Hosteria Helsingfors

Hosteria Helsingfors

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Traveler (111)
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Dining (11)
Blue Lagoon - destination of one of the day hikes
Pool & Beach (10)

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Avg. ₱51,202 /night, 2/10 - 2/11
₱51,202
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₱50,941
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₱50,679
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About

#1 of 1 lodge in Estancia Helsingfors
4.9 of 5 bubbles
Location
4.1 of 5 bubbles
Rooms
4.3 of 5 bubbles
Value
4.7 of 5 bubbles
Cleanliness
4.6 of 5 bubbles
Service
4.7 of 5 bubbles
Sleep Quality
During the early 20th century, a Finnish adventurer, Alfred Ranström, settled at the foot of the Andes Mountains, on the SW shores of Lago Viedma. As a memory of his fatherland, he named his estancia after his country's capital city: Helsingfors (Helsinki in Swedish). Here he lived with his wife, Marie Lisau and their children, lightening up this wonderful spot, never imagining that they would be the main characters in one of Patagonia's most touching stories. During the 60's, a traditional family from the province of Santa Cruz bought this beautiful land, and since 1995 they have been receiving visitors from all over the world who wish to discover Patagonia through a unique and exclusive experience such as we offer at Helsingfors. The lodge is surrounded by a majestic natural landscape, protected by lush woods which give way to a panoramic view of the lake, Mount Fitz Roy and the Andes Mountains. It has 9 rooms with a private bathroom, decorated and designed with an exquisite taste, combining colors and textures that blend in with the environment.
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Property amenities
Free parking
Free internet
Free breakfast
Hiking
Horseback riding
Shuttle bus service
BBQ facilities
Baggage storage
Wifi
Bar / lounge
Restaurant
Breakfast buffet
Snack bar
Special diet menus
Currency exchange
Gift shop
Non-smoking hotel
24-hour front desk
Laundry service
Ironing service
Room features
Safe
Room types
Bridal suite
Non-smoking rooms
Family rooms
Good to know
HOTEL CLASS
Star ratings are intended to indicate the general level of features, amenities, and services to expect. This property is classified according to Giata.
4.0 of 5 stars
HOTEL STYLE
Family
Romantic
Languages Spoken
English, Spanish

Location

Lago Viedma, Estancia Helsingfors 9405 Argentina
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Detailed Reviews
JR wrote a review Sep 2012
Toronto, Canada
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Prior to my trip to Argentina, I labored over the decision of whether to stay at Eolo, Estancia Cristina, or Hosteria Helsingfors while in the Patagonia region. I was looking for total seclusion, a variety of fun outdoor activities, good food, and a nice place to propose to my gf. It was the most difficult decision of the most complicated vacation I've ever planned (5 flights in 3 weeks covering the southern, middle, and northern parts of country).

Eolo and Estancia Cristina were my initial favorites, but for a variety of factors, I went with Helsingfors in the end. One of the factors was price. It is cheaper (though far from cheap), than the other two and all the activities are included (which is also true of cristina, but not eolo). Staying at H would also allow me to see the largest amount of different types of landscapes in Patagonia, since I could spend 3 nights at Helsingfors but do a day trip to estancia cristina out of el calafate and still see the icebergs, upsala glacier, and the really beautiful location Cristina is situated in, as well as the stuff at Helsingfors like the lake and Laguna Azul.

The trip:
We had private transfers both to and from Helsingfors. They picked us up from the Esplendor and both times we were alone (although that's not guaranteed). The driver was friendly and explained a lot of things along the way. H is very secluded within the national park, but you can all read maps...

Names are escaping me now, but upon arrival we were greeted and shown to our rooms. There wasn't any check-in, per se, as they know who is coming, being a very small lodge. There's only 8 rooms or something... Either way, everyone introduced themselves and told us to ask if we needed anything and then we were immediately offered food and beverages and told the guide would be back from an excursion soon to explain our itinerary. So we unpacked and for the afternoon of day 1 we just explored the area on our own until dinner, during which the guide came to introduce himself (Martin, for short). We were already in love with the place. Not being a writer, it's hard to describe how beautiful the location is.

The service was excellent throughout our entire stay and the food was very satisfying, but doesn't pretend to be a Michelin-rated place. It's worth understanding that this place is pretty far removed from civilization, so options are more limited than you would get closer to el calafate, and it's not so focused on being an uber-luxury hotel like Eolo is. There's no menu. They serve what they serve, but if you don't like something you can have it swapped. I'm not a fish eater, so on fish night, they swapped it out. The food was very good, and we ate very well 3 times a day, sometimes with tea and various treats in the afternoon in front of the fire, or charcuterie with wine or other drinks at the bar closer to dinner.

