Patagonia, Chile
Reviews
“Glacier ride: Good length of rides through beautiful and variable terrain, back to basics in terms of accommodation (camping), but this allowed us to access areas that could not otherwise be seen. My favourite memory was the ride through the forest to Dickson lake.”
Mark S.
Horses
Type of horses:
Chilean Criollo
Nature of horses:
Surefooted, hardy, forward going, gentle nature
Height of horses:
14 - 15 hh
Weight limit:
95 kg/ 210 lbs
Tack type:
The tack is Chilean and comprises of metal framed saddles onto which is layered felt, sheepskin and leather. Rope, rawhide and leather form the bridles, girths, straps etc. Most of the horses are ridden in simple snaffle bridles.
Weather
Current Conditions:
Mostly Cloudy, 4 C
Forecast:
Sat - Cloudy. High: 3 Low: 2
Sun - AM Showers. High: 4 Low: 1
Full Forecast at Yahoo! Weather
(provided by The Weather Channel)
Pricing
Estancia Ride
The price includes eleven nights accommodation based on twin share throughout in hotels, hosterias and estancias, eight days riding, all transfers to and from Punta Arenas and whilst in park, breakfast and lunch every day, dinner in homestays, hotels and estancias (excluding wine), Lamb Asado, English speaking and local guides, baqueanos who care for horses, waterproof sacks for the trip, use of saddle bags, entrance fees to park and penguin colony. It excludes, flights, airport taxes, airport transfers and meal in Punta Arenas on last night, lunch on Day Two and Day Eleven in Natales, local gratuities, ($50 recommended).
2009 prices
£2240 per person (2 pax)
£2175 per person (3 pax)
£1995 per person (4-6 pax)
£1925 per person (7-12 pax)
Single supplement £250
2010 prices
£2500 per person (2 pax)
£2425 per person (3 pax)
£2225 per person (4-6 pax)
£2145 per person (7-12 pax)
Single supplement £300
Glacier Ride
The price of the Glacier ride is inclusive of eleven nights accommodation (nine nights camping and two nights in hotels in Punta Arenas) based on twin occupancy throughout and return transfers from Punta Arenas. Meals whilst camping, (including wine); all equipment (except sleeping bags and mats which can be rented locally on request); English speaking and local guides; waterproof sacks for trip; use of saddle bags and entrance fees to park and penguin colonies. Baqueanos who care for the horses and pack horses.
Price excludes flights, airport taxes, airport transfers and meals in Punta Arenas on last night, lunch on Day 2 and Day 11 in Natales, local gratuities ($50 recommended).
2009 prices
£1715 per person (2 pax)
£1490 per person (3 -6 pax)
£1420 per person (7 - 12 pax)
Single supplement £125
2010 prices
£1910 per person (2 pax)
£1655 per person (3-6 pax)
£1580 per person (7-12 pax)
Single supplement £125
Patagonian Horse Moving Ride
The price of this programme includes all riding/walking; all transfers to and from Punta Arenas and whilst in park; nine nights accommodation based on twin share (see full itinerary, giving further details on types of accommodation); breakfast and lunch every day; dinner in homestays, hotels and estancias (excluding wine - see full itinerary); Lamb Asado; English speaking and local guides; baqueanos who care for horses; waterproof sacks for trip; use of saddle bags; entrance fees to park and penguin colony.
The price varies as detailed below depending on the size of the group:
2009 prices
£1760 per person (2 pax)
£1565 per person (3 - 6 pax)
£1465 per person (7- 12 pax)
Single supplement £125
2010 prices
£1960 per person (2 pax)
£1890 per person (3 pax)
£1740 per person (4-6 pax)
£1635 per person (7-12 pax)
Single supplement £200
Blue Ice Trail - Multi Activity Trip
The price of this programme includes all riding/walking/kayaking; all equipment (except sleeping bags/mats); all transfers to and from Punta Arenas and whilst in park; thirteen nights accommodation (nine camping, three in hotels, one in refugio) all based on twin share and meals with wine whilst camping, English speaking and local guides; baqueanos who care for horses; waterproof sacks for trip; use of saddle bags; river fees, camp fees, entrance fees to park and penguin colony, two nights in Punta Arenas at Hotel Terra Sur, one night at hotel Weskar, Puerto Natales.
The varies as detailed below depending on the size of the group:
£1850 per person (2 pax)
£1700 per person (3 pax)
£1650 per person (4 - 6 pax)
£1590 per person ( 7 - 9 pax)
£1490 per person ( 10 - 12 pax)
Single supplement £180
Availability/Booking Form
Ride Description
This is a place suited to lovers of riding and the outdoors and those who like to get "off the beaten track". On the Glacier Ride you will have the company of your guide and Chilean horsemen - you ride into some remote areas where the only access is on foot or horse. On the Estancia Ride you will have more comfortable accommodation but still have diversity of rides across open, pampas, rides to wild glaciers and iceberg filled lakes. The Blue Ice Trail is a trip organised in response to those who wish to explore the remote wilderness and is a once in a lifetime adventure for those wanting to experience the best of three exciting activities.
