Visiting Upsala Glacier and Spegazzini
Upsala Glacier is part of a wider boat itinerary through Los Glaciares National Park. Trips from the Punta Bandera area travel along the northern arm of Lago Argentino and into channels associated with Upsala and Spegazzini. This is a different experience from standing on the walkways opposite Perito Moreno: much of the day is spent aboard, and the route covers several parts of the lake.
The park authority describes a route through Brazo Norte and the Upsala and Spegazzini channels with a stop at Base Spegazzini. The extent to which a boat approaches the Upsala front is not something to build a precise itinerary around. Think of the excursion as a journey through the lake and glacier landscape, with its own departure point and programme, rather than a short crossing added to a walkway visit.
Our picks: glacier cruises
Our take: Choose the navigation with access to the Spegazzini refuge and walkways, or compare the cruises with lunch. Pickup depends on the selected option.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide and Viator. Prices are indicative starting prices in US dollars (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
Upsala and Spegazzini navigation
- Navigation through Lake Argentino
- Access to Spegazzini Base & Refuge
- Spegazzini Glacier walkways
Check the meeting point for your selected option or book the optional transfer. Park admission is extra.
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Cruise to the lake glaciers
- Spanish/English guide
- Lunch based on option
Explore Upsala and Spegazzini; hotel pickup and the lunch type depend on your option. Park admission is extra.
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Glacier cruise with lunch
- Bilingual guide
- Box lunch or gourmet lunch
Classic includes a lunchbox and a soft drink; Premium includes a four-course meal. Hotel transfers are included only in the specified transfer or disembark options.
Check availability →Cruises to Upsala and Spegazzini
Compare full-day lake itineraries, meal choices and transfer options for the northern arm.
Seven hours at the port or a day with transfers
For its Punta Bandera excursion, the operator describes seven hours from the port. That figure is useful for understanding the time on the excursion itself; it is not the same as the full time away from a hotel in El Calafate when road transfers are added. Punta Bandera is about 47 kilometres from El Calafate. The road journey and the meeting arrangements matter just as much as the sailing when planning the day.
Some options include a hotel transfer and others require you to reach the departure area yourself. Compare the meeting point and selected option with your accommodation address. Our transport guide explains the roads and the distinction between the different departure points around the park.
La Soledad and Punta Bandera belong to the northern arm departure area. They should not be confused with Puerto F. P. Moreno near the walkways or Bajo de las Sombras, used for activities on another part of the lake. Allow enough time to reach the correct point rather than treating the port names as interchangeable.
Landing at Base Spegazzini
The operator describes a stop at Base Spegazzini and a 350 metre walkway to the Mirador De Agostini. It also describes an elevator at Punta Bandera, level paths usable by wheelchair and adapted toilets on the boat and at the refuge. Those are the operator's descriptions of its facilities. Boarding arrangements and the facilities available on the day deserve particular attention if mobility is central to your plans.
Landings are part of the experience for certain itineraries, but they are not interchangeable across every cruise. Read the selected programme for the stop, the time ashore and the meal arrangements. A boat day can be organised around seeing the landscape from the water, while a landing adds time away from the vessel.
For a closer look at the area around Perito Moreno itself, the walkways guide describes routes across the peninsula. The boat tour guide compares a short navigation with longer lake itineraries.
Meals, transfers and admission
Meal formats vary. One northern glacier cruise offers a Classic option with a lunchbox and one non-alcoholic drink, while its Premium option includes a four-course meal. Transfers apply to the named options, so the meal choice and the journey to the port should be considered together. Another multi-glacier excursion includes a lunchbox, with transfer and a walkway landing depending on the option.
National park admission is a separate part of the budget. The general day rate is 50,000 ARS under the tariff effective from 1 June 2026. Other categories have conditions, and identification is required. The park entrance guide explains those conditions and the second-day reduction. Tour prices quoted in another currency are separate from this park tariff.
Carry what you need for time on the water and ashore. Clothing in layers makes it easier to adjust between the boat and an outdoor stop. Keep to permitted paths during a landing, take rubbish with you and do not feed wildlife. The wider national park guide introduces the visitor sectors and park rules.
Frequently asked questions
Does the boat depart from the Perito Moreno walkways?
Northern arm cruises use the Punta Bandera area. Puerto F. P. Moreno is a different port near the walkways.
How long is the cruise?
One operator gives seven hours from Punta Bandera. A programme with a road transfer has additional travel time.
Is lunch included?
It depends on the excursion and selected option. A Classic format offers a lunchbox and a soft drink; a Premium format offers a four-course meal.
Is park admission included?
Budget separately for park entry and review the inclusions of your chosen excursion. The general day tariff has been 50,000 ARS since 1 June 2026.