The activities are very fun, and it's a good idea to be in decent shape for them. You don't need to be an athlete, but if you're in poor physical condition, you might struggle at times, but that shouldn't stop you enjoying the place. The guides are really nice and will make sure you make the most of your time there.

We did hiking and horseback riding excursions. Some of the time we were alone with the guide and other times in a larger group. The full day trip up to the Laguna Azul is tons of fun and the lake itself is an unbelievable turquoise. It's absolutely beautiful and I proposed to my girlfriend once we got there and found some privacy, which was easy to do.

Upon returning to the lodge, the woman at reception - I wish I could remember her name, but it's been too long - ask my fiancée how the day went, to which she predictably responded "fantastic" while showing off her ring. After returning from dinner we found a bottle of chilled sparkling wine and chocolate desserts in the room, neither of which I asked for. This was the level of service we experienced during our entire stay there. It's rare that I can say an experience/service was flawless, but it was at Helsingfors.

One unexpected benefit of staying here was the other guests. Now I'm not a super social guy, but we had a lot of enjoyment meeting the other guests, which it is basically impossible not to do given that there is a common sitting area in front of the fireplace and that the restaurant is so small. We met mostly older couples (40+) that could afford the $650/night here, but they were all very interesting and nice people. We loved an old German couple that had visited over 100 countries and hiked in pretty much every part of the world. I met a swiss couple that also offered me a comparision between Helsingfors and Eolo (he preferred Helsingfors) and a French family with their 3 very polite and well-mannered kids. We also met two American couples, one of which was full of suggestions for our later trip to Iguazu. The guests added quite a lot of enjoyment to the stay, which is not usually the case, and is usually what I pay the big bucks to get away from!

Comparison to Eolo and Estancia Cristina:
Eolo was my initial favorite because I felt the beauty and luxury of the hotel was above and beyond the other two. In actual fact, it probably is the most luxurious, if that's what you're after. The photographer for Eolo did a superb job of presenting its beauty. But, as I later learned, there's not much to do at Eolo itself except relax, and both Estancia Cristina and Hosteria Helsingfors sit among far superior surrounding landscapes. Eolo is secluded from El Calafate but you have to see Estancia Cristina and Helsingfors in person to really understand the difference. And all the good excursions at Eolo are extras and require getting up early and travelling. It's also about 30 minutes outside of El calafate, which is good for seclusion, but bad if you want to see some different landscapes. And I actually did drive by it and see it from the street on one of my day trips from el calafate. If you have really deep pockets and can afford the $700+/night, it would be an ideal base from which to do Perito Moreno, the big ice hike, and an estancia cristina day trip, but for us, we couldn't afford both Eolo and Helsingfors, so while we were in el calafate, we stayed at the Esplendor. And I do have to say that we were glad to be closer to town for that time.

It was tougher to choose between helsingfors and estancia cristina. Both were all-inclusive (meals and excursions). Cristina was more expensive. Both are nestled among beautiful mountains and close to a lake. Cristina probably has better rooms and views from the rooms but there was nothing wrong with the rooms at helsingfors.

The key reasons I went with helsingfors were 1) the room wasn't that important to me. Most time is spent outside of it. And beyond that, the rooms at H are nice but just not super-luxe or modern. The beds are comfortable, the sheets soft and clean, they have hardwood flooring, and soft lighting that gives you a nice and cozy ambiance that is perhaps more akin to a rustic home (and it goes without saying that everything is spotless) 2) by going with helsingfors, I'd be able to see more variety. Cristina is beautiful but they don't have the laguna Azul or the lake the Helsingfors has (you can see mount fitz roy on the other side of the lake). 3) Cristina has day trips so that you can see the surrounding area without committing to an overnight stay 4) cristina has tons of people going through it each day. I've read that they keep them away from hotel guests, but I wanted total seclusion and didn't want to be doing activities with large groups.
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Date of stay: February 2012
5.0 of 5 bubblesValue
5.0 of 5 bubblesRooms
5.0 of 5 bubblesLocation
5.0 of 5 bubblesCleanliness
5.0 of 5 bubblesService
5.0 of 5 bubblesSleep Quality
Trip type: Traveled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
ManhattanGuy wrote a review Jun 2013
New York City, New York
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Stayed at Helsingfors in December. This was the best part of our trip to Patagonia (surpassing even our trek on the Perito Moreno Glacier). Helsingfors offered the comforts of home in the beauty of the wilderness. We had a great time filled with outdoor activities, but we also knew that we were expecting an active vacation, not a resort by the lake. The location is very remote, about 3 hours from El Calafate, but the hotel offers free transportation on certain days and can arrange transportation on other days. Along the way to the hotel, there are numerous photo opportunities to capture the beauty of the vast landscape. Since the hotel is situated in the middle of a national park, right by a lake, you will feel like you are in small speck of civilization in the middle of the vast wilderness.

