Glacier Boat Ride in Glacier National Park, Patagonia, Argentina
- That's How We Travel
- May 12
- 3 min read
Summary. Approximately an hour from El Calafate, Argentina, lies a collection of massive glaciers within Glacier National Park (Los Glaciares National Park). A great way to get relatively near these stunning ice formations is by embarking on a boat tour with Solo Patagonia. Although this full-day excursion is not inexpensive, it is truly worthwhile to witness this magnificent site up close. If you've been doing some hiking, in this famous hiking destination, it's also a nice way to sit back, relax, and spend time with the family while watching endless gorgeous views.
[This blog is part of our 10-days in Patagonia trip].
Solo Patagonia. One of the things we splurged on this trip was a boat ride with Solo Patagonia. This full day experience starts from Punta Bandera Port in Los Glaciares National Park (Glacier National Park), which is about an hour from El Calafate. We had a rented car but transfers from El Calafate are also available for an extra charge. To arrive with plenty of time to board Solo Patagonia's very nice fleet of boats, we left at 7:30 a.m., with packed snacks and a lunch to get us through the day. The "Captain's Package," includes a meal, if you prefer, and there's also a restaurant at the turnaround point outside of Spegazzini glacier. We found this company to be very well organized and provided an overall good experience.
Time on the Boat. The boat ride itself is where we spent a good portion of the day. The interior of the boat has tables for everyone to sit at and enjoy some nice family time while watching the pretty scenery. There are also times where we went outside and braved the chilly wind.
Time outside was chilly on this end-of-December day.
Glacier chunks. Along the way, you can observe several large chunks of glaciers that have broken off and are floating serenely in the water. These massive icebergs, often gleaming in shades of blue and white, are remnants of ancient glaciers that have slowly calved from their parent masses.
Spegazzini Glacier. Eventually the boat docs right near Spegazzini Glacier. Here, we were given a couple hours to enjoy the walk out to the viewpoint and eat our packed lunch. There is a restaurant here as well. There is also a historical exhibit where readers will enjoy learning about the history of the area and the explorers that first discovered these gigantic Glaciers.
Up Close to Glacier. Once we re-boarded, the boat brought us near the Spegazzini Glacier, which is an incredibly beautiful sight to behold. As we approached, the sheer size and majesty of the ice formation became increasingly evident. This glacier is renowned for its striking blue hues, a result of the way light refracts through the dense ice. Occasionally, we heard the thunderous sound of ice calving, a dramatic reminder of the glacier's ongoing transformation. The deep rumble echoed across the water, followed by the splash of ice plunging into the lake.
Here's a short video of our journey to the Glacier.
Shopping in El Calafate. In the evening, we walked around central El Calafate and stumbled across and street with mini vendor stalls. We're not sure if this was a permanent set up but it was right off the main street. Speaking with the vendors, they were all local artists and creators.
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