Your hosts still spend a lot of time researching new trails, riding and walking them and meeting local Patagonians. They invest a great deal in local people and resources. Their baqueanos have been with them for years and are part of their family. Their guides are valued experts in their field. The Criollo horses offer strength, willingness and honesty whether they are carrying clients or their supplies. And the clients, many of whom have become friends, come back year after year because they know that an adventure here will always be unique, well planned, challenging and surprising.
See Programmes.
Food & Accommodation
Accommodation on the Estancia Ride is comfortable, authentic, cosy and welcoming. All the estancias having been chosen for their beautiful location, great view and cultural appeal. The campsites on the Glacier Ride have been chosen with much care and they are all very different, very special and very beautiful. Some of them are wilderness sites with no 'facilities' at all.
Whether you choose to camp out in the wilderness or stay in comfort at one of the hotels or estancias you can be assured of plentiful, fresh and wholesome meals. Vegetarians can be catered for with advance notice. (It should be noted that the culture in Patagonia is largely founded and based upon the farming of sheep).
Meat, especially lamb is the staple diet for most people in the area and guests are very likely to enjoy a lamb or meat asado during their trip. We respect that it may be difficult for vegetarians to travel in a very meat based culture. Although alternatives for vegetarians are available this trip may not be suitable for those who are offended by the site of meat being prepared (as this is not easy to disguise).
On the camping trips you will enjoy evening meals of fresh salmon and local fish, pasta, chicken, beef, lamb and local chilean meals served with fresh salad and accompanied by local wine. Breakfast usually consists of hot and cold cereals, toast, jams, marmalade, coffee tea and juice. Occasionally a cooked breakfast is served. Packed lunches are prepared by guests at lunch time and consist of sandwiches, (ham, cheese, tuna, salami), fresh fruit, chocolate biscuits and snacks. Weather permitting, guests sometimes choose to eat in a camp 'shelter' or around the camp fire although a dining tent for eating and cooking is also carried on the trip.
Meals served in the restaurant consists of lamb, beef, chicken, or salmon and served with fresh vegetables or salad and accompanied by rice or potatoes. Wine and beer is available at a reasonable cost. Breakfasts include toast, coffee, cereal, ham/cheese, bread rolls, juice and occasionally eggs.
Meals in the estancias are fresh, home-cooked Chilean dishes.
Activities
As well as the amazing riding, this is an area fabulous for hiking and kayaking. There is an opportunity to visit a Penguin colony and you may take some fabulous boat rides. This is a great place for the photographer - the spectacular sunsets, the granite moniliths, the turquoise blue lakes, the condors and the guanacos and nandus which you can photograph from the back of your horse.
Further Details
Languages: English & Spanish
Health requirements: You must be fit and healthy
Age limit: 12-70
Tuition: No
Included: Please see individual itineraries.
Not included: Flights
Travel Information
Chile's international airport is in the capital Santiago de Chile. Flight times are about 13 hours from Europe and 11 hours from the US. To get to Patagonia from Santiago, you take a domestic flight into Punta Arenas which takes three to four hours. It is possible, if you fly into Santiago in the morning, to continue with the domestic flight the same day but a stop over in this remarkable city is worthwhile.