We had considered other high end hotels in the region such as Eolo, Estancia Cristina, and Los Notros as well. We picked Helsingfors because the hiking trails and scenery offered much more variety than the others, and also the reviews on the service level was high. It seemed that Eolo, while close to El Calafate and seemed to offer a very high level of service and amenities, but really did not offer much in terms of the scenery as its immediate surroundings seemed single dimensional. We thought that Estancia Cristina was just too remote as it required a long boat ride with repetitive scenery. Los Notros seemed beautiful in the middle of the Perito Moreno Glacier, but only offered glacier activities and the reviews on the service seemed subpar (later we found it that it was closed during the time that we would be there).

We also chose to do hiking activities with Helsingfors because the hikes were guided with experienced guides, and because we could return to the comforts of a hotel at the end of each day. The alternative would be to do hikes in El Chalten, for example, which would have been too much camping and wilderness.

The surroundings are amazing, and there are several hiking trails that start out from the hotel. All hiking activities were included. There is also an opportunity to ride horses, either on the hike or to a neighboring ranch. At the hotel, there were views of Lake Viedma, Mount Fitzroy (near El Chalten) in the distance, and views of the vast snow-capped mountain. One hike that we enjoyed very much was a hike to a Blue Lagoon which took 6 hours round trip. Along the way of the hike, we went through different ecological climates as the trees and shrubs were varied according to the air moisture in the immediate area. Because of the climate and the strong winds, there weren't very many insects at all (I didn't see any spiders, unlike in Buenos Aires where the weather is much more temperate). I was also told that there are no snakes in that area, so I felt very safe. The guide was so knowledgeable and knew so much about the plants and animals in the area. We saw animals such as condors and guanacos (similar to an antelope), but most of the time we just enjoyed the views.

Our room was very clean, but not too fancy, which was fine for us. The decor had the feel of a mountain or lakeside lodge. Because the location is so far south, the nights were cold, but the hotel provided space heaters for the rooms that are not in the main building, and therefore the room temperature was perfect.

The food was tasty, healthy, and filling enough, but not considered fine-dining gourmet, which was fine for us. It is amazing that they are able to serve a variety of food, given the remote location. They are very good about respecting your dietary restrictions. For breakfast, they have a good variety of fresh fruit, eggs, bread/pastries and cereal. For lunch, on the day of our full day hike, we were given the opportunity to make our own sandwiches with the variety of cold cuts, turkey, roast beef, lettuce, tomatoes, etc. I made 3 sandwiches because I have a big appetite. For dinner, they served a good 2 or 3 course meal depending on the meal. On the first day of arrival, they also served a charcuterie platter during cocktail hour.

All the staff the Helsingfors were so enthusiastic, genuine, and did a great job--everyone including the kitchen staff, the manager, hiking/horseback-riding guides, and the driver. They really make the stay a fun and pleasant one.

Because of the remote location, internet was unreliable. I was able to access email from my smartphone sometimes, but it was difficult to do much internet surfing. I think it was dependent on the number of other people on the internet at the same time, so I think it was better early in the morning, late night, or when others were busy with other activities.

We stayed at the hotel for 2 1/2 days, which was about the right amount time. This was probably one of the best vacations I've had. It was a perfect vacation for a couple, friends, or family with older children (there were several families there, with children who were at least in their mid-teens to early twenties).
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Date of stay: December 2012
4.0 of 5 bubblesValue
4.0 of 5 bubblesRooms
5.0 of 5 bubblesLocation
5.0 of 5 bubblesCleanliness
5.0 of 5 bubblesService
5.0 of 5 bubblesSleep Quality
Trip type: Traveled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Dyno-ba, Propietario at Hosteria Helsingfors
Responded Jun 4, 2013
Thank you for take time to write this review and for your kind words, we are really pleased you enjoyed your stay in our lodge. All the Best The Helsingfors Staff
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
OrrvilleRedRider wrote a review Feb 2007
New Albany, Ohio
+1
5.0 of 5 bubbles
I enjoyed a fantastic three night stay at Hosteria Helsingfors in January, 2007. I highly recommend a stay there.

