Estancia Cristina Day Tour

On this Patagonia tour, first visit the Upsala Glacier, the largest in South America, upclose on the cruise through the iceberg-filled Lago Argentino to the estancia. Once at Estancia Cristina, select from a number of activities for the afternoon, such as trekking to the Upsala refuge, horseback riding, or exploring the history of the estancia before cruising back to the pier and El Calafate. For those interested in staying the evening, the estancia features restored guest rooms for a perfect night’s sleep to prepare for a second day of enticing activities. Estancia Cristina was founded in 1914 by Joseph Masters, an Englishman who was drawn to Patagonia by the tales told about the regions impressive lands and promising futures in raising sheep. He and his wife traveled south to Rio Gallegos where he worked to save up for the move to Patagonia and where their two children, Percival and Cristina, were born. After reaching the Lago Argentino area, the family attempted settlement in several places but was unable to secure territory. After several years, Joseph was able to salvage a small boat from a ship wreck on the Strait of Magellan and use it to explore the lesser-traveled western shores of the lake. Here, near the massive Upsala Glacier, is where the family homesteaded, using the same small vessel to bring their belongings to the site, from clothing to their sheep, horses and cattle. The estancia, traditionally named after their first daughter, grew to include over 54,000 acres and nearly 27,000 sheep. Following Josephs death, the estancia was left to his family members who tried to care for the massive ranch, but eventually it deteriorated, and by the mid-1980s had lost most of its animals. The property was signed over to the Argentina National Parks Administration in the mid-1990s in an effort to revive the lodge, which has since been restored to its original state.