Half Day: Balmaceda & Serrano Glacier Navigation

Our navigation departs from the heart of Puerto Natales. We sail through the Última Esperanza Fjord toward Bernardo O’Higgins National Park. This enigmatic journey begins early in the morning from Prat Pier in Puerto Natales (EPA). It allows us to visit the Balmaceda and Serrano glaciers, which are part of Bernardo O’Higgins National Park, accessible only by sea. Bernardo O’Higgins National Park has a total area of 4,300,000 hectares, making it the largest park in Chile and one of the four largest in the world. This protected area includes glaciers from the Southern Ice Fields, the largest ice mass in the Americas.

Our excursion includes a beautiful journey of approximately 6 hours through the Última Esperanza Fjord, offering the opportunity to see along the route buildings belonging to the former Bories Cold Storage Plant, several small ranches, glaciers and waterfalls, a colony of imperial cormorants, and a rocky outcrop inhabited by a small colony of sea lions.

During this wonderful journey, we will disembark to visit the impressive Serrano Glacier for approximately one and a half hours, following the designated trail to reach the closest viewpoint of this ice giant. Upon returning to the vessel, we will enjoy a whisky with millenary ice, and then continue to visit the Balmaceda Glacier from the outdoor decks.

Itinerary

• 06:30 hrs: Check-in at Arturo Prat Pier (EPA).
• 07:00 hrs: Departure from Puerto Natales.
• 09:00 hrs: Arrival at Puerto Toro.
• 09:15 hrs: Disembarkation and hike to Serrano Glacier.
• 10:30 hrs: Boarding and navigation toward Balmaceda Glacier.
• 13:00 hrs: Return to Puerto Natales.

Useful Information

• Duration: Approx. 6 hours.
• Season: October to April.
• Departures: Daily (including holidays).