Argentina

Tailor-made tours

El Calafate

Overnights in a hotel of your choice to explore the area. We particularly recommend the Upsala Explorer Navigation. See our El Calafate Hotels list.

Half day Mt. Frias Horseback ride with lunch – 6 hours
Meetings at the starting point to begin a great full day ride to Mt. Frias. Following a valley to Mt. Frías, at 1100m up a canyon, through a Nothofagus forest, we reach the ridge with spectacular views to Lakes Roca and Argentino. If the weather is fine we will be able to see as far as the Torres del Paine in Chile. Return to the ranch, for a cup of tea and cakes, with the possibility of some wildlife watching (guanacos, pumas, and condors).
Rate: £35 per person shared. Includes full equipment, lunch and assistance of qualified bilingual guides.

Full day Perito Moreno Glacier – 7 hours
A full day tour to the famous Perito Moreno glacier. The first views of the Moreno Glacier are breathtaking, down a narrow arm of Lago Argentino, with the imposing Andean Mountains as a backdrop. As one approaches the spectacle gets more impressive and where the constant sounds break the tranquillity. Gigantic blocks of ice, frequently break away and crash into the lake, sending spray hundreds of feet into the air and sounding like distant artillery fire. The startling contrast of colour, sound, motion and size creates a continuously changing mosaic of beauty.
Rate: £100 per person private, £20 per person shared.

Full day Upsala Navigation (ticket and transfer to pier) – 10 hours
Early morning transfer to Puerto Bandera, to board a comfortable modern catamaran for a cruise on Lago Argentino to reach the Upsala Glacier, the largest on the continental ice cap. The programme includes the ticket for the boat ride and the transfer to/from the pier to the hotel. Suggested clothing: take warm clothes.
Rate: On request.

Full day Upsala with Estancia Cristina (horseback riding & trekking, 4x4 & lunch) – 10 hours
Upsala is the Park's largest glacier and offers the perfect gateway to the Patagonian Ice Cap. The glacier is 50km long and 9km wide at the lake's edge where large chunks crash into the water. An early start at Puerto Bandera, where you board a 75 passenger comfortable modern catamaran for 1hr 45min cruise on Lago Argentino. We enter the Channel leading to the Estancia Cristina, surrounded by towering ice -capped mountains and glowing ice-blue bergs floating in the lake. After crossing the lake (allowing for great close up views of the Upsala glacier) the participants meet the guides at Estancia Cristina. From here you may choose to travel off-road vehicles (Unimog) to where the view is spectacular, or enjoy a 5 / 6 hour horse ride (easy). Lunch is a delicious Patagonian lamb barbecue for the off-road group and box-lunch for the riders. Those joining the Unimog ride can enjoy an afternoon hike to a nearby lagoon and a tour around the estancia. This huge estancia (30000 ha) was established in 1918 for breeding sheep. It is only accessible by boat which kept it unspoiled. Suggested clothing: Apply the layers system due to the unpredictable weather. A wind breaker should be part of the outfit, as well as trekking shoes.
Rate: On request. Supplements apply to Christmas and New Year departures. Includes: breakfast, lunch, tea, tickets and transportation to/from El Calafate to the pier.

See also:

• Argentina - Cruises: Spirit of the Glaciers: The Leal Cruiser