
All Glacier Navigation: Sail Among Upsala and Spegazzini Glaciers
Traveler rating
4.4/5
Based on 45 traveler reviews. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.
Quick answer
Is All Glacier Navigation: Sail Among Upsala and Spegazzini Glaciers worth booking?
All Glacier Navigation: Sail Among Upsala and Spegazzini Glaciers is a 9.5-hour experience in El Calafate, Argentina, from $370 per person. It scores 56 out of 100 on the Outty Ranking, which we label “Worth a Look”, based on a 4.4/5 rating across 45 reviews. This booking is non-refundable, so pick your date carefully. Same-day spots are currently showing.
- Outty Ranking
- 56 / 100
- Rating
- 4.4/5 (45)
- Duration
- 9.5 hours
- From
- $370 per person
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.
What you get
About this experience
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.
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
What you'll see and do
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.
Pass by without stopping
Lago Argentino
From the Port of Punta Bandera, 47 km from El Calafate, we start sailing along the North Arm of Lake Argentino.
Pass by without stopping
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.
Pass by without stopping
Where it starts and ends
Meeting point
El Calafate
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.
Hotel pickup
Pickup is available for selected locations. Pickup begins about 15 minutes before departure.
Ends at
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.
Options you can book
With Transfers (without Lunch)
Standard Cabin Duration: 9 hours Pickup included
Captain's Club
VIP Cabin Duration: 9 hours Lunch: 4-course Menu & Open Bar Pickup included
With Lunch and Transfers
Standard Cabin Duration: 9 hours Lunch: Lunch with one beverage, plus morning coffee and a croissant. Pickup included
No Transfers, No Lunch
Standard Cabin Duration: 7 hours
Before you book
- Cancellation
- All sales are final. No refund is available for cancellations.
- Languages
- en, es
- Ticket
- Mobile Only
- Runs on
- Every day
- Group size
- Up to 10 travelers per booking
- Operated by
- Gray Line Argentina
Know before you go
- 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.
Photos






What travelers are saying
Outty’s summary of the themes that recur across 45 traveler reviews. Written by us, not quoted from reviewers.
Organization
4 mentionsPickup, timing, and logistics are described as running smoothly.
Photo opportunities
3 mentionsThe views and photo stops come up again and again.
Food and drink
2 mentionsThe tastings and food stops are a highlight for most reviewers.
Traveler reviews
45 verified traveler reviews for All Glacier Navigation: Sail Among Upsala and Spegazzini Glaciers. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.
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.
via Tripadvisor
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.
via Tripadvisor
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.
via Viator
great promises, less realized: no full day boat tour, just the ordinary 5 hrs Rios de Hielo Express tour
the Vitator offer El Calafate Glaciers Sightseeing Cruise is exactly the same like the Rios de Hielo Express boat tour offered by many companies for the same Price or even a bether Price. I did not want to do this very short Rios de Hielo Express boat tour, thats why I ve choosen this offer by vitator. as it has promised something different and a longer tour. Promise broken, Vitator offeres this tour as an 8 hrs tour, but it was only 7 hrs, with only 5 hrs boat tour. 2 hrs were hotel pick up and Transfer to port. So a 5 hrs boat tour is by far not the "full day boat tour" Vitator has offered. We are disappointed.
via Viator
Great tour but poorly organised and communicated
Our confirmation for this tour indicated hotel pickup at 8:30am. When we tried to confirm this with Grey Line Argentina it was as though we didn't exist. We were asked twice to email our names, passport details, tour booking reference and still received no assistance. Thanks to the persistence of a kind person at our hotel who tracked down the Calafate tour provider, we were picked up at 7am for the tour. While we've used Viator tours in many countries previously and happily, this one has left us with an unhappy experience in terms of organisation and communication. It appears that the confirmation information for this tour has been updated with correct pickup time and a Viator phone number. It would have been very useful to have that in January! The tour itself is beautiful and amazing. Highly recommended.
via Tripadvisor
Good to know
- Duration
- 9.5 hours
- Free cancellation
- Non-refundable
- Minimum age to book
- All ages
- Availability
- Bookable today
- Runs on
- Every day
- Price range
- $370 to $828
- Hotel pickup
- Available for selected locations
- Booked in 30 days
- 16
- Verdict
- Worth a Look
Who runs this experience
Operated by Gray Line Argentina, who run 100 experiences we rank across 8 cities, with an average Outty Ranking of 46.8.
See everything Gray Line Argentina runsWhy this scores 56
The Outty Ranking is a weighted composite. Here is how this experience performed on each component.
All Glacier Navigation: Sail Among Upsala and Spegazzini Glaciers: questions travelers ask
Practical detail on this experience, plus the wider planning questions for El Calafate.
How much does All Glacier Navigation: Sail Among Upsala and Spegazzini Glaciers cost?
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Prices start at $370 per person. The final price depends on the date, the time slot and the number of travelers, and peak weekends in El Calafate usually price higher than midweek mornings. Live pricing and remaining availability are confirmed on the booking screen before you pay.
How long does All Glacier Navigation: Sail Among Upsala and Spegazzini Glaciers take?