Airport: Punta Arenas
Programmes
Estancia Ride
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Day One: You should aim to arrive at Punto Arenas by 15:30. You will be greeted and transferred to the first estancia, Hosteria Rio Verde. The Hosteria is a family run establishment. Some of the old farm buildings have been converted into comfortable guest accommodation. Guests will be encouraged to wander around the villa and see the old buildings of this working farm. Dinner will be served at the estancia. Day Two: On the second day you will be driven across the pampas (South American lowlands) towards the Torres del Paine National Park. Lunch will be at a choice of restaurants at Puerto Natales. In the afternoon you will arrive at the estancia Tres Pasos where you will meet your horses. This is a working estancia with pretty gardens and views of a beautiful valley. You will be going on an introductory ride during the afternoon as a chance to get used to the horses and the regional riding style. Day Three: Today after a homely breakfast, you will be meeting your horse and the baqueanos who care for them. Horses will be selected and assigned and there will be a short safety briefing and introduction to western riding. You will then load up your saddle bags and set off on your days journey. You will take it easy this morning giving you a chance to adjust to the local riding style and horses. Your ride takes you through some gorgeous canyons and glacial valleys as you ride in the shadow of the granite and often snow capped mountains. This area is home to a number of estancias and puestos and it is not unusual for riders to be invited in for a traditional mate session (pronounced matay, the herbal tea drunk in this area). After lunch, you will enjoy some nice long canters as you head south entering the land belonging to Hosteria el Pionero. The hosteria has comfortable accommodation and a delicious restaurant serving local specialties as well as international cuisine. Time to settle into the comfy accommodation and enjoy a pisco sour round the fire before dinner. Hours in the saddle: 6-7. Day Four: After a wholesome breakfast of home made bread and cake, you will be setting off on your ride across wide open pampas and river crossings heading towards the famous peaks of Torres del Paine National Park. You are likely to spot large guanco herds in the area grazing in the sun. You will ride around the turquoise/blue Lake Sarmiento admiring the dramatic mountainous back drop. Lunch will be taken beside the lake before riding on towards Laguna Verde. Condors can be spotted nesting in the rocky mountains as well as many other bird species beside the lakes and in the meadows. As you ride the final stretch through the pretty medows you will see the traditional red roofs of Estancia Lazo come into view, your base for two nights, this converted Estancia situated beside Laguna Verde offers splendid views, great food and comfortable accommodation. The lake shore is a great place to stroll spotting the wild geese and ducks bobbing in the water. Dinner will be in the restaurant offering an excellent variety of local foods and wine. Hours in the saddle: 6-7. Day Five: After breakfast, you will pack your saddle bags with cameras, waterproofs and your picnic lunch and set off around the shores of this pretty lake through the ancient southern beech forests towards the Sierra del Toro. You will then make a steep ascent through forests to climb right up on top of this mountain. The last section of the ride will often be through snow as you stop to marvel at the views of the entire Park below you. You will then wind down to a pretty authentic puesto manned by one of the cattle ranchers from Estancia Lazo to have lunch. In the afternoon you return to your comfortable accommodation at the Lazo Ranch. Dinner in the restaurant. Hours in the saddle 4-5 Day Six: After a wholesome breakfast and packing up you will be starting your ride eastwards towards the heart of the Park. The morning ride is very pretty as you wind your way through valleys passing a number of lakes and stunning lookouts, there will be plenty of time to take photos. Following this you will ascend to a lookout with fabulous views of the pampas and waterways below. After stopping to let the horses rest you will tighten your girths before making a dramatic descent of the Sierra del Toro to the pampas below. Lunch will be taken in the valley and you will have a chance to visit the Park Headquarters to look at their relief map of the Park. You will step up the pace in the afternoon and enjoy an exciting canter across the flat pampas towards the emerald green waters of the Serrano River. Your accommodation will be in one of the hotels built beside this river. Dinner is in restaurant. Hours in saddle: 3-4. Day Seven: Today you saddle up for the fast pampas ride to Grey Lake. Your view will be dominated by the huge granite peaks of the massif as you ride out along the Grey River to the largest Glacier in the park, Glacier Grey. After crossing the swinging footbridge, you will take a walk down to Grey Beach for a memorable view of the Glacier and huge icebergs floating in the grey waters of this lake. For those who are interested there’s an optional boat ride across this iceberg-choked lake towards the face of this spectacular Glacier (this boat is very weather reliant and costs $70 per person for the three hour boat ride). If the boat isn’t running or for those who prefer to stay ashore, there’s plenty of opportunities for hiking, taking pictures or walking the short distance to Hosteria Lago Grey to enjoy some fireside pisco sours. After this exciting day you will rejoin the horses for a relaxing long canter across the pampas to your hotel at the Serrano River. Hours in the saddle: approx 5. Day Eight: Today you will be setting off on one of the longest rides of the trip initially started