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8 Day itinerary in Chile, South America

Estancias & Glaciers Horseback Ride in Chile

Experienced riders will be talking for years to come about this adventure through Patagonia’s estancias and National Parks. Charismatic gauchos – their laughter, tales and endless “mate” tea – will accompany you as you encounter pampas, hills, valleys and four different glaciers. This 8-day all-incl... Read More

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GonzaloAndreaMarina

By Gonzalo, Andrea and Marina

Overview

Physical Difficulty

Demanding
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Recommended Age

Everyone

Operated in

English, Spanish

GUIDANCE

Tour Guide, Driver

starting point

Punta Arenas

trip type

Private

trip attributes

Hiking

Meet local people

Rural home stays

Indigenous culture

Outdoors & Nature

Adventure

Start/End

Night

Highlights

1

Ride from Torres del Paine to Bernardo O’Higgins National Parks

2

Experience Varied Trail Conditions

3

See Serrano, Grey, Tyndall & Balmaceda Glaciers

4

Navigate through the Last Hope Sound

Itinerary

Mid-Range ($$) expand_more

Day 1

place Transfer from Punta Arenas Airport – Hotel in Puerto Natales

To travel without hassle, take the early flight from Santiago to Punta Arenas (4 hours). Relax and enjoy the journey over the Andes and views of the intricate patterns of the Patagonian Ice Fields. At Punta Arenas airport your private transfer will be waiting to take you to Puerto Natales to your hotel for the evening, Hotel Vendaval. Leaving Punta Arenas we’ll see the Strait of Magellan and the island of Tierra del Fuego. Our 3-hour drive weaves through open pampas and huge estancias (ranches) with the chance of seeing the sheep and ñandus (similar to ostriches) that call these landscapes home. We’ll arrive to the colorful fishing town of Puerto Natales, located on the Last Hope Sound and surrounded by mountains and incredible fjords. Here we’ll check-in to the hotel before joining up with our guide for a briefing of the upcoming days’ adventures. Following the briefing we’ll enjoy dinner at the neighboring restaurant, a local favorite – Bahia Mansa – which offers exquisite freshly made chilean cuisine. Following dinner, rest easy in preparation for the start of our adventure that awaits!

Guide: Included for the day

Meals: Dinner

Accommodation:

  • Estancia & Chile Nativo Riverside Camp: Hotel Vendaval
Day 2

place Boat Navigation to Balmaceda & Serrano Glacier – Ride to Lake Brush

After breakfast at our hotel, our day begins with a short transfer to Puerto Bories where we will embark on the 21 de Mayo navigation taking us along the Last Hope Sound and face-to-face with the steeply-descending Serrano Glacier at the foot of Mount Balmaceda (2148 m). We’ll take a short walk up to the glacier viewpoint before boarding a boat which will take us across the Last Hope Sound to the Serrano River where we will meet our horses and the local gauchos who will accompanying us along our first ride to Lake Brush, and our backcountry campsite for the evening. Once we’ve prepared ourselves and the horses, we set off along a peaceful 4 hour ride, walking and trotting as we follow the Serrano River into the beautiful humid forests and views of the river and valley that stretches out around us.

Guide: Included for the day

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 3

place Ride to Chile Nativo Riverside Camp

This morning, after we’ve enjoy a delicious backcountry breakfast, we’ll set out heading north across the Serrano River to the Serrano Village in Torres del Paine National Park to the Chile Nativo Riverside Camp. 6-7 hours slow riding, trotting and cantering/49 KM

Guide: Included for the day

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 4

place Round trip ride to Grey Lake lookout

7 hours walking, trotting and cantering/ 17 KM This morning we will awaken to a nourishing breakfast in the Riverside Dining Lodge before heading out on our ride today. A huge section of pampas begins our ride to Grey Glacier, giving us the chance to canter as much as we want! Once we reach Grey River we’ll start along a narrow path backdropped by incredible mountain views. We’ll stop at the Pehoe Lake lookout to pause for a moment above its famously turquoise waters. Continuing on, the trail to the Grey Lake lookout becomes more rugged. Lunch will be here looking over this icy lake and the massive face of Grey Glacier, whose waters feed the lake. We’ll ride return via the same trail and reenergize ourselves with an evening canter across the pampas before arriving back to the Riverside Camp. Dinner is served in the dining lodge before we rest again in our secluded deluxe lotus belle tents.

