The 14 Best Glacier Tours in Chile

1.Full-Day Whales, Penguins, and Glaciers Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 325 reviews · 14 hours · from $365Our pick

Leave Punta Arenas before dawn for a full day with Solo Expediciones. A one-hour coach ride leads to a modern boat and a long voyage through the Strait of Magellan to Cape Froward and Francisco Coloane Marine Park. Look for humpback whales, Magellanic penguins, sea lions, dolphins, birds, waterfalls, and glaciers. Breakfast, lunch, snacks, and hot drinks are included.

“You see amazing things in one day. The cost is really high but worth it in my opinion. With this price I would expect it to have less persons as a limit. Food is not good but average to cover your daily hunger. The stuff is nice 👌”

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2.3-Hour Scenic Boat Tour to Grey Glacier

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 283 reviews · 4 hours · from $120Best value

Cruise Grey Lake for about three hours to the towering Grey Glacier, with English or Spanish guidance, mountain views, floating ice, and a pisco sour. Allow extra time for the 3-kilometer beach walk between the car park and catamaran. The boat has seating for 98 people and an outdoor deck.

“It was an amazing experience! Be prepared for a 1.4 mile (2.2km) walk on beach and rocks to get to the boat (and the same distance back). Our day was super windy so it made the walk more difficult. They plan for that in the timing of everything. 100% worth it though! The Calafate Sour was a nice treat too”

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3.Puero Natales: Glacier Tour with Lunch & Whiskey Aperitif

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 110 reviews · 10 hours · from $279

Spend 10 hours cruising from Puerto Natales through Ultima Esperanza Fjord to Balmaceda Glacier and Serrano Glacier. You’ll hike to a Serrano viewpoint in Bernardo O’Higgins National Park, eat lunch at Estancia Perales, and enjoy whiskey over ancient glacier ice. Spanish and English guides lead the outing. Bring your passport or ID.

“El recorrido por el fiordo, los paisajes, la atención a bordo y, por supuesto, el almuerzo. Todo espectacular.”

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4.Day Trip to Perito Moreno Glacier Argentina

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 100 reviews · 16 hours · from $175

Travel from Puerto Natales across the Chilean-Argentine border to Los Glaciares National Park and Perito Moreno Glacier. An English- or Spanish-speaking guide joins the outing, often in El Calafate. Expect a long bus day, striking Patagonian scenery, glacier viewpoints, and an optional boat ride. Bring your passport, Argentine pesos, and lunch.

“Very long day. I did it after a long hike day and it was nice to do something that didn’t require a lot. Crossing the boarder was clear. We didn’t pick up our guide until we got into El Calafate.”

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5.Balmaceda & Serrano Glaciers Boat Tour and traditional lunch.

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 95 reviews · 10 to 11 hours (approx.) · from $256

Leave central Puerto Natales at 7:00 a.m. for a full-day catamaran trip through Ultima Esperanza Fjord to Balmaceda and Serrano glaciers. Expect wildlife, waterfalls, a 40-minute forest walk, glacier ice whisky, and a traditional ranch lunch with lamb, chicken, or vegetarian choices.

“The day tour was really great! Beautiful sights glaciers wild animals waterfalls staff on board really nice and helpful good lunch with barbecue in a remote place! However I was shocked to realize that Viator cashed TWICE the price for the tour. A commission on the price is understandable but a 50% is outrageous . I strongly advise people to book their tours on site with locals there are lots of options. I will NEVER use Viator again it was not commercial and it was abusive.”

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6.Full-Day Tour to Perito Moreno Glacier (Natales)

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 58 reviews · 14 hours (approx.) · from $120Top rated

Leave Puerto Natales around 6:20 to 6:30 am for Perito Moreno Glacier. You will cross into Argentina, meet a bilingual guide in El Calafate, and spend about two hours at the glacier. Walk the viewpoints or add a one-hour boat trip. Francisco, Felipe, and Paloma are among the staff praised for friendly, careful service.

“The information about the tour states that the guide is bilingual in English and Spanish. They do not tell you that the guide is only with you for about 2 hours out of the 16. The driver who is with you all day does not speak English. Any information he gave during the trip we did not understand. We had to go through an immigration checkpoint, fill out paperwork for immigration and figure out what time we had to be back to the bus during the 4 stops. Luckily there was one person on the bus who spoke English and he was very helpful. The bilingual guide was picked up…”

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7.Glacier Hike at El Morado Glacier, from Santiago

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 51 reviews · 12 hours (approx.) · from $150

Start early in Santiago for a full-day hike through El Morado Natural Monument toward the San Francisco Hanging Glacier. The 16km route begins at about 1,850 meters and climbs 400 to 600 meters over loose rock, gravel, and possible snow. Small groups, bilingual guides such as Laura and Gonzalo, lunch, water, and hotel transport are included.

“We had a great winter hike and would recommend this tour to anyone! We went on a snowshoe hike in the Lagunillas ski area of the Andes. Our guide Rai was fantastic - very knowledgeable about the area, at all times concerned with our safety and comfort, and made us a wonderful picturesque picnic after our hike (wine included!). We hiked with a small group and enjoyed meeting other travelers.”

