What excursions are available?
1. Upsala Glacier lookout & South Patagonian Ice Field hike
2. Upsala Glacier lookout & Fossil Canyon hike
3. Upsala Glacier Lookout and Campo de Hielo Patagónico Sur
4. Carro Carnero Hike
5. Cristina Lookout Horse Ride
6. Cristina Lookout and Tanhauser Lake
7. La Pesca Lagoon
8. Los Perros Waterfall
9. Refugio and Lake Pearson
10. Self-guided Trails
11. Fly fishing
Horses at Estancia Cristina
1. Upsala Glacier Lookout HIke
You'll first cross the River Caterina and then head northwest, ascending the Feruglio mountain range. Once you leave the native forest behind, you'll begin a challenging hike to reach breathtaking views of the Upsala Glacier and Lake Guillermo.
Another favourite sight on this excursion is the massive Cordillera de Los Andes, featuring the peaks of Bertrand, Cono, and Murralon.
You'll return along a different trail, during which you will continue to discover new landscapes.
Duration: 4hrs round trip | Length: 20km | Elevation gain: 370m
Upsala Glacier lookout
2. Upsala Glacier lookout & Fossil Canyon Hike
On this excursion, you'll ascend the natural trails of the Feruglio mountain range by 4x4 until you reach the Upsala Glacier's former limits.
From here, you can contemplate how glaciers shape the landscape on the course of their journey. In this case, the glacier has exposed countless marine fossils along the deep-red Fossil Canyon through which you can hike.
Duration: 5-6hrs round trip | Length: 12km | Elevation gain: 370m in 4x4 vehicle
Fossil Canyon
3. Upsala Glacier Lookout and Campo de Hielo PatagĂ³nico Sur
You will cross Río Caterina and head northwest, ascending the Feruglio mountain range. Once you leave the native forest behind, begin a challenging hike to reach the breathtaking views of Glaciar Upsala and Lago Guillermo. Another favourite on this excursion is the massive Cordillera de Los Andes, featuring Betrand, Cono and Murallón peaks.
Your return will be along a different trail to offer a new perspective.
Duration: 6hrs round trip | Length: 21km | Elevation gain: 600m
Upsala Glacier lookout
4. Cerro Carnero Hike
On this hike, you'll follow the path used by the Masters family for cattle raising and take in the beauty of Lake Argentino as you ascend gradually to appreciate the Cristina Fjord, the main lodge of the Estancia and a fantastic view of the entire valley. Once you cross the forest and meltwater waterfalls, you'll reach Cerro Carnero and be rewarded with a panoramic view of the valley and the stunning Cordillera de Los Andes and glaciers.
Your return will be along a different path, bordering the Cristina Fjord, finally leading you back to the Estancia.
Duration: 5hrs round trip | Length: 10km | Elevation gain: 470m
Hiking to Cerro Carnero
5. Cristina Lookout Horse Ride
For those who want to reach the "balcony" of the Estancia with a bit more speed and traditional Patagonian flair, this ride offers the most expansive views of the valley. This is a more technical ride than the valley floor trots; you’ll follow the footsteps of the pioneer Masters family, ascending through ancient forests to a point where the Southern Patagonian Ice Field reveals itself in total silence.
Duration: 6hrs round trip | Length: 15km | Elevation gain: 770m
Swoop says
The estancia is very remote - only accessible by boat - and the setting is unbelievable. This means lots of incredible hiking and horse riding opportunities. It's worth noting that overnight guests don't mix with day-trippers and have "exclusivity" on all the excursions. In terms of booking excursions here, the lodge works similarly to other hotels in the region, where you discuss and coordinate your interests with the guides on-site once you arrive.
Danny Middleton Patagonia Specialist
6. Cristina Lookout and Tanhauser Lake
Head northwest through woods filled with ñires and lengas to observe the native vegetation of the Patagonian steppe. At your first stop, you'll see the valley extending all the way from Lake Argentino to Lake Pearson. You'll then continue ascending until you reach the Los Perros waterfall and, finally, the Mirador Cristina from where you'll have a stunning view of the mountains, the Campo de Hielo Patagónico Sur, and the Upsala Glacier.
