safari experience - patagonia profunda

I couldn't say more than the previous reviews, they say it all! I had a great time doing the safari, visiting an Estancia, watching the wildlife and the beautiful landscapes, followed by a nice dinner. Not only was our tour guide very friendly (on top of being handsome), he was so knowledgeable about the fauna and flora as well as the history of Patagonia. I would highly recommend the safari on top of the Glacier.

We had a free day in El Calafate before joining a trekking trip through Patagonia...so we had a look at what was available. Our taxi driver from the airport suggested a 4WD visit to a Ranch in the valley behind the township of Calafate.....and Safari Experience operated the tour. Together with another couple, we had the most enjoyable time exploring the countryside where we saw our first Guanaco and Rheas...enjoyed a homemade lunch in an old ranch-house together with a couple of glasses of red wine and were thoroughly looked after by our guide/driver who gave us an insight of how the ranch operated in earlier times. A most enjoyable way to fill a day in a very casual yet very professional way.

We loved the safari experience with Patagonia profunda! This is an easy going family run business, non mass tourist attraction, small groups 4-8 people. The dinner was totally homemade, served in bowls, close to the fire accompanied by fine Argentinian red wine! The guides, Manuel et Silvestre know what they are talking about, making a great introduction about the history of Patagonia, fauna and flora of the steppe and the economy of Argentina! You guys rock we will totally reference you!!!

We enjoyed the Safari Experience with my wife and 2 kids. It was a great way to break away from the glaciers and do something a little different in Calafate. We enjoyed the great views and 4x4 experience while exploring this beautiful estancia. It was great to see some wild animals, birds and local plants and learn more about their history and origin. After a few hours we arrived at the house and enjoyed a great customary gaucho meal and bottle of wine. It was excellent. My kids also enjoyed the short walk up the hill to touch the ice still remaining from the winter. Our guide was warm and friendly and provided great service. He really wanted to make sure we had a good experience and we did. Thanks.

Just back from 5 weeks in Argentina, Chile and Patagonia which is why this is a little belated, but of the many wonderful experiences in these three places, I have to say that the Safari Experience with Manu ranks very highly. He was a great guide and really interesting about the past history of Patagonia and the recent and present situation in the whole of the country. At the end of it I felt I really understood the country a lot better. The scenery was amazing, and there were Hereford cattle and Welsh collies and guanacos and nandus- the familiar mixed up with the exotic! Manu was an extremely good cook, too, and really interested in what he was doing which was to bring to the attention of people like us what life on the estancia's was and is and how important it is to preserve it. (His brother was lovely, too, so if Manu has gone to University as he intended, you won't suffer if it's his brother, Julian, leading the safari!) Thanks Manu and we loved the rest of the time in your wonderful country! And god luck with your studies!

Fortunately I had the chance to travel to many places around the world but, for sure, I won’t forget this spectacular experience surrounded by a singular geography and great wildlife. This 5 hours tour will take you to a peaceful land with hills and rocks, exciting narrow roads, flowers, condors, eagles, hares, guanacos, little birds, waterfalls and wonderful views including the Argentinian Lake. Together with my temporary companions, we’ve shared a great time also drinking the famous local infusion (“mate” in Spanish) next to a nice water passage and also finalizing the tour with a delicious homemade lunch and dessert. What happened at the end?... nobody wanted to end this splendid Patagonia Safari.Special Chapter for our tour guide Julian!! Great person, deep knowledge on the area, bilingual, excellent host. Lunch time at the estancia (cottage) was like being at home with friends. Highly recommended!!.. Enjoy El Calafate!!

Thank you for the amazing experience on this safari. Not a typical your. More like visiting with local friends. Allows you to feel the locals' life and have dinner in a beautiful natural setting.

This is a very nice trip to an estancia outside Calafate where you will likely see guanacos, condors, rheas and other native animals in a very peaceful setting. You won't see many other people. Our handsome young guide, Manu, had a lot of local knowledge, was very friendly and is also a great cook. A definite highlight of my time in Patagonia.

