Rios de Hielo
Rios de Hielo
4.5
Tours & experiences
Explore different ways to experience this place.
What is Travellers’ Choice?
Tripadvisor gives a Travellers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travellers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.
Revenue impacts the experiences featured on this page, learn more.
Top ways to experience Rios de Hielo and nearby attractions
The area
Reach out directly
Contribute
Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
We perform checks on reviews.
Tripadvisor’s approach to reviews
Before posting, each Tripadvisor review goes through an automated tracking system, which collects information, answering the following questions: how, what, where and when. If the system detects something that potentially contradicts our community guidelines, the review is not published.
When the system detects a problem, a review may be automatically rejected, sent to the reviewer for validation, or manually reviewed by our team of content specialists, who work 24/7 to maintain the quality of the reviews on our site.
Our team checks each review posted on the site disputed by our community as not meeting our community guidelines.
Learn more about our review moderation.
4.5
1,177 reviews
Excellent
824
Very good
251
Average
62
Poor
24
Terrible
16
These reviews have been automatically translated from their original language.
This service may contain translations provided by Google. Google disclaims all warranties, express or implied, with respect to translations, including any warranties of accuracy, reliability, and any implied warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, and freedom from forgery.
Andrea M
Sydney, Australia46 contributions
Jan 2020
Amazing view of Spegazzini Glacier, not so much of Upsala glacier. The boat is comfortable and safe and all runs on time. However this is tourism to the enth degree. The hard sell of the photos and the boat positioning and staying till all photos are taken by professionals is pretty crass. The commentary is woeful , telling me that there are cows in the surrounding park has no informative value , the nauseating need to fill the cabin with useless information was irritating. BUT this area is impressive and would still do the cruise despite the above bring a sense of humor and you will be fine.
Written 12 February 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Xavier1962
Barcelona, Spain129 contributions
Nov 2023 • Solo
This route through the glaciers by catamaran will amaze you, the absolutely impressive nature, the color of the water, the icebergs, the glaciers that you see leave you speechless, the Sperazzini brutal, the Upsala we saw from afar because it was full of icebergs that They prevented access, the best thing I have ever seen. The boat staff was very attentive, the guide explained very well what we were seeing, the captain brought us as close as he could to the glaciers. Totally recommended.
Written 28 December 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Eva S
Culver City, CA522 contributions
Sept 2019 • Friends
Rio de Hielo Express Cruise in the Argentinian Lake is an absolute Must when visiting El Calafate...
We were picked up early in the morning to embark a catamaran to start a cruise in Lago Argentino... after about an hour or so we arrived to Glacier Upsala ... amid a lake full of magnificent icebergs ... it's impossible to keep oneself from repeating "OMG ...this is beautiful".... after repositioning the boat several times... in order to have different views ... the vessel continues to the next point ... Spegazzine Glacier ... which is considered one of the tallest glacier ....
The day before we visited Perito Moreno Glacier and paid the 800 Argentinian peso entrance fee to Parque National Los Glaciares, however, by visiting the national park two days in a row, we paid only 50% on the second day....So... visiting three different glaciers of the Patagonian Ice Field is a great way of developing an idea of the grandeur of this magnificent area of the world ...
We were picked up early in the morning to embark a catamaran to start a cruise in Lago Argentino... after about an hour or so we arrived to Glacier Upsala ... amid a lake full of magnificent icebergs ... it's impossible to keep oneself from repeating "OMG ...this is beautiful".... after repositioning the boat several times... in order to have different views ... the vessel continues to the next point ... Spegazzine Glacier ... which is considered one of the tallest glacier ....
The day before we visited Perito Moreno Glacier and paid the 800 Argentinian peso entrance fee to Parque National Los Glaciares, however, by visiting the national park two days in a row, we paid only 50% on the second day....So... visiting three different glaciers of the Patagonian Ice Field is a great way of developing an idea of the grandeur of this magnificent area of the world ...
