Navigation All Glaciers in El Calafate
Navigation Todos Los Glaciares takes you to discover 3 glaciers in the region: Upsala, Spegazzini, and Perito Moreno. Although the latter can also be visited via the walkways, the navigation tour gives you the opportunity to see a little better the grandeur of the Perito Moreno Glacier through the south wall.
How to get?
Navigation Todos Los Glaciares must be booked with a travel agency, however, it is operated only by Solo Patagonia. You can make a reservation at any branch in the city and they already have a transfer service to and from Puerto Bandera, which is where the catamaran leaves for navigation. The distance between Puerto Bandera and El Calafate is 46 km and all agencies take you to the same location. On the way, you will have the privilege of watching the sunrise on Lake Argentino.
How to visit?
At Puerto Bandera, you will see a lineup. My suggestion is to get in line as soon as possible and if you are with more people and want to take some pictures, take the time in line. The queue is unique to pay the port tax, which is not included in the price of the tour, and once you have paid, you will embark on the catamaran. The sooner you get on board, the more likely you are to get a good seat.
The catamaran has all the structure for your comfort. The armchairs are very comfortable with a good space between the rows, there are indicative screens that show your way and there is also a kind of cafe that has some things to eat and drink. However, it is recommended to take a snack to eat during the day as the coffee options are very limited and the prices are abusive.
I got a window seat and left my things. I took a ride on the catamaran and I could already see a map on the wall that had the points we were going to visit.
The Todos Los Glaciares Navigation tour starts with a catamaran passing through Boca del Diablo to reach Brazo Norte. At this point, it is already possible to observe some ice formations on the water surface that intensify as the boat approaches the glaciers.
Finishing the Brazo Norte, the boat begins its trajectory at the Brazo Spegazzini which will end at the glacier that bears his name. The Spegazzini Glacier is the highest in Los Glaciares National Park, reaching 135 m in height. Its name is a tribute to the botanist Carlos Luis Spegazzini who was the first to study the local flora. In my opinion, this is the most beautiful glacier of the 3 that were visited since its formation comes from the top of the mountain.
At this point, the boat turns around and begins its journey through the Brazo Spegazzini towards the Brazo Upsala, which will end at the glacier that bears his name. The name Upsala Glacier is due to the fact that the University of Uppsala, Sweden, carried out the first survey of the region in the 20th century. However, it was not possible to approach the glacier wall due to the high amount of ice that was blocking the passage.
Leaving this point, the boat will return to Brazo Norte, pass through Boca del Diablo again and continue on its way towards the Canal de Los Tempanos to reach the south wall of the Perito Moreno Glacier. This path takes more than an hour to cover and it is time to have your snack and enjoy the view from inside the boat. When I arrived in the south, I could even see the walkways that I had walked the day before.
Leaving Perito Moreno the boat returns to Puerto Bandera and from there the transfer is already waiting to take you back to the city. The return trip takes a long time and you arrive very tiredly, however, the tour of Navigation Todos Los Glaciares gives you the feeling that you have seen one of the most beautiful landscapes in the world.
