“The Spirit of the Glaciers” is ideal for those who prefer to discover the magic of the most spectacular corners of the Los Glaciares National Park in a different way; the luxury of enjoying an exclusive cruise at the levels of comfort required by some of the most demanding travellers in the world. We propose spending 3 days on board the cruise vessel Santa Cruz, to share with a small group of passengers the experience of seeking the “Spirit of the Glaciers”. Walls of centuries-old deep blue ice almost 60 metres high, impressive icebergs, amazing Patagonian sunsets that paint the sky a reddish hue, and nights so dark that the Milky Way is reflected on the surface of the majestic Lake Argentino. With the huge windows fitted to its cabins and common areas, the Santa Cruz cruise vessel offers plenty of opportunities for contemplating the unique landscapes of Lake Argentino. The Spirit of the Glaciers includes time on dry land so that you can observe, interpret and come to understand the most surprising features of this unique place. We offer much more than just a journey. Our proposal is a unique experience, based on the concept that the tranquillity and warmth found on board makes it possible to enjoy the force of nature in all its magnitude. Welcome on board for a unique experience on this voyage to discover the Spirit of the Glaciers
We embark on our Santa Cruz cruise vessel at La Soledad private port at Tranquila Bay (Punta Bandera area) at 5.30 pm. A welcome drink accompanies the on board check-in formalities and the crew members are introduced. You are then assigned a cabin for the voyage.
We sail for Puesto de las Vacas, an extremely calm part of the Spegazzini Channel where we spend our first night and enjoy our first dinner. We pass Punta Avellaneda and Boca del Diablo, which at 800 metres wide form the narrowest part of the lake. After dinner, guests are invited to participate in various on board activities.
– Lunch and dinner included
Following a delicious breakfast, our first shore visit is at Puesto de las Vacas to enjoy an activity coordinated by our team of specialist guides. We enjoy an interesting stroll along the coast together, with the opportunity to visit an old Pioneers Station.
Back on board, our vessel sails towards the Spegazzini Glacier. With walls of ice between 80 and 135 metres high, Spegazzini looks like a huge river of ice that descends down a rocky hillside and crashes abruptly down into the lake. We enjoy out first lunch together with this amazing spectacle as a backdrop.
After lunch, we appreciate a succession of icebergs in a wide range of shapes and colours, telling us that we are getting close to the spectacular Upsala Glacier. We pause at the mouth of the Upsala Channel to admire the Glacier, weather permitting.
The face of the Upsala Glacier on the lake measures 4 kilometres, its walls have an average height of around 60 metres and the glacier itself has a total surface area of nearly 900 square kilometres. The next destination is Toro Bay, on the Mayo Sound. After dinner, passengers may join in with some of the activities organised by the crew. A lively chat to share the ideas and feelings experienced during the day, or lying back and observing a moon-lit night full of stars, are perfect ways to bring the second day of this journey to a close.
– Breakfast, lunch and dinner included
We enjoy a delicious breakfast at dawn while we sail in a southerly direction. After this, we disembark for another excursion into the magical Andean-Patagonian forest and experience the magnificent natural landscape of the Mayo and Negro Glaciers. Here, we enjoy an exclusive visit to one of the refuges run by the Patagonian Continental Ice Field Institute, where so many explorers, adventurers and scientists have left their mark. After crossing the Témpanos [Iceberg] Channel, our cruise vessel arrives at the most famous glacier in the world, Perito Moreno, and we get an up-close and personal look at its 2.5 kilometre north face from the lake. Its walls, which tower an impressive 60 metres, never fail to surprise onlookers with countless calvings and thunderous sounds. We have lunch with this majestic natural spectacle as a backdrop.
As we sail back across the waters of Lake Argentino in the direction of La Soledad Private Port, we drink a toast to round off our journey. At 4 pm, we disembark for a transfer to El Calafate.
Note: Route subject to modifications as deemed appropriate by the captain to ensure the safety of the passengers
– Breakfast and lunch included
