Estancia El Galpón del Glaciar Evening Experience

This evening excursion takes you just outside El Calafate into the heritage of a historic Argentine estancia. From approximately 5:00 PM to 9:30 PM, you’ll be introduced to the way of life on a Patagonian ranch: walk through the estancia’s grounds, observe a sheep herding demonstration with kelpie dogs, watch the shearing of sheep inside the century-old Galpón shearing shed, and enjoy a multi-course dinner featuring empanadas and Patagonian lamb grilled in the estancia’s tradition. With a bilingual guide and hotel transfers, this experience blends culture, gastronomy and nature in a single evening.

Your evening begins when we pick you up from your hotel in El Calafate around 5:00 PM. You’ll travel to Estancia El Galpón, located about 20 km outside town, arriving in time for a traditional welcome in the old shearing shed, built in 1912. As evening light softens the mountains and lake horizon, your guide will lead you through the estancia grounds, explaining its history and inviting you to walk to the shores of Lago Argentino and along the nearby riverbank.

Shortly after, the signature activities begin: gauchos and kelpie dogs will demonstrate the art of herding sheep across the irrigated pastures. Then, in the original Galpón, you’ll witness a live shearing demonstration and learn the processes of wool sorting, baling, and trimming.

As night settles, you’ll be seated for dinner: starting with homemade empanadas, followed by Patagonian lamb grilled in estancia fashion, accompanied by salads and regional sides, and finished with a dessert made from local ingredients.

After dinner, sometimes there’s live folklore or tango entertainment, and then you’ll return by vehicle to your hotel, arriving roughly by 9:30 PM.