GTEU – 331 – ARGENTINA
Authentic Patagonia – El Calafate- Estancia Cristina

Five days / Four nights
Daily

HIGHLIGHTS

El Calafate:

Two nights at selected hotels:
Tours: El Calafate: Sur Pioneros Glacier-Estancia Cristina Boat Trip
Needed tickets to the national park
Transfers from airport to hotel and to Cristina Lodge

Estancia Cristina:

Two nights at Cristina Lodge
Tours: Estancia Cristina: Activities offered by the lodge
Needed tickets to the national park
Transfer from lodge to airport
Season: From mid-October to mid-April

ITINERARY

DAY 1: El Calafate

Arrival and reception at the airport. Transfer to the selected hotel.
Overnight accommodations at selected hotel
Hotel Alto Calafate or Hotel Kosten Aike (Four Stars)
Hotel Imago or Hotel Xelena (Five Stars)

DAY 2: El Calafate

Today we explore part of Los Glaciares National Park and Lake Argentino and Perito Moreno Glacier.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch
Overnight accommodations at selected hotel
Hotel Alto Calafate or Hotel Kosten Aike (Four Stars)
Hotel Imago or Hotel Xelena (Five Stars)

DAY 3: El Calafate/ Estancia Cristina.

Departure to Puerto Banderas where we embark to sail Lake Argentino reaching the Upsala Glacier and then we take Cristina Branch to finally arrive to Estancia Cristina. After lunch, we start enjoying the activities offered by the lodge. Dinner
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Overnight accommodations Estancia Cristina

DAY 4: Estancia Cristina.

We are able to choose between the following activities offered by the lodge: (See listing of activities in Day by Day itinerary)
Hiking/Trekking: 7 Excursions
Horseback riding: 2 excursions
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Overnight accommodations Estancia Cristina

DAY 5: Estancia Cristina / El Calafate

Time to enjoy one of the activities before returning. After lunch, return to Puerto Bandera and from there, transfer to El Calafate Airport for your flight to your next destination.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch

NOTE:
Based on Standard Room, double occupancy at Hotel Imago and Estancia Cristina. For rates applicable for single, double and triple and for other participating hotels please check TOUR RATES

TOUR RATES INCLUDE:

Round trip transfers between airport and hotel
Transfer El calafate / Puerto Banderas
Boat trip to/from Estancia Cristina
Overnight hotel accommodations: 5 nights
El Calafate (3 nights) – Estancia Cristina Lodge ( 2 nights)
Tours:
El Calafate: Sur Pioneros Glacier
Estancia Cristina: Daily activities offered by the lodge
Meals: 5 breakfast – 4 lunches – 2 dinners
Necessary tickets to Los Glacieres National Park

GTEU – 331 – ARGENTINA
Authentic Patagonia – El Calafate- Estancia Cristina

Five days / Four nights
Daily

DAY BY DAY ITINERARY

DAY 1: El Calafate

Arrival and reception at the airport. Transfer to the selected hotel. If time allows it, do not miss the chance to visit the Glaciarium Museum, one of the few glaciological interpretation centers of the world.
Overnight accommodations at selected hotel
Hotel Alto Calafate or Hotel Kosten Aike (Four Stars)
Hotel Imago or Hotel Xelena (Five Stars)
miss the chance to visit the Glaciarium Museum, one of the few glaciological interpretation centers of the world.

DAY 2: El Calafate.

Today we explore part of Los Glaciares National Park, declared Natural Heritage Site by Unesco. We leave from the hotel by the Route of the Patagonian Estancias, until we reach Nibepo Aike, where we enjoy lunch. In the afternoon, we sail Lake Argentino and we disembark in Playa de las Monedas to take a walk to the viewpoint of the glacier. We continue to Bajo Las Sombras Bay and to the footbridges, from where we will have the chance to admire Perito Moreno Glacier. The glacier is an impressive river of ice with an area of 257 square kilometers, and a height of the front wall goes between 50 to 60 meters above the level of the lake. This frozen river descends from the Southern continental ice field and produces amazing carvings once it reaches the Argentino Lake. This phenomenon makes the glacier a wonder in constant movement.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch
Overnight accommodations at selected hotel
Hotel Alto Calafate or Hotel Kosten Aike (Four Stars)
Hotel Imago or Hotel Xelena (Five Stars)

