Estancia 25 de Mayo – Afternoon at the Ranch
Date
September to April — daily.
Starting time
5:30 PM (For guests staying in private residences or Airbnb accommodations, hotel pickup is not available. The meeting point for the tour departure will be provided the evening before.)
Trip duration
5 hours
Location
Estância 25 de Mayo
Period of the day
Afternoon
Season
Summer
Booking
Itinerary
Estancia 25 de Mayo spans over 17,000 hectares of land, and its historic main house is located just a short distance from downtown El Calafate. As the city expanded, it grew very close to one of the oldest estancias in the region. This peaceful setting is ideal for relaxation and for enjoying the landscape at the foot of Cerro Calafate. It is an invitation to discover the rural side of the destination and experience the pioneering Patagonian spirit.
Upon arrival at the ranch, guests are welcomed with mate, traditional carreteiro-style coffee, and fried pastries, while learning about the history of the estancia and how its activities were carried out in the early 20th century. The experience includes a demonstration of one of Patagonia’s most iconic rural traditions: sheep shearing using hand shears, followed by an informative talk about wool production and the many details involved in this important local trade — including fascinating facts about sheep that most people would never imagine.
Guests will explore the essence of a true Patagonian estancia, from historic buildings and antique tools to a walk through the ranch’s plant nursery and organic vegetable garden. These vegetables are used in the ranch’s barbecue area for dinner preparation. The visit also includes the old barn and livestock corrals.
At a scenic spot within the estancia known as Mirador del Arroyo, guests will enjoy a tasting of Patagonian mountain wine accompanied by confit lamb.
Those who have booked only the Afternoon at the Ranch experience will then return to the vehicles for transfer back to their respective hotels.
Guests who have booked Afternoon at the Ranch + Cena Show will continue to the restaurant area to enjoy a traditional Patagonian dinner, featuring a variety of dishes, live music, and a folkloric show.
This description applies only to the Afternoon at the Ranch experience. Guests interested in the dinner and show must refer to the separate description titled “Afternoon at the Ranch + Cena Show.
Observations
Guests with dietary restrictions are kindly asked to inform their sales representative as early as possible, so appropriate arrangements can be made to accommodate their needs.
Include
Traditional welcome with fried pastries, mate, and coffee
Round-trip transfer service
Licensed professional guide
Children policy
Children under 2 years old who do not occupy a seat ride free of charge.
Children aged 3 to 12 receive a 30% discount.
Cancellation Policy
Cancellations made more than 8 days before the tour date are free of charge and eligible for a full refund.
Cancellations made between 4 and 7 days before the tour date are subject to a 30% cancellation fee.
Cancellations made within 3 days of the tour date are charged the full tour price (100%) and are non-refundable.
