Transfer IN OUT APT/HTL/APT

Permanent Coordination

Spanish & English Bilingual Guide

El Calafate
Reception and transfer from Calafate Airport to the hotel.

Journey to the centre of the most famous glacier in the world (Big Ice)
If we have already visited the glacier from the outside, this is the opportunity to discover it from the inside. Like Jules Verne's 'Journey to the centre of the earth' book, this is a trip to the centre of the most famous glacier. For four hours we walk on top of the frozen surface with the object to arrive to the 'seracs', giant ice structures, where the ice folds. We begin our crossing between the ice structures on the Port 'Bajo de las Sombras' in order to sail along the waters of the Brazo Rico until we arrive at the western coast. Before we start the adventure we receive instructions from the professional mountain guides who explain how to use the materials and help us to obtain the necessary equipment. We advise using sun glasses.

We are now ready to take the path that takes us to the southern moraine of the Perito Moreno Glacier (the area where the ice and ground join together). After an hour of walking we reach an astonishing place: a viewpoint where we have an impressive view of the glaciers and their surrounds. From here, we enter to the interior of the glacier to discover new landscapes such as grand sumps, white caves, very deep crevices and blue lagoons. We find a place which gives us unforgettable images and postcards of the journey to the centre of the glacier. During the excursion, we learn about glaciology, wildlife and native flora thanks to the participation of the guides who are specialists in these subjects. Around midday we have time for lunch and admire the landscapes that surround us. We continue the trail to the moraine, walking for another hour until we finish our hike. We then embark in order to get closer to the southern wall of the Perito Moreno. Late in the afternoon we return to El Calafate.

Important Note: This excursion is only available from middle of September to the end of April. It is a demanding excursion where the terrain is irregular and only persons between 18 and 45 years old and in good physical shape can do it. Pregnant women are not authorized. The entrance fee to the National Park is neither included, nor for personal equipment, or the box lunch (is the responsibility of each person). We advise the use of sun glasses and sun protector of a minimum of factor 30, light clothing but warm, a sun visor, rain proof jacket, gloves, hiking boots (not rubber boots), rucksack of 40 litres, water bottle and lunch box for personal food.

A day in the country inside Los Glaciares National Park (Nibepo Aike)
We visit an estancia that is located inside the National Park. After the welcoming we go to the Brazo Sur of the Argentino Lake watching and enjoying the amazing views to the glaciers and the different levels of water that have eroded the rocks. It is possible to verify the different folds of rocks that were produced by sediments. On our way we discover an ancient forest of nothofagus, that is the habitat for the caranchos, eagles, maras etc. We will be able to enjoy how skillfull are the country men with their control and love for their horses (generally, they are local breeding animals), manual shearing of the sheeps, how to classify the wool and how to bale it.

Then, we visit the old quarters of the estancia and its organic garden. We can have roast lamb or a country barbecue for lunch together with special salads prepared with fresh vegetables from its gardens and homemade desert. Once we are rested, we return to our walk so we can get to a unique panoramic point from where we can see two branchs of the Argentino and the beautiful Roca Lake. The Perito Moreno Glacier finishes both in the Brazo Rico and the Brazo Sur of the Argentino Lake. This valley is not very often seen and its southern access is the less visited of the Southern Ice Fields.

Boating in the National Glacier Park
From Tranquila Bay until Aleman Bay
We present ourselves at the La Soledad private port in Tranquila Bay, Punta Bandera, in order to embark on the cruiser that takes us to see the region of imposing glaciers in the National Park. Once we board we are taken to the Alemana Bay that is on the Avellaneda Peninsular with the presence of a forest of lengas and notros that welcome us on our first night of the journey. We take advantage of the rest of the day to walk the area or just relax. In the evening we dine in the Aleman Bay. Afterwards we join the recreational activities on board.

The walk to the Upsala and Spegazzini Glaciers arriving at Toro Bay
In the middle of the morning we cruise to the northern sector, leaving on the way the Punta Avellaneda and Boca del Diablo(Devil's Mouth), being the widest part of the Argentino Lake, with an extension of some 800 metres. We cross green and turquoise waters full of icebergs that drift across our passage. The sensation of navigating between icebergs is really unforgettable and unique and here we are witnesses to the diverse forms, colours and sizes of what nature has authorized. We follow the Brazo Norte for about one hour seeing lumps of ice with such distinct characteristics of opaque colours and translucence inviting us to imagine the forms of the objects. The ice blocks indicate to us that we are close to the Upsala Glacier. There we have a front wall of ice that actually cuts the passage until the Upsala Canal, without doubt, with good weather we can perceive the glacier of the same name from afar. It is so impressive due to its dimensions and there the walls are up to 60 metres high.

Continuing with the navigation chart of the Argentino Lake we are directed now to the south, towards the Spegazzini Canal, that is close to our next stop to appreciate its glacier. We are treated to a great mass of ice that rises up to between 80 and 135 metres, being a river of ice that descends a rocky slope and abruptly falls into the lake. This icescape is our place to have lunch, having a privileged view whilst enjoying the delicious food offered in the cruiser. In the afternoon we arrive at the Puesto de las Vacas, a peaceful bay that is in the Spegazzini Canal, there we enjoy a rest in the middle of the silence, listening only to the sound of the water and we can take a short walk in the surroundings to feel the sensation of such quietness and appreciate the different forms and sizes of the icebergs that fall. From this place we have some spectacular views of the Spegazzini Glacier.

Immediately after the walk around the bay we embark again to have a snack there in preparation for our trip to the Toro Bay, found in the Mayo Sound. Once dinner has finished we can again participate in the activities offered on the cruiser or by the crew. If the weather is fine we could have an incredible opportunity to observe a dark sky full of stars.

Visiting the Mayo and Negro Glaciers and going until the Perito Moreno Glacier
We have an early breakfast and then continue our route whilst at the same time having beautiful views of the lake and its glaciers. We stop to walk through an Andian Patagonian forest from where we have an impressive view of the Glacier Mayo and Negro. Here there is a continental ice refuge where there has been left the tracks of the explorers. We cross the Canal de los Témpanos (Iceberg Canal) to arrive at one of the most famous glaciers in the world: the Perito Moreno Glacier, in order to traverse a short stretch at the front of its great northern wall.

During the summer, we have the possibility to witness the great icefalls that it produces, dropping huge icebergs into the lake, the most important characteristic of this glacier. Its tremendous ice falls form part of a spectacular that nobody wants to miss. In order not to break the custom we have lunch in front of this such solemn ice giant. Our final stretch is to cross the Argentino Lake back to the La Soledad Port in order to toast the successful end to this marvelous adventure. We disembark after 16 hrs to be taken back to El Calafate.