Español
After breakfast, we say goodbye to our hostess and depart to the lake where our horses are waiting before enjoying our last morning's ride in preparation for crossing the border.
Having passports at the ready we will reach the Mountain Police Station which leads to the border crossing on the banks of the Puelo River.
We will cross Lago Puelo by boat before going though the Argentine border formalities. A minibus will be waiting to take us to El Bolsón. Lunch will be at a great local restaurant with time to buy some souvenirs or explore the area. Travel by minibus to San Carlos de Bariloche for the final night of the trip in a comfortable 3* hotel.
4 hours in the saddle with 30 minutes boat navigation. Private bus transfer to the town of El Bolsón, 20 minutes with two more hours to the town of San Carlos de Bariloche. Breakfast and lunch included.
Paine to Puelo Ride Detailed Itinerary
Day 1: Arrive into Punta Arenas. Puerto Natales. Estancia.
Arrive into Punta Arenas in the far south of Chile before meeting your guide and driver for a private transfer to Puerto Natales.
First we will visit the Magellanic Penguin colony at Otway Sound for a chance to observe these fascinating burrowing penguins.
Continue to Estancia Tercera Barranca located on the eastern perimeters of Torres del Paine. This small intimate ranch offers cosy lodgings in an authentic country house with fabulous views of the Towers from its large west facing windows.
Fireside living room/bar and traditional quincho (wooden dining room with outside BBQ area). En suite rooms.
The living room is an excellent place to enjoy a pisco sour whilst meeting your new friends and discussing the adventures to come.
Trip Briefing and welcome dinner included (wine/drinks available at extra cost).
Coral at Estancia Tercera
Days 2: Ride to waterfall and Laguna Azul. Estancia
After a breakfast of home baked bread and cakes, we will be meeting our horses for a safety briefing and introduction to western riding.
After some practice in the vicinity of the estancia and a chance to adjust to the different tack and style of riding we will be heading towards Laguna Azul.
We will experience views of the granite Torres del Paine during the morning as we ride over the pampas towards the Park. Passing through some beautiful canyons and a waterfall we will cross rivers and forests before arriving at our destination the pristine Laguna Azul, one of the prettiest and sunniest areas of the Park.
We will relax here and have our lunch while taking in the view of the Torres framed in the background.
After riding along the lake beach we will cross meadows and ancient southern beech forests as we make our way back to the Estancia.
With luck on our side we may see guanacos, rheas, foxes and even armadillos along the trail as we cross the land belonging to various estancias. After five or six hours riding we will return to our lovely home for the night where we can relax fireside or take a hot bath before dinner is served.
All meals included (wine/drinks available at extra cost). Hours in the saddle 5-6 depending on pace and stops.
After some practice in the vicinity of the estancia and a chance to adjust to the different tack and style of riding we will be heading towards Laguna Azul.
We will experience views of the granite Torres del Paine during the morning as we ride over the pampas towards the Park. Passing through some beautiful canyons and a waterfall we will cross rivers and forests before arriving at our destination the pristine Laguna Azul, one of the prettiest and sunniest areas of the Park.
We will relax here and have our lunch while taking in the view of the Torres framed in the background.
After riding along the lake beach we will cross meadows and ancient southern beech forests as we make our way back to the Estancia.
With luck on our side we may see guanacos, rheas, foxes and even armadillos along the trail as we cross the land belonging to various estancias. After five or six hours riding we will return to our lovely home for the night where we can relax fireside or take a hot bath before dinner is served.
All meals included (wine/drinks available at extra cost). Hours in the saddle 5-6 depending on pace and stops.
Riding Chilean style
Days 3: Ride across the heart of the Park to Serrano
After a wholesome breakfast and packing up we will be starting our ride westwards towards the heart of the Park.
We will now be riding directly towards the Paine Massif mountain range so the views are dramatic and beautiful. Our trail skirts the southern edge of the mountains on a rarely trodden path as we pass azure and turquoise lakes with the huge granite mountain peaks standing behind.
After a picnic lunch taken in one of the pretty valleys we will continue west to the beautiful soft pampas beside the Serrano River. Here we will have a chance for a nice long canter as the light fades and the shadows lengthen and we arrive at our destination in the Serrano area of the Park.
