Our rooms and baths were modern and pleasant. The food was good. The staff freindly.

But what was magical was the experience of remoteness. We hiked up an old research road to a magical view of lakes and glaciers, and down through a canyon with fossils and fresh puma tracks,

We rode with our excellent gaucho Augustin through meadows, glacial streams,and at the edge of bluffs. He was good with the person in our group who had never ridden before.

I wish we could ahev stayed a week, enjoyed thr absolute silence and isolation, ridden every day aad hiked to the waterfalls and mountains.

Estancia Cristina does not come very cheap for a day's trip, but if you can afford it, it is all really worth it. I must admit that it is not suitable for very young children. The catamaran to get there is absolutely wonderful as you will be navigating thru beautiful scenery, with icebergs, mountains filled with snow and even woods! I recommend to those prone to sea sickness to take some sickness tablets, as I got a bit dizzy in the boat. Once you arrive in la estancia you have a choice of either trekking, horse riding or even a 4x4 adventure. For those doing the trekking and horse riding I recommend taking very worm clothes as it can get very chilly. From la estancia if you take the 4x4 tour you can get magnificent views of the Upsala glacier. When we finished the tour, we were spoiled with a great meal at the restaurant. I will certainly go back when my children

I took the day-trip to Estancia Cristina in my last visit to El Calafate, in January 2002.
It is not an usual Estancia day. The property lies across the Argentino lake, beside Upsala glacier. There is not any other ranch beside the glaciers, in the Nationeal Park.
It is not just a Estancia, because ther is not any real commercial countryu activity.
To get there you take a ship in Puerto Banderas, "near" (in patagonian scale) from El Calafate. From there, the sailing rides in front of the Upsala glacier, between massive ice pieces, floating around you. The Upsala is unbelievebly big. It is a wall of ice, floating on the lake, about 100m (300 ft) tall and a mile front, wich comes from the mountains. Then the ship "parks" in a bay nearby. It is the place where Estancia Cristina is. A green plain, a valley between some small pikes. Ther you get some unimogs (all-road trucks), croos those pikes and see it: The Upsala, from its side. Wonderful. Even with bad weather. You walk on the surfaces where the ice was a few years ago.
After seeing that, you go back to the Estancia, to enjoy an amazing meal: and real asado, goats from Patagonia, with lots of salads, ending with sweet cakes. Everything was perfect. The service, the best. People that really enjoyed helping you to enjoy.
I know it is expensive, but it worths both the money and the time it takes.
Sorry for the quality of the photos, I didn´t have a digital camera then.