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Plan for about 9.5 hours from start to finish, not counting travel to the meeting point. Most travelers leave another 30 minutes on either side so the rest of the day in El Calafate is not rushed.
Is All Glacier Navigation: Sail Among Upsala and Spegazzini Glaciers worth it?
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It holds an Outty Ranking of 56 out of 100, which we label "Worth a Look". That score blends traveler sentiment (4.4/5 across 45 reviews), the depth of that review evidence, recent booking momentum, value for money against comparable most popular in El Calafate, and how flexible the cancellation terms are.
Can I cancel or reschedule All Glacier Navigation: Sail Among Upsala and Spegazzini Glaciers?
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No. This experience is sold on a non-refundable basis, so only book a date you are confident about. Similar experiences in the city do offer free cancellation if flexibility matters more than price.
Is All Glacier Navigation: Sail Among Upsala and Spegazzini Glaciers suitable for kids and families?
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Yes, all ages are welcome. Families should still weigh the 9.5-hour running time, and strollers are easier on the earlier, quieter departures.
How far in advance should I book All Glacier Navigation: Sail Among Upsala and Spegazzini Glaciers?
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Around 16 people booked this in the last 30 days, so popular slots go early. Two to three weeks ahead is comfortable in shoulder season, while summer weekends and holidays in El Calafate can sell out a month out. Same-day spots do open up when other travelers cancel, so it is worth checking if you are already in town.
What should I bring or wear?
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Bring photo ID, your booking confirmation on your phone, a refillable water bottle and comfortable shoes. Dress for the weather in El Calafate and add a light layer if any part of the 9.5-hour experience runs outdoors or after sunset.
Where does All Glacier Navigation: Sail Among Upsala and Spegazzini Glaciers start and how do I get there?
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The exact meeting point and directions are on your voucher once you book, and they sit in central El Calafate within reach of public transport. Arrive 15 minutes early: late arrivals are treated as no-shows by most operators.
What are the best things to do in El Calafate?
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On Outty we rank every El Calafate experience on the same 0 to 100 scale, and alongside this one the highest scorers right now include Kayak Full-Day Activity in La Leona River from El Calafate, Perito Moreno Glacier with Navigation from El Calafate, Perito Moreno Glacier Full Day Tour with Optional Boat Safari. The city page groups everything into most popular, highest reviewed, last minute and family-friendly so you can build a day around what actually delivers.
When is the best time to visit El Calafate?
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Booking patterns follow the same curve: prices and queues climb in peak weeks, while shoulder season gives you better availability on the top-ranked experiences and more room to change plans.
How many days do you need in El Calafate?
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Three full days covers the headline sights without sprinting. A workable rhythm is one anchor experience each morning, such as this one, an unhurried afternoon in a single neighborhood, then a food or nightlife booking in the evening. Five days lets you add a day trip outside the city.
Do I book through Outty or through the operator?
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Outty ranks and explains the experiences, then hands you to Viator to complete the booking with the operator directly. The price is the same as booking on Viator yourself, and Outty earns an affiliate commission on the referral, which is how the rankings stay free to read.
What is included in All Glacier Navigation: Sail Among Upsala and Spegazzini Glaciers?
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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); and Standard Cabin or VIP Cabin (depending on the chosen option). Not included: Entrance to Los Glaciares National Park; and Gratuities. Always check the voucher for the final list before you travel.
Does All Glacier Navigation: Sail Among Upsala and Spegazzini Glaciers include hotel pickup?
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Yes, pickup is offered, or you can meet at the start point instead from 35 listed pickup locations in and around El Calafate. Be ready about 15 minutes before the start time. You can also enter a custom pickup address when booking.
What languages is All Glacier Navigation: Sail Among Upsala and Spegazzini Glaciers offered in?
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It is offered in English and Spanish. Pick your language when choosing a date and time, as not every departure runs in every language.
Will I get instant confirmation and a mobile ticket for All Glacier Navigation: Sail Among Upsala and Spegazzini Glaciers?
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Confirmation is sent by the operator after booking, usually within 48 hours; if it is not confirmed you are not charged. Mobile tickets are accepted, so you can show the voucher on your phone.
Is All Glacier Navigation: Sail Among Upsala and Spegazzini Glaciers wheelchair or stroller accessible?
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The operator notes: Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap. If accessibility is critical, contact the operator after booking to confirm arrangements for your date.
What happens to All Glacier Navigation: Sail Among Upsala and Spegazzini Glaciers if the weather is bad?
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It generally runs rain or shine, so dress for the forecast in El Calafate. Standard cancellation terms apply.
What do travelers say about All Glacier Navigation: Sail Among Upsala and Spegazzini Glaciers?
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Across 45 reviews averaging 4.4 out of 5, recurring themes include organization, photo opportunities, food and drink. Pickup, timing, and logistics are described as running smoothly.
What booking options are available for All Glacier Navigation: Sail Among Upsala and Spegazzini Glaciers?
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There are 4 options to choose from, including With Transfers (without Lunch), Captain's Club, With Lunch and Transfers, No Transfers, No Lunch. Prices and start times differ by option, so compare them on the booking screen.
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