Situated by the emerald green waters of the Serrano River with river and mountain views this is our base for the night.
Night in Hotel Rio Serrano, all meals included (wine/drinks available at extra cost).
Hours in saddle: 5-6 depending on photo stops. All rooms en suite.
We will now be riding directly towards the Paine Massif mountain range so the views are dramatic and beautiful. Our trail skirts the southern edge of the mountains on a rarely trodden path as we pass azure and turquoise lakes with the huge granite mountain peaks standing behind.
After a picnic lunch taken in one of the pretty valleys we will continue west to the beautiful soft pampas beside the Serrano River. Here we will have a chance for a nice long canter as the light fades and the shadows lengthen and we arrive at our destination in the Serrano area of the Park.
Situated by the emerald green waters of the Serrano River with river and mountain views this is our base for the night.
Night in Hotel Rio Serrano, all meals included (wine/drinks available at extra cost).
Hours in saddle: 5-6 depending on photo stops. All rooms en suite.
Riding across Paine
Day 4: Ride to Grey Glacier. Return to Puerto Natales.
After breakfast we will be meeting our horses and preparing for the fast pampas ride to Grey Lake. Our view will be dominated by the jagged, granite peaks of the Paine Massif as we ride out along the Grey River to the largest glacier in the park, Grey Glacier. On reaching the trail head we will dismount and tether our horses before walking out across the swinging footbridge through the forest to the beach below.
The view that greets us is memorable - the sandy shores of the beach form an almost surreal contrast to the blue of the floating icebergs that have calved off the nearby glacier. Grey Glacier protrudes off the southern ice field and is quite simply a wonder of nature.
After some time walking along the beach and enjoying our picnic lunch, we will walk back to our waiting horses for the exciting ride back to the Serrano River.
Meet transfer vehicle for the drive back to Puerto Natales.
Breakfast and packed lunch included. Dinner at leisure in one of the town's many great restaurants. Hours in the saddle: 4-5.
Night in Puerto Natales at the contemporary waterside Hotel Indigo Spa.
The view that greets us is memorable - the sandy shores of the beach form an almost surreal contrast to the blue of the floating icebergs that have calved off the nearby glacier. Grey Glacier protrudes off the southern ice field and is quite simply a wonder of nature.
After some time walking along the beach and enjoying our picnic lunch, we will walk back to our waiting horses for the exciting ride back to the Serrano River.
Meet transfer vehicle for the drive back to Puerto Natales.
Breakfast and packed lunch included. Dinner at leisure in one of the town's many great restaurants. Hours in the saddle: 4-5.
Night in Puerto Natales at the contemporary waterside Hotel Indigo Spa.
*Note for those who would like to get up closer to the face of this marvel of ice, we can arrange a trip out onto the lake on the Grey II boat. This is an optional excursion available at a cost of approximately US$80 per person.
Grey beach
Day 5: Punta Arenas to Puerto Montt. Puerto Varas
Transfer to Punta Arenas for the flight north to Puerto Montt.
Transfer in from Puerto Montt airport to Bed and breakfast in the pretty lakeside town of Puerto Varas.
Breakfast only included today.
Transfer in from Puerto Montt airport to Bed and breakfast in the pretty lakeside town of Puerto Varas.
Breakfast only included today.
Local fishing style
Day 6: Transfer through Valdivian forest. Tagua Tagua
The trip will start at your hotel where you will meet your guide and driver. The van will be loaded for the three hour drive through the lush, green Valdivian forest along the Reloncaví estuary.
Arrive at Tagua - Tagua Lake. Time for delicious picnic lakeside before crossing the lake. Sail to the other side before driving for another hour or so. At the end of the road we will meet the baqueanos and the criollo horses that will accompany us for the next few days. After packing the horses and our saddle bags we will ride out into the magnificent scenery.
After a few hours riding we will arrive at our base for the night at Lago Verde. Breakfast, lunch, tea and dinner included.
4-5 hours by car and approximately 2-½ hrs in the saddle.
Arrive at Tagua - Tagua Lake. Time for delicious picnic lakeside before crossing the lake. Sail to the other side before driving for another hour or so. At the end of the road we will meet the baqueanos and the criollo horses that will accompany us for the next few days. After packing the horses and our saddle bags we will ride out into the magnificent scenery.
