Tourist stays and picnics in El Calafate
Six Patagonian field experiences, with food included
A day trip to El Calafate offers a different perspective: the one without glaciers. Working ranches, spit-roasted lamb, horseback riding, starry skies, and Patagonian rural traditions await, just 20 minutes to an hour from town. These are half-day or late afternoon/evening excursions, so they easily combine with other activities. Perito Moreno footbridges or a navigation In the morning. Here it is, six o'clock.
Nativo Experience
Explore the Walichu Caves and their 4,000-year-old rock paintings, a refuge of the Tehuelche people, by 4x4. Finish with lunch or dinner by Lake Argentino, including sunset.
Cerro Frias
Half day tours with adventure activities. Option of 4x4 rides, trekking, horseback riding and ziplining, all in a unique natural environment.
Estancia 25 de Mayo
An afternoon in the countryside at an authentic Patagonian ranch: rural traditions, optional horseback riding, a folk show, and a spit-roasted lamb dinner. The Patagonia of the pioneers, just minutes from El Calafate.
Calafate Night Tour
Astrotourism in El Calafate. Observe the Patagonian sky with professional telescopes at Estancia La Catalina.
Estancia Nibepo Aike
Live a relaxed and authentic experience in a pioneer estancia in El Calafate. Immerse yourself in the Patagonian traditions of rural life.
Huyliche Hill
Discover the wild essence of Patagonia on a half-day tour with unique panoramic views, contact with local wildlife and adventure in the middle of the steppe.
The six experiences, compared
They all have three things in common: countryside, food, and transportation included. What changes is the schedule, the activity, and what's served.
| Experience | When | Where | What to do | Price from |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Estancia 25 de Mayo | Late | Estancia 25 de Mayo Nature Reserve | Rural traditions, optional horseback riding, folk show and spit-roasted lamb dinner | $80,000 ARS |
| Nibepo Aike Ranch | Full day · 8 to 10 am | Active stay facing Lake Roca | Shearing, herding, and gaucho skills, plus the ascent of Cerro Cristal with views of the Perito Moreno Glacier. Roast lamb on a spit. | $154.000 ARS |
| Cerro Frias | Morning or afternoon · 4 hours | Alice's Ranch, 25 km from town | 4x4 ascent, horseback riding, trekking or zip line · Patagonian stew (AM) or afternoon snack (PM) | $175,000 ARS |
| Huyliche Hill | Half day · 4 hours | Huyliche Hill Slope | 4x4 Safari with Patagonian Wildlife Viewing · Lunch, afternoon snack or dinner depending on the shift | $150,000 ARS |
| Nativo Experience | Night · 3 hrs 30 | Walichu Caves, Estancia 25 de Mayo Nature Reserve | 4x4 excursion, Tehuelche cave paintings and dinner served inside the cave | $150,000 ARS |
| Calafate Night | Evening | Estancia La Catalina, outside the town | Astrotourism with professional telescopes and an astronomy guide. Cafeteria and dessert table. | $140,000 ARS |
Which one is right for you?
If you want the classic picnic night
Estancia 25 de Mayo. An afternoon at an authentic Patagonian ranch, with rural traditions, optional horseback riding, a folk show, and a spit-roasted lamb dinner. This is the perfect summary of the "country day" idea and the most popular choice for groups and families.
If you want to see a real working estancia
Nibepo Aike Ranch It's a working ranch, located on the shores of Lake Roca. You'll participate in sheep shearing, herding with sheepdogs, and demonstrations of gaucho skills, and you'll climb Cerro Cristal, the only viewpoint on all the ranches offering a view of the Perito Moreno Glacier. The day concludes with a lamb barbecue. The 8- to 10-hour day trip is suitable for all ages, with a 2.5-hour horseback riding option for those over 12. Transportation is optional.
