| Day 1 |
| Arrive into Punta Arenas. Take taxi from airport to Hotel Terra Sur, Lib. Bernardo O’Higgins # 723, Punta Arenas, Chile. Meet leader in hotel lobby at 7.30 p.m. to be escorted to restaurant for dinner. |
| Day 2 |
| Morning collection from Terra Sur to start the day’s drive towards the penguin colony to see and photograph the cute burrowing Magellanic penguins. Continue in comfortable transfer vehicle across the Patagonian Steppe where you will have your first opportunity to see some of the unusual plant and animal life that exists in this area. After a short lunch stop in Puerto Natales we will continue on to our campsite situated close to a working estancia on the edges of the beautiful Laguna Verde. Chance to stroll down to the lakeside and enjoy the variety of bird life and spectacular views of the horns while dinner is prepared. No showers. Drive approx. 6.5 hours including penguins. |
| Day 3 |
| Today we will be meeting our horses and the dedicated baqueanos who care for them. After assigning horses to riders, we will have a safety check and short familiarization with western riding. We then pack our saddle bags with cameras, waterproofs, and picnic lunches and set off around the shores of this pretty lake through ancient southern beech forests towards the Sierra del Toro. We will then make a steep ascent through forests to the top of this mountain. The last section of the ride may be through snow as we stop to marvel at the views of the entire park below us. We will wind down to a pretty authentic puesto manned by one of the cattle ranchers from Estancia Lazo where we take lunch. Afternoon return to our stunning campsite at Laguna Verde. No showers. Hours in saddle: 5-6. |
| Day 4 |
| After a wholesome breakfast and packing up we will be starting our ride eastwards towards the heart of the Park. The morning ride is fairly relaxing as we wind our way through this pretty valley passing a number of lakes and mountain views. Plenty of time to take photographs before we ascend to a lookout with fabulous views of the pampas and lakes below. After stopping to let the horses rest and take a few photographs we will start our steep descent of the Sierra del Toro to the pampas below. Lunch will be taken in the valley and we will have a chance to visit the Park headquarters to look at their relief map of the park. We will then continue with some fast riding to our Serrano River campsite where we will camp beside the emerald green waters of this beautiful river with stunning mountain views. Showers available. Hours in the saddle: 6-7. |
| Day 5 |
| After breakfast we will pack up camp and make an early start across the pampas towards the huge and immense Grey Glacier and Lake. This is open pampas riding at its most exciting and there will be lots of opportunities for long canters as we ride towards the huge granite peaks of the Paine Massif. We will then reach the highlight of today’s ride as we dismount and cross the wooden footbridge onto a small trail through the forest. This trail take us onto Grey Beach for a walk along the grey sands admiring the huge icebergs that have calved off the nearby glacier. For those who are interested, there’s an optional boat ride across this iceberg-choked lake towards the face of this spectacular Glacier. (This boat is very weather reliant and costs US$60 per person for the three hour boat ride.) If the boat isn’t running or for those clients who prefer to stay ashore, there will be plenty of opportunities for hiking, taking pictures or walking the short distance to Hosteria Lago Grey to enjoy some fireside pisco sours. After this exciting day we’ll rejoin our horses for a lovely long canter across the pampas to our campsite at Rio Serrano. Showers available. Hours in saddle: 5-6. |
| Day 6 |
| Today we will be enjoying a beautiful trail which crosses the heart of the park. Known as the up and over, our trail cuts through some incredibly diverse scenery. We will ride through green valleys and southern beech forests passing turquoise lakes and crossing wide open plains. We will see magnificent condors hovering high above mountain peaks whilst down on the plains herds of guanaco scatter as we approach. We will be surprised at every turn of our path as we cross over 30 kilometres of this dramatic riding country dominated by the Paine Horns and Towers after which the park is named. Finally, after a truly memorable ride we take a short vehicle transfer to our beautiful campsite nestled in a small valley with only a gaucho puesto (small wooden hut) and awesome views of the Towers for company. No showers. Hours in the saddle: 7-8. |