One of the prime attractions of Helsingfors is its location, on the southwest shore of Lake Viedma. The views of the lake and the cordillera (including Cerro Fitz Roy, on most days) are transfixing. Another attraction of Helsingfors is its remoteness – a fact easy to determine from any look at the Helsingfors website or any map of the region. Due to Helsingfors’ privileged location, the hikes, horseback rides and boat trips available there are, for practical purposes, not available to anyone other than Helsingfors guests (in splendid contrast to my stay later in the El Calafate/Lago Argentino region, where every activity I enjoyed – and I did enjoy them – seemed to be in the company of at least 50 others). There are no bus tours disgorging 75 fellow tourists to take in a view you are enjoying and no packed parking lots with day trippers at any of the Helsingfors sites.

The lodge is nestled in a grove of mature conifers (including quite a few sequoiadendron gigantea – the California giant sequoia) that shield the lodge from the Patagonian winds, and surrounded by the Patagonia pre-cordillera (low bushes, some grassland). The living room is inviting and cozy - with 5 sofas & 4 easy chairs nestled in different seating groups. The guide, Diego, has sprinkled the living room with reference books in English and Spanish allowing those interested to gain a knowledge of the plant habitats and native flora and fauna. There is a large fireplace in the center seating area and a bar at one end of the room. The extremely attentive staff were available for drinks and snacks whenever we spent time in the living room.

My room was simple and cozy but adequately sized, with lots of closet space. The shower had a 6 head shower device, providing one of the best showers I had in my 45 day Patagonian stay.

I found the food at Helsingfors to be exceptional. Examples of some of the meals: One lunch was a starter of eggplant parmesan followed by lamb rib chops over risotto. There was an especially good roquefort spread for freshly made bread. Dessert was a coffee semi-freddo. A second lunch was sweet pork fatay (a kind of empanada), followed by cheese & nut sorrentinos (extra big raviolis) with a mushroom sauce. Dessert was a chocolate terrine.

Dinners included: An oriental chicken with vegetables followed by a very nice boneless veal chop, and a white chocolate terrine for dessert. A pumpkin soup followed by a pork roll with fresh red currants and a lemon semi-freddo. All of the meals included fresh baked bread, and the wines on offer were especially good. Our final lunch was an asado – roast lamb prepared outside over a fire. Absolutely fabulous.

Even better than the facilities and food at Helsingfors was the knowledge and expertise of the guide, Diego, who was in charge of activities during our stay. Diego’s long experience at Helsingfors helped him choose exactly the right activity for the weather (and likely weather) during our stay. We took an exhilarating hike in 75 mph winds on our first day (an experience I will never forget). The second day was a morning hike to view of one the arms (the Seno Moyano) of Lago Viedma following by an afternoon horseback ride to the neighboring estancia. The third day was an all day ride to Lago Azul and its glacier, high in the mountain behind Helsingfors. On our fourth day, we took Helsingfors’ boat to the end of Seno Moyano, and got a great view of the Moyano glacier (which has an upper and lower part). So, instead of activities only on the two full days while in residence, we had activities on each of the four days.

I highly recommend Helsingfors to other discerning travelers. It is not for those who want shopping, easy access to other restaurants, or the company of dozens or hundreds of other travelers. For those who want a unique taste of the remoteness of Patagonia, while enjoying comfortable and welcoming surroundings with great food, Helsingfors is without equal in the Parque Nacional Los Glaciares region.
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Date of stay: January 2007
5.0 of 5 bubblesValue
3.0 of 5 bubblesRooms
5.0 of 5 bubblesLocation
5.0 of 5 bubblesCleanliness
5.0 of 5 bubblesCheck in / front desk
5.0 of 5 bubblesService
Trip type: Traveled with friends
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Chungo-explorer, Owner at Hosteria Helsingfors
Responded Mar 1, 2007
Dear OrrvilleRedRider, My family is the owner of Helsingfors Hosteria, thank you for your large and kind review. I`m glad you enjoyed your stay in Helsingfors . Your review is too good, if you have any suggestion please let me know about it, we are always trying to give a better service to our guests . Best regards Diego Susacasa diego@helsingfors.com.ar
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Christopher B wrote a review Jan 2014
Moscow, Russia
2.0 of 5 bubbles
This Estancia was a massive disappointment and this is the first negative review I have ever left on Trip Advisor as I hate critizing people but apart from the wonderful drive in our jeep from El Calafate and a good location, I personally think that you can't charge USD1421 for one night and offer us cold food (which didn't look fresh) on Christmas Eve and a fairly average room.

