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Tierra del Fuego - Argentina's only coastal national
park - is a place of extremes: the world's
southernmost national park accessible from the
world's southernmost city - Ushuaia. This is a
journey to the “heart” at the bottom of the world!
This five day horseback excursion will take you deep
into the center of Tierra del Fuego, where you will
experience the pristine beauty of a faraway land.
Ride between the Andean and Darwin mountain ranges,
explore the beach of the worlds most southern
ice-free lake, stroll through the streets of the
southernmost city in the world, and meet the people
who call this land their home.
Tierra del Fuego ("Land of Fire") is an archipelago
separated from the southern most tip of the South
American mainland by the Strait of Maglellan. The
coastal wildlife is rich and diverse, with many sea
birds, and seals and walruses.
 IT-ARRT02
Rates
incl.
1 night hotel, one night guesthouse (sleeping bag), 3 nights
estancias, bilingual guide, 3 riding days, most meals
5 days/ 4 nights
$ 1,450
Small group suppl. 2
riders only $160
Small group suppl. 1 rider only
$280
Dates 2008
12/17-12/21
Dates 2009 01/13-01/17
02/17-02/21
availability & reservation
and upon request with 3+ riders between November
and MarchAirport:
Ushuaia
Transfer:
$250 per group of 4
- to pay locally
Level:
Good novice+
Pace: Slow, some trots,
few canters
Tack: South American
Horses: Criollo cross
Min/Max:
3-8 riders
Not Included:
alcoholic beverages, domestic or international
flights, airport fees, gratuity, sleeping bags,
lunch on Day 1 and Day 5
Note: The sunniest, warmest time
of year is from mid-November to the end of March.
But be forewarned, the weather is always
unpredictable. Even during high season, it sometimes
will rain for a week at a time.
Itinerary
Day 1: Welcome to Tierra del Fuego!Your
guide will meet you at the airport in Ushuaia, the
morning of your arrival. You will then have several
hours to stroll around the city of Ushuaia before
meeting the others members of your group for a
delicious Argentinean lunch. 3:00pm, transfer to
Estancia Los Cerros Estancia (approximately 1 ½
hours) through the beautiful millinery forests of
Tierra del Fuego. When we arrive at the estancia, we
will be given a tour of the grounds and discuss the
joys and hardships of estancia life in the harsh
conditions of this extreme place. Then, we will
enjoy a traditional Patagonian meal and delectable
Argentinean wines while we discuss the itinerary for
the adventure to come. Accommodations are in the
rustic guesthouse (in sleeping bags).
Day 2: We will pack our things after a
farm style breakfast and walk down to the corral to
meet our partners for the journey, our horses. After
our expert guide matches horses and riders, we will
head out for a long and fulfilling ride along the
western shore of Yehuin Lake. This lake lies at the
northern base of the northernmost section of the
Darwin Range and is nestled between densely forested
mountains and long, grassy steppe. There will be
several river crossings along the way, among them
the clear, wide Rio Claro and Rio Indio. We may get
lucky at the river crossing and spot the busy beaver
that make this area their home, due to the abundance
of trout. We can stop for lunch on the banks of one
of these rivers and rest in the cool shade of the
Lenga trees. After several more hours of riding, we
will arrive at our lakeside campsite in the bay of
Lake Yehuin. From here we may watch the sun splash
hues of orange and gold as it sets on our southern
location. Overnight at the bunkhouse of a local
estancia, where the owners will prepare a hearty
meal for us.
Day 3: This morning we will begin our ride
by climbing to the top of Mount Cabra (Goat
Mountain) which reaches a height of 300m and offers
an excellent view of the surrounding forests and
lakes. We will continue riding in the direction of
the Atlantic Ocean, getting closer to the tip of
Cape Horn and our evenings destination; Estancia
Ushuaia. This estancia lies on 5,000hectares of
pristine forest and meadowland and was constructed
in the 1950’s by immigrant settlers. Upon our
arrival we will be greeted by our hosts, the owners
themselves, who are a traditional, third generation
Fuegian family. They will give us a special tour of
their estancia and guesthouse, our home for tonight.
Day 4: We can relax some on our last
morning in camp, and slowly pack our things, before
we mount up for the days ride. This will be a long
and exciting day, crossing a variety of terrain from
low grasslands to forested mountains before reaching
our final destination, the town of Tolhuin on the
banks of Lago Fagnano. We will ride for several
hours in the morning before stopping to rest at “del
Chonque” lowlands, where there is a good possibility
of spotting herds of wild horses who still roam the
island. After lunch, we will continue on towards the
banks of the great Lago Fagnano, which was named for
an Italian missionary, and is the largest and
southernmost ice-free lake on earth. The lake is
scientifically important in that its’ waters are a
collection of various sources (hot springs, glacial
melt, precipitation and groundwater). On the banks
of the lake is the town of Tolhuin, which in the
aboriginal language means “heart” as it was thought
to be the heart of the island of Tierra del Fuego.
It is here, in the heart, where we will end our
journey together, riding directly to our comfortable
and comparatively luxurious accommodation. You are
free to enjoy a stroll along the beach, or simply
shower and relax before taking pleasure in the
delicious delicacies prepared by the chef and
toasting our journey with rich Argentinean wine.
Day 5: Morning transfer
to Ushuaia where you will have time to wander the
city and take a last look at the great Beagle
Channel before boarding your flight to onward
travels.
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