as an experiment but now one of our most popular rides which none of our itineraries would be complete without. The Paine Massif will unfold in front as you cross widely diverse scenery on your journey across the heart of the park. Mountain peaks dominate the horizon and you pass numerous lakes of startling colours with rivers tumbling through tranquil green valleys. Herds of guanacos will be seen and flocks of birds will accompany you on your rides through the forests. Wild flowers and orchids are nestled amongst the trees and line the trails. Truly a fantastic and memorable ride. Finally, your trail will take you eastwards to cross the Rio de las Chinas on your route out to the land belonging to Estancia Tercera Barranca. You will be basing yourselves here for two nights and can relax in the lovely living room with splendid views of the Towers while dinner is prepared. Hours in the saddle: 7 – 8. Day Nine: After saddling up you will set off on your exciting ride west towards the Torres and Lago Paine. Just before Laguna Azul you head north towards Laguna Stokes where a large natural vega or pasture exists. This area attracts wild criollos from the surrounding hills to graze in the summer. There will be many excellent photo opportunities on this route as you pass through forests, pastures and the lake where Lady Florence Dixie first camped having sighted the Towers. Afternoon return to Estancia Tercera. Hours in the saddle: 5-6. Day Ten: Today you will be riding south to the small outpost town of Cerro Castillo situated 40km from the entrance to the park and 60km from Puerto Natales. A fantastic ride across farmland and pampas with some unique and interesting stops on the way. Rivers will be crossed and there will be plenty of opportunity for long exhilarating canters on this prairie land just made for riding. Your lunch stop will be at one of the many estancias whose land you cross on the way to your destination. Hospitality is legendary in these parts and it is rare for passing riders not to be offered some form of hospitality by the estancieros. During late afternoon you will see a small hotel 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 offers comfortable accommodation 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 whilst recounting the previous days adventures. Comfortable en-suite accommodation (some rooms with fireplaces). Dinner is in the comfortable restaurant. Hours in the saddle: 6-7. Day Eleven: After a leisurely breakfast of coffee and home made cakes/bread you will transfer to Punta Arenas via Puerto Natales. You will have time in Natales to shop for souvenirs or postcards and there is a wide choice of restaurants and cafes in which to enjoy lunch. After lunch we will be visiting the fascinating burrowing Magellanic penguins at their colony in Otway Sound (situated 1 hour from Punta Arenas). There will be plenty of time to wander amonst these cute animals before continuing onto Punta Arenas and our final hotel night at the Hotel Chalet Chapital. Lun/Dinner not included. Transfer time: 5.5 hours. Day Twelve Taxi to airport or onward travel. |
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| Minimum group size: | 2 |
| Maximum group size: | 12 |
| Ability description: | Intermediate to advanced. definitely no beginners |
| Type of ride: | Fast Paced |
| Total riding time: | 12 days, 8 days riding |
| Departure dates: | 2009 dates; 23 November - 4 December; 6 - 17 December; 22 December - 2 January 2010. 2010 dates: 29 January - 9 February; 24 February - 7 March; 23 November - 4 December; 6 - 17 December; 22 December 2010 - 2 January 2011. |
| Pricing: | See Pricing |
Glacier Ride
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Day One: Arrival in Punta Arenas. Taxi from airport to Hotel Terra Sur, Lib. Bernardo O’Higgins # 723, Punta Arenas, Chile. Meet leader in hotel lobby at 7:30 pm to be escorted to the restaurant for dinner. Day Two: Morning collection from Terra Sur to start the day’s drive towards the penguin colony to see and photograph the cute burrowing Magellanic penguins. Continue in a comfortable transfer vehicle across the Patagonian Steppe where you will have your first opportunity to see some of the unusual plant and animal life that exists in this area. After a short lunch stop in Puerto Natales you will continue on to the campsite situated close to a working estancia on the edges of the beautiful Laguna Verde. A chance to stroll down to the lakeside and enjoy the variety of bird life and spectacular views of the horns whilst dinner is prepared. There are no showers here. The drive is approximately 6.5 hours including penguins. Day Three: Today you will be meeting your horses and the dedicated baqueanos who care for them. After assigning horses to riders, you will have a safety check and short familiarisation with western riding before packing your saddle bags with cameras, waterproofs, and picnic lunch and setting off around the shores of this pretty lake through ancient southern beech forests towards the Sierra del Toro. You will then make a steep ascent through forests to climb right up on top of this mountain. The last section of the ride will often be through snow as you stop to marvel at the views of the entire Park below. You will then wind down to a pretty authentic puesto manned by one of the cattle ranchers from Estancia Lazo to take your lunch. In the afternoon you return to your stunning campsite at Laguna Verde. Hours in the saddle: 3-4. Day Four: After a wholesome breakfast you will be starting your ride eastwards towards the heart of the Park. The morning ride is fairly relaxing as you wind your way through this stunning valley passing a number of lakes and mountain views. Plenty of time to take photographs before you ascend to a lookout with fabulous views of the pampas and lakes below. After stopping to let the horses rest you will start your