El Calafate 4x4 ATV tour: Lake Argentino panoramic views

Ride the ridgelines above Lake Argentino at low speed, stopping where the Andes come into view

A 3-hour ATV tour from El Calafate that takes you tandem on low-speed hill roads to Los Balcones overlook, where panoramic views open across Lake Argentino, the Southern Ice Field and the Andes peaks of Fitz Roy and Cerro Torre. The ride is paced to absorb the landscape, not to rush it. After the circuit, you descend to Estancia Huyliche, an authentic Patagonian ranch, where you eat traditional regional food with a glass of wine in the old workers' house, visit the corrals and the shearing shed, then return to your hotel. Hotel pickup is included. You must be at least 18 years old and in moderate physical condition.

Step-by-step itinerary

4x4 tour and Patagonian gastronomy

• Transfer to Estancia Huyliche
• Briefing on ATV activity
• 2-hour 4x4 tour to Los Balcones
• Enjoy panoramic views of Lake Argentino and Andes
• Stop at eaves and caves on Huyliche Hill
• Descent to Huyliche ranch
• Enjoy authentic Patagonian gastronomy
• Visit corrals and old shearing shed
• Return to hotels

The experience

The tour starts with a briefing on the ATVs at Estancia Huyliche, then heads out on the 2-hour hill circuit. You ride tandem behind the guide at low speed. This is not a sports activity, and the pace lets you take in the landscape as you climb toward Los Balcones. The overlooks give you unobstructed views of Lake Argentino spreading below, the Southern Ice Field to the south, and the jagged Andes peaks of Fitz Roy and Cerro Torre rising in the distance. You also pass the eaves and caves at the top of Huyliche Hill and stop at points named for their views: Punta Bandera, the Devil's Throat, and the main balcony where Fitz Roy dominates the horizon.

After the ride, you descend back to the estancia and sit down to authentic Patagonian gastronomy (lunch, snack or dinner depending on your departure time), with a glass of wine included. The meal happens in the old laborer's house, and you have time to walk the corrals and the shearing shed, seeing how a working Patagonian ranch operates. The whole experience, from briefing to return, takes 3 hours. Hotel pickup is included, and the guide speaks English or Spanish.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and return.
• ATV with helmet and safety equipment.
• guide in English or Spanish.
• lunch, snack or dinner with a glass of wine, depending on your departure time.
• access to the estancia corrals and shearing shed.

Options for this experience

3 options

Self-DriverGuide in English or Spanish · 10:00, 15:00 and 18:00UTV: one 4x4 UTV, pickup is included

Self-driver with one passengerGuide in English or Spanish · 10:00, 15:00 and 18:00Includes pickup

Self-driver with two passengersGuide in English or Spanish · 10:00, 15:00 and 18:00Includes pickup

You pick the guide language when booking.

You see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates & prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 10:00, 15:00 and 18:00

Book up to4h before

AgesAdult (18 to 80 years) · Under 18: can't be included in the booking

GroupUp to 25 · max 3 per booking

Live guideEnglish and Spanish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 4 days ago

Good to know

Moderate physical levelNot for pregnant travelersNot for heart conditionsNot for back problems

Operated by SOUTHROAD

Is this one for you?Pick the tandem option if you'd rather take in the panoramic views without operating the ATV yourself. The guide handles the vehicle while you focus on the landscape.

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Top questions

What languages is the guide in?

Live guide in English and Spanish.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What are Los Balcones and what can I see from there?

Los Balcones is the overlook circuit on the hill roads where the tour spends most of its time. From the main balcony and the other stops along the route, you see Lake Argentino below, the Southern Ice Field to the south, and the Andes peaks including Fitz Roy and Cerro Torre. The views are the centerpiece of the ride.

Is this a fast-paced ATV sport experience or a slower sightseeing ride?

This is a low-speed tour designed to let you enjoy the landscape, not a sports activity. The tandem ride follows the guide at a pace that lets you take in the panoramic views and the Patagonian terrain without the rush of racing.

What happens at Estancia Huyliche after the ATV circuit?

After the 2-hour ride, you descend to the working ranch and eat traditional Patagonian food in the old laborer's house, with a glass of wine included. You can also walk through the corrals and the shearing shed to see how the estancia operates.

How long is the whole tour from pickup to return?

The entire experience takes 3 hours from hotel pickup to return, including the 2-hour ATV circuit, the meal, and time to explore the ranch buildings.

Do I need to be an experienced rider to do this tour?

No prior ATV experience is required. You ride tandem behind the guide, and a briefing covers the basics before you start. You do need to be at least 18 years old and in moderate physical fitness, and the tour is not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries, cardiovascular issues, or pregnancy.