DAY 3: El Calafate/ Estancia Cristina

Departure to Puerto Banderas where we embark to sail Lake Argentino and to arrive at a unique corner. First, we go to Upsala Glacier and then we take Cristina Branch to finally arrive to Estancia Cristina. Founded in 1914, the Estancia still retains its essence, keeping alive the history of this pioneer family that made of this place their home. After lunch, we start enjoying the activities offered by the lodge.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Overnight accommodations Estancia Cristina

DAY 4: Estancia Cristina

We are able to choose between the following activities offered by the lodge:
Hiking/ Trekking:
• De Los Perros Cascade: 2,5 hours roundtrip. Low difficulty
• Pesca Lagoon: 3 hours roundtrip. Low difficulty
• Carnero Hill: 4,5 hours roundtrip. Medium difficulty, good physical condition is recommended
• Del Hielo Viewpoint: 3,5 hours one way. Medium/high difficulty (steep slope the last 40 minutes)
• Upsala Viewpoint: 2,5 horas one way. Medium difficulty
• Cristina Viewpoint: 6 hours roundtrip. Medium/high difficulty
• Cañadón de los Fósiles: 6 hours roundtrip (one way trip in 4×4). Medium/high difficulty. Good physical condition is recommended
Horseback riding:
• Cristina Viewpoint: 5/7 hours roundtrip. Ride through Valley of River Caterina, ascending the western mountainside of Mesón Hill, to Puesto Los Perros.
• Pesca Lagoon: 2/3 hours roundtrip. Mínimum difficulty

DAY 5: Estancia Cristina/ El Calafate.

Time to enjoy one of the activities before returning. After lunch, return to Puerto Bandera and from there, transfer to El Calafate airport for your flight to your next destination.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch

NOTE:
Based on Standard Room, double occupancy at Hotel Imago and Estancia Cristina. For rates applicable for single, double and triple and for other participating hotels please check TOUR RATES

TOUR RATES INCLUDE:

Round trip transfers between airport and hotel
Transfer El calafate / Puerto Banderas
Boat trip to/from Estancia Cristina
Overnight hotel accommodations: 5 nights
El Calafate (3 nights) – Estancia Cristina Lodge ( 2 nights)
Tours:
El Calafate: Sur Pioneros Glacier
Estancia Cristina: Daily activities offered by the lodge
Meals: 5 breakfast – 4 lunches – 2 dinners
Necessary tickets to Los Glacieres National Park

EL CALAFATE OPTIONAL TOURS

NAUTICAL SAFARI

Optional excursion to the Perito Moreno Glacier tour. We sail through the Rico Branch to admire the southern wall of the glacier. We are able to appreciate a totally different perspective of the glacier, which walls are constantly detached.
Operates: daily – From 10:15AM to 3:30PM
Duration: 1 hour
Nautical Safari – Optional boating for Perito Moreno Excursion.
GROSS RATE PER PERSON: $40

MORENO SPIRIT

Optional excursion to the Perito Moreno Glacier tour. We sail from Puerto Moreno, located on the footbridges of the coast. From there, the boat sails to admire the northern wall of the glacier, the zone of rupture, the height of its walls and its detachments.
Operates: daily
Duration: 1 hour

GROSS RATES PER PERSON ON REQUEST

PERITO MORENO KAYAK EXPERIENCE

Regular Service with English / Spanish Speaking Guide – Full Day
Includes: Box Lunch
Departure from the Hotel at approximately 8:00 am. We go to Los Glaciares National Park and the experience begins at the meeting point Perito Moreno Kayak Experience, located near the main parking lot, where our team will receive you and inform you about the experience.
We welcome you in our Dome, base of operations, where you will dress and our guide will inform you everything related to security. No previous kayak experience is required. Our kayak experts will explain how to paddle between these amazing glacial waters.
Once prepared and informed, we will leave each one with their kayak from Los Témpanos Beach. We row towards the Glacier so that it is facing us. We will stop to take unique images of this moment, while we learn more about this fascinating place.
Includes: Lunch Box, refreshments, hot drinks, adventure photos, tight dry suit, thermal suit, boots, life jackets.
Limitations: this tour given its effort level is only suitable for people older than 14 years of age.

