Getting to and from your trip
From El Calafate
Estancia Cristina organise a 45-minute transfer from El Calafate to the dock, from where you'll take a three-hour boat ride through the Upsala Channel to see the icebergs and glaciers. After the boat ride, it is 1km from the dock to the lodge itself.
On return, the boat ride is only two hours.
To El Calafate
El Calafate Airport (FTE) is 13 miles (21km) east of the city and has excellent daily connections to Buenos Aires (three hours). In high season there are up to six flights a day to the capital as well as daily flights to Ushuaia in Tierra del Fuego (75 minutes). Other connections include up to three flights a week to Bariloche (1hr45), Trelew (for Peninsula Valdes, 1hr35) and Cordoba (three hours).
By road, El Calafate is about 135 miles (215km) south of El Chaltén, Los Glaciares National Park's trekking capital. Transfers take around three hours. For long-distance buses, it takes roughly 27 hours to get to Bariloche, or 18 hours to get to Ushuaia.
El Calafate is geographically close to Torres del Paine National Park, but there are no direct flights. Cross-border buses run between El Calafate and Puerto Natales in Chile, taking between 5–7 hours depending on border control. From Puerto Natales, it's a further 2½ hours by road to Torres del Paine.
Packing List
Please wear sturdy hiking shoes and be prepared for four seasons in one day during your hikes. Read all our tips about what to pack.
Clothes:
- Scarf/buff
- Warm hat
- Cap/sun hat
- Warm gloves
- Short and long-sleeved synthetic T-shirts
- Thermal top
- Fleece
- Swimsuit (you never know!)
- Down jacket
- Waterproof jacket with hood (Goretex)
- Thermal leggings
- Trekking trousers (preferably convertible)
- Waterproof trousers
- Trekking socks
- Light sport sneakers
- Light waterproof trekking boots
- Flipflops/Crocs
Indispensables:
- Day pack (25l, or if doing multi-day treks 35l)
- Sunblock (SPF 40) and lip balm
- Sunglasses with UV filter
- Reusable water bottle
- Personal basic first aid kit
- Personal medication
- Head torch
- Camera
- International power adapter
- Chargers for phone and camera
- Headphones
Optional
- Battery pack - because Estancia Cristina has no electricity between midnight-6am.
- Reusable coffee mug
- Reusable bags (for groceries)
- Reusable straw
- Penknife/reusable cutlery
- Solid shampoo and conditioner
- Trekking poles
- Envelopes for tips/gratuities (easier than cash in hand)
- USD$ cash - always saves the day!
Documents
- Passport/personal ID
- Credit/debit cards
- Travel Insurance
- Drivers' licence
Read more information on packing for Patagonia.
Your Accommodation
You'll be located in the heart of the Los Glaciares National Park at Estancia Cristina—a lodge only accessible by boat—in a 22,000-hectare estate.
The buildings have been extensively refurbished, and each room has a modern bathroom, heating and huge bay windows where you can watch the light changing on the mountains and glaciers.
Given the remoteness of the lodge, please note that electricity is not available throughout the night (midnight-6am).
