Price per person in USD 2-4: $3,870
5-8: $3,625
9+ : $3,450
Departures
2010 November 27- December 10
2011 February 19- March 4
November 26- December 9
Days Riding: 11 Average Hours in the Saddle: 6.5/ Day
Highlights: backcountry horse riding across Chile from Pacific to continental divide, observation of wild horses, birdwatching, wilderness camping, reaching the continental divide, Bull Lookout, Full Day tour of Torres del Paine, photography, fishing (optional), hiking, cultural emmersion
Acccommodation:
Based on Twin Share 7 nights camping, some wilderness camps with no facilities, some camps at estancias, we will offer showers in some of the wilderness camps
3 nights in beautifully converted, fully equiped estancia guesthouses
2 nights on either end of the trip, in nice and cozy hotels in Puerto Natales
Meals are all hand prepared, with fresh and local ingredients. Camping and lodge dinners consist of soups, a main course of poultry, fish, meat or legumes, salads and other vegetables and dessert. Moderate alcohol will be included in camping meals, though drinks at estancia dinners must be purchased separately
Lunches will consist of a variety of sandwiches, pasta and other salads, fruit, chocolate, cookies, dried fruit and trail mix, nuts, crackers, cheese, sausages, chips, juices and soda, cofee, tea and hot chocolate
Breakfasts will be coffee, tea, juice, mate, hot and cold cereals, toast, cold cuts and cheeses, fruit, hot cakes, eggs, bacon and sausage, local marmalades
Embark on an epic horseback riding expedition, across the width of Chile.
Day 1: Airport pick-up, transfer to Puerto Natales
Your guide will meet you at the airport, to begin the three hour transfer across the flat Patagonian pampas, flecked with estancias and nothofagus forests, to arrive at the small town of Puerto Natales.
Once checked in to your hotel, you will have the afternoon free to wander the city, before meeting for dinner and the trip orientation.
Day 2: Horseback ride along the coast of Last Hope Sound, Milodon Cave, Estancia Laguna Sofia After breakfast in the hotel, we will take the short drive to our Base of Operations, just 2km from Puerto Natales. Here, we will meet the horses and load the saddle bags with the days supplies, for our first day of horseback riding. Starting from a semi-rural area, we will ride out into open grassy meadows, and down into the fresh breezes off the coast of Last Hope Sound.
You may spot Eagles, Hawks, Flamingos, Black Necked Swans and occasionally condor as your guide relates to you the natural and human history of the area.
After several hours of riding, you will reach Las Liles Cliff, a spectacular lookout point, hovering over the ocean, to relax, stretch and discover the contents of your box lunch! Guanaco island is directly across the sound, and from here you can see the jagged shapes of the Cuernos, in the Torres del Paine National Park. You may even cross paths with the gauchos who work on the ranch, and are busy maintaining fences, rounding up and branding cattle and training new horses.
Todays ride will be an excellent opportunity to get to know your horse and tack, putting him through all the paces, on the flat.
After lunch, you will be met by a transfer, that will take to you the Milodon Cave, the abode of the gaint big foot like creature, whose remains were found here many years ago. Even if you don't buy the story, you will surely be impressed by the deep cavern, and the beautiful view.
Those who are keen, may continue riding, to Estancia Laguna Sofia.
Tonight will be spent in the cozy estancia guest house, recently renovated in a very elegant and relaxing manner.
Day 3: Horseback ride from Estancia Laguna Sofia, over Cerro Campana, to Three Forks River After a hearty breakfast from the creekside estancia dining room, we will pack the saddle bags and mount up for a long and interesting ride.
The ride starts by climbing high onto Bell Mountain, where once at the top, we will stop for lunch and give the horses a rest. Atop the Mountain is a wide grassland, called the Vega Sinoret. We will find a small and quaint puesto (worker's house) to have lunch in incliment weather, and enjoy the views from the top of the meadow.
After lunch, we will continue down the Mountain to a special place called "The Window" which is a natural window, looking out across expanses of mountains and valleys. We will then ride to Condor Lookout, for our first opportunity to spot the enormous birds up close. When they hover effortlessly above your head, peering down and blocking out the sun, you will encompass their enormity and grace.
