Estancia Cristina: Horseback Riding

Upsala Glacier + Estancia Cristina + Horseback Ride + Museum.

Estancia Cristina Horseback Riding is an authentic excursion immersed in nature, set in one of Patagonia’s most remote and fascinating spots. It combines a boat tour to the Upsala Glacier area, departing from Port Punta Bandera, with a full day in Estancia Cristina, where you will explore the Caterina River Valley on horseback and visit the Pearson Lake Refuge, viewpoints of the Upsala Glacier, and the estancia’s museum.

If you book the tour with transfer from El Calafate, we will pick you up at 7:30 a.m. at your hotel to then head to Port de la Cruz located in Punta Bandera and at 47 km from El Calafate. If you book the tour departing from the Port of Punta Bandera, you must get there at 8:30 a.m.

The boat departs at 9:00 a.m. sailing the North Arm of Lake Argentino until reaching the Upsala Canal, from where you can see the western front of the glacier in the distance, surrounded by huge icebergs of various shapes. You will enjoy a boat tour between icebergs and imposing mountainous landscapes to then sail the Cristina Canal until you arrive at the estancia.

Upon arriving at Estancia Cristina, the horseback begins with a 4-hour ride suitable for all types of riders, entering the Caterina River Valley, surrounded by imposing mountains, Patagonian grasslands and the characteristic silence of these remote Patagonian landscapes. The journey leads to Pearson Lagoon, a hidden body of water nestled among mountains where a refuge blends into the glacial scenery. For more adventurous riders, the tour also offers alternative routes to natural viewpoints with exceptional views of the Southern Patagonian Ice Field, the Upsala Glacier and formations shaped by thousands of years of ice and wind.

Back at the estancia, you can visit the historical museum, located in the old sheds, where objects, photographs and stories of the Masters family, the first settlers who brought life to this remote corner, are preserved.

This full day experience combines adventure, history and nature in an environment that keeps the spirit of Patagonia alive. To conclude, you will return to Port Punta Bandera and then arrive back at your hotel in El Calafate at 8:00 p.m.