RANCHES

Tourist ranches in the southern tip of Argentina have become a hard to resist choice for those who have a sense of adventure. The close contact with nature together with the comfortable, first class, accommodation make a wonderful combination.

A wide variety of ranches turned into lodges is available to the tourists at a broad range of prices depending on the facilities available and location.

In El Calafate area there are plenty of ranches providing a first class service, including accommodation, restaurant and excursion tours. On these ranches, farm activities such as sheep herding and shearing can be watched. Trekking, horse-riding, photographic safaris, fishing or just enjoying the relaxed and peaceful way of life on these ranches are among the most popular choices by visitors.

A growing number of Argentineans as well as foreign visitors is becoming more and more interested in touring around or even settling on the farm houses scattered in this area.

LAKE ARGENTINO AREA.
Just 3 km from El Calafate, the traveler can find an ample variety of recreational and sporting activities, even within the Park.

"Estancia Alice"
On the road to Punta Bandera, along Provincial Route Nº 11. A tourist resort with a tea room where lunch may also be served. Horse riding and wild-life watching in Los Pajaros Lagoon (Bird Lagoon). Local Patagonian barbecue (asado).
Tourist season: September to April.
Location: 21 km from El Calafate.
Tel.: 491793
Fax: 492290

"Alta Vista" Country Lodge
Placed in the Pre-Cordillera, 50 km from Perito Moreno Glacier. Sailing on Lake Argentino. Condor and other birds watching, horse riding in the woods, sport-fishing, trekking and mountain sports.
Tourist season: October to April.
Location: 30 km from El Calafate, along Provincial Route Nº 15.
Tel/Fax: 491247

"Chorrillo Malo"
Placed on the steppe, along Provincial Route Nº 15, near the Los Glaciares National Park. Horse-riding. Wild-life watching and sport-fishing.
Location: 37 km from El Calafate.

"Estancia Huyliche"
To the right on the Patagonian steppe, near El Calafate. Camping, sport-fishing, trekking, horse-riding, typical meals and archaeological walks.
Tourist season: October to April.
Location: 3 km from El Calafate.
Tel/Fax: 491025

"María Elisa and Franka"
Positioned on the Patagonian steppe along Bote River. Horse-riding, trekking, sport-fishing, guided and non-guided activities.
Tourist season: October to April.
Location: 55 km from El Calafate.
Tel: 491079

"Estancia Nibepo Aike"
Situated 55 km from El Calafate by Provincial Route Nº 15 within Los Glaciares Park. Departing from this ranch one may take an almost natural track down to the south, with some rocky stretches now and then, leading to the Chilean border at the so called Zamora Pass or La Rosada. The steppe and the Southern Arm basin can be seen to the left. Local activities are sailing on Lake Argentino, horse riding, trekking, wild-life watching, archaeological tours, farming activities and fishing.
Tourist season: October to April.
Tel: 422626.

"Río Bote"
To be found on the Patagonian steppe, close to Bote and Santa Cruz Rivers. Horse-riding, trekking and tours to sites of archeological and paleontologic interest.
Location: 42 km from El Calafate.
Tel: 428753.

"Estancia Cristina"
After a magnificent excursion along the blue-watered Northern Branch of Lake Argentino, you arrive at "Estancia Cristina". From there, travelers are tramnsported on 4x4 vehicles up to Upsala vantage point from where they can get a wonderful view of the biggest glacier in the National Park.
This historical ranch offers a range of trekking tours of various durations and levels of difficulty to different points of interests.

"Chali Aike"
Location: 150 km from El Calafate.
Tel: 491063