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Seven day horse ride suitable
for novice and/or experienced riders.
This seven day horse ride combines excellent riding opportunities on well
schooled horses and comfortable accommodation full of history with the
magnificent Torres del Paine national park that offers open pampas, wooded
valleys and breathtaking views of the towering mountains, the turquoise lakes
and the rolling glaciers… Riders will experience a first hand view of Patagonia
estancia life and the joys, threats and difficulties posed by farming cattle and
sheep in this area.
This exciting short getaway ride between
working estancias, converted estancias and wilderness lodges.
 IT-CHRT21
Rates
include 6 nights accommodation, all transfers starting from
Punta Arenas airport, all meals, all equipment, bilingual guide and entrance fee
for the park, 5 riding days.
7 days/ 6 nights $ 2,400 Single +~$295
Min/Max Riders: 5-8
2-3 riders only: +$250 per person
1 rider only: +$505 per person
2008 Dates:
Jan 2 to 8 Feb 16 to 22
Special
Itinerary (6 riding days)
other dates are available upon request from Nov to April
Meeting:
Punta Arenas
Transfer: included from airport
Gratuity:
10 to 15% recommended
Level:
Good Novice to Advanced, depending on group
Horses:
Chilean
Crillo
Tack:
Chilean (similar to Western)
Min/Max:
4 -8
Note: The food is all
organically grown. Fresh local meats or fish are offered with most meals.
Vegetarians should forward dieters requirements.
ITINERARY
Day 1
Morning collection from Punta Arenas airport and transfer to Puerto
Bories, situated on the banks of the Ultima Esperanza sound, Bories once
the largest exporting plant for wool in the world has now been
transformed into a quiet hamlet that has spectacular views of the sea,
surrounding mountains and Balmaceda glacier. Lunch will be taken at the
traditional traveller inn Ruben’s on route. Throughout the transfer we
will be able to appreciate the vast open pampas and wildlife. During the
evening you’ll have the opportunity to go for a short horse ride or view
the local museum before enjoying a traditional Patagonia barbecue at the
guest house.
Day 2
Early morning take a short transfer to Estancia Puerto Consuelo the
first estancia in the Ultima Esperanza region, situated on the banks of
fjord Eberhard. After meeting our horse that will be carrying us for the
next couple of days we set off across the estancia to the Milodon cave.
After stopping to view the cave we carry on our ride to Laguna Sofia,
through ancient Lenga forests and open valleys stopping for lunch on the
way. From Laguna Sofia we continue through wood and farm land until we
reach the traveller’s inn Tres Pasos where we’ll spend the night (Tres
Pasos was made famous by the noble prize winner Gabriela Mistral whom
wrote prize winning poetry from this special retreat).
Day 3
From Tres Pasos we ride to the small farming settlement Cerro Castillo.
We will riding through lush valleys and around lagoons, if the wind is
low we shall ride up the mountain path to where we will have
breathtaking views of the National Park, Torres del Paine. We arrive
early afternoon in Cerro Castillo where we will lunch at the estancia
“Cerro Castillo”, now converted into a comfortable hotel. After a short
tour of the small town and its rodeo ring we will travel by jeep to
Estancia Cerro Guido, situated on the borders of the park. We shall
spend the evening in this beautifully converted estancia that offers
view of the famous granite towers.
Day 4
Today the ride will take us from Laguna Amarga across the park to Rio
Serrano.
The days ride will be
long, but we’ll have some of the most spectacular views of the trip. We
will enter at Laguna Amarga and from here cross diverse terrains from
open pampa to wooded lenga valleys, through streams and along steep
mountain paths. The wildlife will be in abundance Guanaco herds will be
easy to photograph, foxes will follow our path, Ñandu will greet us and
the array of birds will make it a bird lover’s paradise. We arrive at
the parks administration centre late afternoon where we will be able to
view on the map the vast expanse of the park. After this short break we
will take the jeep (5 mins) to our destination for the night the Cabañas
del Paine by the Serrano river. These cabañas have a privilege view of
the horns.
Day 5
From the cabañas we will head across the open pampa to grey glacier
arriving there for lunch which will be taken on the beach over looking
grey lake and the glacier. The evening will be spent back at the cabañas
after an exhilarating days ride.
Day 6
We return to Puerto Natales by boat down the Ultima Esperanza fjord,
first taking a zodiac boat to view several beautiful waterfalls before
stopping to view Serrano glacier. Lunch will be taken at Estancia
Perales on the bank side of the Ultima Esperanza. On arrival in Puerto
Natales you’ll be transferred (5 mins) to Puerto Bories for your
farewell evening meal.
Day 7
In the morning you’ll have a chance to view Puerto Natales, before
transferring to Punta Arenas.
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