El Calafate: Estancias & Glaciers

From El Calafate to El Calafate
  • Argentina
  • Patagonia
  • Wildlife and Nature
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Tour Description

Discover El Calafate in Argentina's Patagonia region, on our 4 day estancias and glaciers tour.

El Calafate, located on the shores of Lake Argentino, is a well-liked starting place for excursions to several locations within the Los Glaciares National Park. Take a boat to the stunning Perito Moreno, Mayo, and Negro glaciers, to get up close. Listen to the glaciers as the ice creaks and cracks - you might even hear a thunderous boom, and watch, enthralled as a huge chuck of ice breaks off the glacier wall!

Visit a estancia (ranch or farm) to get a small taste of gaucho (cowboy) life. Take a horseback ride, or just enjoy the wide open spaces of this 12,000 hectares cattle ranch at the foot of the Patagonian Andes. And of course there will be a typical Patagonian asado, or barbeque for lunch.

In the town of El Calafate, check out the local handicrafts and be sure to sample the famous Calafate berry ice cream! This El Calafate extension is designed to be added to many of our Argentina programmes - or cross the border to the magical Torres del Paine in Chile!

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Be amazed by the sheer size of Perito Moreno Glacier, which stretches 250 square kilometres and is one of the few remaining advancing glaciers in the world

No trip to Argentina is complete without a visit to an estancia. Enjoy a ranch experience meeting local gaucho, assisting with the cattle and enjoying an asado, a typical Patagonia barbeque.

Get on a boat and enjoy getting up close to the glaciers. Take your time to stop, listen and watch from both boardwalks to the amazing sounds of nature.

Tour Itinerary

Customisable ? This tour can be customised to suit your tastes and timing. Enquire here for more information.
Day 1
El Calafate

On arrival into El Calafate airport, you will be transferred to your hotel.

El Calafate flanks the southern shore of Lago Argentino in the southwest part of Argentina’s Santa Cruz Province. The town is near the edge of the Southern Patagonian Ice Field and one of the gateways to World Heritage Listed Parque Nacional Los Glaciers. The name El Calafate is derived from the calafate plant common in Patagonia. The town’s main street, Avenida del Libertador General San Martín, is lined with restaurants, cafes, chocolate shops and souvenir shops.

Day 2
Perito Moreno Mayo Spirit Boat & Trek Tour

This morning you will be collected from your hotel to venture into Los Glaciares National Park bound for the breathtaking glaciers of Perito Moreno, Mayo and Negro.

The only way to reach the glaciers is by boat along the Témpanos Canal, stopping along the way at Toro Bay for a walk through the Patagonia lenga and ñires forest, passing waterfalls, ancient trees and lime rock formations. After the walk, the boat continues to the Negro hanging glacier where there is the chance for a short walk offering stunning 360 degree views. Back on the boat, you sail toward the north face of the massive Perito Moreno Glacier. The glacier is more than two miles wide and averages 74m in height above the surface of the water of Lake Argentino. It is one of the very few glaciers in the world that continues to advance and if you are lucky you may see the glacier calving as large masses of ice break away from the glacier and collapse into the water. Here, you can disembark at a floating dock and take time to stroll the walkways before boarding the boat and returning to El Calafate. On completion of the tour you will be taken to your hotel. Please note entrance fee and lunch are included. This is a small group tour.

Day 3
Estancia NIbepo Aike

No trip to Argentina is complete without a visit to an Estancia. Estancia Nibepo Aike retains the essence of the old Patagonian ranches. Initially called Estancia Jerónima, Nibepo Aike covers over 12,000 hectares at the foot of the Patagonian Andes and is dedicated to the production of cattle with a herd of Hereford, and also many sheep. It is an ideal place to dip into the life of an authentic Patagonian ranch.

Tour the estancia and have the chance to take a short horse ride (additional extra) or a short walk for great views of the southern arm of Lake Argentino. After the walk or horse-ride, meet back at the door of the shearing shed for a demonstration of horse handling skills, or depending on the rural activities of the day, working with the herd in the corrals close to the main buildings. You may also be able to participate in the cow milking. To finish your day you will enjoy an asado, a typical Patagonian barbeque lunch.

Day 4
Depart Calafate

Transfer to El Calafate airport - or add on a tour to El Chalten, or Torres del Paine, perfect for hiking and the outdoors!

What’s Included

Accommodation
  • Included Copy 20 Accommodation in standard hotels
  • Included Copy 31 Upgrade to superior or deluxe accommodation
Food
  • Included Copy 20 Breakfast daily, and other meals as outlined in the included sightseeing tours
Fees & Services
  • Included Copy 20 Airport Transfers
  • Included Copy 20 Sightseeing with local English-speaking guide
  • Included Copy 7 International Flights, Visa and reciprocity fees (if applicable), tips, travel insurance

Activities

  • Included Stroll the streets of El Calafate, perhaps sample the local Calafate berry ice cream
  • Included Witness life on a working estancia, or cattle ranch.
  • Included Be wowed by the famous Perito Moreno Glacier
  • Included Get up close to creaking glaciers on a boat excursion
  • Included Learn about horse handling skills with the local gaucho cowboys, or perhaps take a ride with them
Click here for dates & prices
Duration

4 days

Price from

$1,205 USD

Per person, sharing

Daily departures