Estancias and Glaciers (2007 - 2008)
If you have ridden horses for most of your life this could be your next adventures. Six hours riding, on average, per day during 5 days we will venture inside Torres Del Paine and Bernardo O'Higgins National Parks. We invite you visit 4 different glaciers accompanied by charismatic gauchos, who will make this journey full of laughter, while we listen to their endless tales and experiences.
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Details |
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Price Includes |
(HR-9690-P) |
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All the private transportation indicated in the schedule |
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All the horses, saddles and pack horses during the excursion -Helmets, leather chaps, leather gloves, saddle bags, dry bags |
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All meals indicated in the schedule (B: breakfast, BL: box lunch, L: Lunch, D: dinner , BBQ: barbecue) |
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Two nights at Estancia Las Chinas (Cozy farm house with bunk beds and sharing bathroom) |
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Entrance fee to Torres de Paine National Park -Entrance fee to Bernardo O´Higgins National Park |
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Three nights at Chile Nativo Camp (Base on twin share tents) (North Face VE 25) |
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One night at Hosteria Balmaceda(Twin standard room) (Single Supplement apply) |
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Navigation between Monte Balmaceda to Puerto Natales |
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One night at Weskar Lodge(Twin Standard room) (Single supplements apply) |
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Guide (English-Spanish languages), plus a baqueano (local cowboy) |
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Price Excludes |
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-Flight to Santiago, Chile
-Internal Flight Santiago - Punta Arenas
-Any additional nights
-Medical expenses
-Insurance of any kind
-Personal expenses
-Sleeping bags and mattress
-Lunch on Day 1 & 8
-Alcoholic and non alcoholic drinks.
-Gratuities for Guide, Baqueano & driver. |
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Suitability / Level |
Demanding |
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Minimum Age |
12
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Max Group Size |
8 |
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Itinerary
& Highlights |
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Day 1
We recommend you take the early flight from Santiago to Punta Arenas (4 hours), flying over the Andes and observing incredible views of the Patagonian Ice Fields. Upon your arrival in Punta Arenas, the most southern city on the continent, a private transfer will be waiting to take you to Estancia Las Chinas. (Chile Nativo will offer a pick-up from the airport at 3:20 PM, corresponding with LAN airline, Flight # 293, or at 3 PM from your hotel in town).
As we leave the airport we can see the Straits of Magellan and the mystical Tierra del Fuego. During a five hours we drive across open pampas passing huge ranches (estancias) and with luck we will be able to see one of the most typical animals in this area, the ñandu, (a rare South American ostrich). We head north to Puerto Natales, located on the Sound of Last Hope, a small fishing town surrounded by mountains. From there we will follow an unpaved road to Las Chinas Valley. Our final destination is Estancia Las Chinas (a typical example of an estancia in the region), with an amazing view of Torres Del Paine.
(5 hours by private transfer) (D) (Night at Estancia Las Chinas)
Day 2
Early morning, and after a country style breakfast, we meet our baqueano (local cowboy), who is going to join us for the next days of riding. We choose our horses and start a round trip ride to the Sierra Contreras Mountain Range. Our baqueano leads us through a typical Patagonian landscape, a vast terrain call “Pampa”, at the foot of the Sierra Contreras mountain range. Here we have the chance to observe Guanaco herds, and maybe a few Rheas. Our trail becomes steep as we head to the top of the Sierra, with a magnificent view of the Las Chinas Valley with the famous Torres Del Paine granite peaks in the background. After enjoying a gourmet picnic lunch we return to our cozy ranch-house. In the evening we will gather in front of the fireplace, with a Pisco sour in hand (Chilean brandy made from Muscatel grapes).
(5 hours slow riding, trotting and cantering) (B-BL-D) (Night at Estancia Las Chinas)
Day 3
Today we will ride south from Estancia Las Chinas crossing the valley. The first couple of hours will be across the Patagonian steppe, which is found on flatlands and plateaus with semi-arid, cold climates and an annual precipitation of up to 400 mm. After 5 hours riding we will reach Laguna Azul, which is located at the limit of Torres del Paine National park and with spectacular view of the Towers. From here we take a private transfer all the way to the administration of the park, where we will camp for the next days at the shore of the Serrano River, with amazing views of “Los Cuernos”.
