Upsala Glacier + 4×4 + Trekking in the Canyon of the Fossils + Estancia Cristina.
Estancia Cristina Upsala Trekking combines a visit to Estancia Cristina doing a trekking through the Fossils Canyon, a boat ride to the Upsala Glacier area and the visit to the Upsala Viewpoint. You will enjoy unique views of this glacier from the famous viewpoint of the estancia, you will visit in 4x4 vehicles the surroundings and you will hike through an old glacier canyon. This is the only tour in El Calafate that allows you to observe closely the Upsala Glacier front and its spectacular size while trekking through a unique place.
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.
After disembarking, you will ascend in 4x4 vehicles through a landscape that has recently been uncovered by glaciers and that is of great geological interest. You will enjoy from the Upsala Viewpoint a privileged view of the Eastern front of the Upsala Glacier, Lake Guillermo, Southern Patagonian Ice, the Murallón and Don Bosco Hills and the Andes Mountains.
From the viewpoint, the trekking begins entering to the Fossils Canyon. This is an area where a large concentration of fossils is observed, which is a remnant of the last marine entrance and that has been exposed by glacial action. The trekking takes approximately 4 hours in direction of Estancia Cristina, at a constant pace and with medium/high difficulty.
You will have lunch during the trekking in the Fossils Canyon. Upon arrival at Estancia Cristina, you will embark again to head towards Port of Punta Bandera. You will arrive in El Calafate at 8:00 p.m. having made the only tour in Los Glaciares National Park that still offers close views of the Upsala Glacier.