I’ll preface this review by saying that the previous day we toured Perito Mareno Glacier, with the tour arranged by the same agency, and it was spectacular. This tour was a big let down. Also let me say we’ve toured the world and have seen many mountains and lakes before, and I’ve skied on glaciers.
To begin with, the bus was to pick us up at our hotel at 7:15am (for a 12 hour tour). Being so early we skipped breakfast as we felt we didn’t have time. The driver was then 40 minutes late. When he picked us up, there was no guide on the bus, he just announced our name and we got on. After a couple more hotel stops, one where guests had a ton of luggage, we began to wonder if we were even on the right bus! We asked the driver and he assured us us we were. There was no communication from him at all for the 45 minute ride out to the boat. Since he was obviously running late, he was driving really fast and passing cars to the point that oncoming traffic were flashing their headlights at us. The bus was weaving back and forth and it wasn’t a pleasant ride at all.
Once arriving to the Estancia Cristina catamaran we boarded and left the dock, only to return 10 minutes later without explanation. I assume someone forgot something. The boat took us for an hour ride to see a small ice berg floating. After 20 minutes viewing the nice little ice berg where a pro photographer hawked pictures of the passengers, we continued on to see the Glacier from what seemed like a mile away. Really, you would need binoculars to see it properly. Nothing compared to Perito Moreno. For the tour company’s sake, I hope that little ice berg doesn’t melt, as they will have nothing to show the boat loads of tourists. After seeing the glacier from a far distance, we turned around for a one hour ride back to the ranch.
Upon arriving at the ranch, we were picked up in the 4x4 for a trip up the mountain for a different view of the glacier. This 4x4 is a Ford Truck with a camper body attached, set up with about 16 seats cramped inside, all facing forward. The truck had battery and check engine light indicators lit on the dashboard. The drive up the mountain is slow and rough,and I would consider it treacherous. At times the road is mere feet away from cliffs that drop 500-1000’ down. I can say this tourist adventure would never be allowed in the USA ever - no guard rails, posts, nothing at all from preventing a tragedy. I am an adventurer but this was what I consider dangerous. So the ride to the top on these roads is 50 minutes of bouncing around in the back of a camper van crammed in with 10-16 people with warning lights lit up on the dashboard. Once to the top, the group is invited to walk 20 minutes across the mountain range to look down at the glacier which is miles away. The wind was blowing about 40mph and it was COLD, so my wife and I decided not to make the 40 min round trip walk. After talking to the others who went, they said it wasn’t worth it, and their photos proved it. The view of the glacier from that viewpoint was miles and miles away and the wind was insane. Then we left for another 50 minute bumpy drive back down the mountain on the same route.
Upon getting down we had the lunch at the ranch restaurant, which was passable. The pumpkin soup was really good, however the first portion of lamb delivered to our table for two (for sharing) was literally a grizzly bone and a small pan of fatty meat. We asked for another portion and the server obliged. The next plate was passable.
After lunch, we toured a little cabin with historic pictures of the family who settled there in 1914. It was interesting but I got more out of reading the commentary below the pictures than listening to our young guide.
Then the guide pointed us to the boat to walk back to it, which was literally a 1/4 mile away.
The journey back was another hour long boat ride, and then the 45 minute van ride until we arrived back to our hotel after dark.
After all said and done we really just wanted our day back. It was a major disappointment.
This tour may be very interesting for a city dweller who has never been in the mountains, on a lake or in a boat before, but we found it boring, tiresome and at times dangerous (the 4x4 on the edge of cliffs).
Not sure where to begin, this is such an amazing trip. We were picked up at hotel and driven to the port for the boat , very friendly guide.
The trip on the boat was fantastic, some snacks and drinks but wow , breathtaking views , to be honest words can’t describe how amazing .
When we arrived at the Estancia we went on 4x4 drive to view point and the guide gave us lots of info . The lunch was unbelievable and the serving staff so friendly . We then had a tour around the museum and learnt about The Masters family . This has been such an enjoyable trip , memories I will treasure . Thank you to all staff who were friendly and so informative.
Bellísima excursión a la que no le falta nada. Comienza con el trayecto al Lago, que se navega en una embarcación de la estancia. Cuando se mete por el canal Upsala, luego de pasar por el Canal de los Témpanos, se avistan esas bellísimas construcciones naturales. (El servicio de fotos es sumamente recomendable, por cierto).
Luego se llega a la Estancia, emplazada en un lugar inmejorable. Antes o después del almuerzo hay distintas opciones: se puede hacer un trekking largo pero interesante, cabalgata, excursión en 4x4 (Discovery) o combi (Classic). Estas dos últimas incluyen un paseo por el Museo Histórico.
La vista al Glaciar Upsala y el refugio homónimo es la frutilla del postre.
Volveremos para quedarnos y hacer el trekking al Cañadón de los Fósiles.