Balmaceda and Serrano Glaciers Sightseeing Cruise from Puerto Natales
Overview
Inclusions
- Boat tour
- Professional guide
- Coffee/tea, juice, whiskey or pisco sour
- Lunch
- Bernardo O'Higgins National Park entrance fee
What to expect
This is a typical itinerary for this product
Pass By: 6160697 Puerto Natales, Natales, Magallanes and Chilean Antarctica, Chile
Your experience begins meeting us at our meeting point in Puerto Natales. After, we will begin to board our navigation to meet incredible landscapes from the Patagonia, glaciers, fjords and amazing wildlife we can appreciate during our trip to Balmaceda and Serrano glaciers. Climb aboard the boat and begin your cruise northwest through Ultima Esperanza Fjord, or ‘Final Hope Fjord, ' an inlet bridging Eberhard Fjord and Balmaceda Mountain. The fjord was named by Spanish explorer Juan Ladrillero, who hoped that crossing the sound would take him to the Strait of Magellan. Instead he arrived to find sheer walls of ice blocking his path.
Stop At: Parque Nacional Bernardo O'Higgins, Chile
Today, your captain is at the helm for three hours to reach the same glaciers that thwarted Ladrillero. Enjoy a cup of coffee, tea or juice on deck. For something with an extra kick, sip a glass of whiskey or pisco sour mixed with ice broken off from Serrano glacier.
Pass by forests and waterfalls trickling down green hills, and scan the sky for condors. As the boat hugs the coastline, spot dozens of cormorants on rocky outcrops that might be spreading their wings or stretching their slim graceful necks to a soundtrack of ducks and geese squawking nearby. Sea elephants may even lumber out of caves to lounge under the sun.
When you reach the eastern face of Balmaceda Mountain, 6, 676 feet (2, 035 meters) high, see mists swirling around the ice-capped summit. Disembark for an easy hour-long hike through the forests of Bernardo O'Higgins National Park. Follow your guide to an overlook mere steps away from Serrano glacier — a wide frozen river of ice cascading down a crevice between hills. Then trek to the western side of Balmaceda Mountain and capture views of the massive hanging glacier. Here, sapphire- and turquoise-tinted floes deluge the rocky terrain and end at a lake.
Duration: 3 hours 30 minutes
Pass By: 6160697 Puerto Natales, Natales, Magallanes and Chilean Antarctica, Chile
Finally, after get marvelled by the incredible ancient glaciers and beautiful landscapes from the Patagonia, climb aboard your boat for a speedy 90-minute return ride to Puerto Natales. Enjoy the landscapes during your return trip!
When we arrive to the port, you will take the bus or minivan which will be dropping you off directly at your Hotel in Puerto Natales.
Stop At: Serrano Glacier, Torres del Paine National Park Chile
Will be here for about an hour
Duration: 1 hour
Additional information
- Minimum age to drink alcohol is 18 years
- Not wheelchair accessible
- It is recommended that your wear comfortable clothes and trekking shoes and bring a jacket or windbreaker, a hat, sunscreen and sunglasses
- Passport name, number, expiry and country is required at time of booking and at time of travel for all participants
- Infants must sit on laps
- Most travelers can participate
- This experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund
- This experience requires a minimum number of travelers. If it’s canceled because the minimum isn’t met, you’ll be offered a different date/experience or a full refund
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 120 travelers
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
Ticket delivery
Cancellation
A great experience with Amazing views, experiencing a glimpse at what this part of the world has to offer.
A great experience with Amazing views, experiencing a glimpse at what this part of the world has to offer.Instead of serving whisky they should have provided more snacks as they were minimal. Trip was good. Saw glacier, birds, sea lions.
Instead of serving whisky they should have provided more snacks as they were minimal. Trip was good. Saw glacier, birds, sea lions.There are hundreds of tour operators, but you can book directly with the navigation operator, Turismo21deMayo.com -- the catamaran is comfortable but it was crowded and had some screaming children that detracted from the experience. The walk in O'Higgins park was precious. It made me want to hike...
There are hundreds of tour operators, but you can book directly with the navigation operator, Turismo21deMayo.com -- the catamaran is comfortable but it was crowded and had some screaming children that detracted from the experience. The walk in O'Higgins park was precious. It made me want to hike more in this unexplored and undeveloped national treasure where the forests and lakes are still pristine, not to mention GLACIERS! The boat also gets up close and personal with an enormous waterfall--so you get splashed with cold water if you want to.While the tour was well organized and professional, I found myself having buyer’s remorse. This is overall a highly inactive tour and you’re stuck on the boat during most of it besides the hour hike to see the Serrano Glacier and the lunch at the Estancia. Also, there was a really rowdy crowd t...
While the tour was well organized and professional, I found myself having buyer’s remorse. This is overall a highly inactive tour and you’re stuck on the boat during most of it besides the hour hike to see the Serrano Glacier and the lunch at the Estancia. Also, there was a really rowdy crowd that the crew did nothing to contain their behavior for the sake of other passengers. We were subjected to having to yell to have a conversation to overcome their loudness. Personally, I wished I had chosen to go to Perito Moreno or another day in Torres Del Paine over this.Everything was good and the staff were very friendly and helpful ...The only negative bits were :1- You could get the deal cheaper directly from the operator while you are in Puerto Natales.2- I requested the vegetarian option for lunch but I was told by almost everyone on my lunch table that the...
Everything was good and the staff were very friendly and helpful ...The only negative bits were :1- You could get the deal cheaper directly from the operator while you are in Puerto Natales.2- I requested the vegetarian option for lunch but I was told by almost everyone on my lunch table that the barbecue was very dry and they already expected that since it was mentioned in previous reviews !
We had an incredible day with the turismo21demayo crew on the catamaran! Unbelievably beautiful sites all day including the glaciers and waterfalls. Lunch on the ranch was fabulous! Far exceeded our expectations! The crew on the boat went out of their way to help us when we realized that we we...
We had an incredible day with the turismo21demayo crew on the catamaran! Unbelievably beautiful sites all day including the glaciers and waterfalls. Lunch on the ranch was fabulous! Far exceeded our expectations! The crew on the boat went out of their way to help us when we realized that we were going to arrive back too late to miss our bus back to Punta Arenas that evening. They arranged for the owner of the company to come and meet us at the peer in his vehicle and race us to the bus station. So kind and over the top generous! We would highly recommend this tour to anyone! Well worth the money!