Tailor-made adventures.
Days: 12-15 | From: $8,850/person
Our Most Popular Trip: Two of South America’s most spectacular destinations in one itinerary
Days: 13 | From: $10,590/per person with 4 passengers
The best of Patagonia on both sides of the border
Days: 8 | From: $4,990/per person
Explore this fascinating country's most iconic sites
Days: 9 | From: $4,690/per person
Explore Buenos Aires, Iguazu Falls & Rio de Janeiro all in one trip
Days: 9 | From: $6,990/per person
Visit Costa Rica's highlights and the beautiful, remote Osa Peninsula
Days: 8 | From: $6,050/per person
Explore the pristine jungles of Belize, Mayan ruins, and idyllic Caribbean islands
Days: 9 | From: $5,750/per person
Experience the highlights of this fascinating and culturally rich country
Days: 8 | From: $5,690/per person
Combine the pristine rainforest and barrier reef of Belize with striking Guatemalan ruins
Days: 10 | From: $9,790/per person
The best of South Africa: a world class safari, spectacular Cape Town, plus magnificent Victoria [...]
Days: 9 | From: $7,750/per person
Track the Great Migration through the breathtaking landscapes of Kenya and Tanzania
Days: 8 | From: $7,250/per person
Experience Rwanda's gentle mountain gorillas in the wild, and discover its varied wildlife and lush [...]
Days: 11 | From: $12,950/per person
From the renowned Okavango Delta to extraordinary Hwange National Park via Victoria Falls
Days: 11 | From: $3,025/per person
Get to know the classic parts of Vietnam
Days: 10 | From: $5,900/per person
Temples, Taj, and Tigers: see quintessential India on this immersive journey
Days: 10 | From: $5,560/per person
The highlights of Bangkok, northern Thailand, and the southern beaches
Days: 16 | From: $19,200/per person
An immersive exploration of the art, culture, and history of Japan
Days: 10 | From: $9,625/per person
The Best of Italy: Venice, Florence & Rome
Days: 11 | From: $8,495/per person
An Extraordinary Private Journey from Barcelona to Andalucía via Madrid
Days: 11 | From: $10,680/per person
France: An Extraordinary Private Journey from Paris to the castles of the Loire Valley and [...]
Days: 11 | From: $13,380 per person
An extraordinary alpine journey from Zurich to Zermatt
Days: 16-23 | From: $9,395/person
One of the most classic of Arctic programs, with polar bears and magnificent scenery.
Days: 10-23 | From: $8,590/person
The most popular and classic Antarctica cruise option
Days: 6-23 | From: $6,950/person
Choose from our list of the top vessels in each category
Days: 6-23 | From: $4,795/person
Choose from our list of the top vessels in each category.
Days: 10| From: $12,450/per person
Follow the herds of the Great Migration through some of Africa's most iconic safari destinations [...]
Search
Posted by Gabrielle Venturi on January 18th, 2013
Many of our travelers head to Los Glaciares National Park, Argentina, with the desire of seeing the park’s namesake: glaciers. The Perito Moreno Glacier is famous for its incredible rate of movement (up to 2 meters per day) and the fact that you can hike on it and gaze into its eerie blue depths. For another intimate encounter with stunning chunks of ice I recommend putting kayaking on your itinerary. Estancia Cristina has recently begun offering kayaking on the Upsala Arm of Lake Argentino. The excursion begins with a slow, scenic boat ride of about 2.5 hours to reach a calm part of the lake where conditions are favorable to kayaking. During the boat ride the guides take advantage of the time by educating passengers about glaciers, their movement, and the formation of icebergs. The time is also spent on the long and very necessary process of putting on a dry suit. A dry suit, like a wet suit, is designed to maintain your body temperature while in cold water; however, the aptly named dry suit is designed so that if you fall into the water your body will stay completely dry except for your head and hands which are outside of the vice-like grip of the dry suit sleeves and neck hole. Putting on a dry suit is serious business. It took us close to an hour to watch the demonstration of how to put them on, to collect the various pieces of the suit, and then to squeeze ourselves into them. My fellow kayakers and I could not stop laughing as we took countless photos of each other in our highly technical but very unfashionable get-ups. Once we landed at a protected inlet of the lake our instructors gave us a thorough demonstration on how to paddle and maneuver the two-person sea kayaks. All the preparation and effort was well worth it when we pushed off into the perfectly still, icy lake and quietly glided by our first iceberg. Cruising up Lake Argentino we passed many beautiful bergs, yet there is nothing like looking up at a massive iceberg from the perspective of the surface of the water. Our guides paddled around us playfully like river otters, instructing and encouraging us as we awkwardly made our first attempts at maneuvering through the narrow, labyrinthal space between the bergs. There were moments when my kayaking partner and I miscommunicated and bumped into the side of an iceberg. If we were going fast enough this would have tipped us over but happily no one went for a swim that day. We spent around 2 hours in the kayaks, paddling around the serene inlet, gazing at the awesome spectacle of glacial ice inches away from us. If the weather is calm, which is never a guarantee in Patagonia, I would rate the physical challenge of this excursion as moderate. However, if the weather changes, which happened our last 30 minutes in the kayak, the power of the famous Patagonian wind will require you to use your upper body strength and stamina. If you are up for a little adventure and exercise and are looking for a unique way to appreciate the gorgeous icebergs of Southern Patagonia, consider adding the Estancia Cristina Kayaking excursion to your itinerary.
Explore related journal enries
When most travelers think of the Inca Empire they think of Peru and iconic Machu Picchu. [...]
Previously, the journey to Torres del Paine or Puerto Natales included a flight from Santiago to [...]
Yvon Chouinard, founder of the Patagonia clothing company, once said “You know where I wanna be [...]
The Galapagos Islands are one of the most unique places in the world, which is why [...]
Find out why our discerning travelers consistently rate us with 5-stars.
We take our environmental and social responsibilities seriously.