El Calafate Trip Overview
Enjoy a full-day guided tour, ideal for those who want to keep exploring all that Argentinean Patagonia has to show us. The tour begins with a navigation through the icebergs, sailing right in front of the Upsala Channel, in a journey towards the Estancia Cristina, where you will spend the rest of the day to learn its history and traditions. Visit the Folkloric Museum and the Estancia’s surroundings and find amazing wildlife. This tour includes lunch and transportation by an air-conditioned coach.
Additional Info
Duration: 13 hours
Starts: El Calafate, Argentina
Trip Category: Tours & Sightseeing >> Full-day Tours
Explore El Calafate Promoted Experiences
What to Expect When Visiting El Calafate, Patagonia, Argentina
Enjoy a full-day guided tour, ideal for those who want to keep exploring all that Argentinean Patagonia has to show us. The tour begins with a navigation through the icebergs, sailing right in front of the Upsala Channel, in a journey towards the Estancia Cristina, where you will spend the rest of the day to learn its history and traditions. Visit the Folkloric Museum and the Estancia’s surroundings and find amazing wildlife. This tour includes lunch and transportation by an air-conditioned coach.
Itinerary
This is a typical itinerary for this product
Stop At: Lago Argentino, El Calafate Argentina
The tour starts at 7am with pickup from centrally located El Calafate hotels. Travel around 30 miles (45 km) along a road that will take you through the countryside, littered with picturesque wooden houses.
Having reached the port of Punta Bandera, on Lake Argentino, board a modern and comfortable boat, that at approximately 8:15am, will leave behind the port to begin the navigation.
Duration: 2 hours
Stop At: Upsala Glacier, El Calafate Argentina
Through towering icebergs, head to the north arm of Lake Argentino up to the last permitted point of navigation on the Upsala Channel, where stunning views of the Upsala Glacier await. Continue sailing through the Cristina Canal to the point of disembarking at the Estancia, arriving around 11:30am.
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Estancia Cristina, Av. del Libertador 1037, Z9405 El Calafate, Santa Cruz, Argentina
Having disembarked at the shores close to Estancia Cristina, an expert guide will welcome you and take you on an exciting trek through the surrounding valley. The hike unfolds along an ecotone area, a beautiful, semi-arid place carpeted in native shrubs and grasses. Next, the walk gradually ascends to an elevated lookout point that bestows sweeping views of the valley beyond, over Lake Argentino and Lake Pearson across to the towering Andes Mountains.
From here, continue on a path sloping gently uphill, surrounded nature, until you reach the highlight of this trek: Los Perros River Waterfall, also a fantastic spot for observing flowers and plant life especially orchids.
Later on, having returned from the trek, enjoy a traditionnal lunch with drinks. We recommand you to taste the famous empanadas and the delicous patagonian lamb (one of the options) !
In the afternoon, visit the Folkloric Museum with your guide, located in what used to be an old shearing shed, where they will introduce the history of the Estancia. Start a small and pleasant walk of about 30 minutes to visit the Caterina River and Chapel and then tour the historic town of Estancia.
Duration: 7 hours
Stop At: Lago Argentino, El Calafate Argentina
Around 5.30pm, get back to the boat to begin the return to Punta Bandera port, then back to El Calafate. Drop-off at hotels will be at approximately 8pm.
Duration: 3 hours
