Torres del Paine
Estancias Horse Drive 
in Patagonia, Chile
Join this ride in the southern parts of Patagonia and enjoy fast rides to wild glaciers and iceberg-filled lakes, take an exciting boat trip up close to a towering valley glacier and feast on a traditional gaucho roast. Along the way see burrowing penguins, guanacos, rheas and possibly pumas. Ride on lovely quiet trails, during crisp windless days, with vistas of the beautiful snow capped peaks. You then will be moving a herd of 40+ horses on this exciting horse drive across the park. Experience a slice of history at some gorgeous old estancia houses  and take in fantastic views from the fireside at estancia Tercera Barranca. On this trip you can witness some of the best sunrises in the area from your hotel at the Serrano River.
This is a weeklong ride with overnights in remote estancias.

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Rates include 9 nights accommodations, most meals, 6 riding days, Lamb Asado, English speaking guide and local baqueanos, park fees.
10 days/ 9 nights  $2,865   Single:+$350
2009:  March 29 to April 7
  availability & reservation

Meeting: Hosteria Rio Verde
Airport: Punta Arenas
Transfer: Airport pick up is at 3:30 PM  - included
Gratuity: $75+ recommended
Level:    Good intermediate+
Horses:  Chilean
Tack:      Chilean (similar to Western)
Pace: Slow to intermediate - some canters and gallops
Min/Max Riders: 7-12
3-6  riders only:   +$185 per person
2  riders only:   +$570 per person

Trip includes:
All riding; all transfers to and from Punta Arenas and whilst in park; nine nights accommodation based on twin share; breakfast and lunch every day; dinner in home stays, hotels and estancias (excluding wine); Lamb Asado; English speaking and local guides; baqueanos who care for horses; waterproof stuff sacks for trip; use of saddle bags; entrance fees to park and penguin colony. 
Price Excludes:  Flights, airport taxes, airport transfers and meal in Punta Arenas on last night; lunch on Day 1 and 9  in Natales. 

Description:

This end of season ride incorporating a fabulous one day horse drive is now becoming more popular.  In 2007 and 2008 we will continue with pretty much the same itinerary and with luck on our side, the route will go according to plan with us moving the horses into the Park (as opposed to the other way round).  This really does make for some awesome sights as you ride due west from the Estancia with the loose horses ahead of you and the mountains dominating the horizon. 
As with the standard Estancia Ride, we will start at Hosteria Rio Verde for a night at this gorgeous estancia before continuing in to our home stay accommodation at Las Chinas.  From there it is on to Tercera with a ride up to the Laguna Stokes area where we hope to see the wild Criollos.  Then we continue on with the loose horses for an exciting day driving them into the Park in the company of the baqueanos before riding on to the Serrano River where we enjoy a well deserved rest.  This will also give us a day to ride out to Lago Grey and see the immense Grey Glacier (boat trip optional).  Then we ascend the steep incline of the Sierra del Toro before continuing through forests and valleys to the lovely Estancia Lazo.  We will base ourselves here for 2 nights giving us an opportunity to ride up to the lovely Mirador, where we are very likely to be riding through snow at this time of the year.   

A great end of season ride when the trails can be beautifully quiet.

Trip Highlights:  

·  Visit cute burrowing penguins at the Otway Sound Penguin Colony

· Enjoy a slice of history and lovely accommodation in the old estancia houses of Estancia Las Chinas and Rio Verde

·    Canter your heart out across seemingly never-ending pampas and grassy valleys

·     Enjoy great pisco sours and fireside dining at the very comfortable Estancia Lazo

·     Herd 40+ horses on an exciting horse drive from the estancia to winter grazing

·     Ride up on top of the world onto the Sierra del Toro for awesome Park views

·     Witness some of the best sunrises in the Park from the hotel at the Serrano River

·    Take a glimpse at authentic estancia life and ‘homestay’ accommodation at estancia Tercera Barranca

·   Sit and enjoy a traditional mate (matay) session with your host baqueanos at a remote puesto on the outskirts of the Park

·   Marvel at the miracles of nature as you stand in front of Grey Lake with the huge wall of ice that is Glacier Grey.  

·    Enjoy an optional boat ride up to the face of the the pretty and rarely visited Zamora Falls

·   Feast on local salmon and organic lamb whilst enjoying local hospitality

Tack: 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. The saddles provide adequate comfort for the long days riding and the stirrups consist of a leather cup through which the foot cannot pass. Most of the horses are ridden in simple snaffles. Halters are worn throughout the ride with rope tied around the horse’s neck to tie up at lunch stops/rest stops etc.
Water: During the trip we use local water supplies from rivers, streams and lakes. Clients should bring a water bottle to fill for their personal daily drinking supply. Water is always available at camp and there are further rivers and streams to replenish supplies en route. This water is clean and pure and is about as close to the source as is possible. We have never had any problems with any client drinking this water (there are no communities in the park to contaminate the water and there are no tropical water bourne diseases such as guiardia). If however a client does not feel confident in drinking this, we would recommend they bring iodine drops (and the taste inhibitors that are sold with them) for their personal supplies as it is impossible to carry any alternative source of water on the pack horses.
Equipment: On our Camping trips clients are required to bring a sleeping bag (on Estancia Ride these are provided for the two nights in refugios but clients might like to bring a sleeping sheet) and for our camping trips they should also bring a mat. The sleeping bag should be 3 or 4 season and should be carried in an effective stuff sack. We can rent sleeping bags and mats to guests and you should indicate this at the time of booking. For those clients renting a sleeping bag, we recommend you bring a sleeping bag inner (available in silk, cotton and fleece) for your comfort and hygiene.
Waterproof stuff sacks are supplied to each client for the duration of the trip (the size of an average 60 litre backpack/3,200 cubic inches and is sufficient for the demands of the trip). This enables clients’ belongings to be packed comfortable, safely and drily onto the pack horses. Excess luggage not required for the trip can be stored either at the client’s hotel in Punta Arenas or with us in Puerto Natales.
Transfer Times: On the morning of collection from Punta Arenas the transfer time to the penguins is around one hour. After everyone has had enough time observing the penguins, taking photographs etc, we will continue our journey on to Puerto Natales (around 3 hours). A one hour lunch stop is made in Puerto Natales before continuing on to our first night’s camping in the park (2 hours). The reverse of this is the case on our final day (without the penguins). For the Estancia Ride, this is reversed with the penguins being visited on the return journey.
Tips/Gratuities: At the end of the trip it is customary for each client to contribute towards a tip for the baquianos who have traveled with us. The normal amount given by each client is between $50 and $100 for the trip although of course it is up to the client to decide on how much they would like to give. This is presented by one of the group to the head baquiano at the end of the trip.
Single Supplements: For those clients who prefer not to share, we can offer single accommodation with a single supplement to cover extra accommodation expenses.