hola,
the more I look at my itinerary, the more confused I become. Please, I'm sure someone out there can help me. Here's what I have:
Day 1: Arrive @ Calafate around 5pm
Day 2: Upsala Explorer
Day 3:
Day 4: depart Calafate @ 7:18pm

Ok, so one of the days I want to do the mini-ice trekking, which, I imagine, I could do the last day. Should day 3 be spent just walking around the Moreno glacier, or will I have time to take a day trip to Chalten?

I'll be staying at an estancia in Peninsuala Valdes, and the Explorer is an estancia visit also, so, unless there's something extraordinary, I'd like to rule out another estancia visit.
Any ideas out there?

thanks.
Ellen

Ellen

Try welcomeargentina for more info regarding your interests.
Might help.

http://www.welcomeargentina.com/elcalafate/outings.html

Ellen ,this is it

Good luck !

Our full-day three-glacier tour on the Upsala Connection did not include a visit to an estancia. It was the highlight of our trip to the Calafate Area. I think there are two Upsala excursions, and I suggest the one we took. It was wonderful and included seeing more than three glaciers and a cruise in glacier bay to see floating icebergs.

When we did the full-day glacier trip, we sat in the first-class seats. Wow, they were great. Lots of snacks, drinks cooled with glacial ice, comfy seats, and an up-front view. I don't know the difference in price, but it is definitely worth considering. Also, I suggest making reservations in advance as the ship was filled on the day we wanted to go.

Another "must do" is a balconies (pasarelas) visit. There are several paths giving up-close spectacular views of the Moreno glacier. These views are different from the boat view as you see the glacier from above. This could be done in an hour or three hours depending on photo stops and interest level.

You might be able to combine the trekking with an hour cruise along the Moreno glacier which would be great. The Upsala cruise does not go along this glacier, but to other glaciers. If you have knee problems, I think you might have trouble on the trek.

thanks for all the replies. I'm not sure that we are talking about exactly the same thing, but there does appear to be two different Explorer tours:
http://www.upsalaexplorer.com.ar/ingles/index.html

I hope this link works as it describes the full-day glacier trip I enjoyed so much.

http://www.welcomeargentina.com/pase...i/index_i.html

Our hotel booked it for us.

good morning,
evelyntrav, the link worked, and I'll look into that tour in great detail.

thanks so much to you and santiagov for all your great help.

chau, Ellen

I am very interested in the 3-Glacier Tour without the Estancia, but am having trouble finding specific details about departure time and cost on the web (maybe because it's so new?). Does anyone have any info? Just to be clear, I'm not interested in the tour that visits Estancia Cristina. Thanks!

Chiquitito,
Try this website: http://www.patagonias.net/Cities/ElCalafate.htm