Where the Glacier Boats Leave From

None of the glacier boats leaves from El Calafate itself. They sail from three ports west of town: Puerto Punta Bandera, about 48 km by road, for the full days on the lake and the boat to Estancia Cristina; the Bajo de las Sombras landing, about 71 km by road, for the boats on the Perito Moreno’s south side; and Puerto F. P. Moreno, at the foot of the glacier walkways, for the hour along the north wall. Without a car, a day tour with hotel pickup does the driving: Patagonia Dreams’ Perito Moreno Glacier & Optional Boat Cruise collects you in town, from US$80 without the boat (checked November 2026).

Check the glacier day with pickup

Puerto Punta Bandera: the full days

The full-day cruises sail from Punta Bandera, on the lake west of town. The Administracion de Parques Nacionales puts Puerto Punta Bandera 47 km from El Calafate by Ruta Provincial 11 and Ruta Provincial 8; we measured about 48.0 km by road from the town centre to the ferry terminal there, about 43 minutes without stops.

Cruceros Marpatag sails from its private La Soledad port at Punta Bandera, 45 km from El Calafate by Marpatag’s figure, with boarding at 8:30; on its GetYourGuide day the meeting point is La Soledad Port at 8:30 AM. Solo Patagonia SA's cruise meets at a car park with the company’s sign, boards at 08:30 and has free parking for your own car. Solo Patagonia SA’s terminal there is heated, with toilets, an infirmary and two desks where the national park sells its entrance tickets. Estancia Cristina's boat and Southern Spirit Lago Argentino’s Mayo Spirit Trek also leave from Puerto Punta Bandera.

Bajo de las Sombras: the south side

Hielo y Aventura S.A’s boats leave from Bajo de las Sombras, a landing on the Rico arm of the lake at kilometre 70.9 of Ruta Provincial 11, 7 km from the glacier by the company’s own figure. We measured about 71.1 km by road from the centre of El Calafate, about 79 minutes, and 6.1 km on to the walkways car park. On Hielo y Aventura S.A’s own timetable the Safari Nautico sails at 10:00, 11:30 and 14:30; the times on sale for its Nautical Safari on GetYourGuide appear on the calendar. Its Blue Safari crosses from here to walk the shore. Bross Travel's south-face boat also leaves from Bajo de las Sombras.

Puerto F. P. Moreno: the north wall

Southern Spirit Lago Argentino's one-hour boat leaves from Puerto F. P. Moreno, the port at the foot of the walkways, 80 km from El Calafate by the company’s figure; we measured about 76.6 km by road from the town centre to the walkways car park. Its own timetable for the Moreno Spirit has departures at 10:30 (October to April), 11:45, 13:00 and 14:30, and its quay is not suitable for wheelchairs; several departures a day are on sale on the GetYourGuide calendar. Bross Travel's north-face boat leaves from here too, and Cruceros Marpatag drops passengers here on its walkways option.

Getting there without a car

The boat-only tickets include no transport. Your choices are a hire car or a tour with the road included:

From the GetYourGuide listings and option pickers, November 2026.

Whichever way you go, the road to Bajo de las Sombras and the walkways passes the park’s Rio Mitre gate, where you pay the entrance; at Punta Bandera the park sells it at the port.