This was my return visit to the property, and given that everyone else who was staying there this time based their decision (at least in part) on the tripadvisor reviews, I figured I ought to write a comprehensive review.
First of all, you should know that the setting of the Estancia is spectacular. Beautiful snow-capped mountains, lush vegetation, a picture-postcard lake, and plenty of atmospheric farm animals at (literally) "the end of the road." The main house looks exactly like a Patagonian farmhouse should. It's a bit of a trick, though, because the house has recently been dramatically expanded. The remodeling effort is worthy of Disney, because even the new sections look old from the outside! The nice thing about the renovation is that the rooms are now much bigger and nicer than they used to be (we got a king bed). And with only about a dozen rooms, it's not like the place is crowded (and you'll probably enjoy meeting your fellow travellers -- everyone who gets to a place like this usually has an interesting story to tell).
Dinner is served at a set time (usually around 8:30) in either the main house or the nearby grill house. Dinner in the main house is a bit hit-or-miss, so I'd recommend trying to talk your way into as many dinners as possible in the grill house. There, you get the typical Patagonian bbq, featuring excellent grilled lamb. Breakfast in the main house is at flexible times, and while simple (think toast and breads), is tasty.
The staff in the main house speak English (some better than others) and are eager to please. If you're having any difficulties -- and this is Argentina, so expect the unexpected -- they will try to make things right. The overall level of service at the Estancia is very good.
It can sometimes be difficult to make reservations here, as communications can be a bit strained. The owner (a wealthy businessman) lives in Rio Gallegos, and sometimes things get a bit confused in this sparsely populated province. But if you keep trying, you will be successful in getting through.
Almost everyone seems to book the Estancia's package deal, which is twice as expensive as booking just accomodations with breakfast and dinner. Travellers seem intimidated by making their own transfers. I would urge everyone who has ever driven a dirt road before in their life to simply book the basic plan and then rent ther own car (this can be a bit tricky if you're an American not used to manual shift cars, but if you email around or -- better yet -- come from Chilean Patagonia, you can find an automatic vehicle). The freedom to come and go as you please is wonderful and the driving (much of it paved) is easy.
OK, now for a bit of bad news. The El Calafate area is now suffering from over tourism. If you hate tour bus crowding, there's a lot to dislike about the local attractions. The Perito Moreno glacier (which you can drive to in about 45 minutes from the Estancia) is spectacular, especially if you've never seen a large glacier. But you likely will be sharing the viewing platforms with a dozen tour buses. And, partly due to safety reasons, this nearby section of the glaciers national park has no trails on which you can escape the hordes. Similarly, there is an interesting -- albeit now a bit expensive -- 240 peso day boat trip to see 3 more glaciers. It's nice, but also an experience in group tourism.
If you do want to beat the crowds, though, there is nothing stopping you from walking around the Estancia. If you're not intimidated by free ranging farm animals, the Estancia has great hillside and lakeside walks and hikes.
Because of the growth in travel to this area, the nearby town of El Calafate (30 miles from Nibepo) is booming. They're building a casino now which, I suspect, might not be what most Estancia guests are looking for. That said, the town has some interesting shops, all the necessary services (fuel, grocery, ATMs), and decent restaurants. Some of the "gourmet" spots have become quite expensive in recent years (twice Buenos Aires prices), but I still like the "bife de lomo" at the traditional La Tablita steakhouse across the river from the main drag.
Because of this influx of tourism in the El Calafate area, I might suggest travellers visit the Nibepo for only a couple days and then head to more remote -- and more "authentic" -- areas of Patagonia. The new Monte Leon national park (3 1/2 hours east) is worth a day, and the road to the previously rugged El Chalten area is now being paved. It is only by driving around Patagonia -- instead of just flying in to El Calafate and transferring to the Nibepo -- that you gain an appreciation for the wide open spaces of Patagonia and see its spectacular and abundant wildlife (penguins, guanaco, nandu, foxes, condors, etc.). I think the Nipebo Aike works best as a stop on this kind of wider-ranging itinerary.
