Balmaceda and Serrano Glaciers Sightseeing Cruise from Puerto Natales
Description
Cruise through Ultima Esperanza Fjord and explore Balmaceda and Serrano glaciers on this full-day tour from Puerto Natales. Admire the Patagonian landscape while you’re on board sipping a glass of whiskey rattling with glacier ice, and pass by craggy peaks, waterfalls, cormorants and sea elephants. Hike with your guide through Bernardo O'Higgins National Park for close-up views of both glaciers.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Your experience begins meeting us at our meeting point in Puerto Natales. After, we will begin to board our navigation to meet incredible landscapes from the Patagonia, glaciers, fjords and amazing wildlife we can appreciate during our trip to Balmaceda and Serrano glaciers. Climb aboard the boat and begin your cruise northwest through Ultima Esperanza Fjord, or ‘Final Hope Fjord,' an inlet bridging Eberhard Fjord and Balmaceda Mountain. The fjord was named by Spanish explorer Juan Ladrillero, who hoped that crossing the sound would take him to the Strait of Magellan. Instead he arrived to find sheer walls of ice blocking his path.
Today, your captain is at the helm for three hours to reach the same glaciers that thwarted Ladrillero. Enjoy a cup of coffee, tea or juice on deck. For something with an extra kick, sip a glass of whiskey or pisco sour mixed with ice broken off from Serrano glacier. Pass by forests and waterfalls trickling down green hills, and scan the sky for condors. As the boat hugs the coastline, spot dozens of cormorants on rocky outcrops that might be spreading their wings or stretching their slim graceful necks to a soundtrack of ducks and geese squawking nearby. Sea elephants may even lumber out of caves to lounge under the sun. When you reach the eastern face of Balmaceda Mountain, 6,676 feet (2,035 meters) high, see mists swirling around the ice-capped summit. Disembark for an easy hour-long hike through the forests of Bernardo O'Higgins National Park. Follow your guide to an overlook mere steps away from Serrano glacier — a wide frozen river of ice cascading down a crevice between hills. Then trek to the western side of Balmaceda Mountain and capture views of the massive hanging glacier. Here, sapphire- and turquoise-tinted floes deluge the rocky terrain and end at a lake.
Finally, after get marvelled by the incredible ancient glaciers and beautiful landscapes from the Patagonia, climb aboard your boat for a speedy 90-minute return ride to Puerto Natales. Enjoy the landscapes during your return trip! When we arrive to the port, you will take the bus or minivan which will be dropping you off directly at our office in Puerto Natales.
Will be here for about an hour
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Minimum age to drink alcohol is 18 years
- It is recommended that your wear comfortable clothes and trekking shoes and bring a jacket or windbreaker, a hat, sunscreen and sunglasses
- Passport name, number, expiry and country is required at time of booking and at time of travel for all participants
- Please note: Passport information must be provided at least 48 hours prior to the tour. This information is required to submit the passenger list to the Port Authority; without it, departure authorization will not be granted. If the passport details are not received within this timeframe, the booking will be considered a no-show and charged at 100%.
- * Meeting Point Eberhard 560 at 07:00 or Puerto Boires at 07:30 from September to March Eberhard 560 at 08:00 or Puerto Boires at 08:30 from April to August
Reviews(49)
It was great experience. The glacier is beautiful, tiny but cute. The floating ices are amazing. Food was good too. Staff were nice 👍
Thank you so much for your kind words! We’re delighted to hear you had a great experience and enjoyed the beauty of the glacier, small but truly special. The floating ice is definitely a magical sight! It’s also wonderful to know you liked the food and that our team made you feel welcome. We’ll be happy to share your feedback with them. 👍 We hope to see you again for another memorable adventure!
The boat had over 100 customers plus the crew. Interior seating has tables of six with two windows rows and a center row. There is no room to store a daypack. The small deck space becomes crowded and has little overhanging protection from the rain. It did rain which is not unusual for this region. You will need some luck to get an unobstructed view. The crew is pleasant and accommodating. The catamaran stopped at a nice facility for a good lunch with very competent service. The cruise was scenic but the glaciers seem small if you have been to Alaska. Took a van tour through Torres del Paines the day before which was more wow, comfortable, and a better value.
Thank you for sharing your feedback with us. We appreciate your comments regarding the seating layout, deck space, and weather conditions, which can indeed be variable in this region and may affect visibility. We’re pleased to know that you found the crew pleasant and accommodating, and that you enjoyed the lunch stop and its service. Your comparison with the Torres del Paine tour is very valuable, as each experience offers a different way to explore Patagonia. Thank you again for your insights, which help future travelers set the right expectations.
Excellent tour to a beautiful part of Patagonia - stunning glacier and mountain views. Condors and sea lions were an added bonus.
Thank you for your review! We’re glad you enjoyed the stunning landscapes and wildlife. Hope to see you again on another adventure!
Best tour in Puerto Natales! Balmaceda and Serrano glaciers are more beautiful than any of the other glaciers in the area and can only be accessed via boat. The boat is very comfortable with great service. Includes a very scenic hike to Serrano Glacier and excellent lunch at a local ranch.
Good day out The sea was calm and not much windy The walking trail gave breathtaking views Great experience Lunch was very good Overall good experience
Thank you for taking the time to leave us your feedback! We're glad to hear you enjoyed your experience with us. Your satisfaction means a lot to our entire team, and we hope to see you again soon.
This was a wonderful experience, cruising in comfort with opportunities to admire elephant seals sunning themselves on rock ledges, a colony of cormorants, and of course spectacular waterfalls and stunning glaciers. A walk through beautiful forest to the Serrano Glacier was the highlight, followed by a delicious three course meal at Estancia Perales. The crew were helpful and professional and friendly, and we thoroughly enjoyed the day from beginning to end.
The scenery was magnificent, we were speechless. Tasty genuine lunch with a three course meal highly recommended.
It was worth it , the ship was in good conditions, I expected to be able to reach and walk in the glaciar but since it has reatreated we couldn´t get that cloese but the experience was good and the food in lunch was good
Thank you for taking the time to leave us your feedback! We're glad to hear you enjoyed your experience with us. Your satisfaction means a lot to our entire team, and we hope to see you again soon.
While the glaciers were cool to see, and no specific complaints about the overall experience, it was definitely overpriced for what we got. Having ~100 people on a boat that offered one snack, a decent lunch (that took a long time), and tea/coffee did not seem worth the high price tag (and we never even got our pisco sour!) The crew were very professional and helpful, but the low rating is due to it being overpriced.
Great service . Great communication with touring company and made it very easy and enjoyable along with stress free. I thank you!