steep descent of the Sierra del Toro to the pampas below. Lunch will be taken in the valley and you will have a chance to visit the Park Headquarters to look at their relief map of the park. You will then continue with some fast riding to the Serrano River where you will camp beside the emerald green waters of this beautiful river. Showers are available here. Inside dining in case of inclement weather. Hours in the saddle: 4 – 4.5. Day Five: After breakfast you will pack up camp and make an early start across the pampas towards the huge and immense Grey Glacier and Lake. This is open pampas riding at its most exciting and there will be lots of opportunities for nice long canters as you ride towards the huge granite peaks of the Paine Massif. You will then reach the highlight of today’s ride as you dismount and cross the wooden footbridge onto a small trail through the forest. This trail take you onto Grey Beach for a walk along the grey sands admiring the huge icebergs that have come from the nearby glacier. For those who are interested there’s an optional boat ride across this iceberg-choked lake towards the face of this spectacular Glacier (this boat is very weather reliant and costs $70 per person for the three hour boat ride). If the boat isn’t running or, for those clients who prefer to stay ashore, there’s plenty of opportunities for hiking, taking pictures or walking the short distance to Hosteria Lago Grey to enjoy some fireside pisco sours. After this exciting day you’ll rejoin your horses for a relaxing long canter across the pampas to your riverside campsite at Rio Serrano. Showers are once again available. Inside dining in case of inclement weather. Hours in saddle: approx 5. Day Six: Today you will be enjoying some beautiful trails which cross the heart of the Park. Known as the ‘up and over’ your trail cuts through some incredibly diverse scenery from verdant green valleys and beech forests to azure lakes and wide open plains. You will see magnificent condors hovering high above mountain peaks whilst down on the plains herds of guanaco scatter as you approach. You will be surprised at every turn of your path as you cross over 30 kilometres of this amazing riding country dominated by the Paine Horns and Towers after which the park is named. Finally, after a truly memorable ride you take a short vehicle transfer to your beautiful campsite nestled in a small valley with only a gaucho ‘puesto’ (small wooden hut) and awesome views of the Towers for company. No showers. Hours in the saddle: 7-8. (NB: we hope to have showers here for next season. Please request update at start of season) Day Seven After enjoying breakfast in our stunning campsite you will set off on an exciting and unique adventure into the hills and forests of the Sierra Contreras. Your destination is the pretty waterfall known as Cascada Zamora. After lunch you will ride out to a remote puesto ‘mercado’ riding up high over the pampas with views off to the Las Chinas Valley and the Sierra Baguales in the distance. Return to the camp at puesto Tercera for night. No showers available. Hours in the saddle: 4-5. Day Eight After packing up camp and loading up the pack horses you will set off on your exciting ride towards the Torres and Lago Paine. Just before Laguna Azul you head north towards Laguna Stokes where a large natural vega or pasture exists and which attracts wild criollos from the surrounding hills to graze in the summer. There will be many excellent photo opportunities on this route as you pass through forests, pastures and the lake where Lady Florence Dixie first camped having sighted the Towers. You will be camping riverside at Lago Paine. No showers available. Hours in the saddle: 4.5 - 5. Day Nine After breakfast, you will be riding out to Lake and Glacier Dickson. Dickson is one of the more remote and rarely visited glaciers in the Park due to its inaccessibility – it is also one of the prettiest. Your ride takes you past the northerly peaks of the Paine chain where one of the peaks is topped by a black, craggy rock in the shape of a Tuhuelche Indian Face where the ‘headband’ is decorated with snowdrifts even in summer. The trail then heads north passing ancient southern beech forests and scattered lakes before reaching your solitary perch and viewpoint above this beautiful lake and glacier. This will be your picnic spot for lunch – a truly memorable destination. In the afternoon you ride back to Lago Paine. No showers available. Hours in the saddle: 6-7. Day Ten Today you will be continuing on to Laguna Azul via a different route. This is a beautiful ride through forests and flower filled meadows and southern beech forests. Lots of opportunities for long canters before you reach the edge of the aptly named Laguna Azul. On arrival at the campsite the wine will be put in the lake to chill and you will be served canapes before dinner is served. During the evening you can enjoy your final view of the Towers across the lake whilst swapping tales of the adventure of the previous days. Hot showers and a quincho for inside dining. Hours in the saddle: 2-3. Day Eleven Pack up camp for your transfer back to Punta Arenas to arrive late afternoon. You will once again make a lunch stop in Puerto Natales and this will give you an opportunity to purchase any souvenirs/books/postcards etc. You will be dropped off at the Hotel Terra Sur in Punta Arenas at around 6 pm. Transfer time: 5 hours. Day Twelve Taxi to airport for onward travel. |
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| Minimum group size: | 2 |
| Maximum group size: | 12 |
| Ability description: | Intermediate and experienced |
| Type of ride: | Trail |
| Total riding time: | 8 days |
| Departure dates: | 2009 Dates; 5 - 16 November; 6 - 17 December; 22 December - 2 January 2010. 9 - 20 February 2010; 14 - 25 March 2010. 2010 dates: 9 - 20 February; 14 -25 March; 5 - 16 November; 6 - 17 December; 22 December 2010 - 2 January 2011. |
