Estancia Cristina Day Tour

Learn more about Estancia Cristina

Nestled in the center of Los Glaciares National Park, it offers visitors an extraordinary day trip. We will visit the splendid construction, the ranch house, established at the beginning of the 20th century. After more than a century, it delights with its construction, and the frozen landscapes that surround it.

Estancia Cristina can only be reached by boat, whose journey crosses the waters of the North Arm of Lake Argentino, wrapped in the sublime beauty of its deep blue waters, to reach the rugged valley, which has the charm of untouched nature. , is the beginning of this journey without comparison.

This Tour can be done every day of the week, the excursion starts at 7 am, with an approximate duration of 14 hours

This dream trip is available from the month of October until Easter, with innumerable walks and outdoor activities, which invite you to discover the hidden wonders of the area, which will surprise you with their incomparable splendor, giving you a day full of tranquility and amazement at the greatness of the work of nature in these places.

How Estancia Cristina was born:

It all started at the end of the 19th century, when a couple in love, Percival and Jessie Masters decide to leave their native country, England, and undertake their adventure to reach Argentina. They left for Buenos Aires, and then decided to go to the Austral zone, Patagonia.

Recently arrived, Percival dedicated himself to working in different carpentry activities and caring for sheep. But the family was growing, with the arrival of the children, a boy and a girl, so they decided to travel to the vicinity of Lake Argentino with the aim of continuing their tasks of raising sheep.

It took them several years to establish themselves definitively in El Calafate, while they continued to expand their establishment dedicated to raising sheep.

Recently arrived, they lived in tents until they completed the construction of their first house made of adobe and stones, but much warmer than the tents. This was the beginning of Estancia Masters, its farm and gardens, beginning with the planting of poplars that would provide shelter from the strong winds.

Why the name of Estancia Cristina:

In the first decade of the 20th century, Jessie, Percival's brother, arrives to help build the ranch. By that time they already owned more than 20,000 hectares, including the Hermita Peninsula, motor boats, and vehicles to move the wool. A short time later they install a radio station to be able to communicate better. Her son had left to study at the University and the young Cristina was helping her parents with the care of the sheep, when one very rainy day she caught a cold, from which she never recovered. He died when he was just 20 years old. That was what led to the name change, from Estancia Masters to Estancia Cristina, in honor of the lost daughter.

This pioneer family in the south, with insistence and hard work, converted an inhospitable and lonely place into a dream place, receiving visits from scientists, scholars and explorers from all over the world.

Time passed, when the eldest son of the Masters was 80 years old, he married and made his wife promise to continue with Estancia Cristina. Given the event of the physical disappearance of the Husband, Mrs. Masters made an agreement with National Parks to help conserve the fauna and vegetation of the area, she decided to leave the livestock activity and began the undertaking of the tourist activity.

When Mrs. Masters passed away, the management of the Estancia was taken over by the foundation she created and this is the one that continues the legacy of a privileged tourist site.

What is taken into account on the day of the Estancia Cristina:

Access is only by boat, there are bilingual guides to accompany tourists, you can choose from a wide variety of activities in which you can take part.

Lunch is optional, it has three courses, a drink and tea or coffee; You have access to the National Park for an extensive visit. Transfers to hotels located in El Calafate have an extra cost.

The Tour is not allowed for children under 12 years of age. The rugged nature of the place makes it a prerequisite for visitors to be in good health. The organizers can decide if the travelers are suitable for the tours or if they are well equipped and warm for the tour.

Different Tours to take into account:

The 4x4 cross-country tour is accessible because it is considered to be of a low level of difficulty and lasts half a day. You visit the base of the Continental Ice Institute, the Lengas cemetery, the so-called Parrot Forest, arriving at the viewpoint where you will enjoy an amazing view of Laguna Anita and the valley of the ranch.

On the way back, descend towards the Upsala Glacier, where you can see the action of erosion, clearly distinguishing the red and black rocks, polished by erosion. This point is the outstanding place to visit in Estancia Cristina. The views are magnificent, surrounded by hills and watching the flight of the condors. A truly unforgettable tour.

