Description
Day 1:
Reception at El Calafate airport and transfer to hotel. Accommodation. Free time to explore the cozy town or, if arrival time permits, an optional short excursion can be added (ask).
Day 2:
Perito Moreno Glacier: Some moments etch themselves into memory—not through words, but through silence. Among Patagonia’s most awe-inspiring excursions, the encounter with the Perito Moreno Glacier remains unequaled: towering, alive, and in constant motion, a monumental wall of ice that cracks, roars, collapses, and slowly rebuilds itself.
The full-day excursion begins in the morning, departing from El Calafate and tracing the shoreline of Bahía Redonda, the rounded bay of Lake Argentino. The journey reveals the solitary silhouette of Isla Solitaria floating in the water’s expanse. From there, the route enters the windswept Patagonian steppe, a vast landscape of ochres and silvers. Along the way, landmarks appear: Cerro Comisión (also known as Elephant Hill), the Centinela River, Cerro Frías, and traditional ranches like the well-known Estancia Alice. After crossing the Mitre River, the road enters Los Glaciares National Park.
The scenery shifts dramatically. The dry steppe gives way to lush forests of southern beech trees. In just a few miles, the environment transforms into a green, humid corridor of lengas, ñires, evergreen beech, and the brilliant red blooms of the notro.
One of the most iconic moments of the journey occurs at the Curva de los Suspiros—the “Sighs Curve”—named for the audible gasp that often escapes as the glacier appears for the first time in the distance.
Farther along, the road reaches the main viewpoint, where the entire 3-mile-wide face of the glacier comes into view. But the most intimate encounter happens at the walkways—a network of platforms and paths that bring visitors just a few hundred feet from the ice wall itself. Rising more than 200 feet above the lake’s surface, the glacier looms in silence, marked by deep blue crevices, translucent shadows, and jagged towers of frozen time. Every so often, a thunderous crack splits the air. A chunk of ice breaks free and crashes into the lake, sending ripples across the stillness.
The average time spent at the walkways is about two hours, allowing for unhurried exploration. Inside the national park, a visitor area offers food and refreshments, with privileged views of the glacier and surrounding peaks.
The experience reveals the glacier from a completely new perspective, highlighting its towering ice walls and the frequent calving of massive ice blocks, which break off with a thunderous noise and drift as deep-blue icebergs, passing just meters from the boat and coloring the water with their ancient hue.
The vessel, with a capacity of approximately 70 passengers, maintains a safe yet close distance as it navigates the entire southern front of the glacier.
Boarding takes place at Puerto Bajo de las Sombras, located 3.7 miles (6 kilometers) from the main Perito Moreno Glacier viewpoint.
Day 3:
In order to get to the magnificent Mt. Fitz Roy, departure to El Chaltén.: This full-day excursion leaves from El Calafate at approximately 7:00 a.m., heading into the heart of Patagonia.
The journey follows the legendary Route 40, tracing the shores of Lake Argentino until reaching the La Leona River. From there, the road continues alongside the canyon for another hour, arriving at the historic La Leona roadhouse, an iconic stop that feels like a living museum of Route 40. Here, a pause is made to enjoy coffee and a traditional Welsh cake.
The route then skirts the vast Lake Viedma, with the towering Andes Mountain Range unfolding in the background. The majestic silhouettes of Mount Fitz Roy and Cerro Torre begin to dominate the landscape as the journey approaches the mountain village of El Chaltén.
The entire trip covers 137 miles (220 kilometers) each way and takes approximately three hours, including several photo stops at fantastic panoramic viewpoints of the Patagonian landscapes.
Once in El Chaltén, the main activity is trekking along well-marked, self-guided trails that lead towards the base of Mount Fitz Roy or Cerro Torre, offering unforgettable views of these iconic peaks.
After a day immersed in breathtaking scenery, the return journey to El Calafate marks the end of this adventure.
Day 4:
A full day of navigation among Glaciers and icebergs, at the splendid Gourmet Glaciers Experience: This full-day journey aboard the María Turquesa Cruise blends two of southern Patagonia’s greatest pleasures: sailing among glaciers and enjoying refined cuisine surrounded by breathtaking scenery.
The experience begins early in the morning with a transfer to Punta Bandera, where boarding from the Private Port La Soledad takes place . The navigation unfolds across the vast expanse of Lake Argentino, offering a privileged perspective on the Los Glaciares National Park—a perspective both immersive and remarkably close to the ice.
The first sights appear after crossing Escuadra Bay and the Condoreras Wall: the Seco and Heim Glaciers, suspended from mountain slopes and peaks—so-called “hanging glaciers.” The cruise continues south toward the Spegazzini Channel, leading to the glacier of the same name. This towering ice front rises between 260 and 440 feet above lake level, allowing for an awe-inspiring close-up approach.
The next stop is Puesto de las Vacas, a calm bay nestled within the channel. Here, the captain cuts the engines to allow a brief, guided walk along the shore, led by the onboard team of naturalist guides.
Later, the cruise approaches the barrier of icebergs that blocks access to the Upsala Channel. The distant outlines of the Upsala and Bertacchi Glaciers can be admired from the deck. A Gourmet boxed lunch, with non-alcoholic beverages included, is served amid this striking scenery.
The journey then continues through the Iceberg Channel toward the northern face of the Perito Moreno Glacier, where the vessel stops to observe the dramatic calving of ice blocks crashing into the lake—a spectacle of sound, movement, and stillness.
Return to port is scheduled for 5:00 p.m. followed by the transfer back to El Calafate.
Note: When booking with us, guests may request for an upgrade to the VIP Premium Deck of the María Turquesa Cruise, an exclusive area with space for just 16 passengers. This option not only offers privacy but a full lunch with alcoholic beverages, plus complimentary cafeteria service throughout the navigation.
Day 5:
Breakfast at hotel, and, at scheduled time, transfer to airport.
End of our services.
Please contact us if you wish to extend your stay in this destination or continue your trip elsewhere in Argentina!