If you want countryside with a view
Cerro Frias Add to that the scenery: it's the only spot near El Calafate where you can see Fitz Roy and Torres del Paine at the same time. You can go up from Estancia Alice by 4x4, on horseback, on foot, or by zip line, and eat at the top—Patagonian stew if you go in the morning, cake and herbal teas if you go in the afternoon.
If you come for the wildlife
Huyliche Hill It's a 4x4 safari focused on wildlife viewing: guanacos, condors, foxes, and hares in the heart of the Patagonian steppe. Lunch is included, depending on the time slot you choose. The most relaxed option in the group.
If you want something that isn't done anywhere else
Nativo Experience It takes you in a 4x4 to the Walichu Caves, with Tehuelche cave paintings, and serves dinner inside the cave. It's the only excursion in El Calafate with this format.
If the sky interests you more than the landscape
Calafate Night It's astrotourism at Estancia La Catalina, far from the town's light pollution: professional telescopes, an astronomy guide, a café, and a dessert table. Dinner is not included. Patagonia has one of the clearest skies in the Southern Hemisphere, and this is the way to take advantage of it. It's more dependent on the weather than any other option on the list.
The three most chosen
🔥 Stay May 25th
Afternoon in the countryside · Folkloric show · Roast lamb dinner · Optional horseback riding
🐑 Nibepo Aike
8 to 10 am · Shearing and gaucho skills · View of the Perito Moreno Glacier from Cerro Cristal · Lamb barbecue
🏔️ Cerro Frías
4 hours · Fitz Roy and Torres del Paine from the summit · 4x4, horseback riding, trekking or zip-lining
What does a picnic include?
All six include a meal—lunch, afternoon tea, or dessert, depending on the time of day. Transfers from your accommodation are included with Calafate Night and optional with Nibepo Aike; for the others, please confirm when booking. None of the options require entry to Los Glaciares National Park, as the lodges are located outside the park area.
Horseback riding is optional. Estancia 25 de Mayo and one of the four ways to ascend in Cerro Frias, where it's suitable from age 7. If you want horseback riding as the main activity and not as an add-on, check out Horseback Riding Experience in the category of Adventure and 4x4.
What to bring
- Warm clothing in layers: In the countryside the wind blows stronger than in the town, and the afternoon cools down quickly.
- Closed and comfortable shoes: You will be walking on grass, dirt, and loose stones.
- Sunglasses and sunscreen for day trips.
- Gloves and hat if you go to any of the nighttime shows, even in summer.
- Please notify us when booking If you are vegetarian, celiac or have any dietary restrictions: menus can be adapted with prior notice.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a picnic in El Calafate?
It's an excursion to a Patagonian ranch near El Calafate, where rural life—traditions, horseback riding, and farm work—is combined with a typical meal, almost always spit-roasted lamb. It's an alternative to the glacier circuit and the most direct way to experience Patagonian culture beyond the ice.
Is it possible to do a glacier hike and a picnic on the same day?
Yes, it's the most common combination. Almost all field trips are midday or nighttime, so they go well with the Perito Moreno footbridges in the morning. The only full-day one is Nibepo Aike, which takes up the entire day.
Are there vegetarian or gluten-free options?
Yes, but you must notify us at the time of booking. Menus are adjusted with prior notice for all excursions in this category. Nativo Experience, For example, it has a full vegetarian version of the menu.
Is it suitable for children and older adults?
Yes. None of the six require physical exertion: transfers are by vehicle and the walks are short and optional. The horseback riding of Cerro Frias It's for ages 7 and up. There's no age restriction for everyone else.
Is an entrance fee required for the National Park?
No. The accommodations are outside the Los Glaciares National Park area, so there are no entrance fees or additional costs at the gate. Check each listing to see if transportation is included or optional.
What happens if the weather is bad?
Field trips operate under cloudy skies and light rain, and are rescheduled only in the event of severe weather or heavy snowfall. The exception is Calafate NightSince it's an astronomical observation, it depends on having clear skies. If you have some flexibility in your trip, it's best to leave it for a night with a good forecast.