Things to do in Santa Cruz Province

Discover the beauty of the Perito Moreno glacier on a guided walking tour on this day trip from El Calafate. Cross the Rico channel on a boat and ride thorugh the unique ecosystem of a Magellanic subpolar forest in comfortable van or bus. Start your trip with pick-up from certain hotels in El Calafate and take the 1.5-hour transfer to Bajo de las Sombras Port. Board a boat to cross the Rico channel. Join a group of up to 20 people and take a 20-minute walk to the glacier.  When you arrive, get kitted out with crampons and begin the ascent. Hike for approximately 1 hour and 40 minutes enjoying the ice formations and discovering the flora, fauna, and glaciology of the region. Learn about the phenomenon of glacier rupture.  Then, return to the refuge through the Magellanic forest. From there, cross the Rich Arm of Lago Argentino and sail in front of the glacier. After this, spend approximately 1 hour exploring a network of walkways which offer a new perspective of the Perito Moreno Glacier.

Depart from your hotel in El Calafate at around 10:30 AM and set off for the Perito Moreno Glacier located inside the Los Glaciares National Park. Travel to the west end of the Magallanes Peninsula and enjoy plenty of time to explore this natural ice formation. Begin your tour of the national park by strolling along a 4-kilometer (2.5-mile) network of boardwalks. Admire the glacier from multiple perspectives as you climb up to different levels and balconies. Spend 2 hours exploring the runways and use this time to eat a packed lunch or make a stop in at one of the restaurants. Go on an optional 1-hour boat ride in front of the northern wall of the glacier. After the tour, return to El Calafate via the same route and arrive in the evening.

Start the tour with a pickup from your hotel in El Calafate around 7:00 AM to undertake the 47km route to the Punta Bandera Port where your boat departs at 9:00 AM.  The first part of the trip takes place in the north arm of the Argentino Lake before crossing into the Boca del Diablo, the narrowest part of the lake. Then, go to the Upsala and Spegazzini channels where you can view the respective glaciers. The Upsala Glacier is the largest on Argentino Lake and can be seen from about 20km away. The Spegazzini Glacier is the highest and you can also see the Dry, Heim Sur, and Peineta glaciers. After entering the Spegazzini Channel, a 300-meter path will be crossed without difficulty through the forest along the coast of the lake making stops at viewpoints overlooking the entire Bay of Glaciers.  Arrive at the Spegazzini Refuge where you can enjoy an optional 3-course lunch with drinks, visit the shop, and contemplate the landscape from the terrace.  For those who enjoy walking, the mountain path offers a 700m trek of medium difficulty through a wooded path with natural viewpoints of the Spegazzini Glacier ending at the landing point. Return to the boat and head back to El Calafate where you’ll be dropped off back at your hotel.

The trip begins with pickup from El Calafate and travels 1 hour and 30 minutes to Bajo de la Sombras Port. From here, sail across the Rico Channel and descend on the southwestern coast of Patagonia to reach Perito Moreno Glacier. Upon arrival at the glacier, enjoy a 1 hour and 30 minute hike with your mountain guides along a path next to the glacier. Arrive at a magnificent view point and marvel at the vast frozen landscape that stretches out before you. From here, attach the iron crampons to the ground and begin your hike walk across the ice. Trek across the ice for around 4 hours, admiring the fascinating ice formations from start to finish. From your expert guides, learn about the flora and fauna that thrive in this unique environment, and listen to interesting facts about the glaciology of the region, and in particular about the phenomenon of glacier rupture. Finally, return to Bajo de las Sombras Port to gaze at the view of the glacier from the walkways and balconies, and then return to the city of El Calafate.

Enjoy the convenience of being picked up at your hotel in El Calafate. Drive 80 km to the Los Glaciares National Park, an approximately 2-hour drive. Meet your kayaking guide upon arrival and begin your Perito Moreno adventure. Get ready to paddle by gearing up with a dry Gore-Tex suit, thermal suit, boots, gloves, and life jacket. Receive safety instructions at the lakeshore. There, your guide will lead you through a few warm-up exercises in order to get you feeling comfortable and confident in you kayak. This tour is welcome to kayakers of all experience levels. Whether you’re a seasoned kayaker or this is your first time, you’ll be in good hands with your knowledgable guide. Explore the majestic icebergs floating in the water. Enjoy breathtaking views of this natural wonder. Take extraordinary pictures of these icy giants. Return to shore after 1.5 hours of paddling. Leave your kayaking guide and meet your original guide. Discover the circuit of footbridges facing the glacier. Hear the ice cracking in surroundings ice formations as you walk along the catwalks. Afterward, return to your hotel in El Calafate.

