made against what is included.

Your price covers overnight accommodation, three meals, beverages, wine with lunch and dinner, a Spanish-English guide, guided shore visits, navigation to several glacier areas, and all listed fees and taxes other than park admission. You also avoid arranging separate transport, meals, and glacier excursions during the same period.

I see the price as fair for a special-occasion trip, especially if you value comfort and a smaller group. It is less attractive if your main goal is simply to see Perito Moreno as cheaply as possible. A standard day excursion may cost less and give you more time at one famous site, though it will not reproduce the overnight boat setting.

Because this experience is often reserved far ahead, with an average booking time of about 326 days, you should plan early if your dates are fixed. The high advance demand also means you should read the route details carefully before paying. Make sure the included glacier route matches your priorities.

Practical details that affect your choice

The activity lasts approximately two days and ends back at the same meeting point in Puerto La Soledad. Confirmation is provided when you book, and most people can participate according to the supplied information.

The schedule is fixed, so arrive ready for a prompt boarding process. Pickup is offered, but the meeting point itself is Puerto La Soledad, not central El Calafate. Confirm how the pickup works and allow enough time to reach the port.

The National Park entrance fee is not included. This is easy to miss when comparing prices, so add it to your budget. All other listed fees and taxes are included.

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

Who should book this overnight glacier cruise?

I would recommend it to you if you want a polished, small-ship introduction to several famous glaciers and prefer a guided plan. It suits people who like scenery, good meals, light walking, and the novelty of sleeping aboard a boat.

Route A is the better fit if Spegazzini and Upsala are your priorities. You get a shore walk near Spegazzini, then see Upsala from the water. Route B makes more sense if Perito Moreno is at the top of your list, especially because it includes both the forest walk and the glacier walkways.

I would hesitate if you are watching your budget, need a highly flexible schedule, or want demanding hikes. The cruise costs $800 before the park fee, and the walks are described as short. I would also confirm the route and cabin details before booking, since those points shape the trip more than the broad description suggests.

Should you book Spirit of the Glaciers?

Book it if you want to slow down and see Patagonia from the lake, not just from a roadside viewpoint. The best features are the small-group feel, the overnight setting, the mix of boat views and guided walks, and the generous meal package.

Skip it if you only want a quick Perito Moreno visit or the lowest possible price. For everyone else, this is a distinctive way to visit the El Calafate glaciers, provided you accept the fixed schedule, separate park fee, and premium cost.

FAQ

Where does the cruise begin and end?

The cruise begins and ends at Cruise Port MarPatag, Puerto La Soledad, at Puerto Bandera in Santa Cruz Province, Argentina.

What time do I board?

Boarding is scheduled for 5:45 p.m., with departure at 6:00 p.m.

How long does the experience last?

The cruise lasts approximately two days, with return and disembarkation scheduled for about 4:00 p.m. on the second day.

Which glaciers can I see?

Depending on the navigation route, you can see Spegazzini and Upsala glaciers or Perito Moreno Glacier. The experience information highlights all three glaciers.

Are meals included?

Yes. Breakfast, lunch, dinner, beverages, and wine during lunch and dinner are included.

Is the National Park entrance fee included?

No. The National Park entrance fee is not included in the tour price.

What is the maximum group size?

The maximum group size is 38 people. A recent departure had 12 people aboard, but the number can vary.