E
Great Trip!
Great boat trip! Staff, food and service was excellent! Good narrative about glaciers. Captain navigated boat to allow for views on all sides.
All Glacier Navigation: Sail Among Upsala and Spegazzini Glaciers
+29 photos
At a glance
- Duration
- 9h 30min
- Price from
- $270 / person
- Location
- El Calafate, Argentina
- Rating
- 4.4 / 5 · 45 reviews
- Languages
- EN, ES
- Group
- Small group, up to 50
- Cancellation
- See policy below
- Confirmation
- Instant
- Ticket
- Mobile or paper ticket accepted
- Operator
- Gray Line Argentina
- Meeting point
- If you choose the option without transfers: The departure port is located 50 km from El Calafate, and there is no public transport available. You will be sent the meeting point and the required arrival time the day before the excursion.
Description
The day begins at Puerto Punta Bandera, just 47 km from El Calafate, where our team will welcome you to a warm, modern terminal. Once aboard our state-of-the-art vessels, an unforgettable voyage begins along the North Arm of Lake Argentino. We pass through the narrow Devil's Mouth —the lake's tightest point—heading toward the Upsala Channel. Along this stretch, you will feel the thrill of navigating among massive icebergs that have calved from the majestic Upsala Glacier, one of the park's largest. The adventure continues toward the Spegazzini Channel, where the landscape transforms into a succession of hanging glaciers—such as Seco, Heim Sur, and Peineta—framing the approach to the main attraction: the Spegazzini Glacier. To top it all off, we disembark at Base Spegazzini, an exclusive, full-service lodge situated right in front of the glacier. There, you can enjoy free time to rest, have lunch, or simply sit by the panoramic window and marvel at the vastness of the surroundings.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Upsala Expediciones
We cross the Boca del Diablo and head for the Upsala Channel to sail among the large icebergs that break off the front of the Upsala Glacier. A fascinating experience.
Lago Argentino
From the Port of Punta Bandera, 47 km from El Calafate, we start sailing along the North Arm of Lake Argentino.
Glaciar Spegazzini
we will continue the journey to the Spegazzini Channel that will offer you unique views of some beautiful hanging glaciers such as the Seco, the South Heim and the Peineta that are the prelude to the biggest show, "The Spegazzini Glacier", the biggest of them all, with one of the most impressive views.
What's included
Included
5 hours of Catamaran Sailing
Bilingual guide in Spanish and English
Disembarkation at Spegazzini Refuge
Lunch (only if you choose an option that includes lunch)
Standard Cabin or VIP Cabin (depending on the chosen option)
Round-trip transfers from El Calafate (only if you choose an option that includes transfers)
Not included
Entrance to Los Glaciares National Park
Gratuities
Pickup Locations & Times
Transfers: Some hotels in the city are not part of the pick-up route. If your accommodation is outside the route, we will contact you to indicate the nearest hotel where you should go. You must wait for the guide in the lobby of the indicated hotel.
Traveller Ratings
4.4
45 reviews
Important Information
- Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Entrance to Los Glaciares National Park: This is not included in the tour price. The approximate cost is ARS 50,000 per person and must be paid upon entering the park. Payment can be made in cash or by Visa card, in Argentine pesos only. Mastercard is not accepted.
- If you select the option without lunch, you may bring your own packed meal. If you book the Refugio Menu or the Captain’s Club option, you must provide advance notice of any dietary restrictions.
- Recommended clothing: The Patagonian weather can change rapidly, so we recommend bringing a warm jacket and trousers, comfortable footwear, a small backpack, sunglasses, sunscreen, gloves, and a hat.
- To confirm your booking, you must send the following information for all passengers: Full name, Passport or national identity card number, Nationality, Date of birth, Photograph of the passport of minors, Hotel (if you purchased the option with transfers). Your booking will not be confirmed, nor will your place be guaranteed, until we have received all the requested information from each passenger.
Cancellation
All sales are final. No refund is available for cancellations.
0+ days before0% refund
Frequently asked questions
How long does this tour take?
All Glacier Navigation: Sail Among Upsala and Spegazzini Glaciers lasts about 9h 30min. The itinerary has 3 stops.
How much does this tour cost?
Prices start at $270 per person for this El Calafate experience, booked through Viator with the price shown before checkout. There are 4 booking options, so the final price depends on the option you choose.
Can I cancel this tour for free?
All sales are final. No refund is available for cancellations.
Is hotel pickup included?