Guide: Included for the day

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation:

  • Estancia & Chile Nativo Riverside Camp: Chile Nativo Riverside Camp
Day 5

place Ride to Estancia Tercera Barranca

6-7 hours slow riding, trotting and cantering/28 KM After breakfast we’ll mount our horses and set off through Torres del Paine National Park. Today’s ride is a long and slow ride past small lakes and postcard views of the Paine Massif. Once we arrive to Estancia Tercera Barranca, we’ll settle in for the evening an enjoy a classic chilean dinner together as a group.

Guide: Included for the day

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation:

  • Estancia & Chile Nativo Riverside Camp: Hostería Tercera Barranca
Day 6

place Round trip ride to Salto Las Chinas waterfall

6-7 hours slow riding, trotting and cantering/28 KM Our destination today is Salto Las Chinas waterfall on the east side of Torres del Paine National Park, a route taken more than a century ago by Lady Florence Dixie whose 1880 account of traveling Patagonia has become iconic. As we ride across pampas and plateaus we may see condors matching our speed as they soar the skies above us. We’ll stop for lunch at the waterfall before making our way back to the ranch via the same trail.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation:

  • Estancia & Chile Nativo Riverside Camp: Hostería Tercera Barranca
Day 7

place Boat trip to Puerto Natales

6-7 hours slow riding, trotting and cantering/ 34KM After breakfast we’ll mount our horses and set off to Estancia Lazo, a working cattle ranch just bordering the park. Today’s ride is moderate as we gallop past the last of these magnificent views of the park and the iconic three towers from a distance. Once we arrive to the estancia, we’ll say goodbye to our horses and then enjoy a private transfer back to Puerto Natales. Upon arriving to Natales, we’ll check-in to our hotel, wash up, and enjoy a farewell dinner together on our last night.

Guide: Included for the day

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Accommodation:

  • Estancia & Chile Nativo Riverside Camp: Hotel Vendaval
Day 8

place Transfer to Punta Arenas Airport

2.5 hours by transfer Your program ends with a private transfer to Punta Arenas airport. (To allow for travel time, guests should arrange their return flights for after 1 pm.) If you would like to stay the night in Punta Arenas, we’ll take you to your hotel.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

What’s Included

Accommodation expand_less

  • Hostería Tercera Barranca
  • Chile Nativo Riverside Camp
  • Hotel Vendaval

Meals expand_less

  • Dinner (7)
  • Breakfast (7)
  • Lunch (6)

Transport expand_less

  • Navigation between Monte Balmaceda to Puerto Natales
  • All private transportation indicated in the schedule

Activities expand_less

  • All activities indicated in the schedule

Extras expand_less

  • All horses, saddles and pack horses during the excursion
  • Riding equipment, including helmets, leather chaps, leather gloves, saddle bags, dry bags
  • Entrance fee to Torres del Paine National Park
  • Entrance fee to Bernardo O’Higgins National Park
  • All meals indicated in the schedule
  • Guide (English-Spanish), Driver and Baqueano (local cowboy)

Not Included expand_less

  • Travel insurance
  • Personal expenses
  • Lunch on Days 1 & 8
  • Any domestic or international flights
  • Dinner on Day 7
  • Any additional nights
  • Medical expenses
  • Sleeping bags and mattress (needed at Lake Brush campsite)
  • Alcoholic and non alcoholic drinks in the hotels
  • Gratuities for Guide, Baqueano & Driver

About Gonzalo

TEAM LEAD

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Expertise: 

Cycling

Kayaking

Skiing/Snowboarding

Hiking

Rafting

Snorkeling/Diving

Meet local people

Rural home stays

Indigenous culture

Yoga

Meditation

Travel with Purpose

Outdoors & Nature

Beach & Sea

As founder, Gonzalo is responsible for maintaining & developing the characteristics that Chile Nativo is famous for: top notch service, excellent outdoor programs & continued commitment to sustainability. His Patagonia travel tip? Travel off season!

Travel that Makes a Difference

By choosing to travel with us, you support local communities, wildlife, and the environment. We are dedicated to positively impacting the world through every journey we offer.

Let’s regenerate the planet together

We overcompensate your entire journey’s carbon footprint including flights - for free.

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FROM PRICE PER TRAVELER

$3,895.00 USD