RATE PER PERSON BASED ON MINIMUM TWO PARTICIPANTS:
REGULAR SERVICE FROM: $ 305.00
PRIVATE SERVICES FROM: $453.00

LA LEONA PETRIFIED FOREST TOUR WITH BOX LUNCH

This tour is oriented toward visitors who enjoy experiencing outdoor activities. Depart from the city of Calafate bordering part of Lake Argentino and La Leona River until arrival at the Hotel La Leona, an interesting historic location. Throughout the tour, you can appreciate the various panoramic views of the Cordillera de Los Andes. If time allows, it is possible to see also, the emblematic Cerro Fitz Roy. The tour continues bordering the lake Viedma until arriving at the foothills of the Cerro los Hornos in the Estancia Santa Teresita. From there, the exploration moves out toward the great depression in the land on which it is possible to find the petrified woods. On the way it’s possible to find tree trunks of staggering dimensions greater than 1.20 meters in diameter, which are witness to the ancient times in which the climate of the area was different. Occasionally, it’s also possible to see, fossils of different species of dinosaurs. The tour includes a lunch with snack, and time is allowed for lunch. The return to El Calafate starts at approximately 3:00PM and the arrival in the city is at approximately 5:30PM.

Regular Service with English Speaking Guide
Tour: Full Day – Duration: 9 hours – Distance: 220 Km
Season: October to March
Operates: daily
Duration: 9 hours
Meals: box lunch
Difficulty: Low/Medium

GLACIERS MOUNTAIN BIKE

We depart from El Calafate by the Old Route of the Estancias towards Nibepo Aike while the road shows us the transition of the Patagonian steppe to the forest. From the hull of the ranch, we begin a 20 km (12 miles) journey, enjoying contact with the local flora and fauna, until we reach the old “puesto” (kind of station) of the estancia at 3 de Abril Lagoon where, after a historical talk and lunch, we return.

Season: October to April
Operates: daily
Duration: 7 hours (4 hours ride)
Meals: typical lunch
Difficulty: High
Distance: 40 km riding (25 miles)
To keep in mind: You must be older than 14 years old

GROSS RATES PER PERSON ON REQUEST

HORSEBACK RIDE TO FRIAS HILL

Departure from the hotel to Frias Hill, we ascent on horseback. During the tour, we enjoy the wonderful panoramic view over the Paine Massif, the Fitz Roy Hill and the northern and southern arms of the Lake Argentino. In the “quincho” of a nearby estancia, once the ride finished, we enjoy lunch or dinner. After the excursion, we return to El Calafate to finally arrive at the hotel.

Season: October to April
Operates: daily AM / PM
Duration: 5 hours (3/4 hours ride)
Difficulty: low
Meals: lunch or dinner

GROSS RATES PER PERSON ON REQUEST

ESTANCIA CRISTINA DISCOVERY BOAT RIDE

Departure from the hotel at 06:30 hs to the port of Punta Bandera, located 50 km away. from the city of El Calafate. There will be embarkation and departure at 08:00 in a modern and comfortable boat to navigate the North Arm between icebergs and stunning scenery with views of the canal and Spegazzini Glacier and, from there, the Canal Cristina to the point of disembarkation in the ranch of the same name.
The arrival to Estancia Cristina is expected around 12.00 hours. During the six-hour stay in the estancia there is a guided tour of its local customs museum (which used to function as a shearing shed) and then the ascent in all-terrain vehicles, traveling nine and a half kilometers along a mountain road. , to reach the Refugio de Hielos Contentales. This is the starting point for a thirty-minute walk on glacial erosion terrain, which provides a privileged view of the eastern front of the Upsala Glacier, Lake Guillermo, the Southern Patagonian Ice and the Andes Mountain Range. After the tour, return to the hull of the estancia to embark at 6:00 PM (in winter, at 4:00 PM). After disembarking in Puerto Bandera, we return to El Calafate to finally arrive at the hotel. During the stay, visitors will be divided into groups and shifts by the excursion coordinator of the estancia.