After a few hours riding we will arrive at our base for the night at Lago Verde. Breakfast, lunch, tea and dinner included.
4-5 hours by car and approximately 2-½ hrs in the saddle.
Beautiful Puelo River
Day 7: Ventisqueros Valley. Isla Bandurrias
After breakfast we will take just a short boat trip to meet our horses for the day's riding adventure.
Plenty of opportunity to enjoy this fantastic landscape and cross the river just as the locals do, on a public boat with the horses swimming alongside. Quite a spectacle for those that have never seen it so have your camera at the ready.
After we cross the horses over the river we will ride into the Ventisqueros valley for another river crossing but this time staying seated on our horses. There will be a chance to stop for lunch and relax before our lovely afternoon ride to the remote and beautifully located Isla Bandurrias where you will be welcomed by your charming host and shown to your accommodation in the very pretty wood heated lakeside cabin.
A welcome tea with home made cakes will greet you and there will be time to relax and enjoy the cabin and the tranquility of your island location.
Breakfast, lunch, tea and dinner included. 5 hours in the saddle.
Plenty of opportunity to enjoy this fantastic landscape and cross the river just as the locals do, on a public boat with the horses swimming alongside. Quite a spectacle for those that have never seen it so have your camera at the ready.
After we cross the horses over the river we will ride into the Ventisqueros valley for another river crossing but this time staying seated on our horses. There will be a chance to stop for lunch and relax before our lovely afternoon ride to the remote and beautifully located Isla Bandurrias where you will be welcomed by your charming host and shown to your accommodation in the very pretty wood heated lakeside cabin.
A welcome tea with home made cakes will greet you and there will be time to relax and enjoy the cabin and the tranquility of your island location.
Breakfast, lunch, tea and dinner included. 5 hours in the saddle.
Island view from above
Day 8: Lago Azul. Isla Bandurrias
After breakfast we will saddle up for a two hour ride towards the majestic mountain peaks as we head out to Blue Lake (Lago Azul) with its crystal clear waters and abundant fish life.
Picnic and a chance to relax on the shores of the lake. After lunch our ride follows some steep passes into the forest as we skirt the mountains that take us to the southern part of this lake.
Passing through the typical cold jungle, Valdivian-type rainforest with its ancient Alerce trees (Fitzroya Cupresoide) as well as other local giants such as the "Coihue" and "Arrayanes" (the cold tree)
After leaving the horses in a safe place we will return to the Island to enjoy the rest of the afternoon there.
Breakfast, lunch, tea and dinner included. 6 hours in the saddle.
Picnic and a chance to relax on the shores of the lake. After lunch our ride follows some steep passes into the forest as we skirt the mountains that take us to the southern part of this lake.
Passing through the typical cold jungle, Valdivian-type rainforest with its ancient Alerce trees (Fitzroya Cupresoide) as well as other local giants such as the "Coihue" and "Arrayanes" (the cold tree)
After leaving the horses in a safe place we will return to the Island to enjoy the rest of the afternoon there.
Breakfast, lunch, tea and dinner included. 6 hours in the saddle.
Cabin at Isla Bandurrias
Day 9: Cross border to Argentina.El Bolson. Bariloche
After breakfast, we say goodbye to our hostess and depart to the lake where our horses are waiting before enjoying our last morning's ride in preparation for crossing the border.
Having passports at the ready we will reach the Mountain Police Station which leads to the border crossing on the banks of the Puelo River.
We will cross Lago Puelo by boat before going though the Argentine border formalities. A minibus will be waiting to take us to El Bolsón. Lunch will be at a great local restaurant with time to buy some souvenirs or explore the area. Travel by minibus to San Carlos de Bariloche for the final night of the trip in a comfortable 3* hotel.
4 hours in the saddle with 30 minutes boat navigation. Private bus transfer to the town of El Bolsón, 20 minutes with two more hours to the town of San Carlos de Bariloche. Breakfast and lunch included.
Criollo Horse
Day 10: End of the trip
Transfer out. Breakfast only.
We can organize any extra nights at the hotel in Bariloche on request.
We can organize any extra nights at the hotel in Bariloche on request.
Antique 'Estufa'