| Pricing: | See Pricing |
Patagonian Horse Moving Ride
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This is a unique opportunity for experienced riders who would like to combine fast riding with local flavour and comfy accommodation. This a land full of diversity. During your ride you will experience open pampas, wild glaciers, iceberg filled lakes and peaceful rides through ancient southern beach forests. Throughout these long and exciting days in the saddle the snow capped mountains are never far away. Spending a day herding over 40 horses to their winter pasture will make this a truly memorable experience. Day 1 Clients should aim to arrive into Punta Arenas at 1530 hours. Clients will be collected from the airport and drive them to the lovely Hosteria Rio Verde (about 40 minutes from the airport) via the Magellanic Penguin Colony. There will be plenty of time to wander amongst these cute burrowing animals before continuing onto this lovely authentic estancia, a fitting start to our Patagonia horse moving ride. The Hosteria and estancia is owned and run by a charming family who have converted some of their historic estancia buildings into comfortable guest accommodations. Much of the renovation uses imaginatively recycled or locally produced materials and the rooms are all beautifully decorated and distinctive. Food and service are excellent and clients can wander around the small villa to see the buildings making up this working farm. Dinner included (excluding drinks). Trip briefing over dinner. NB: Clients arriving early (or spending extra time in Punta Arenas) will be collected from a pre-arranged meeting point in town at 3 p.m. Clients arriving late will need to cover their transfer cost to the estancia: $60 per vehicle which can be arranged in advance. Transfer time with penguins: approx. 3 hours. Day 2 Today we are going to be starting our drive across the wide open pampas and land belonging to some of the huge estancias in this area towards the Torres del Paine National Park. After a short lunch stop in Puerto Natales, where clients can choose from a variety of restaurants and cafes, we will continue on towards the Torres del paine National Park. Our destination is the beautiful estancia and hosteria known as Estancia Tres Pasos. A still working estancia the property consists of a number of estancia buildings, pretty gardens and lovely views down a beautiful valley. There will be a chance to unpack and relax a little before meeting our horses for an afternoon introductory ride in the vicinity of the estancia. Riders will be have a chance to adjust to the style of riding and tack. After a relaxing ride, we will return to the hotel for dinner in the lovely restaurant. Most of the food in this delightful family run establishment is home produced. Dinner included (excluding wine/drinks). Driving time: 4 hours. Day 3 Today after breakfast, riders will once again be saddling up for the first full day’s ride. We will be heading north west to the outpost town of Cerro Castillo. This is a beautiful open ride across grassy meadows and welcoming pampas. Riding towards the mountain range named after our destination we will enjoy the dramatic mountain and lake views. We will also have some opportunities for our first long canters on our 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 our home for the night. Once home to one of the most important and influential estancieros in the region it offers comfortable accommodation 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 whilst getting to know the rest of the group. Comfortable ensuite accommodation (some rooms with fireplaces). Dinner in the comfortable restaurant (meal included, except wine/drinks). Hours in the saddle: 6-7. Day 4 After breakfast, we will be joining our horses for today’s beautiful ride into the Park itself. The ride starts with some more fabulous pampas riding towards the famous peaks of the Torres del Paine National Park. We should spot some large guanaco herds in this area as it’s a very popular summer grazing area. Nandus (Darwins rhea) too are often seeing running across the pampas with their young in tow. The views during today’s ride are spectacular. We will ride around Lake Sarmiento, a beautiful turquoise blue lake with a dramatic mountain backdrop and through some lovely southern beech forests. Lunch will be taken lakeside before riding on to our destination beside Laguna Verde. We should see condors nesting in the rocky hills and plenty of other birdlife on the lakeshores and meadows. As we ride the final section through a pretty forest, we will see the traditional red roofs of the lovely Estancia Lazo come into view. Our base for 2 nights, this very comfortable converted Estancia situated beside this pretty tranquil lake offers splendid views, great food and comfortable accommodation. The lake shore is a great place to stroll spotting the wild geese and ducks bobbing in the water. Dinner will be in the restaurant offering an excellent variety of local foods and wine. Dinner included (excluding wine/drinks). Hours in the saddle: 6-7. Day 5 After breakfast today's ride takes us north east past the beautiful azure waters of Lago Sarmiento onto the wide open pampas belonging to various estancias in the area. Lots of great mountain views and lovely long canters. Depending on the water levels, there are also some exciting river crossings on this route. After a picnic lunch on the trail, we will cross the Rio de las Chinas before crossing onto the land belonging to Estancia Tercera Barranca. We will be basing ourselves here for 2 nights and can relax in this beautifully situated, authentic estancia. Pisco sours will be served in the living room while dinner is prepared. Great views of the Towers. Dinner included (excluding wine/drinks). Hours in the saddle: 5-6. Day 6 