Julian was a wonderful tour guide! We saw the beautiful landscape and enjoyed learning a great deal about the region. The dinner was homemade and delicious! There was also plenty of wine to enjoy! All in all it was a fun and interesting evening - arguably the most authentic tour experience we had in the area, since it provided a look into an authentic Calafate life.We landed in El Calafate at 11:30AM, so having this tour start in the afternoon (4PM) was just perfect for our schedule.TIP - As you increase in elevation, it will get windy and you'll want to be dressed warmly to fully enjoy the tour.

Wife and I took this tour in mid December. We were picked up bright and early one morning in an old but characterful Land Rover. Our guide was Manuel, who was very knowledgeable, personable and friendly. The tour was very informative with frequent breaks around points of interest, and the drive was very beautiful. Manuel was very accommodating with my constant requests for photo breaks. We saw guanacos, rheas, foxes, condors and all manner of birds. There were a lot of interesting facts around everything from history and glaciology to the local vegetation and economy. At one point we stopped to take a bit of a trek into the reserve when we saw movement in a small pool by a stream. It turned out to be a fox trying to rescue its cub which was trapped in some roots and kept slipping back into the water. Manuel went over carefully, and the fox reluctantly ran away. He then proceeded to rescue the cub, and we all waited with bated breath to see if the mother would accept the cub (else it would've had to be taken in by a local gaucho). To our utter delight as soon as Manuel stepped away we saw the fox racing across the hill to its cub, the pair pretty much hugged and danced around each other, and then the mother picked up the cub by the scruff of its neck and ran into the distance. All caught on camera! Gosh.On the way back there was a lunch break in a cottage on the estancia, with a picture window looking out onto an enormous meadow flanked by hills on 3 sides. The food was hearty and delicious, washed down with wine.We then drove down to El Calafate, where we arrived tired but happy and with a camera full of pictures. All in all, a delightful day's outing.

A unique chance to visit a real Estancia in total freedom, led by the owner Julián in a 4x4 trip. We had the chance to discover a lot of secrets regarding the wildlife, the nature, the history and - why not - the essence of these place. We also learned how to make a good mate, and we enjoyed a typical gaucho dinner prepared directly in the fireplace of the old chalet.Again thanks to Julián and his brother.

This review is long overdue, as we had our tour with Teo last December, but it was a highlight of our time in Patagonia. We loved the hike and trying to sneak up on the guanacos and looking for fossils. Our lunch that we ended up having inside one of the ranch cottages due to the weather was perfect--wine, cheese and bread, and then a hearty beef stew with another splash of wine in it. We even had that chance to try yerba mate, which we that was an interesting cultural experience, even if we didn't like how it tasted. Definitely recommend this tour if you're in El Calafate. It was a bit off what everyone else is doing (Perito Moreno, etc.) but one of our fondest memories from our time there.

Julián is a very nice, authentic tourist guide. He knows lots of details of the estancia regarding its history and natural environment. Tipical dinner in the house is a good plus. One of the best experiences in Calafate for sure. Finding true fossiles is an unbelievable experience!

What a great experience. We were looking for something less "touristic" and commercial and we were very satisfied with this excursion. If you want thrills, you'll be happy with the ride in the old Range Rover climbing and crossing streams. If you want beautiful scenery, you'll like the landscape and the changes as you get closer to the top of the mountain. If you need peacefulness you'll appreciate the silence. If you like being surprised, you'll be excited to come across horses, gauchos and their dogs and cows, guanacos and hares. And if you like to share maté, a meal and a glass of wine by the fireplace, you won't want to leave the Estancia. And on top of all this, Julian is the perfect guide and host !

We chose this trip because we were looking to see the Patagonian landscape after visiting the glaciers. The landscape at the Estancia 25 de Mayo is really beautiful. We also hiked a bit and saw lots of guanacos, birds and hares. We had good food, nice wine and listened to stories about life in Patagonia. A very nice experience.