Continuing on, a pleasant slope towards the east will lead you to Lake Tanhausser. Upon reaching the Andean meadow over Cerro Cuchillo’s slopes, you'll have a great panoramic lookout of the River Caterina valley and the mountains. As a final reward for your efforts, and after surpassing a rock edge that glaciers couldn’t erode, you'll see Lake Tanhausser and the glaciers descending from the hills of Cerro Pintado, Sombrero, and Masters into the lake.
Duration: 6hrs round trip | Length: 15km | Elevation gain: 770m
Hike to Mirador Cristina
7. La Pesca Lagoon Hike
You'll leave Estancia Cristina’s main lodge behind and head into the River Caterina valley. Along the way you'll be able to see a wide variety of native flora and fauna.
This is an ideal hike for bird and photography lovers.
Duration: 4hrs round trip | Length: 20km| Elevation gain: 40m
La Pesca Lagoon
8. Los Perros Waterfall
This excursion takes you northeast from Estancia Cristina’s main lodge on an uphill hike among woods filled with ñires and lengas.
At the first lookout point you will be able to see Lake Argentino and Lake Pearson. From here you'll continue hiking until you reach the Los Perros waterfall.
Duration: 4hrs round trip | Length: 5.5km | Elevation gain: 100m
Los Perros waterfall
9. Refugio and Lake Pearson
On this excursion, you'll head north to enter the deepest area of the River Caterina valley. It's an untouched glacial landscape dotted with lagoons and mountains. Cerro Norte will be in view as you make your way to Lago Pearson, where you'll find a shelter strategically located on its shores, blending with the native vegetation.
Duration: 4hrs round trip | Length: 20km | Elevation gain: 20m
Refuge at Pearson Lagoon
10. Self-guided Trails
You can, of course, take a number of short hikes from your Estancia Cristina base.
One we'd recommend is the noria (waterwheel) on the river. It's possible to enjoy this hike on foot or by bike, completely at your own pace, giving you time to soak up the landscape and landmarks in this wild region.
The noria near Estancia Cristina
11. Fly fishing on River Caterina
You'll follow the banks of the crystal clear River Caterina, which starts at the south end of Pearson Lagoon and runs for 12km. You'll find a perfect spot to enjoy a wild fishing adventure.
Season: January to March
Fly fishing on River Caterina
Excursion FAQs
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Can you explain the difficulty scale in more detail?
Due to the sheer range of excursions available in Patagonia and this region, it is hard to have an exact scale so we recommend speaking to your Sales or CX Representative in the first instance.
However, the following is a general guide for the levels of activity which you will see referenced on the individual excursions:
Easy - Vehicle/boat-based tours and a wide range of activities that at their max involve 1-2 hours of walking or gentle exercise.
Moderate - Involves 2-5 hours of hiking or more physical activities such as kayaking, horse riding, rafting etc.
Hard - You need to be able to be active for a full day and previous experience or carrying a day pack may be required.
Advanced - Challenging full days of activity, experience is necessary and trekkers will need to carry an 18kg pack.
Extreme - Must be highly experienced at this activity and prepared for extreme weather, heavy loads and Type 2 fun.
Most of the excursions advertised will fall into the Easy and Moderate categories. Some will straddle between two categories and will be marked if so.
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What if the weather intervenes?
There is of course a good chance the weather may play a part in any Patagonian excursion but we will work with our local partners to assess things and communicate other options if required.
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Are there any age or other restrictions that would stop me participating?
With some excursions, there will be a minimum and maximum age for participation. There can be limits based on weight/BMI. You may also be ineligible if pregnant or have a pre-existing medical condition or injury. We will aim to notify you where this is the case but please do ask for more details about individual excursions.