I can see why people would like the wilderness and view but having just stayed in Torres del Paine in Chile in a hotel which also had a fantastic location with amazing view but with incredible food, guides, swimming pool, spa etc at USD1000 per night, this only increased by feeling.

It short it is too expensive and not worth the extremely long trip along the Lake Viedma.
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Date of stay: December 2013Trip type: Traveled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
ActiveTraveller01 wrote a review Nov 2009
California
3.0 of 5 bubbles
Helfsingfors is a unique place - and it seemed it could benefit from a detailed review of its features and amenities. As a global overview, Helsingfors is an estancia that has been converted to comfortable mountain lodging. It is not luxury lodging by any means - but the setting is unique. Following is a rundown on the main elements of the experience followed by some editorial comment.

Location - the lodge facilities are set fairly close to the lake in a location that is simply stunning. There is limited, if any view, from inside the lodge as the lodge is constructed to face away from the view and the attendant winds. While the view may be limited inside the lodge; once outside the lodge you have unobstructed views of the lake and the mountains. Immediately to the north (across the lake) is Mt. FitzRoy as well as all of the neighboring spires. The immediate surroundings are basic alpine meadow. We were blessed with mostly clear days - and the view was everything we had hoped for.

Facilities - the old estancia structures are attractive and have been converted to the main lodging facilities. Most if not all of the guest rooms have been added on to this structure and they are nice as well. Comments:
* The main gathering room consists of three conversation areas. One surrounds a large fireplace with seating for six (or eight, depending on how friendly you want to be).
The dining room is a separate dedicated room with seating for 16 (or more) guests. This is the only room with a view - large picture windows offer a view of the grounds (and limited landscaping) adjacent to the lodge facilities.
* Guest rooms - I can only speak to our room, but it was nicely sized and decently furnished. Comments:
* The bathroom was quite small, by any standard. Decently furnished, but very small.
* The bedroom is adequately sized - but the windows were very small (necessitated, I am sure, by the windy conditions) - making the room very dark. Lighting is inadequate - and the ceiling is low - adding to the nearly gloomy atmosphere.
* The bed was marginal. We had a king sized bed - which consisted of two twin beds pushed together. The bed was comfortable (basic) - but not “lodging” quality. The pillows were the same - essentially cheap foam pillows.
* All rooms have hydronic heating. Ours didn’t work the first day - but was working by the second day. This room also had secondary electric heater (also radiant) - the combination brought the room to a livable (not necessarily comfortable) state.

General amenities - while the buildings are in generally good repair, the balance of the facilities are somewhat decrepit. Electrical power was generally available, but far from fully assured. Same for hot water. When hot water was available, there was ample quantity. Judging from other guest comments - including a review of the guest comment book - it seems that this has been a recurring problem for some time. The area immediately around the lodge indicated that attention was given to this at one time, but it didn’t appear that it had received any attention for some time (very limited attempt at landscape maintenance and most fences were in substantial disrepair).