After saddling up we will set off on our exciting ride west towards the Torres and Lago Paine. Just before Laguna Azul we head north towards Laguna Stokes where a large natural vega or pasture exists. This area attracts wild criollos from the surrounding hills to graze in the summer. There will be many excellent photo opportunities on this route as we pass through forests, pastures and the lake where Lady Florence Dixie first camped having sighted the Towers. Afternoon return to Estancia Tercera. Dinner included (excluding wine/drinks). Hours in the saddle: 5-6. Day 7 After a filling and wholesome breakfast we will be going out to the coral to prepare for the day's adventure. Today we will be moving between 40 and 60 horses onto their winter grazing. With the help of the baqueanos, we will be herding horses across pampas, valleys, rivers and mountain trails. Because of the speed of this ride, we will be changing horses often - simply swapping our tack from one mount to another. To the accompanying chorus of whistles and shouts from the local horsemen, we will be driving the horses forward whilst observing and rounding up strays and wanderers. A hard day's ride but what a privilege! Watching loose horses canter across valleys or splash through rivers with the fabulous Paine Massif behind is is an incredible, unforgettable experience. After our long day's ride we will be settling into our comfy accommodation beside the Serrano River. A well deserved dinner and rest for all! (Drinks excluded). Hours in the saddle: 7-9. Day 8 Far from being over, our adventure continues! After breakfast we will saddle up for the fast pampas ride to Grey Lake. Our view will be dominated by the huge granite peaks of the massif as we ride out along the Grey River to the largest Glacier in the park, Glacier Grey. After crossing the swinging footbridge, we will take a walk down to Grey Beach for a memorable view of the Glacier and huge icebergs floating in the grey waters of this lake. For those who are interested there's an optional boat ride across this iceberg-choked lake towards the face of this spectacular Glacier (this boat is very weather reliant and costs $70 per person for the three hour boat ride). If the boat isn't running or for those clients who prefer to stay ashore, there's plenty of opportunities for hiking, taking pictures or walking the short distance to Hosteria Lago Grey to enjoy some fireside pisco sours. After this exciting day we'll rejoin our horses for a lovely long canter across the pampas to our hotel at the Serrano River. Hours in the saddle: 5-6. Day 9 After a leisurely breakfast we will transfer to Punta Arenas via Puerto Natales. We will have time in Natales to shop for souvenirs or postcards and there is a wide choice of restaurants and cafes in which to enjoy lunch. After lunch we will be visiting the fascinating burrowing Magellanic penguins at their colony in Otway Sound (situated about 1 hour from Punta Arenas). There will be plenty of time to wander amongst these cute animals before continuing onto Punta Arenas and our final hotel night at the Hotel Chalet Chapital. Lunch/Dinner not included. Transfer time: 5.5 hours with Penguins. Day 10 Taxi to airport or onward travel. |
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| Minimum group size: | 2 |
| Maximum group size: | 12 |
| Ability description: | Intermediate - Advanced |
| Type of ride: | Trail |
| Total riding time: | 7 days as detailed by the programme |
| Departure dates: | 29th March - 7th April 2010 |
| Pricing: | See Pricing |
Blue Ice Trail - Multi Activity Trip
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Day 1 Clients arrive in Punta Arenas. Taxi from airport to Hotel Terra Sur, Lib. Bernardo O’Higgins # 723, Punta Arenas, Chile. Meet leader in hotel lobby at 7.30 p.m. to be escorted to restaurant for dinner. Day 2 Morning collection from Terra Sur to start the day’s drive across the wide open pampas and estancia lands that characterize this area before arriving at the waterside town of Puerto Natales (the capital of the Esperanza region of Chile). You will stop for lunch here and can choose from a variety of restaurants and perhaps do some souvenir shopping. After lunch we will continue our drive towards the spectacular Torres del Paine National Park. Our route takes us along the eastern side of the Park where we will cross into the land belonging to a local estancia. The last part of the drive will be bumpy and with no other traffic as we head towards our beautiful, remote camping spot in a valley with awesome views of the Torres del Paine. There is a small puesto or gaucho post here so we will have some shelter for cooking, dining if the weather is bad. Whilst dinner is being prepared we can put our tents up and enjoy the view. No showers (showers are under construction, check back with us before season). Transfer time: approx. 5.5 hours. Day 3 Today we will be meeting our horses and the characterful baqueanos who care for them for the first part of our adventure which will be on horseback. After a short introduction to western riding and safety briefing, we will set off on our exciting and unique adventure into the hills and forests of the Sierra Contreras. Our destination is the pretty waterfall known as Cascada Zamora. It is normal for us to see no other visitors here enabling us to enjoy a peaceful lunch in this pretty wood. After lunch we will ride out to the remote puesto ‘mercado’ riding up high over the pampas with views off to the Las Chinas Valley and the Sierra Baguales in the distance. Return to our camp by a different route passing the beautiful Laguna Azul. Night back at puesto Tercera. No showers (see above). Hours in the saddle: 5-6. Day 4 Today, now more familiar with our horses, we will be setting off across some lovely open pampas towards the heart of the Park and Laguna Amarga. This is a beautiful ride, not