Written 29 September 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Lee G
Santa Cruz, CA32 contributions
Mar 2018 • Couples
This is an expensive navigation (boat ride) advertised as traveling to see two glaciers, The Upsula and the Spegazzeti Glaciers. The boat does not have window seats for all passengers and only stops 1/2 hour at an iceberg neat the Upsula glacier because it is too dangerous to get closer. Passengers crowd the front of the boat where pictures can be taken and don't share the area for other passengers. The visit to the Spegazzini glacier is similar but what you can see is impressive. This tour is too expensive for the experience you receive. I would suggest to spend your time at the Petit Moreno glacier instead.
Written 8 March 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
missvtravels
World1,727 contributions
Sept 2016 • Solo
The upside, you get to see Upsala and Spegazzini glaciers which were both stunning and I am not sure there's another way of seeing them in a similar timeframe. Boat felt safe and upkept looked good.
Now the downsides, the boat was almost completely full, when we arrived close to the glaciers, everyone was fighting for a spot on the deck to get a good view and pictures. This continued for pretty much the whole way until we started heading back, pretty chaotic.
Stopped for a really long time in front of 1 floating glacier chunk because the official photographer needed to take pictures of guests, then they printed the pics for those who wish to order them. Was starving so ordered a stew and a hot drink, paid and was told to go back 20 minutes later, think they should find a way to make them ready and served right away. The counter selling hot drinks, the place where people order photos and the toilets were all cramped in the same area.
Out of the 5 things I did in Patagonia, this was by far my least favourite. The tour is pricey, so only go if you really want to see Upsala and Spegazzini glaciers as otherwise, the experience was not enjoyable and you won't have a moment of peace at all.
Now the downsides, the boat was almost completely full, when we arrived close to the glaciers, everyone was fighting for a spot on the deck to get a good view and pictures. This continued for pretty much the whole way until we started heading back, pretty chaotic.
Stopped for a really long time in front of 1 floating glacier chunk because the official photographer needed to take pictures of guests, then they printed the pics for those who wish to order them. Was starving so ordered a stew and a hot drink, paid and was told to go back 20 minutes later, think they should find a way to make them ready and served right away. The counter selling hot drinks, the place where people order photos and the toilets were all cramped in the same area.
Out of the 5 things I did in Patagonia, this was by far my least favourite. The tour is pricey, so only go if you really want to see Upsala and Spegazzini glaciers as otherwise, the experience was not enjoyable and you won't have a moment of peace at all.
Written 17 April 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
elmasgrande
Bethesda, MD137 contributions
Jan 2017 • Couples
The company that offers the tour has a monopoly. They charge basically AR$2,100 ($130 USD) per person to take you from your hotel to a 310 people catamaran, where everyone wants the same: to catch the clearest glimpse and best shot of the glaciers. $130 is a lot for mass tourism.
Not happy with the ridiculous price of the excursion, at the boat itself, you find that it's pretty hard to take pictures, given that there are "official photographers", who then do everything possible to sell you a pen drive for AR$1,000 (US$ 65)!!! Or picture prints -but no jpg file- for AR$ 150(US$ 10). These folks, from a firm called "PS Producciones" also have priority over anyone else: you can't take the best spots for pictures, these are reserved to them (who, I insist, sell your pictures for absurdly high prices). Why do these guys from PS Producciones enjoy this unannounced priority? Someone should dig deeper into this insane, tourist-annoying, money making monopoly.
So, given that the actual excursion is only less than three hours --The rest is filling time with commute, one only wonders, why so much rip off?
Mini trekking was outstanding. Rios de hielo was too far from that. My recommendation is to avoid this mass tourist trap and try to see the glaciers some other way, like via the mini-trekking for example or some other excursion, including the perito moreno pasarelas.
Not happy with the ridiculous price of the excursion, at the boat itself, you find that it's pretty hard to take pictures, given that there are "official photographers", who then do everything possible to sell you a pen drive for AR$1,000 (US$ 65)!!! Or picture prints -but no jpg file- for AR$ 150(US$ 10). These folks, from a firm called "PS Producciones" also have priority over anyone else: you can't take the best spots for pictures, these are reserved to them (who, I insist, sell your pictures for absurdly high prices). Why do these guys from PS Producciones enjoy this unannounced priority? Someone should dig deeper into this insane, tourist-annoying, money making monopoly.
So, given that the actual excursion is only less than three hours --The rest is filling time with commute, one only wonders, why so much rip off?
