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 Estimated reading time: 2 min. |
 Karina Jozami  Mar Patag |
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Even if you visit El Calafate once and again, the glaciers never cease to amaze in every tour. There are new proposals offering excellent services for visitors to enjoy this real natural show. One of the most tempting ideas is to go on a short voyage in an exclusive cruise around the glaciers.
This original choice starts at Puerto Bandera at night, and it is organized by Mar Patag, a company run by three experienced navigators from Chubut. One of them, Héctor "Tiño" Resnik, is the skipper of the Leal, the boat that waits at the pier in silence. Along with the crew, Tiño welcomes the passengers who soon find their seats on the soft coaches around the wood stove. The Leal has all the necessary luxuries to spoil her guests: a spacious comfortable main cabin, a bar, a library, a dining-room, a board games table and cozy double cabins. Music and a friendly atmosphere give new spirits to dinner, served by Javier, one of the sailors, thus crowning the evening on board. |
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The next morning, the navigation tour around the northern arm of Lake Argentino begins. After the delicious breakfast, everybody gets ready to behold the glaciers. The blue ice floes drifting away in the cold waters forecast the proximity of the Upsala. At this moment, all passengers take photographs and try to capture such impressive beauty one way or another. After a long while before the ice wall, the boat approaches the shore to see a waterfall and take a piece of ice that will turn into a sculpture made by the passengers.
Afterwards, Tiño sets sail towards the Channel of the Américas as another sailor, Martín, invites everybody to taste a glass of wine before lunch. |
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Towards the Spegazzini
Without haste, in a relaxed course, the boat sails on until it reaches the Spegazzini Glacier in the afternoon. The passengers and the crew spend the night at this privileged spot to fully enjoy this frozen monument in the national park when the sun rises. Beholding this magnificent glacier, which reaches 135 meters of height, is a confirmation that not only are all glaciers different from one another but also amazing. Illuminated by sunset, the Spegazzini acquires a fantastic breathtaking shade. |
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The place chosen to spend the second night is Puesto Vacas, where an exquisite dinner is the well-deserved reward for an intense day of sailing. Good music around the fire creates the atmosphere until after midnight.
The following morning, with the reflection of the mountain range on the lake, the cruise heads for the Témpanos Channel. Almost at midday, the north face of the classic glacier is seen: the Perito Moreno.
The view is simply extraordinary and it is the best scenery to end the tour and celebrate this unforgettable experience with lunch. |
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This tour is available from July thru May. The company provides a roundtrip shuttle from the City of El Calafate.
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Cruceros Mar Patag
(9405) El Calafate - Santa Cruz - Argentina
Tel: +54 2902 (011) 4393-2892
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