Activities - activities consist of various day hikes from the lodge. Some are basic half day hikes; others are full day affairs. Comments:
* Hike / horseback ride to the Blue Lagoon - wonderful trip, good views along the way, with a fantastic destination. The Blue Lagoon is just that - at the top of the hill behind the lodge. Large and blue, surrounded by the Andes for about 270 degrees of a full circle - and topped by a glacier. At this point, you are well into the alpine tree line. As you go down, you get to experience how the landscape changes from alpine trees to trees and shrubs and then to the alpine meadow that surrounds the lodge area. I would gauge the difficulty at “moderate” for the whole hike, with the latter part being on the moderately difficult side (steep vertical climb for third of the hike). Highly recommended. Allocate 6 hours for this excursion - three hours up, 30 minutes to an hour at the top, and another two hours (plus) coming back. The trail is generally well maintained.
* Hike to Laguna del Morro - this a full day hike on mostly difficult trail conditions. The views along the way are nice - but the same view and (effectively) same height limits their beauty after a while. The destination is nothing to get excited about - essentially the end of the lake where you come upon a separate lagoon area. There is supposed to be a possibility of fishing for trout in this lake - but we didn’t have time. This is a long hike - we left shortly after 10 a.m. and arrived back at shortly after 8 p.m. (exhausted). This is a very difficult hike - lots of vertical gain (up and down across multiple hills along the lake). The trail is not well maintained (twice we ended up without a trail). I would not recommend this hike for anyone other than an ardent fisherman. The fishing opportunity may make this a worthwhile trek - but otherwise it is undistinguished. The literature indicates a possibility of horseback and/or boat access to this location - but this was not available for us.
* Horseback rides - there are several horseback rides offered. One goes to the neighboring estancia (common ownership) where you can view the sheep shearing operation (not active when we were there, just the barn and equipment) as well as the (modest) fruit and vegetable farming effort. From there, we climbed up the neighboring hill to a small valley for lunch before returning. Very scenic and lots of wildlife viewing, with panoramic views of the entire area. Highly recommended.
* Boat trip on lake and viewing of Viedma Glacier - I am sure this would be stunning - IF it were offered. I am convinced this is nothing more than a chimera - offered in name only. More on this issue later - but we stayed four nights and had three of the five available days for this trip with great weather. The excuses as to ”why” this trip was not “planned” began to be a source of some kind of grim humor amongst the guests. This set of excuses began with “this is planned for tomorrow, to a couple of days when weather was the culprit (including one day of windy weather and two days when the dreaded storm never materialized). On the final “full day” available for an excursion, we learned that the weather was finally acceptable (no difference to my amateur view) - but the farm tractor necessary to move the boat was not available as it was over at the neighboring estancia (as it was, we saw it there on our tour - sitting comfortably in the barn). While not a terribly accomplished boater, I have more than enough boating experience to know that weather conditions were not the elements limiting this excursion. It may have been mechanical issues on the boat (which theory necessitated a hike to inspect the boat), but the collective wisdom of our group coalesced around the desire to avoid the cost of operating the boat. While this may seem unlikely to some reading this as the operating costs would be quite low compared to the revenue - we became convinced that this was an outing that was much desired - but not available. A review of the comment book did not indicate any previous guests comments about the quality of this outing, so we were forced to surmise that this outing was not on the approved list. If this outing is central to your desire for this stay - this may prompt you to consider other alternatives.

Food - Helsingfors is an “all inclusive” affair - and the food may be the most puzzling part of this adventure. The lodge has a full-time chef - and he appears to be talented. The presentation was good - but the food often seemed to miss the mark (sometimes by wide margins). My guess is that they have decided to maximize profitability by cutting down on food costs. It seemed like the chef was trying to make the best of a bad situation with limited (and sometimes low quality) inputs. Comments:
* Breakfast - standard “Latin American” full breakfast. Coffee and juice - with bread (toast) and jam together with ham and cheese. Breads are quite limited - there is no attempt to provide any “baked goods” (sweet rolls or the like) - nor is there any sliced fresh fruit (apples are provided). Coffee and juice was good and in ample quantity.
* Lunch - every attempt is made to get you to go on an outing (hey, it is why you are here) - accompanied by a sack lunch. A sack lunch consists of a basic sandwich (or two) - and either an apple or a cereal bar. You are expected to carry your own lunch as well as your water bottle (water is provided). Interestingly, there is no effort to make this into any kind of a culinary experience. For the money, I would have expected a much nicer sandwich as well as some form of accompaniment (salad of some nature and/or soup). We had two lunches in the dining room (beginning and ending) - one was a hit (pumpkin soup followed by a light pasta) and one that was an absolute miss (dried mushroom risotto that few ate and some refused anything after the first taste - yes, that bad).
* Dinner - dinner is simple, nice but not what it seems most guests would expect. Three courses - salad, main course and dessert.
* Salad was always small - example, three (thin) tomato slices with shredded cheese on top in an oil and vinegar dressing. Another example was sliced beets with a gooseberry relish. In my view, always a good presentation but a little light on quantity (a view possibly impacted by my eating habits). Bread was served with or before salad - always basic and never accompanied by butter or olive oil (there was a cheese spread offered).
* The main course was always served “solo” - no accompaniment of any nature. Examples included sliced slow roasted pork, beef stew, sliced pork in a white sauce, and what they said was a Thai dish (a scoop of wild rice mixed with diced zucchini and pork). Despite some of the literature, wine is not provided. It is available for purchase and the wine list is limited but acceptable given the location.
* Dessert - tastes vary, but this was probably the better part of the dinner. Different every night and always well presented. Flan, chocolate lava cake, lemon curd with berries - all good as long as you like that dish. Interestingly, after dinner coffee (or tea) was not part of the experience.


