We took the catamaran excursion offered by the cruise ship (Oceania Marina) to see the glacier. It was a rather expensive excursion but well worth it! What impressed me most were the sceneries around the lake and the beautiful icebergs (amazing blue color and shapes) on the lake near the glacier. The glacier itself was nice also, with the austere snow capped mountains around it.
An other way to reach the Laguna San Rafael is thru the Exploradores Valley starting in Puerto Tranquilo.It combines road and boat trip with amazing land scapes in the valley and the fiord.You have have to do this once in your life.We travelled with the company DESTINO PATAGONIA.great experience! the are relaxed and you can tell how the enjoy what they are doing.
A trip into the glacier Laguna San Raphael rivals Alaska's Inland Passage and Norway's fjords in natural beauty. The spectacular, glittering, shimmering glacier fractured while we viewed the spectacle from the front deck of our catamaran which shoved its bow to the edge of the ice floats. Smaller boats are available from the dock area. The trip lasts about 3 hours. We found that last morning was perfect during our trip but the light changes later in the day which some people prefer. The weather is unpredictable so dress in layers. The journey through Chile's Aisen region is not to be missed as you wander through Patagonia.
It was an unforgettable experience. Words cannot express the sight of seeing the wall of turquoise ice. It is beautiful. We saw dolphins in the lagoon and heard the glacier rumble the whole time. It was calving huge chunks of ice, creating mini Tsunamis.
A wonderful opportunity to see a glacier from a close distance, if you have not had the chance to do it at El Calafate.The catamaran ride is indeed expensive, but food and entertainment on board are fine.
It is one of the most exciting places in Chile. Similar to Torres del Paine, but the impressiones are much stronger. You can watch how icebergs split off the glacier and fall into the lagoon. We had the luxury to visit it on our small sailboat in January 2015.One word of caution: when selecting a tour to the lagoon, make sure you get really close to the glacier. We were there for three days, and there were several motor boats from Bahia Los Exploradores coming in for about two hours, but only one in three dared (or cared?) to get really close and get through the ice barrier. When arranging for a visit, get in writing that they will take you in close. The bigger catamarans also come for about two hours, and seem to lower rubber boats for one hour trip. In any case, to appreciate the beauty of the place one needs like 4 - 6 hours to see it all
It is an amazingly beautiful place. maybe it makes you forget the bad service you have during the trip.there is no other option to travel, to go to this place, and the service is expensive and very very bad.It's a real shame. I recommend that you take something to go for breakfast, at least that would help. Rest only reach the site worth
Un viaje sin lugar a duda inolvidable....yo tengo la suerte de conocer varios glaciares en chile y argentina, pero poder estar tan cerca ...tocarlos y ver desprendimientos en la laguna fue increible....se puede acceder desde puerto chacabuco y se puede ir por el dia....loberias del sur tiene este sistema donde el viaje incluye todas las comidas y la entretencion abordo y claro el paseo en zodiac entre los hielos....impagable estar ahi...si pueden vayan, lo recordaran toda la vida
El desprendimiento de los hielos, el viaje, la lluvia, los paisajes hacen de este lugar un imperdible en Chile. Lo mejor.
Luckily the day we visited on the Oceania Cruise Ship Catamaran tour was gorgeous with crystal clear blue skies. The catamaran stopped very close to the Glacier. The colors of the glacier ice and the calves in the surrounding waters were an indescribable blue making for a sight to remember.