Mini trekking was outstanding. Rios de hielo was too far from that. My recommendation is to avoid this mass tourist trap and try to see the glaciers some other way, like via the mini-trekking for example or some other excursion, including the perito moreno pasarelas.
Written 5 January 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Yoon U
New York City, NY113 contributions
Sept 2016 • Solo
I want to start my review by saying that the glaciers and icebergs are beautiful, and nothing that I've ever seen. However, I go back and forth on whether the cost of the trip makes it worth while. At the beginning of September, I paid 1,950 pesos for the tour with transfer to and from the dock, and then another 330 pesos for entrance to the park. You get picked up between 7- 7:30 in the morning and you leave the port between 9 - 9:30. Different companies provide the tour at more or less similar prices. To my disappointment, my boat was a fairly large boat (maybe 150-200 people?). It's a 5 hour boat ride, and there are viewing decks where you can step outside and take pictures. At the main glaciers, they stop the boat for a while for people to take pictures. As you can imagine, the viewing deck can get very crowded, with people fighting for the best spot for their pictures. There are also photographers on the boat who take professional pictures which can be purchased at 10 USD per photo. So the photographers take up one section of the boat, which further reduces the amount of available space for everyone else. That's one of the reasons why the boat stops for a bit too long (in my opinion) at the glaciers - so the photographers can take pictures to be sold.
You also spend about 1 hour each way on the boat from the dock to the glaciers where you just sit inside the boat. On the way back, most people, myself included were just sleeping. With the wind, you probably won't be outside on the viewing deck the entire time either. By the time you return to El Calafate, it's about 3 pm, so it's a little too late to do any other activity. If the trip was a half day trip, and lower in price, then I would be writing a completely different review.
It is on the expensive side, so I just wanted to provide full disclosure on the experience. As a solo traveler in my early 30s, I probably would have preferred to spend the same amount on the mini trekking on the Perito Moreno that's a little more active and you get to actually be on the glacier.
You also spend about 1 hour each way on the boat from the dock to the glaciers where you just sit inside the boat. On the way back, most people, myself included were just sleeping. With the wind, you probably won't be outside on the viewing deck the entire time either. By the time you return to El Calafate, it's about 3 pm, so it's a little too late to do any other activity. If the trip was a half day trip, and lower in price, then I would be writing a completely different review.
It is on the expensive side, so I just wanted to provide full disclosure on the experience. As a solo traveler in my early 30s, I probably would have preferred to spend the same amount on the mini trekking on the Perito Moreno that's a little more active and you get to actually be on the glacier.
Written 3 September 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Marcos H
New York City, NY171 contributions
Jan 2018 • Couples
Your main purpose to go to this tour is to see the astonishing milky water where blue-ice icebergs drift by and contemplate the Upsala and Spegazzini glaciers. The purpose of the tour operators is to overcharge foreigners and sell stuff. The National Park charges foreigners twice what they charge the nationals. Its shameless highway robbery. I wonder how an Argentine visiting MoMA or the Met or our National Parks would feel if he/she would be told, "We charge $25 to enter but since you're an Argentine you'll have to pay $50."
Written 6 January 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
ulrike_franke
London, UK19 contributions
Jan 2017 • Couples
Yes, you get to see the glaciers, but you do so with a boat full of people that spend the whole trip taking sselfies, and a boat that stops for an hour next to a pretty iceberg just so that people can get the best angle for their instagram. Not worth the money and EXTREMELZ touristy. Go hiking instead. And the views are nice, but going to Perito Moreno is better.
Written 13 January 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Lilian C
29 contributions
Feb 2018
I did this more than one time! is a great trip and I strongly advise to explore Spegazzini, Upsala and Perito Moreno by boat sailing Lago Argentino. One of the best experiences of and the best door to enter Patagonia.
Written 3 March 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Olá, quanto tempo leva o passeio?
Quero muito fazer, mas pelo meu planejamento de viagem vou pegar o ônibus de El Calafate para El Chalten às 18h, será que consigo voltar para El Calafate a tempo deste ônibus? Obrigada :)
Written 14 August 2019
Olha, fiz esse passeio em maio, assim fica difícil lembrar a hora certa que voltamos para El Calafate.