Once down from the mountain, we need to wind through a large valley, and cross several streams and rivers, before arriving at our riverside camp.
Enjoy the sounds of the river, while drinking an evening glass of wine, and awaiting a delicious hand prepared meal.
Day 4: Horseback ride from Three Forks to Estancia Dos Elianas After packing up camp, we willl prepare for a beautiful riverside ride. Today we will pick up the pace, as we trot and canter along the winding Las Chinas River. The River has its´origins high in the Wild Mountains (Sierra Baguales) which divide Chile and Argentina to our East. We will reunite with the river at its' very origin, at the end of the trip.
You may set the pace on this day, as there are plenty of flat, grassy areas to trot and gallop. We will most probably cross paths with other gauchos, traveling along the river, perhaps to their puesto, or herding animals to a fresh pasture.
Finally, the river takes us to Estancia Dos Elianas, which is an 8,000 hectare (16,000 acre) working sheep ranch, in the Torres del Paine Region. In recent years, the estancia has developed an agrotourism program, demonstrating the joys and hardships of ranch life, to visitors from all over the world.
We will feel welcomed as we ride directly to the stables to untack our horses and give them well-deserved grain.
The owners of the estancia Christian and Lorena, will greet us and show us to our camp, before preparing a exquisite, Chilean meal.
You may choose to wander through the large barns and paddocks, or relax in the wonderful quincho (bbq room), investigating the photos, and artesan tack that decorate the walls.
Time in the Saddle: 6-7 Hours
Day 5: Horseback ride from Dos Elianas to Puesto on Sarmiento Lake After a great nights´sleep, we will enjoy the most delicious breakfast in the region: handmade sopapillas, jams, and dulce de leche, farm fresh eggs, bread and coffee, tea and máte. After storing up some energy, we´ll tack up and head out towards the East, along the Chinese River.
After crossing several estancias, we will finally enter
the boundries of Estancia Mirador del Paine (Paine Lookout) appropriately named for its' beautiful location, on the border of the Torres del Paine National Park.
Estancia Mirador del Payne is an 8,000 hectare (16,000 acre) working ranch, nestled on the banks of Green Lagoon, below the looming mountains of the Torres del Paine.
Once we enter the estancia, we will follow a vague trail, along a mountainside, overlooking Sarmiento Lake. Lago Sarmiento is the deepest lake in the Park, and very distictive deep blue, with cumbling shores of white calcium carbonate.
Finally, we will reach the red roofed lakeside puesto. Here we will grain the horses, before heading into the puesto for a nice evening meal, around the heavy wood table.
Time in the Saddle: 6-7 Hours
Day 6: Horseback ride to heart of the Estancia, Ride up to Mirador Toro, Sleep Estancia Lazo Today we will depart the picturesque puesto to ride further in to the heart of the estancia. We will continue to ride along the hillside overlooking Sarmiento, before entering the cool, shady Nothofagus forests. Keep a look out for the pretty Megallanic Woodpecker, with its' bright red head, as we ride across fallen trees and small streams. We will have lunch at the estancia, and then continue the second part of todays ride. You will follow your gaucho guide, up the hillside of Bull Mountain towards the incredible lookout point, riding first along the edge of Green Lagoon, before entering thick forests. You will cross several fresh water mountain streams while riding through the knee-high grasses before emerging at the foot of the spectacular Torres del Paine. We will ride beneath its towering heights as we begin another ascent to an incredible lookout from which you may see the turquoise, emerald and milky blue glacier lakes that were carved out centuries ago by massive glaciers.
From here you may see rivers that cruve serpent-like at the base of the mountains, connecting lakes and eventually flowing down to Last hope Sound. Search the open skies for the enormous condor as it glides noiselessly through the air. We will have lunch at the lookout, before continuing the rest of the ride, crossing between rolling hills and hidden ponds as we circle around Laguna Verde and head back towards the lovely estancia.
Once we arrive, enjoy a relaxing stroll on the beach or sip your beverage of choice and marvel at the view from the comfort of the front porch before meeting in the dining room for a delicious evening meal.