least because we get to ride towards the dramatically beautiful mountains of the Paine Massif. We will also pass through the summer grazing grounds of large guanaco herds. Plenty of time to take photos and enjoy the athletic antics of these fascinating and agile animals, or to pick some lovely ripe calafate berries from the many bushes that grow round here. Our trail takes us across some rivers and finally along the dirt track which leads into the Laguna Amarga area of the Park. Here we will meet our transfer vehicle for the short drive to camping Las Torres. Hot showers available. Hours in the saddle: 4-5. Transfer time: 45 minutes. Day 5 After our hearty camp breakfast, a challenging hike lay in store for us today as we climb up to the base of the towers themselves. Starting with an uphill walk and then following wooded mountain trails this hike is beautiful. The final section is a series of ‘hops’ over glacial moraine before finally reaching our lunch destination in the shadow of these fabulous granite peaks. In the foreground waterfalls flow off the hanging glaciers into a basin of green water where icebergs float. You will hear sounds like thunder as the ice breaks off the glaciers with crashing roars. In the afternoon we will descend to our camping spot in the valley and enjoy a shower….and for those who have the energy to walk to the nearby hotel bar, pisco sours can be enjoyed while dinner is being prepared. Hiking time: 7-9 hours depending on fitness. Day 6 After an early breakfast, we will be starting our hike round the shores of Lake Nordjenskold. Our hike skirts this lake whilst always keeping close to the huge granite mountains which form the centrepiece of this geographical wonder. Tonight we will be eating and sleeping in the Refugio Los Cuernos which is beautifully situated beside a turquoise blue lake with the mountains standing watch behind. Dinner and wine included. Hiking time: 4-5 hours. Day 7 After breakfast in the convivial refugio we will continue our hike along the shores of Lake Nordjenskold towards the French Valley. This is a beautiful and justly famous trail into a superb natural granite ampitheatre where we will also see the French Glacier. After lunch in our awesome picnic spot we will hike to another beautiful lake, Lago Pehoe. We will be setting up camp here on the shores of these pretty turquoise waters before relaxing a little while dinner is prepared. Showers available, inside dining if weather bad. Hiking time: 5 – 9 hours depending on how far the group hikes into the French Valley. Day 8 Today we will be hiking up to the spectacular and immense Grey Glacier. The trail takes us through ancient beech forests and along a spectacular trail high above Grey Lake. We will enjoy fantastic glacier views throughout. Our destination is refugio Grey and Mirador where we can enjoy lunch on the shores of the iceberg choked lake before we start our descent back to our pretty campsite at Pehoe Lake. Second night at Pehoe. Showers available. Hiking time: 6-7 hours. Day 9 After breakfast and packing up camp, we will be reunited with our horses and the baqueanos who care for them with a brisk and exciting ride across wide open pampas to the Serrano River. Our path first takes us along flower-lined trails skirting Pehoe Lake before opening out onto flat pampas where we can enjoy an exhilarating canter to the emerald green waters of the Serrano River. Camp riverside. Showers available and inside dining in case of bad weather. Hours in the saddle: 4-5 depending on pace travelled. Day 10 Today, we will rise early to prepare for our river adventure. We will start with a lecture on safety and technique before heading into Grey Lake to paddle amongst the icebergs that run aground at the bottom of the lake. After paddling near these massive pieces of ice we set off down the river grey for a peaceful and scenic paddle all the way back to camp. Lunch will be taken on the shores of the river and we will always have spectacular views towards the mountains. Hours kayaking: 5-6 but flexible depending on weather conditions. Day 11 Today, we will be boarding Zodiacs for our exciting ride down the Serrano River. Our journey takes us through the Bernardo O‟Higgins National Park past Tyndal and Geike Glaciers. We finish at the end of the river where it empties into Last Hope Sound. Here we will hike out to the Serrano Glacier for a close up look at this very pretty glacier. After the short hike we board a cutter for a cruise to a very remote estancia for a fantastic BBQ lunch and finally get dropped off at the pier in Puerto Natales. A great ending to this multisport adventure. On arrival in this interesting waterside town, we will take a taxi to the newly built family run Weskar Lodge. Situated a short walk from Puerto Natales this wooden built hotel has lovely views of Last Hope Sound and the Serrano Glacier in the distance. There is a restaurant and laundry and internet are usually available. Dinner not included. Hours in zodiacs:2-3 (weather reliant). Hours on Cutter: 3. Breakfast and lunch only. Day 12 Morning at leisure in this beautifully situated and pretty town. After an early lunch, we will continue on to the Otway Sound Penguin Colony where we will have a chance to see and photograph these unique and fascinating burrowing penguins. After we have had our fill of these cute creatures, we will continue on to Punta Arenas airport |
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| Minimum group size: | 2 |
| Maximum group size: | 12 |
| Ability description: | Riders must be comfortable in walk, trot and canter. |
| Type of ride: | Trail |
| Total riding time: | Riding and hiking |
| Departure dates: | 2009 dates; 15 - 26 November; 24 December - 4 January 2010. 2010 dates: 17 - 28 January; 7 - 18 February; 9 - 20 March; 24 November - 5 December; 24 December 2010 - 4 January 2011. |
| Pricing: | See Pricing |