Boat navigation to Balmaceda and Serrano Glaciers from Puerto Natales
Description
This is a boat trip through Last Hope Sound towards Bernardo O'Higgins National Park, to visit the Balmaceda and Serrano glaciers. We will see not just these icy giants but also local flora and fauna along the way.
Tour Options
Itinerary
This boat excursion leaves in the morning from the pier at Puerto Natales and takes us to two glaciers, called Balmaceda and Serrano. These are part of the Bernardo O'Higgins National Park and they are accesible only by boat. This park han an area of 4,300,00 hectares (16,600 square miles), which makes it the largest in Chile and one of the four largest parks in the world. It includes the Southern Patagonian Ice Field, the largest mass of ice on the American Continent. Our trip to and from the end of Last Hope Sounds lasts for eight hours and includes an excellent view of the old freezer plant at Puerto Bories, several small ranches, ice-fields and waterfalls, a colony of cormorants whose common name is Imperial Shag as well as a sea lion rockery. From the boat we will also be able to see the local flora, which includes forests of trees with local names such as coigue, canelo, ñirre, and lenga. After three hours of travel we expect to reach the Balmaceda glacier, which is located on the east side of the mountain bearing the same name. At the end of the fjord the boat will dock to allow passengers to take a half-hour walk along a lake to the viewing point fot the Serrano glacier. Later in the afternoon we will return to Puerto Natales by the same route.
Highlights
What's included
Pickup Locations & Times
Pickup Time will be reconfirmed
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- May be operated by a multi-lingual guide
Reviews(6)
No one spoke English… no guide, wasted my time and no value for the price… would no recommend for anyone….no photos of any value
A nice day, loaded in a shining 4x4 Huber at our hotel at 06:10 sparkling, brought to the boat, coffee, chatting with our screws screws, well wedged on our armchairs in the soft heat of the cabin and off we go, cool framing, outing on the deck or on the deck above the cabin, whenever we want, swimming prohibited, stops at the famous viewpoints, walk to the foot of a glacier, photos, photos, photos. Return to port after a stop super meal watered with Carmener or other according to taste, possible choice chicken, vegan, lamb in brazier the whole hearty sheltered in a large heated room, with friendly staff and attentive.Reembarkation.back to port enjoying a good whisky or other according to taste. Farewell on the dock and back to the hotel in Huber, great.
One of our favorite excursions seeing the glaciers, the beautiful Andes Mountains, and the meeting the most wonderful and most welcoming peoples! Wishing and hoping to return soon!
The incredible view. Beautiful landscapes. Very bad guides, they don't explain anything more than the basics. We did not see the Balmaceda glacier. Delicious lunch at Hacienda Perales.
The check-in was convenient and efficient. We walked from our Hotel "Saltos del Paine" to the tour office. The short bus ride to the boat dock was prompt and courteous. The return bus ride was punctual and comfortable. The boat crew courteous and helpful giving explanations of the waterfalls and the glaciers.
