Glacier Boats: Season, Wind and Ice

The glacier boats run all year, with fewer full days in winter: the full days of Cruceros Marpatag and Solo Patagonia SA sail daily from September to April and every other day from May to August. Rain does not stop them. Strong wind and ice can: an operator may move a departure, change the route, or cancel, and each company refunds on its own terms. Every GetYourGuide boat on this site can be cancelled free up to 24 hours before, which is the simplest cover against a bad forecast.

When each boat sails

From the operators’ own pages, read November 2026; the GetYourGuide calendars show the dates on sale.

The Administracion de Parques Nacionales recommends visiting Los Glaciares from September to April. It warns of intense winds in summer, and of low temperatures and heavy snow from May to October that make some activities and trails harder to reach. The road to the glacier has opening hours: from 1 September to 30 April you enter between 8:00 and 18:00 and may stay until 20:00; from 1 May to 31 August, entry 9:00 to 16:00 and stay until 18:00.

Rain, wind and icebergs

The one-hour boats at the Perito Moreno. Southern Spirit Lago Argentino does not suspend its boats for rain; it cancels only for strong wind or for large icebergs blocking the way into Puerto Perito Moreno, at the skipper’s discretion, and then refunds the Moreno Spirit in full. Hielo y Aventura S.A’s Nautical Safari and Blue Safari are not cancelled for rain either, and the Blue Safari’s start time can change for operational reasons, with notice by email. On Bross Travel's boat departure times can change with the weather or with icebergs.

The full days. Solo Patagonia SA does not suspend its cruise for bad weather and refunds the fare if a sailing does not run for weather or force majeure. Once under way, the captain may change the route for safety, for example when floating ice blocks a sector, and the trip then counts as delivered; there is no fixed distance to any glacier front, and in front of the Upsala the ice can be thick enough to force a careful choice of route. Cruceros Marpatag's walkways drop-off can be cancelled in extreme weather, and the add-on is then refunded in full.

On SALUM TOUR & TRAVEL's cruise-ship day, access to the Upsala Glacier’s front and the view of it are not guaranteed, because of floating ice and the weather, and a full refund is offered if the Upsala channel itself cannot be visited. Southern Spirit Lago Argentino’s longer Mayo Spirit Trek has a stated no-refund case: if icebergs block the dock at Puerto Perito Moreno, the boat stays longer in front of the north face and returns without a refund.

What to do about it

Book with free cancellation and watch the forecast the day before. If you are in El Calafate for more than one day, the hour at the glacier front is easier to move than a full day on the lake.

Check the glacier day with free cancellation

Dress for the deck rather than the forecast: warm clothing, gloves and closed shoes are on the what-to-bring lists of these boats.