Time in the Saddle: 8 Hours
Day 7: Horseback ride from Estancia Lazo around Lake Sarmiento to puesto in the pampa After an energizing breakfast in the hostería, you will prepare for a second day of riding. Today, the pace will be much faster, as you say goodbye to Laguna Verde and begin the 7 hour ride to a small puesto resting on an open expanse of pampa.
Passing once again through the forests of Green Lagoon, you will arrive at the banks of Lago Sarmiento. Puma scat and prints have been spotted frequently in this area and we may even catch a glimpse of the elusive animal. In the distance you will see the unmistakable Torres (Towers) of granite reaching high in to the sky, surrounded by snow-capped peaks. We will follow the white banks of Sarmiento for approximately two hours before we arrive at a puesto nestled at the edge of the lake. Maybe if the puestero is home, you will be invited inside for a mate tea, before setting out the picnic lunch.
After lunch the pace will pick up, with several long trots and canters, as you cross flat pampas, feeling the freedom and joy of horseback riding across country. We will need to negotiate several rivers, and hope that they are not too deep!
Finally we will arrive at a small puesto, resting alongside the Rio Las Chinas, and adjascent to the base of the Sierra Baguales. From here we can take in the magnitude of the Mountain range, as we relax in our cozy camp.
Time in the Saddle: 8 Hours
Day 8: Horseback ride from puesto to Estancia Las Chinas Today, the landscape will change drastically once again, as we ride closer to the Argentine border. After packing camp, we will set out across the flat pampa, towards a very secluded estancia at the mouth of the Baguales. There will be plenty of opportunity to trot and canter once again, as the strange, mohak shaped mountains loom up before us. From the pampa below, we can see far into the flat stretch of Argentina.
After lunch, we will head towards our evenings refuge in Valley Las Chinas, crossing the river once again to arrive at the lush valley. We will ride through the center of the Valley, with it's green grasses and distant view of the Towers, peeking over the hillside.
Estancia Las Chinas is part a much larger estancia, Cerro Guido. The Estancia is the largest in the region, boasting 250,000 hectares (500,000 acres) of grazing land for hundreds of thousands of sheep and cattle.
We will be staying in a quiet section of the estancia, in a rustic lodge, with very comfortable rooms, and a cozy living area.
Time in the Saddle: 7 Hours
Day 9: Horseback ride from Estancia Las Chinas to La Cumbre
After a lovely breakfast in the estancia, you will pack a modest bag, that will be loaded onto a pack horse for the final, and most remote leg of our journey.
We will set out across the valley, and begin the climb up a high hillside, adjascent to the Baguales. As we climb, the mountain range will reveal itself slowly, until we reach the top of the hill, from which you may see the extent of the mysterious, ancient mountains. The peaks of the mountains are almost always capped with a dusting of snow, even in the height of summer, as they extend for many kilometers into the Southern Ice Field.
At any point, you may find the the trail of wild horses, and will surely see a few herds, during your travels through the mountains. Horses have inhabited this land for over 500 years, and used to run wild in the mountains by the thousands. In the beginning, red and blue roan was the predominant color, although after the introduction of several different breeds of stallions, colors became more varying. You may spot the large and fearsome, black Thoroughbred stallion, or possibly the massive chestnut Percheron, who travels with his herd closer to the estancia houses.
Once atop the hillside, we will ride for several kilometers through small, lush valleys, hiding deep, cold subterranean streams that are loaded with lively trout.
You will be humbled by the majestic scenery, and quiet remoteness of the landscape, as we continue on towards the closest human settlement to the Southern Ice Field.
Estancia La Cumbre was founded in 1923 by "ChiCho" Vidal. Tio ChiCho was told he was crazy to establish an estancia in such a harsh an inhospitable area. He did not listen however, and was captivated by the mystical mountains and their ancient secrets. He and his family endured many hardships in the Baguales, and during the winter he drove his herd of over 150 horses through 1.5 meters of snow, to open a road for his sheep. The summers were long and warm, with many fiestas. ChiCho would ride his horse over the mountains to El Calafate, and his Argentine friends would cross the mountains every year to celebrate his birthday in true gaucho style, bringing pack horses loaded with wine, lamb and gifts. These roudy gauchos would round up the wild horses and have a true rodeo, in the corrals of the estancia!