Editorial comment - my observation is that this experience is headed downhill. It appears the longtime General Manager left and has not been replaced. His role has been assumed by the main guide (Diego). Diego is very nice and quite knowledgeable as to the local area. BUT, it takes an understanding of the clientele’s wants, desires, and expectations to make this type of experience a success. Based on my experience and discussions with Diego, this is not something he knows … or believes he needs to understand. The difference between good and great is somewhat elusive - but this experience rates more along the lines of “acceptable”. If you are looking for a nice, comfortable base station for some active hiking and a chance to experience this wonderful setting - Helsingfors is great. If you are looking for an “upper end” experience in one of natures spectacular settings, you might look elsewhere.

Background - we experienced Helsingfors in mid-November (2009), well after the start of the season (October 1), so these observations shouldn’t be a result of any early season “kinks”. We have traveled extensively in the U.S. and Canada (I have never counted, but I think I have been to a majority of the national parks in the U.S.) - as well as central and southern America and parts of Europe. We would label ourselves as fit and active travelers. We like good food and wine - but wouldn’t consider ourselves gourmet as to either.

Happy trails to all!
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Date of stay: November 2009
2.0 of 5 bubblesValue
2.0 of 5 bubblesRooms
5.0 of 5 bubblesLocation
4.0 of 5 bubblesCleanliness
3.0 of 5 bubblesService
Trip type: Traveled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Grahame E wrote a review Mar 2018
Sydney, Australia
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Pablo and his team have some challenges but try hard to make the stay enjoyable . Milena, Deborah, Justina and our Gaucho Gonzalez ( speedy to his friends) provided a comfortable stay but unlike some of the other places we stayed in the area they just didn’t seem to be genuinely interested in us, except for Gonzalez. Food good with Chef Nicholas creating some lovely dishes , hike to Blue Lagoon is not be missed, horse riding fun with great horses. At end of the season and we felt things were being run down rather than reorder , I can understand that but just say so . BTW the Patagonian wind blew like anything at one stage blowing me nearly off my feet. Be prepared.
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Date of stay: March 2018Trip type: Traveled with friends
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
michel wrote a review Jun 2017
Pennsylvania
5.0 of 5 bubbles
This is a fascinating, beautiful place especially if you like hiking or riding in stunning country for a day or more at a time. Managed by an outstanding young man who knows how to select staff whether gauchos or chefs. Exceptional food in a setting which was the home of successful, well-to-do landowners. Interesting architecture. You will get picked up by the ranch staff from whatever town you fly or travel to and driven to the property since the ranch itself is out by itself in nature. The will also get you to El Calafante or wherever you next travel point is. All English speaking. You will have a unique experience.
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Date of stay: December 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
GalenaGuy wrote a review Feb 2007
Galena, Illinois, USA
5.0 of 5 bubbles
The Helsingfors Hosteria/Estancia is a delight and was the highlight of our recent 3 week trip to Patagonia. It is very remote, in the wilderness of Glaciers National Park, several hours from the town of Calafate. If you don't like a remoteness, it isn't for you. But if you enjoy incredible scenery, hiking in unspoiled mountains, horseback riding and excellent guides with a vast knowledge of the local flora, fauna and geology, this place is for you. The staff is young and enthusiastic. The food was outstanding. The rooms are on the small side and most all in one old building that was for many years a remote sheep ranch. The experience is romantic and would be perfect for a honeymoon. I would recommend it very highly and would return in an instant. The only complaint I had was that smoking was allowed in the living area, which made the room uncomfortable for nonsmokers. On a scale of 1 - 10 with 10 being the highest score, I would give it an 11.5
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Date of stay: January 2007
5.0 of 5 bubblesValue
4.0 of 5 bubblesRooms
5.0 of 5 bubblesLocation
5.0 of 5 bubblesCleanliness
5.0 of 5 bubblesCheck in / front desk
5.0 of 5 bubblesService
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Helsingfors_Staff, Owner at Hosteria Helsingfors
Responded Mar 1, 2007
Thanks for you kind review GalenaGuy, you are right about the smoking problem . The next season Helsingfors will be a No Smoking Lodge . If you have any other sugestion I will be happy to listen you . diego@helsingfors.com.ar Best regards Diego Susacasa
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
olga-187Melbourne wrote a review Jan 2007
melbourne
1.0 of 5 bubbles