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8.Balmaceda and Serrano Glaciers Sightseeing Cruise from Puerto Natales

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 48 reviews · 10 hours (approx.) · from $271

Set out from Puerto Natales on a catamaran through Ultima Esperanza Fjord to Balmaceda and Serrano glaciers. Expect about three hours on the water, wildlife sightings, a guided forest walk in Bernardo O’Higgins National Park, glacier views, drinks, and an included lunch. Hotel pickup is not included, and the boat can carry up to 120 people.

“Best tour in Puerto Natales! Balmaceda and Serrano glaciers are more beautiful than any of the other glaciers in the area and can only be accessed via boat. The boat is very comfortable with great service. Includes a very scenic hike to Serrano Glacier and excellent lunch at a local ranch.”

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9.P. Natales: Balmaceda & Serrano Glaciers with Lunch & Whisky

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 44 reviews · 10 hours · from $313

Travel from Puerto Natales through Última Esperanza Fjord to Balmaceda and Serrano glaciers. You will see waterfalls and wildlife, hike for about an hour through coihue and ñirre forest, toast with whisky over ancient ice, and eat Cordero al Palo at Estancia Perales. A bilingual guide leads the 10-hour trip.

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10.Grey Glacier Navigation w/ Transport

★★★★★★★★★★4.3 · 18 reviews · from $276

Travel from Puerto Natales into Torres del Paine National Park, walk 35 minutes along Lake Grey, then cruise three hours by catamaran to Grey Glacier. Enjoy a pisco or calafate sour served with ancient ice. A bilingual guide, hotel transport, warm clothing, and a packed lunch are essential.

“Everything was great, they arrived on time, the driver drove well, the tour guides were very professional, and the place was beautiful.”

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11.Grey Glacier Tour

★★★★★★★★★★3.9 · 12 reviews · 10 hours · from $251

Travel from Puerto Natales to Hotel Lago Grey, walk through native forest, then sail across Grey Lake toward towering glacier walls and floating ice. The 10-hour outing includes shared transport, hotel pickup, and a guide in Spanish or English. Lunch, park entry, and coffee are extra, and the boat departure depends on availability and weather.

“I enjoyed the beautiful view of the glacier it was mesmerizing. I also liked the unique touch of having some ice from the glacier in our welcome drinks.”

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12.Torres del Paine & Grey Glacier Full-Day Boat

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 6 reviews · 18 hours · from $294

Travel from Punta Arenas to Torres del Paine with an English or Spanish-speaking guide, then sail Grey Lake by catamaran toward Grey Glacier. You’ll stop at Pehoé, Nordenskjöld, Sarmiento, and Laguna Amarga, with a pisco sour or soft drink on board. Guides Roberto and Jona have led highly praised departures.

“Mesmo com condições climáticas pouco favoráveis, o passeio foi incrível! Barco novo e com toda sua equipe animada e gentil. A experiência foi extraordinária! Paisagem maravilhosa com infinitos tons de azul. A natureza em sua beleza plena. Outro ponto alto foi nosso guia Roberto, que nos levou de Punta Arenas até o Parque. Além de super cuidadoso na direção, Roberto conhece a flora e a fauna local e foi generoso ao compartilhar conosco seu conhecimento. Um profissional acima da média. Recomendo muito o passeio.”

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13.3 Days in Patagonia. Torres del Paine, Perito Moreno and Balmaceda Glacier.

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 5 reviews · 3 days · from $520

You’ll spend three full days seeing Patagonia’s headline sights from Puerto Natales: Milodon Caves and Torres del Paine, a boat trip to Balmaceda and Serrano Glaciers with lunch and whisky over ancient ice, then Perito Moreno Glacier in Argentina. English and Spanish guides are provided, but the three days use separate operators, so confirm meeting points carefully.

“Loved the Balmaceda and Serrano glaciers and Perito Moreno was amazing:”

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14.2 Days in Patagonia. Torres del Paine and Balmaceda and Serrano Glacier.

★★★★★★★★★★4.1 · 4 reviews · 2 days · from $360

Spend two full days seeing Puerto Natales highlights. Day one covers Milodón Cave, Laguna Amarga, Salto Grande, Cuernos, Grey Lake, and Torres del Paine. Day two cruises Ultima Esperanza Fjord to Balmaceda and Serrano glaciers, with a forest walk, estancia lunch, and whisky served over ancient ice. English and Spanish service is available.

“Il faut dissocier les deux activités. Autant la journée Balmaceda et Serrano mérite cinq étoiles et a été formidable. Autant la journée Torres del Paine a été désagréable. Malgré la gentillesse de la conductrice et de l’accompagnateur les conditions étaient compliquées. Le minibus était vieux et fatigué, sur des pistes défoncées. La climatisation ne fonctionnait pas. Je pense que le concept de cette activité est à revoir, beaucoup trop de kilomètres sur des pistes.”

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