(5 hours slow riding, trotting and cantering, 45 minutes by private transfer) (B-BL-D) (Night at Camping Serrano)
Day 4
After a good breakfast at the campsite we will start our day by riding to Grey Lake look at point. We cross huge pampas that give us the opportunity to canter as much as we want! Once we reach the Grey River, we follow a narrow path with incredible views of the mountains; until we arrive to a splendid view of the lake Pehoe with its particular turquoise colored waters. From here we follow a rugged trail leading to a look-out point of Lake Grey, often full of icebergs, which have broken off from the Grey Glacier, part of the southern ice field which is the third largest reserve of fresh water in the world. Our lunch will be in front of this magnificent view. We come back to our camp on the same trail, enjoying the opportunity for more cantering through the pampas.
(7 hours walking, trotting and cantering) (B-BL-D) (Night at Camping Serrano)
Day 5
This day we pack up camp and head south, crossing the Serrano River to arrive at Aniceto Astorga’s farmhouse. At Anicento’s we’ll choose our new horses to begin a ride to an unexplored valley at the border of Torres Del Paine National Park. We cross several rivers and go through a landscape filled with lakes and wetlands, constantly being surprised by the changing views of the Paine massif and the last glaciers of the Southern Ice Field. We’ll spend the night here after setting up camp on the shores of Lake Brush, and enjoy a well deserve lamb barbecue Patagonian style.
(10 minutes transfer, 4 hours walking and trotting) (B-BL-BBQ) (Night at Lake Brush Campsite) (No showers available)
Day 6
After a good breakfast we continue to Bernardo O´Higgins national park. This trail takes us through humid forests, similar to those of the austral canals, following the Serrano River until it empties into the Sound of Last Hope, where we spend the night in the Hostería Balmaceda with an amazing view of the Serrano glacier.
(5 hours, walking) (B-BL-D) (Night at Hostería Balmaceda)
Day 7
We’ll begin the day by crossing the river into the Seno de Ultima Esperanza, facing the imposing Serrano glacier at the foot of the Balmaceda Mountain (2148m). Here we make a short easy walk up to the glacier. We’ll then take a boat, “the cutter, 21 de Mayo” navigating via glaciers and canals on our way down to Puerto Natales, to spend the night in a hotel after a goodbye dinner.
(10 minutes by zodiac, 45 min walk, 3 hours by boat) (B-BL-D) (Night at Weskar Lodge or similar)
Day 8
We will take a private transfer to Punta Arenas. (Clients should take the flight at 02:55 PM, from LAN airline, flight #284, arriving to Santiago at 06:15 PM), if you decide to stay the night in Punta Arenas; we will drop you at your hotel.
(3 hours by transfer) (B) |
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Accommodation
& Centre Details |
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Estancia Las Chinas
A simple ranch house recently converted into a cozy guest house as an annex to the Lodge Cerro Guido. Each room has 2-4 bunk beds with warm down comforters. Shared baths have hot water and modern facilities. Relax next to the fireplace or walk around the ranch taking in the views of Las Chinas Valley, one of the most pristine valleys in the area.
Camping Chile Nativo
Our clients sleep in 4 seasons, North Face VE 25 (3 person capacity) tents, based on twin-share occupancy. We have a Mountain Hardwear domo dining tent.
Hostería Balmaceda
The perfect place for resting, adventure and observation. There are 16 rooms with private bath and a dining room with grill. This is all surrounded by a beautiful landscape and a magnificent view of the Serrano glacier and the Balmaceda Mountain.
Weskar Patagonian Lodge
Ideally located on the Sound of Last hope, with magnificent views of several mountain ranges. Weskar is a warm and friendly hotel decorated in ideas based on ethnic concepts and ecological guidelines. |
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Holidays
Extras |
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We have provided a little
section of extra travel needs that you may need
and to make life easier for our customers. We aim
to provide all the extras you would need; flights,
hotels, insurance, car hire and airport parking.
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| Trip: |
Estancias and Glaciers (2007 - 2008) |
| Duration: |
8 DAYS / 7 NIGHTS |
| Company: |
Chile Nativo Travel
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| Location: |
Santiago |
| Region: |
Chile,
South America |
| Price: |
From
USD2695
p/p |
| Flights: |
Not Included 
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| Availability: |
January, February, March, April, May, September, October, November, December, |
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| Related Searches |
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| Horse Riding in Chile |
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in Chile |
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in Santiago |
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