Boat Trip to Laguna San Rafael National Park & San Rafael Glacier

47 miles (77 km) west of the Patagonian lakeside town of Puerto Río Tranquilo lies Bahía Exploradores (Explorers Bay). This bay sits at the western end of Valle Exploradores (Explorers Valley), which is situated at the confluence of the Exploradores, Oscuro, and La Teresa rivers at Laguna San Rafael. The entire valley is notable for its temperate forests and rich exotic wildlife, including pudus and pumas. This day's excursion involves making the trip here by vehicle before connecting to a boat for an excursion on the lake. An expert guide will provide a brief safety lesson before embarking on the water.

Thus begins an easy route through the delta of the Exploradores River, which is surrounded by stunning Patagonian scenery. After about 2.5 hours, the boat will reach Laguna San Rafael National Park and the San Rafael Glacier. There will be ample time to enjoy the views and snap photos of the floating blocks of ice and wide variety of wildlife that's commonly visible, including marine otters, sea lions, black-necked swans, and condors. The excursion includes a box lunch, and imbibers can also sip a glass of whiskey chilled with ice from a nearby glacier boasting millions of years of history.