GROSS RATE PER PERSON: $317
Regular service with English speaking guide
Duration: 10 hours – Operates: Daily – Level of difficulty: Medium
Season: October to April
National Park Entrance Fees Included
To keep in mind: Bring a box lunch or reserve lunch in advance

NATIVE EXPERIENCE

Excursion in 4WD vehicles along the coast of Lake Argentino, that is ideal to be taken on the arrival or departure day. It provides an anthropological approach that analyses the relation between man and these lands, as time goes on. We finally have lunch or dinner inside a cave.
Operates: daily AM / PM
Duration: 3 hours
Meals: lunch or dinner

GROSS RATES PER PERSON ON REQUEST

EXCURSION TO THE GLACIARIUM ICE MUSEUM

Arriving from El Calafate we see a building appearing on the horizon. Its architecture represents the front of the glacier, which is the predominant view of the steppe. Lands that glaciers covered thousands of years ago, and where you can still see traces. Two pavilions house the exhibit with the most modern museology resources. You enter through a dark corridor, guided by the pleasant sound of water dripping down from the melting ice. Then the surprise begins as the ice panels begin to speak of the formation of the ice, the story of explorers and scientists. Pictures of great Argentinean photographers such as Florian Von der Flecht, Daniel Wagner, and Andrés Bonetti catch your eye and help your imagination. First the beginning of the universe, the glacial periods. Further down is a large model of the ice field, the origin of the glacial period that you will see during your visit to the area. Interactive screens allow you to view, for example, the recoil of the Upsala glacier. An important tribute to the great Francisco Pascasio Moreno makes it seem as though he is there inspiring us with his enthusiasm for the Argentinean landscapes. Also part of the visit is a unique connection with the Perito Moreno Glacier, which forms a natural dam that then collapses with a great break. The tour ends in a tunnel with an interesting system of simultaneous projections that awakens your senses. Now you are put on red alert for you are faced with the fact that global warming is accelerating and threatening the planet. This is all part of the legacy that you will take along from your visit to the Glaciarium.

Private services with English speaking guide
Tour: Half day – Duration: 3.5 hours – Distance: 12 Km
Operates: Daily
(This tour is available also on regular service please check with us)

DAY IN THE COUNTRYSIDE

Departure from El Calafate through the Estancias Road. Arrival to the ranch, after touring the banks of Lake Roca and entering Los Glaciares National Park. The staff welcome and escort us to the “quincho”, where they offer us a hot drink accompanied by homemade pastry. We visit its facilities, including the shearing shed where we witness a demonstration. At the end, we return to the barbecue to taste the typical Patagonian lamb. Return to El Calafate.
Season: October to April
Operates: Daily AM / PM
Duration: 6 hours
Meals: Patagonian lamb

GROSS RATES PER PERSON ON REQUEST

MINITREKKING

From Bahia Bajo de las Sombras we cross the Rico Branch to reach the southern wall. From there we walk along the coast of the lake until the place where we put on the crampons and receive instructions to walk along the ice and appreciate a great variety of ice formations such as crevices, seracs, sinkholes, small lagoons, etc. At the end, we visit the walkways to get a different perspective.

Season: August to May
Operates: daily
Duration: 10 hours (walk on ice for about 1.30 hours)
Difficulty: low intermediate
To keep in mind: bring a box lunch. Consult age and physical restrictions

GROSS RATES PER PERSON ON REQUEST

TOUR RATES

The tour rates are gross and are valid through December 15, 2019. The rate tables include gross pricing for single, double and triple accommodations as well as by private or shared services when applicable.
We have selected these hotels for the tour based on the quality of service and comfort offered.