Yes, pickup is offered. Transfers: Some hotels in the city are not part of the pick-up route. If your accommodation is outside the route, we will contact you to indicate the nearest hotel where you should go. You must wait for the guide in the lobby of the indicated hotel. Pickup points include Kelta Hotel.
What languages is this tour offered in?
The experience is available in EN, ES.
Is this a private or a group tour?
It is a small-group experience with a maximum of 50 participants.
Is the tour suitable for children?
Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
Will my booking be confirmed immediately?
Yes, bookings are confirmed instantly.
Reviews(45)
G
EXCEPTIONAL
A tour that guarantees very beautiful landscapes! Porto, close to the Spegazzini Glacier, has a very good structure for you to have a meal, stroll on the beach and sit and admire the mountains and the lake.
J
Indescribable landscapes
This tour is unmissable. You see indescribable landscapes, the shining blue of the icebergs, the detachment of ice sheets, the contrast of the blue of the lake with the white of the ice... it's sensational!!!!
M
Glaciers by Water
Buy your glacier cruise in El Calafate as soon as you arrive because the cruises sell out. There are a couple different glacier cruises. We took the Upsala, Spengazzini cruise which I highly recommend. We cruised Lago Argentina and up two of the arms. It was beautiful. The water was an unbelievable turquoise blue with floating ice bergs. After visiting one of the glacier up close you disembark on the shore for lunch. You can bring a lunch, purchase a hot lunch from the boat, or purchase food from the cafeteria overlooking the glacier. You can eat inside or on the deck overlooking the glacier. If you want to go in luxury you can purchase passage in the Captain’s cabin riding in a private room in the front of the boat with food and wine served throughout the cruise. We took my father and it was a perfect way for those who can’t go trekking to see the glaciers. Also, this cruise allowed us to see different glaciers other than Perito Merreno which we mini-trekked.
P
Cruise on Lake Argentino visit to 3 Glaciers
I don’t give it maximum score because unfortunately we had a rainy and very cloudy day, but it is still one of the most beautiful excursions in Calafate. We have to do it.
M
"Majestic and imposing nature"
Unique and unrivalled experience of glacier navigation. It’s amazing to see the huge and majestic walls of ice up close, to appreciate their various colors, to hear their sounds as they fall, to feel in the middle of nature and its majesty. In our case we had very good weather and temperature but I suggest being prepared for the cold. During sailing a guide is responsible for recounting the particularities of the place. It is one of those experiences that you can not stop living!!! Unmissable.
3 people found this helpful
P
A joke, but not funny.
I paid for the trip and got the 'confirmed' status. I've asked for - and received - the precise pickup time for our hotel. They asked for additional passenger data and thanked me for providing them with all they needed. Then, late afternoon right before the cruise, they sent me an email saying they have to cancel because they don't know where to pick us up from. All the despite the fact they got this information from Viator, set the precise pickup time and confirmed the completeness of data. A call to their office revealed that, apparently, they will not be running the cruise on Saturday. Calling their office, with one person talking loudly in the background and another person loudly whistling (seriously?!) in the background was a really bad experience. Trust me, you don't want to be doing all this last minute, in the middle of Patagonia, with spotty wifi/cell reception. I ended up going with another, reliable company for the short boat trip + boardwalks. It was great. Book one of these instead.
C
Amazing!
We never thought to see as much beauty as we did on this ride. The views are stunning. Tip: bring your own food for lunch.
M
Expert Moreno
Unique experience, is a wonderful place. Unique landscapes I love the Argentine South, an excursion you don’t have to miss
B
Spectacular tour, but price above the world average
Spectacular tour, but price above the world average. Visit to glaciers, to the side of icebergs for photos, inclusive snack, mini treking, a real profitable day. Meanwhile, the price is above the world average of tours. The Argentine and Chilean themselves also found the tours in El Calafate very expensive.
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| Tour | Duration | Rating | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| All Glacier Navigation: Sail Among Upsala and Spegazzini Glaciers | 9h 30min | 4.4 (45) | $270 | |
 All Glaciers Navigation: Discovering Upsala & Spegazzini | 10 hours | 4.2 (33) | $251 | View |
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 Perito Moreno Glacier with Navigation from El Calafate | 8 hours | 4.8 (303) | $134 | View |
 Perito Moreno Glacier Experience with Boat Navigation !! | 7 hours | 4.9 (47) | $150 | View |
from$270
4.4(45) Free cancellation