Argentina ~ Patagonia, Andesluna
7 and 13 night rides, October to early April, using simple farmstead, camp and lodge accommodation and shorter stays at El Sapucai, a working farmstead, on request.
There is little in Argentina to beat the landscape and traditional culture of Patagonia and here, just south of Bariloche, you can immerse yourself in the picturesque, natural landscapes and get a real taste of gaucho living. El Sapucai is a simple, family owned farmstead nestled in amongst rough open grassland, surrounded by crystal clear rivers and native forest of lenga and ñire (southern beech). You can ride out from the farmstead on a sure footed Criollo horse, climbing the slopes of the Alto Chubut mountains, crossing rivers and exploring elevated grassland plains or, just as the nomadic Tehuelche Indians did for hundreds of years, head from camp to camp, a pack horse carrying luggage, as you negotiate forest paths, cross blue-green lakes and enjoy endless views across rocky peaks. Simple living, authentic and welcoming. Time to stop and switch off, re-connecting with nature as you take a time-out from today's fast paced world.
SUMMARY
Riding: 4-8 hours a day or tailored to suit
Horses: Criollo and farm bred crosses
Pace: slow to moderate
Riding ability: novice to experienced; families welcome
Weight limit: about 90kg (14st), please check if you are close to this
Accommodation: 3* camping / teepees / rustic homestead
Group size: maximum 8
Season: October to June
HORSES & RIDING
Horses: You will be riding local Creole horses, many of them homebred, well adapted to mountain life and used to the rigours of working with cattle. The horses average 15hh, are strong, sensible, very sure footed, responsive and forward going, so great fun to ride. They are ridden Western style and are used to neck-reining. Saddles are Argentinian style, similar to a western or Maclellan style army saddle, with a comfortable sheepskin on top. On the Grand Traverse ride, you will change horses when you get to Chile. Saddlebags are provided for personal belongings and pack horses transport luggage on 'progressive' rides.
Hours: There is usually between 4 and 8 hours riding a day with breaks for rests and lunch. When based at El Sapucai, hours are flexible.
Riding Experience: Long rides are aimed at reasonably experienced, confident riders. To join them you must feel relaxed, comfortable and secure in the saddle on a well schooled horse at a walk, trot and canter. You should also be used to riding for reasonably long hours, in an open environment, on sometimes challenging terrain. There are occasional interesting river crossings which require riders to be quiet and confident in the saddle. Riders with less experience are welcome at El Sapucai, where riding can be very flexible
ACCOMMODATION
A range of accommodation is used. El Sapucai, a small farmhouse owned by your hosts, is the base for homestays and is also used during the place to place rides. It is rustic but reasonably comfortable, with three bedrooms in the house and two cosy yurts which provide additional bedrooms. On other nights camps are set up in the mountains or on farmland, next to the homesteads of local families. On the 13 night Grande Traverse, when in Argentina, 2 nights are in hotels, 2 nights in simple camps and 2 nights at El Sapucai; once you cross into Chile, 2 nights are in a simple lodge on the private 'Isla las Bandurrias' , 4 nights are in local farmhouses / lodges and the final night is in a small hotel. Camps use spacious walk-in 6m x 4m tents with camp beds and inflatable mattresses (usually a 3 man tent for 2 guests) and are set up for you on arrival. Meals are cooked by the 'baqueanos' (the name given to the gauchos in this part of Argentina) over an open fire and usually eaten seated around the fire.
RATES & DATES
| 2020-2021 Rates |
Alto Chubut Ride (7 nights) USD 2115 per person (2-8 riders) El Sapucai Homestay (3 nights) USD 880 per person (2-8 riders) Grand Traverse (13 nights) USD 7300 per person (4-8 riders) Rates include all meals; shared accommodation; all guides and back-up; horses (riding and pack); set transfers; camping equipment (except sleeping bags which can be hired if required) Rates exclude travel to the meeting point; personal medical / travel insurance (which you must have); any visa fees; tips; any extra accommodation. Prices are quoted in US dollars. Payments to us can of course be made in pounds sterling if you wish and we can give you a sterling rate at the time of booking. |
| 2020-2021 Dates |
Alto Chubut Ride 16th to 23rd November 2020 21st to 28th December 2020 18th to 25th January 2021 15th to 22nd February 2021 15th to 22nd March 2021 Grand Traverse 2nd to 15th November 2020 9th to 22nd December 2020 (Solar Eclipse Ride) 4th to 17th January 2021 15th to 28th January 2021 El Sapucai Homestays On request throughout the season, September to May |
ITINERARY
| Itinerary in brief - Alto Chubut Ride. Please enquire for other itineraries. | |
| Day 1 | Arrive Bariloche airport in Argentina. Meet your guide and transfer with the group to a hotel in Bariloche, city tour if time allows. Traditional ‘asadao’ (barbecue) dinner at a local restaurant. Night at the hotel. |
| Day 2 | Breakfast before driving towards the Ñirihuau area about 30 kms from Barlioche. Saddle up and set off, following La Mina river into the wilderness. A picnic lunch before continuing on to the Ñirihuau river where the first night is spent in camp on the banks of the stream. 4-5 hours riding |
| Day 3 | Set off riding to the pass “Paso sin Nombre”, 1,700 meters above sea level. Continue riding to reach an idyllic spot surrounded by native Southern beech forests where camp is set up close to an isolated shepherds hut. Dinner and night in camp. 6-7 hours riding. |
| Day 4 | Strike camp and descend through remote Southern beech forests. Camp and dinner on the shores of the Chubut River. 5-6 hours riding. |
| Day 5 | Continue along the Chubut River valley, passing old silver and gold mines, and learning about their history when you stop for lunch in the wilderness. A few more hours riding before hot showers, dinner and a comfy bed at El Sapucai, a small farmhouse belonging to your hosts on the shores of the Chubut River. 5-6 hours riding. |
| Day 6 | Set off riding in the Alto Chubut area, climbing high into the hills and stopping for a picnic lunch with wonderful views of the surrounding mountains. Return by a different route to El Sapucai for dinner and the night. 4-5 hours riding. |
| Day 7 | Your last day riding, following an old track with excellent views, that takes you to Puesto Viejo. A last lunch with the gauchos and say goodbye to the horses before a 2 hour transfer back to Bariloche. Dinner in a local restaurant and night at the hotel. 5 hours riding. |
| Day 8 | Breakfast and transfer to the airport or own arrangements for onward travel. |
TRAVEL
The start point for these rides is Bariloche and there are regular daily flights from Buenos Aires Jorge Newbery (Aeroparque) domestic airport into San Carlos de Bariloche.
You can also fly to Puerto Montt via Santiago and take scenic bus/boat route across to Bariloche.
Or there is an extensive network of buses which are comfortable (flat bed seats), convenient and safe from Buenos Aires to Bariloche - the bus journey takes about 18 hours.
The Grand Traverse Ride takes you to Chile, so you will need to fly back from Puerto Montt airport, near the town of Puerto Varas where the ride ends. There are regular daily flights from Puerto Montt to Santiago, Chile's capital.
Again there are also luxury overnight buses - the journey by bus from Puerto Montt to Santiago takes about 14 hours.
Please call us for more flight information.