Sport fishing tour : At Estancia Cristina, from November to April you can make special reservations to visit the spaces set up for sport fishing. Transportation is offered to reach the most recommended places for the activity, one is the Caterina river since between January and March this site is ideal for trout fishing where the specimens that delight all great fishermen agglomerate.

Horseback riding tour: Estancia Cristina offers visitors the possibility of horseback riding, always with the continuous accompaniment of specialized guides.

This activity, of a medium level of difficulty, requires that guests have a certain knowledge to be able to ride through the wild areas, with loose stones. It begins by visiting the Patagonian steppe and goes into the ascent path, while admiring the Lenga forests.

Mandatory stop; visit the Cascada de los Perros, a natural viewpoint of the entire ranch. The magic of the environment and its natural beauty is amazing. This tour takes several hours, so guests are provided with a lunch box and snacks to return to Estancia Cristina and have a snack after a spectacular day of horseback riding.

Walking Tour : with a low level of difficulty, it starts from the Octagon and goes to the Cascada de los Perros. The tour lasts half a day. The beautiful forests are crossed and in the first viewpoint, you can enjoy the beauty of Lake Pearson.

Tour to Cerro Carnero: With a medium level of difficulty, it is required to have a good physical condition, with a duration of the whole day; it starts from Estancia Cristina, towards the Southeast.

The road is rocky and ascending in which the Lake, El Canal Cristina, the Estancia are always in sight from a greater height, surprising for its beauty. You go through a forest and meltwater waterfalls, you reach Cerro Carnero, where the view of the valley, the glaciers and the current mountain range offers a supernatural aspect. The descent is made bordering the Argentino Lake.

Mirador del Hielo Tour: With a Medium-High difficulty level, since the return is made by a steep slope, it lasts all day, always in the company of the best guides.

Starting from the Octagon in 4x4 vehicles, you ascend the Cordón Feruligio to the Monte de los Loros from where the descent begins, the walk is along a constantly sloping stone path from where you can enjoy the imposing grandeur of the Upsala Glacier and the William Lake.

Feeling the resistance of the strong Patagonian winds is something unique that must be felt to understand the unique adventure that is taking place on this tour. The icy places, covered with ice, the tributary glaciers of the Upsala Glacier, are part of the wonderful views that will be had.

At this point, a break and a snack are taken to begin the descent along another path that will cross the Pampa de los Colts until reaching Estancia Cristina. Since this tour is extensive, guests will have breakfast in the Octagon and will be provided with food and hors d'oeuvres for the trip. Upon arrival, a snack or snack will be waiting for you, depending on your taste.

Fossil Canyon Tour: Medium-High difficulty, good physical condition is required, the minimum age to participate in this adventure is 12 years and lasts all day. This tour offers the option of trekking or traveling in an all-terrain vehicle, going to the Upsala Viewpoint, in constant descent, crossing the Cañadón de los Fósiles until arriving either on foot or by 4x4 to the area of greatest erosion of the Upsala Glacier where you can see the blackish and reddish stones, the fossil remains decorate the aridity of the site.

It is an unforgettable trip. From here the return to Estancia Cristina is undertaken. The descent covers very uneven areas, but it is worth the journey to feel transported to the ice age and admire this inhospitable and suggestive place. Travelers have breakfast in the Octagon, they will receive food for the road.

Mirador Cristina Tour: Of medium-high difficulty, good physical condition is required since this activity lasts all day. Starting from the Estancia, you cross the Caterina River, where you can see the Patagonian vegetation, the road is ascending, with loose stones.

When you get to the viewpoint you can see from Lake Argentino to Lake Pearson. Following the ascent to the Cascada de los Perros, the Cerro Mesón is circled reaching the Mirador Cristina from where you can see the entire glacier, its enormous frozen surface and the magical landscape. Travelers have breakfast in the Octagon and they will be provided with food for the trip, on their return they can have a snack.