We were booked in for 5 nights and stayed one. VERY small rooms,very remote with no communications to speak of other than a satellite phone at reception. Very ordinary food with no choice..dinner the night we ate there was one course of starch followed by another,ie,plain risotto followed by pancakes (no salad,no vegetables no fruit)
No restriction on people smoking in the very small lounge. You couldn't stay in the room because it was too small and you couldn't stay in the lounge without being asfixiated.
We moved to el Calefate itself from where we were able to organize tours and yet return at night to a comfortable room and a choice of good restaurants.
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Date of stay: January 2007
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Helsingfors_Staff, Owner at Hosteria Helsingfors
Responded Jun 18, 2007
Dear Olga-187, Thank you very much for taking time and writing about Helsingfors. Feedback is definetely what helps us improve our service. It is true Helsingfors is remote, and we find this quality to be a very charming and special one. The entire landscape is exclusive for our passengers and no one else. I really apologize if food was not what you expected. We are very surprised because we have only received marvellous compliments for the chef. However we have already foward your comments to him. At this point, Helsingfors has satellite telephone system and also satellite Wi-Fi. We have decided not to have telephones in the rooms as we believe that it will break with the patagonian mystic. Despite this we will be reviewing this. Once again I apologize for any inconvenience that might have caused anyone that smoked. Taking your complaint as an important matter to be solved I am happy to let you know that Helsingfors is now a Non-smoking place. Thank you very much for giving us the chance, with your comments, to make things better. Please feel free to contact me may you have any suggestions or comments. Best regards,
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Scott94941 wrote a review Mar 2019
Mill Valley, California
5.0 of 5 bubbles
I don't know how anyone could give this place less than a five star review. The setting is out of a fairy tail. The staff is amazing. The guides are very warm and knowledgeable. The food was truly amazing. I will cherish the time I spent at Helsingfors and hope that I someday have the opportunity to return.
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Date of stay: March 2019
5.0 of 5 bubblesLocation
5.0 of 5 bubblesService
5.0 of 5 bubblesSleep Quality
Trip type: Traveled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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CourtneyMD wrote a tip Jan 2018
Auburn, Maine492 contributions302 helpful votes
5.0 of 5 bubbles
"Room 5 was darling but small and without the greatest privacy"
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Cathy D wrote a tip Feb 2016
Asheville, North Carolina8 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
"The wind blows a lot"
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StephDube29 wrote a tip Mar 2015
Plainville, Connecticut1 contribution1 helpful vote
5.0 of 5 bubbles
"The room located outside the main house is perfect little bungalow!!!"
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Pat M wrote a tip Mar 2015
Rockwood, Canada29 contributions14 helpful votes
5.0 of 5 bubbles
"Our room was in a separate little cottage next to the main house, which we liked because it felt really private and cozy."
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johnbud wrote a tip Mar 2013
Kentfield, California24 contributions38 helpful votes
5.0 of 5 bubbles
"room outside main lodge closest to the lake"
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Not the right property for you?
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PRICE RANGE
₱51,028 - ₱61,941 (Based on Average Rates for a Standard Room)
ALSO KNOWN AS
helsingfors hosteria hotel los glaciares national park
LOCATION
ArgentinaPatagoniaProvince of Santa CruzEstancia Helsingfors
NUMBER OF ROOMS
9
Prices are the average nightly price provided by our partners and may not include all taxes and fees. Taxes and fees that are shown are estimates only. Please see our partners for more details.
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HOSTERIA HELSINGFORS - UPDATED 2024 Lodge Reviews & Price Comparison (Estancia Helsingfors, Argentina) - Tripadvisor

Frequently Asked Questions about Hosteria Helsingfors
What are some of the property amenities at Hosteria Helsingfors?
Some of the more popular amenities offered include free breakfast, an on-site restaurant, and a lounge.
What food & drink options are available at Hosteria Helsingfors?
Guests can enjoy free breakfast, an on-site restaurant, and a lounge during their stay.
Is parking available at Hosteria Helsingfors?
Yes, free parking is available to guests.
Is Hosteria Helsingfors located near the city center?
Yes, it is 0.02 km away from the centre of Estancia Helsingfors.
Which languages are spoken by the staff at Hosteria Helsingfors?
The staff speaks multiple languages, including English and Spanish.
Does Hosteria Helsingfors have any great views?
Yes, guests often enjoy the mountain view available here.