Horseback Riding in Chile
GLACIER ESTANCIA RIDE |
Here is a chance to visit on horseback the extreme southern tip of Patagonia near the Straits of Magellan. The ride traverses the amazing Torres del Paine National Park, known as one of the wildest and most rugged places in the world. The bizarre landscape holds spiny mountains as impressive as the Tetons or the Alps, with huge glaciers dropping great chunks of ice from time to time into azure lakes. The birds and animals such as penguins and guanacos are unique.
The Glacier Estancia Ride features accommodations each night in mountain lodges and historic estancias.
Their horses were wonderful, possibly made of iron. The diversity of the riding and scenery makes this ride the gold standard of trips, I think. We will definitely return to South America, but his trip will be hard to beat!
- Ann de Matteo
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| Itinerary |
| Day 1: | Arrive in Punta Arenas on the first day of the ride and take a taxi to the Hotel Rey Don Felipe. Meet the riding tour leader in the hotel lobby at 7:30 PM for a trip briefing and welcome dinner. |
| Day 2: | Morning collection from the hotel in Punta Arenas. Drive across the wide open pampas and land belonging to some of the huge estancias in this area as you head towards Torres del Paine National Park. After a short lunch stop in Puerto Natales (lunch at your own expense) continue the drive north. The road takes you alongside the waters of the Last Hope Sound, with the bobbing heads of the black necked swans. Arrive at Estancia Tres Pasos, a comfortable hosteria situated at the head of a flower-filled valley. The wooden, chalet-style property consists of a number of ranch buildings, pretty gardens and lovely views down the valley. Unpack and relax a little before meeting the horses for an afternoon introductory ride in the vicinity of the estancia. This will give you a chance to adjust to the style of riding and tack as you go through the paces on the ride. Return to the estancia for dinner and overnight. 3-4 hours saddle time. |
| Day 3: | After breakfast saddle up for the first full day’s ride heading northwest to the outpost town of Cerro Castillo. This is a beautiful ride across open grassy meadows and welcoming pampas while you enjoy the dramatic mountain and lake views. There will be opportunities for long canters on the responsive and comfortable horses. A picnic lunch will be taken in one of the pretty valleys before continuing on to the lovely converted estancia house, Hosteria el Pionero. Surrounded by the customary layer of trees offering protection from the wind, this villa was built by settlers to Tierra del Fuego at the beginning of the century and will be your home for the night. Once home to one of the most important and influential estancieros in the region, it has comfortable ensuite accommodations and an excellent restaurant offering a variety of typical local foods and international cuisine. The fireside bar is an excellent place to enjoy a pisco sour while getting to know the group. Riding time 6-7 hours. |
| Day 4: | After breakfast of home baked bread and cakes served in the bright dining room, saddle up for the long ride north east. This is a classic Patagonian ride with soft, inviting pampas stretched out in front of you as you journey north towards the mountains of Torres del Paine and La Cumbre mountain range which makes up the natural border between Chile and Argentina. After 5-6 hours of riding with lunch taken as a picnic enroute, ride onto the land belonging to the Estancia Tercera Barranca. Comfortable accommodations await you with fabulous views of the Towers from its large west facing windows, this will be your home for 2 nights. Riding time 5-7 hours. |
| Day 5: | Saddle up after breakfast for an exciting ride west towards the Torres and Lago Paine. Before reaching Laguna Azul head north towards Laguna Stokes where a large natural vega (valley) exists. This area attracts wild criollos from the surrounding area to graze in the summer. There will be many excellent photo opportunities on this ride as you pass through forests, pastures and the lake where Lady Florence Dixie, a travel writer from England who explored the area in 1879, first camped having sighted the Towers. Afternoon return to Estancia Tercera. Riding time 5-6 hours. |
| Day 6: | After a wholesome breakfast and packing up, start riding westwards towards the heart of the Park. You will now be riding directly towards the Paine Massif mountain range with its dramatic views. The trail skirts the southern edge of the mountains on rarely trodden path as you pass azure and turquoise lakes with the huge granite mountain peaks in the background. After a picnic lunch continue west to the soft pampas besides the Serrano River. Enjoy a nice long canter as the light fades before arriving at the Cabanas del Paine, situated by the emerald green waters of the Serrano River, your base for the next 2 nights. Riding time 5-6 hours depending on photo stops.