Mas, você poderá consultar alguma agência que realiza o passeio. Eu fiz com a Ushuaia sob Medida, mas tem também a Brasileiros no Ushuaia, entre outros, que poderão tirar suas dúvidas.
Lamento não poder informar com uma maior certeza.
Written 15 August 2019
Vi que tanto esse passeio quanto o Mini trekking e passarelas Perito Moreno são no Parque Nacional Los Glaciares. Cada dia tem que comprar 1 ingresso ou o ingresso é válido para 2/3 dias?
Written 22 May 2019
Olá!!!
O ingresso é válido para o dia, porém se comprar para dois dias terá um desconto de 50% no valor do segundo dia.
Written 23 May 2019
Hola! Se puede hacer este tour y luego recorrer el parque nacional y sus pasarelas?
Written 9 April 2019
Es una excursión en una cómoda embarcación, y llegar al puerto de embarque requiere un recorrido de varios km.
Se aproxima a unos km del Glaciar Upsala, al cual no es posible arrimarse, ya que está en franco retroceso y desprende una enorme cantidad de bloques de hielo que ponen en peligro la navegación.
Y luegose aproxima al Glaciar Spegazzini, a pocos metros de distancia.
Se trata de una excursión de todo el día, por lo que la visita al Glaciar Perito Moreno, por otra zona del Parque Nacional, debe hacerse en un día diferente. No hay forma racional de hacer ambos recorridos en un solo día.
Written 9 April 2019
Hola! Quisiera saber la gran diferencia entre Ríos de hielo express y Glaciar gourmet de Marpatag? Gracias!!!
Written 22 January 2019
Hola ,no vale la pene , vas en el mismo barco , la diferencia es que vas con el capitan con otras personas , con mejores asientos y un poco mas de comida jajaja.
Written 25 January 2019
Necesito 4 pasajes para la excursión Rios de Hielo en Captain’s Club Vip para el 23 de enero Agradecere se me informe el costo de la misma y si hay disponibilidad
Written 6 January 2019
a mi criterio, es un costo elevado para ver lo mismo que el resto. Has otra excursión con la diferencia a pagar. saludos
Written 23 January 2019
Necesito 4 pasajes para la excursión Rios de Hielo en Captain’s Club Vip para el 23 de enero Agradecere se me informe el costo de la misma y si hay disponibilidad
Written 6 January 2019
Los precios cambiaron a partir del mes de enero. Fijate por la web, hay varias empresas que te llevan.
Written 9 January 2019
Saben si el tour está disponible a finales de abril?
Written 6 January 2019
Se puede efectuar la excursión durante todo el año. Si no te gusta navegar con viento fuerte no lo hagas en invierno. A fines de abril no creo que tengas ese problema.
Written 7 January 2019
Hola buenas tardes, me gustaría preguntar donde se puede aparcar el coche de alquiler en el puerto de punta bandera, estoy buscando referencias y no encuentro ninguna. Gracias.Gracias.
Written 20 October 2018
Hola, si, como dicen los demas viajeros, hay un playon donde ambarcas, podes estacionar sin problema.
Saludos
Written 22 October 2018
Hola, quisiera saber la diferencia entre las dos opciones que se ofrecen Ríos Express y Ríos Sunset, además de los horarios de salida. Cuál es más recomendable viajando en enero?
Written 18 October 2018
Hola! la diferencia es solo la que mencionas el horario de embarque, Express es 8.30 hs con salida a navegar a las 9.00 hs y Sunset a las 13.00 hs con partida 13.30 hs. Ambos horarios tienen sus encantos porque aunque te parezca que no se aprecian diferente el paisaje que por cierto es bellísimo. lo que si te recomiendo y más por la época es mucho protector solar, ropa liviana y gorro. Ojala puedas hacerla y la disfrutes!!
Written 18 October 2018
…
Showing results 1-10 of 46
Revenue impacts the experiences featured on this page, learn more.
*Likely to sell out: Based on Viator’s booking data and information from the provider from the past 30 days, it seems likely this experience will sell out through Viator, a Tripadvisor company.
Is this your Tripadvisor listing?
Own or manage this property? Claim your listing for free to respond to reviews, update your profile and much more.
Claim your listing