As you approach the estancia, you may be able to imagine the pioneer days, of over 80 years ago, and possibly hear the legends of the Aonikenk, whispered on the wind.
Time in the Saddle: 6 Hours
Day 10: Horseback ride from La Cumbre to the Chilean/ Argentine border Today we will pack up camp, and move higher into the mountains, to a remote puesto below the Chile/Argentina border. Follow your guide with care, as the terrain can be decieving with deep bogs and lush grass patches that seem to float atop the ground. Horses may easily be injured, and occasionally have been lost in the deep bogs.
The puesto is nestled in a valley at the base of twin mountains, that create the point of a V. It feels as if you are in a natural castle, as you look up at the jagged, forboding peaks that surround you. Just ahead is the continental divide of South America, the point at which waters part, and run East to Argentina, West to Chile, the natural and cartographic division between the two countries.
At this point you are much closer to the town of El Calafate, Argentina, than to any Chilean town! Many kilometers North of the Torres del Paine, you are almost adjascent to the massive Perrito Moreno Glacier of Argentina.
After lunch at the puesto, you will continue to climb higher into the mountains, until you reach the placed marked as the border. Enjoy the remoteness of the area, as you are surely the only travelers to reach this point, in the entire year.
Return down the mountain to the puesto valley camp.
Time in the Saddle: 8 Hours
Day 11: Horseback ride to Mars Valley and Tetas Las Chinas
We will once again pack up camp, and head back down the valley, leaving the pack horses at our camp in La Cumbre. We will then head off towards the West, to find the Mars Valley, aptly named for its' stark other planetly landsdape. Keep an eye out for fossils and other artifacts, although we forbid removing aftifacts from the Valley, you may often observe large chunks of petrified wood, petrified sea shells or even ancient boleadoras (the rock like weapon used by the natives while hunting guanaco and horses).
From Mars Valley we will continue toward Tetas Las Chinas, which are two very distinctive, twin points, piercing the sky. We must ride up the mountainside for several hours to reach the top, but the view is certainly worth it! From here you can see all the way to the Torres del Paine, dwarfed in the distance, and across the emmense expanses of pampa, winding river valleys, the Southern Ice Field to the North, and the incredible mountains that surround you.
After enjoying the view, we will head back down the mountainside to our river, wilderness camp at Estancia La Cumbre.
Time in the Saddle: 7 Hours
Day 12: Ride horses to pick-up point, meet transfer for Full Day Paine, Celebratory Asado Dinner Today we will wake early, for one last, long day. We will start by packing up camp, and riding the horses back down the valley, towards Estancia Los Leones (The Lions). In case you are wondering, the estancia is named not because of the presence of Lions, but for their smaller family member... Puma.
Todays' ride will be short, but sweet, and a chance to bid farewell to your strong, resilient Criollo. Once we reach the estancia, the horses will be loaded into a trailer and taken to a nice, grassy pasture where they will rest for a few days.
We will load into our transfer vehicle, to begin a full day tour of the Torres del Paine National Park. Photo opportunities abound as we travel through the gorgeous, world famous Park and UNESCO Wold Biosphere Reserve.
The Park is dotted with hundreds of lakes, each with its´own unique color. Above, the incredible mountain range unfolds before us, as each curve in the road reveals a new perspective on the hanging glaciers, granite monoliths, snaking rivers, and glacial valleys. We will stop at the parks Administration Center, to read about the interesting formation of the mountain range, before crossing a long, flat pampa to reach Glacier Grey. To get a better glimpse of the glacier, we will cross a swinging bridge to reach the long, black sand beach that lies at the base of Grey Lake. Marvel at the icebergs that rest on the shore, and peer across the milky water, to the massive ice face at the end of the lake.
After lunch, we will take the winding, forested drive back to Puerto Natales. On the way, we will pass the Milodón Cave, having completed your incredible journey, and come full circle!
Once back in Natales, you´ll have the opportunity to shower and change before re-uniting for one last group dinner. We will delight in a traditional patagonian asado of roasted lamb, potatoes, regional salads, breads, wine and delicious dessert.
Day 13:Morning transfer to airport in Punta Arenas for
onward travel