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| Day 7: | Saddle up for the fast ride to Mirador de los Hielos (iceberg lookout). The view will be dominated by the huge granite peaks of the massif as you ride out along the Grey River towards the largest Glacier in the park, Glacier Grey. Arrive at a lookout with dramatic views of the iceberg choked waters of Grey Lake with the immense Grey Glacier in the distance. After plenty of time to rest, take pictures and a enjoy this incredible lunch perch. Rejoin the horses and head back to the accommodations along Serrano River. 5-6 hours in the saddle. |
| Day 8: | Today set off southeast to the Mirador del Toro and the beautiful Laguna Verde. The day stars with your final ride across the wide open pampas of the Serrano Valley before crossing the much photographed Puente Weber and riding towards the Sierra del Toro. After stopping to tighten girths and checking tack make the steep ascent climbing high above the national park and surrounding areas. Eventually arrive at the dramatic and often very windy lookout (Mirador del Toro) with its incredible far reaching views of the lakes, mountains and glaciers below. Depending on the weather, you will have a picnic lunch here, before continuing on through the southern beech forests passing a myriad of pristine lakes and valleys as you approach the land belonging to Estancia Lazo. Your base for the next 2 nights, this converted estancia situated beside the tranquil green waters of Laguna Verde offers splendid views, great food and comfortable accommodations. The lake shore is a great place to take a stroll and spot the wild geese and ducks who inhabit these waters. Riding time 4-5 hours. |
| Day 9: | After breakfast pack your saddle bags with cameras, waterproofs and your picnic lunch and set off around the shores of the lake through ancient southern beech forests behind the estancia for the climb up and over Sierra del Toro. The last section of the ride can often be through snow as you stop to marvel at the views of the entire Park below you. Take the winding trail down to an authentic puesto (gaucho post) manned by one of the cattle ranchers from Estancia Lazo and enjoy your picnic lunch. After lunch ride back to the estancia where it is time to say good-bye to the horses and baqueanos. 4-5 hours riding time. |
| Day 10: | After a leisurely breakfast, transfer to Punta Arenas via Puerto Natales. There will be time to shop for souvenirs or postcards in Puerto Natales before continuing on to the Magellanic penguin colony located outside of Punta Arenas. Late afternoon is a great time to visit these cute burrowing penguins before they return to their burrows. Time is spent taking photos and wandering the trails which extend down to the beach where you can witness the penguins waterside. Arrive in Punta Arenas about 6-7 PM. Overnight at the Hotel Don Rey Felipe. Dinner on your own tonight. |
| Day 11: | Taxi (at your own expense) to the airport in time for your departing flight or onward journey. |
| THIS ITINERARY IS FLEXIBLE. CHANGES MAY OCCUR DUE TO WEATHER OR OTHER UNFORESEEN CIRCUMSTANCES. |
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| Pricing and Dates |
| Meeting Point | Punta Arenas |
| Length of Ride | 11 days, 10 nights and 8 days riding. |
| Riding Ability | Strong Intermediate Intermediate |
| Group Size | Minimum-2 Maximum-12 |
| Riding Per Day | 4-7 hours |
| Pace | moderate |
| Tack | Chilean |
| Horses | Criollo cross |
| Weight Limit | 210 lbs |
| 2010 Dates | Nov 1-11 (new date), Nov 23-Dec 3, Dec 7-17, Dec 23-Jan 2, 2011 |
| 2010 Price | $ 4,510 for 2-3 riders
$ 3,960 for 4+ riders
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| Single Supplement | $800 |
| 2011 Dates | Jan 29 - Feb 8; Feb 24 - Mar 6; Mar 29 - April 6 (*horse drive) |
| 2011 Price | $ 4,510 for 2-3 riders
$ 3,960 for 4+ riders
*horse drive:
$ 3,960 for 2-3 riders
$ 3,195 for 4+ riders |
| Single Supplement | $800, *horse drive $ 450 |
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