Estancia Cristina (ex Upsala Explorer)

The Upsala Glacier forms a tongue of ice which is 50 km. long, 10 km. wide, and many hundred meters thick. In its central part there is a dark area, a consequence of the accumulation of rocks, sand and clay brought by smaller glaciers (tributary to the Upsala) which got trapped within this glacier after two ice tongues converged.

The excursion to visit this Glacier is one of the most entertaining ones within Glaciers National Park. It is a lacustrine journey performed aboard a modern, fully featured catamaran. You depart at 7,30 AM from El Calafate up to the Puerto Bandera pier, on Lake Argentino's North branch, some 45 Km. away from El Calafate.

First you sail along this branch. During this part, breakfast is served. After navigating the North branch, you enter the Upsala branch in order to get to the very wall of Upsala Glacier. At the last part of the navigation, you will pass between huge blue ice blocks that are detachments from the Upsala floating adrift.

The catamaran sails slow enough at all the interesting views so that you can enjoy them and take great shots in order to bring back with you to the "real world"... because during this excursion you will feel as if you were in another dimension...

Then you sail back up to the conjunction with the Cristina branch, to get to Cristina Bay.

There you will disembark and you will be received by the specialized guides, who will take you on a fantastic adventure walk up to Cascada de los Perros, a lookout point from where you can observe the whole of the bay and the area surrounding the Estancia Cristina.

At this place there are fossils, among them oysters that are proof of the antique sea presence in the area.

Afterwards, you are guided to the restaurant, which is located in the antique main house of the Estancia (now only used for tourist purposes). There you will enjoy a magnificent, first class lunch consisting of Patagonian lamb, salads, chicken, home made bread and bakery, etc. which is already included in the price of this excursion.

After lunch, there is an optional walk where you learn all about the original owners of the Estancia, which were an English family that settled here in early 20th. century.

Then you go back to the pier, in order to get aboard the ship to sail back to Puerto Bandera. At this last stage, you are served with an afternoon snack, and the excursion finishes around 8,30 PM, approximately.

Please note that this excursion only operates during peak season, from October to May.

This is one of the many tourist products you can hire through us at Patagonia-argentina.com.