Estancias & Glaciers Horseback Ride in Chile

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!

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.