About this hotel
General information
Estancia Cristina began as the Masters family’s sheep ranch, founded in 1914 in the Río Caterina valley on the northern reaches of Lago Argentino. It was renamed in memory of the pioneers’ daughter Cristina, and since the surrounding land became part of Los Glaciares National Park guests here stay within the park itself. Today it is a small lodge of 20 rooms in five houses set around the Octógono main building, which looks out over Cerro Norte; nearby stand a 1945 waterwheel, a chapel, the boat “Cristina”, built on the estancia itself, and a heritage museum.
A stay is run as a full-board programme built around expeditions: trekking, horseback riding and 4×4 outings are reserved for lodge guests and arranged on site with the team. The highlight is the only land-based lookout over the Upsala Glacier. The estancia operates seasonally, from October to April; there is no mobile signal, but satellite Wi-Fi is available.
Location
The estancia lies within Los Glaciares National Park in Santa Cruz province and can be reached only by water. The journey starts in El Calafate, about 3 h 15 min by air from Buenos Aires: from there it is 45 km by road to the Puerto Punta Bandera dock — roughly an hour from the town centre or 1 h 40 min from the airport — and then a 2–3-hour catamaran crossing of Lago Argentino among icebergs. Land transfers from El Calafate hotels are part of the programme, and boats run in each direction daily. The Perito Moreno Glacier cannot be reached from the estancia, so an extra night in town is the way to see it.
Sports & leisure
Guided expeditions are part of the stay, organised in small groups around guests’ preferences and adapted to the weather. They include:
- a 4×4 drive through the forests of the Feruglio range to the Upsala Glacier lookout, 9.5 km from the lodge
- Upsala combined with a hike down the Cañadón de los Fósiles, a red canyon of exposed marine fossils (ages 12+)
- a demanding climb to views of the Upsala Glacier, Lago Guillermo and the Southern Patagonian Ice Field
- hikes to Laguna de la Pesca, the Cascada de los Perros waterfall, Cerro Carnero and a refuge on the shore of Lago Pearson
- horseback rides for every level, from gentle outings for beginners to the climb to Mirador Cristina and Lago Tanhauser (ages 6+, helmet required)
- self-guided trails to explore on foot or by bike
- catch-and-release fly fishing for chinook salmon on the Río Caterina, on set dates and booked in advance
For children
There is no age limit for lodge guests, and the programme is planned with everyone in mind. Horseback riding is open from age 6 and the Cañadón de los Fósiles trek from age 12.
Restaurants & bars
The restaurant, bar and breakfast room share the Octógono main building, with a 360-degree view of Cerro Norte and corners for reading or unwinding after a day out. Full board covers breakfast, lunch or a packed lunch for the trail, and dinner, with soft drinks and a selection of wines and beer at meals; a broader list of Argentine wines is available separately. Vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free menus are offered.
Rooms
Twenty identical rooms in five houses — Mountain, Steppe, Forest, River and Family — four to each, sharing a cosy living room. A whole house can be booked on request.
Bow window with mountain views, safe and supplementary solar-powered night lighting.
Room
An intimate room with a bow window framing the mountains and the park’s valley, for one, two or three guests. It sits in one of the five houses around the main lodge, sharing a living room with three other rooms.
Photos are for illustrative purposes only. Actual room layout, furnishings, décor, views and amenities may differ from those shown and may vary between rooms of the same category. Hotel and room descriptions are based on information provided by the property and are believed to be accurate at the time of publication, but are not guaranteed. The hotel may renovate or change its rooms, facilities, restaurants and services at any time without notice. The final details of your stay are confirmed at the time of booking. See our Terms of Use.