Estancia Cristina Full-Day Trip from El Calafate with Lunch

Posted By : petealan
I’ll preface this review by saying that the previous day we toured Perito Mareno Glacier, with the tour arranged by the same agency, and it was spectacular. This tour was a big let down. Also let me say we’ve toured the world and have seen many mountains and lakes before, and I’ve skied on glaciers.

To begin with, the bus was to pick us up at our hotel at 7:15am (for a 12 hour tour). Being so early we skipped breakfast as we felt we didn’t have time. The driver was then 40 minutes late. When he picked us up, there was no guide on the bus, he just announced our name and we got on. After a couple more hotel stops, one where guests had a ton of luggage, we began to wonder if we were even on the right bus! We asked the driver and he assured us us we were. There was no communication from him at all for the 45 minute ride out to the boat. Since he was obviously running late, he was driving really fast and passing cars to the point that oncoming traffic were flashing their headlights at us. The bus was weaving back and forth and it wasn’t a pleasant ride at all.

Once arriving to the Estancia Cristina catamaran we boarded and left the dock, only to return 10 minutes later without explanation. I assume someone forgot something. The boat took us for an hour ride to see a small ice berg floating. After 20 minutes viewing the nice little ice berg where a pro photographer hawked pictures of the passengers, we continued on to see the Glacier from what seemed like a mile away. Really, you would need binoculars to see it properly. Nothing compared to Perito Moreno. For the tour company’s sake, I hope that little ice berg doesn’t melt, as they will have nothing to show the boat loads of tourists. After seeing the glacier from a far distance, we turned around for a one hour ride back to the ranch.

Upon arriving at the ranch, we were picked up in the 4x4 for a trip up the mountain for a different view of the glacier. This 4x4 is a Ford Truck with a camper body attached, set up with about 16 seats cramped inside, all facing forward. The truck had battery and check engine light indicators lit on the dashboard. The drive up the mountain is slow and rough,and I would consider it treacherous. At times the road is mere feet away from cliffs that drop 500-1000’ down. I can say this tourist adventure would never be allowed in the USA ever - no guard rails, posts, nothing at all from preventing a tragedy. I am an adventurer but this was what I consider dangerous. So the ride to the top on these roads is 50 minutes of bouncing around in the back of a camper van crammed in with 10-16 people with warning lights lit up on the dashboard. Once to the top, the group is invited to walk 20 minutes across the mountain range to look down at the glacier which is miles away. The wind was blowing about 40mph and it was COLD, so my wife and I decided not to make the 40 min round trip walk. After talking to the others who went, they said it wasn’t worth it, and their photos proved it. The view of the glacier from that viewpoint was miles and miles away and the wind was insane. Then we left for another 50 minute bumpy drive back down the mountain on the same route.
Upon getting down we had the lunch at the ranch restaurant, which was passable. The pumpkin soup was really good, however the first portion of lamb delivered to our table for two (for sharing) was literally a grizzly bone and a small pan of fatty meat. We asked for another portion and the server obliged. The next plate was passable.
After lunch, we toured a little cabin with historic pictures of the family who settled there in 1914. It was interesting but I got more out of reading the commentary below the pictures than listening to our young guide.
Then the guide pointed us to the boat to walk back to it, which was literally a 1/4 mile away.
The journey back was another hour long boat ride, and then the 45 minute van ride until we arrived back to our hotel after dark.

After all said and done we really just wanted our day back. It was a major disappointment.

This tour may be very interesting for a city dweller who has never been in the mountains, on a lake or in a boat before, but we found it boring, tiresome and at times dangerous (the 4x4 on the edge of cliffs).
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Posted On : 2024-03-27 22:33:15

Posted By : Lolly128
Not sure where to begin, this is such an amazing trip. We were picked up at hotel and driven to the port for the boat , very friendly guide.
The trip on the boat was fantastic, some snacks and drinks but wow , breathtaking views , to be honest words can’t describe how amazing .
When we arrived at the Estancia we went on 4x4 drive to view point and the guide gave us lots of info . The lunch was unbelievable and the serving staff so friendly . We then had a tour around the museum and learnt about The Masters family . This has been such an enjoyable trip , memories I will treasure . Thank you to all staff who were friendly and so informative.
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Posted On : 2023-11-13 09:39:51

Posted By : AlTraveler1967
First of all, my wife and I were booked on the wrong excursion. You must pre select an excursion type (Classic, Discovery, or Trekking). We had booked Trekking and were incorrectly assigned Classic. We discovered this error during the three hour boat ride over to the ranch. It is during this time that the guides confirm excursion type with all the passengers on board. Upon explaining the error to the guides, we were simply told that nothing could be done. We were told that the error occurred through our booking agency. There was no ownership of the error on their part and absolutely no effort whatsoever to exhibit any level of flexibility, customer service, or an attempt to accommodate. We were simply told that nothing could be done. Our situation was not unique. Another couple on board from New York, had a similar experience with the booking error and received basically the same response and reaction from the staff and management as we did. No attempt to correct the situation.

Second, the lunch that is provided on site is sub par at best. My wife ordered lamb and I had the pasta. The lamb was mostly bone and fat. My pasta was tasteless and served in a watered down tomato sauce. The empanada appetizers were cold in the middle. The only redeeming part of the meal was the Malbec wine.

Finally, keep in mind that you are in for significant transport time to the ranch. 45 minute drive to the dock, then a three hour boat ride one-way to the ranch. The constant Patagonia winds made the boat ride extremely rough in areas of the lake. If you are prone to motion sickness, this excursion is definitely not for you. I personally witnessed several individuals suffering from motion sickness on the ride out to the ranch through the rough waters.
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Posted On : 2019-01-06 03:59:00

Posted By : Mathieu M
I did the discovery tour (boat then 4×4 to access the most amazing view of Patagonia).
It would be really pitty to miss the view doing only the cruise. But the boat between icebergs is also fun.
You can bring your lunch to reduce the cost.
Really great !
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Posted On : 2018-01-02 14:18:06

Posted By : georgecI2056SR
This is an all day trip that we would repeat. You get picked up at your hotel in El Calafate and transferred to a dock for a 3 hour boat ride that includes circling icebergs from the Upsala glacier. Then, you dock at Estancia Cristina, get in a 4 wheel drive, and go to an upper view point of the Upsala glacier. After pictures and an introduction to the wind, you hike down a canyon with vibrant colors, fossils, small fresh water ponds, condors flying around, etc. After descending to the valley, you walk through alpine type meadows and return to the ranch and the boat for a trip back. They provide lunch that you eat on the trail. An active walk requiring balance and moderate stamina.
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Posted On : 2017-12-20 16:13:06