Reconnect with nature and admire memorable landscapes on this trekking trip to El Chalten and the Laguna de los Tres, lunch included. Admire the local scenery and landscapes throughout the hike, including views of Fit Roy Mountain. The trip starts with the pickup from the hotels in the morning. Take the mythical Route 40 bordering the Argentino Lake and undertake a trip to the town of El Chalten, 220 km from El Calafate. Once in Chalten, stop at Rancho Grande (bar and mountain refuge) to use the restroom, receive your map, and learn the use of canes and crampons if necessary. Enjoy free coffee and snacks to recharge both before and after the trek. On the trek, venture inside part of the Andean Forest. If you are lucky, you'll see some of the animals that live there. Surprise yourself with all the landscapes that you will cross on your way. You'll soon find this to be a dream-like natural place. The path that is used is the Fitz Roy. Starting and ending in the same place, it's 10 km out and 10 km back. For the first two kilometers, the path is demanding. During kilometers 8 to 9, the path is also very demanding. After enjoying the impressive views of Cerro Fitz Roy and Laguna de los Tres and filling yourself with the magic of the place, you'll return to El Chalten via a well-marked path. Staff will be waiting for you at the fixed meeting point in advance for the return ride to El Calafate. Depending on the weather conditions, the route or sights seen may vary. Other spots you may visit include Camping Poicenot, Laguna Capri, and Sendero Torre.

Discover the National Capital of Trekking and let yourself be amazed by this mountain town. Surprise yourself with the incredible landscapes and walk part of its trails. We will start at 7:30 in the morning with the pick up from the hotels in El Calafate. Finished it, we will undertake a trip to the town of El Chaltén (National Capital of Trekking) 220 km from El Calafate. On our tour, we will cross the Santa Cruz River, and we will stop for a few minutes at Estancia La Leona, next to the river with the same name. There will be a bathroom stop and you can enjoy homemade cakes and something hot to drink (not included). Then we will continue on our way to El Chaltén, bordering Lake Viedma with its homonymous glacier. During the tour, if the weather allows it, we will have impressive views of Cerro Chaltén (also known as Fitz Roy) and Torre, as well as the Viedma Glacier, and its impressive icebergs. Upon arrival at Chaltén, we will have 5 hours to explore and enjoy this small mountain town (take into account if you choose the option with lunch or box, read the particularities). To tour the place, we have 2 options: - Enabled all year round and the ideal option for those who do not want a long walk. Visit the Mirador de los Cóndores about 700 meters, with low demands, and the Chorrillo del Salto about 300 meters completely flat. Accompanied by the guide. - From September to April (subject to weather conditions and the presence of ice and snow) make part of the trail to Fitz Roy Laguna de los Tres, reaching Laguna Capri, where you can have lunch on its beaches and return, all self-guided in a road that has no detours (8 km round trip). Ideal for those who can walk them, being a unique and unrepeatable experience in the city. To return, we will all meet at a previously arranged meeting point, and we will return to El Calafate, arriving at approximately 8:00 p.m.

Enjoy a full day experience aboard the María Turquesa Cruise that travels to the most impressive glaciers, sailing with the highest comfort. Begin with the transfer from your hotel to the Private Port La Soledad. After traveling 47 KM enter the National Park and board the boat. Cross a peninsulas encounter called "Boca del Diablo" to enter the North Arm of the lake. Navigate between icebergs through the Upsala Canal where you can observe the Upsala Glacier about 10 km away. Go to the Spegazzini Channel to see hanging glaciers such as Dry Glacier, Heim Sur, Peinetta and disembark at Las Vacas Post where you will make a 30-minute walk through a lovely forest. Continue to the front of the highest glacier in the National Park, the Spegazzini Glacier (135 meters above the lake level/440 ft above the lake level). Take advantage of the time, take pictures and contemplate in silence with the surrounding natural beauty. Head to your final destination at Perito Moreno Glacier, where you will disembark on the walkways to culminate a day full of magic and surprises. Finally, take a bus in which you will return to your hotel in El Calafate at the end of the day.

Enjoy a trip to the Perito Moreno Glacier located within Los Glaciares National Park. Begin the tour with a pickup from your hotel in El Calafate. This early departure allows you to spend more time visiting this amazing place. Travel until you reach the western end of the Magellan Peninsula. When you arrive at the park, walk along a 4 km network of walkways spread over different levels that will allow you to contemplate the glacier from different angles and points of view. Spend 2 hours walking the slopes and marveling at the incredible river of ice. During this free time, feel free to grab a packed lunch or stop at the restaurant. During the visit, the guide will coordinate with you the time for a 1-hour boat ride to the north wall of the glacier. After the boat cruise, return to El Calafate on the same route you took, arriving in the early evening Both activities are not carried out on the same day. The next day, you can visit the Glaciarium Museum.

Sail in luxury around Southern Patagonia's Los Glaciares National Park during this full-day sightseeing cruise. Board at La Soledad Port, before visiting the stunning Escuadra Bay and the Condor Nesting Wall. Watch these beautiful birds in action. Marvel at the majestic natural wonders of the Seco, Heim and Spegazzini Glaciers from the catamaran's four outer decks. Disembark at "Puesto Las Vacas" station for a short walk. Then, visit Upsala Canal, and enjoy panoramic views of the spectacular Upsala and Bertracchi Glaciers. Indulge in a gourmet lunch onboard. Admire the cruiser's glacier-themed decorations, which bring nature indoors. Let your kids play in the recreation area, which features illustrations of the National Park’s native fauna. Navigate along Canal de los Témpanos towards the Northern face of the Perito Moreno Glacier, and disembark at La Soledad Port.