| Day 7 |
| After enjoying breakfast in our stunning campsite we will set off on an exciting and unique adventure into the hills and forests of the Sierra Contreras. Our destination is the pretty waterfall known as Cascada Zamora. After lunch we will ride out to a remote puesto mercardo riding up high above the pampas with views off to the Las Chinas Valley and the Sierra Baguales in the distance. Return to our camp at puesto Tercera for second night. No showers. Hours in the saddle: 5-6. |
| Day 8 |
| After packing up camp and loading up the pack horses we will set off on our exciting ride towards the Torres and Lago Paine. Just before Laguna Azul we head north towards Laguna Stokes where a large natural vega or pasture exists and which attracts wild criollos from the surrounding hills to graze in the summer. There will be many excellent photo opportunities on this route as we pass through forests, pastures and the lake where Lady Florence Dixie first camped having sighted the Towers. We will be camping riverside at Lago Paine. No showers. Hours in the saddle: 6-7. |
| Day 9 |
| After breakfast, we will be riding out to Lake and Glacier Dickson. Dickson is one of the more remote and rarely visited glaciers in the Park due to its inaccessibility – in our opinion it is also one of the prettiest. Our rides takes us past the northerly peaks of the Paine chain where one of the peaks is topped by a black, craggy rock in the shape of a Tuhuelche Indian Face where the ‘headband’ is decorated with snowdrifts even in summer. The trail then heads north passing ancient southern beech forests and scattered lakes before reaching our solitary perch and viewpoint above this beautiful lake and glacier. This will be our picnic spot for lunch – a truly memorable destination. In the afternoon we ride back to Lago Paine. No showers. Hours in the saddle: 6-7. |
| Day 10 |
| Today we will be continuing on to Laguna Azul via a different route. This is a beautiful ride through forests and flower filled meadows and southern beech forests. Lots of opportunities for long canters before we reach the edge of the aptly named Laguna Azul. On arrival at the campsite we will put the wine in the lake to chill and serve canapes before our dinner is served. During the evening we can enjoy our final view of the Towers across the lake whilst swapping tales of the adventure of the previous days. Hot showers and a quincho for inside dining. Hours in the saddle: 6-7. |
| Day 11 |
| Pack up camp for our transfer back to Punta Arenas to arrive late afternoon. We will once again make a lunch stop in Puerto Natales and this will give clients an opportunity to shop for souvenirs, books, postcards and so on. Clients will be dropped off at the Hotel Terra Sur in Punta Arenas at around 6pm. Dinner not included. |
| Day 12 |
| Taxi to airport or onward travel. |
| Accommodation |
| Camping; campsites have been chosen with much care and are all very different, very special and very beautiful. Some are wilderness sites with no facilities. |
| Ability |
| Intermediate - advanced. This is a fast paced ride with some very long riding days. Fitness and experience and important. Not suitable for beginner riders.
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| Suitability |
| This itinerary is suited to lovers of riding and the outdoors. In the company of our guide and Chilean horsemen we ride into some remote areas where the only access is on foot or horse. Pack horses carry our luggage and often we see no other humans. Please bear in mind that to experience this tranquility we need to forego some creature comforts. Some sites will not have any facilities. For those who prefer hot showers and a fluffy bed, the Estancia Ride would be more suitable. |
| Horses |
| Criollo and Chilean cross |
| Prices |
| £1590.00 Per Person (2 riders); £1490.00 Per Person (3 to 6 riders); £1420.00 Per Person (7 or more riders) |
| Prices Include |
| 9 nights camping; 2 hotel nights, 8 full days riding; transfers to and from Punta Arenas and while in Park; camping (based on twin share); meals while camping (including wine with dinner); all equipment (except sleeping bags and mats which can be rented locally on request); English-speaking and local guides; baqueanos who care for the horses; pack horses for luggage; waterproof stuff-sacks for trip; use of saddle bags; entrance fees to park and penguin colony. |
| Prices Exclude |
| Flights; airport taxes; airport transfers and meals in Punta Arenas; lunch in Natales on transfer days; local gratuities ($60 recommended). |
