Patagonia Grande Traversee

Discover Patagonia from a different perspective. Riding through the main attractions of Torres Del Paine and the surrounding areas; where you can feel free to gallop across never ending pampas.

A fascinating horseback ride crossing the Andes from the virgin steppes in Argentina to the Valdivian forests in Chile.

A unique eleven days ride where Creole and Chilean horses will take you along estancias and fundos crossing endless pampas, green forests, and clear rivers.

Come and ride with the gauchos and its different cultures but with only one spirit.

56 2 717 5961

Itinerary / Highlights

Day 01 Bariloche
Arrive into Bariloche International Airport, group transfer to hotel in down town. Bariloche is situated on the shore of Lake Nahuel Huapi, big touristy ski town surrounded by mountains. Depending on your arrival flight you will have the chance to explore the area and get great views from the Cerro Otto or any last minute shopping before the ride. Meet your guide for the holiday and full briefing for the next days ride. We will all go for a traditional barbeque dinner at a local restaurant.
(30 minutes by private transfer) (D) (Hotel ***+ in Bariloche)

Day 02 Bariloche / Rio Pichileufu
A minibus will take us 30 kms to the starting point of the ride at Estancia Nirihuau a 180 has timber forest with 70 has more used for riding and training horses - Check gear and horses. We will start our ride and pass the Cerro las Buitreras and arroyo la mina from here we will reach great panoramic view from the Valley Alto Chubut. . Lunch stop and afternoon ride to Rio Pichileufu. We camp at the shore of the river.
(30 minutes by private transfer, 6-7 hours riding) (B-BL-D) (Night camping without facilities)

Day 03 Río Pichileufu/ Nacimiento Alto Chubut
Early in the morning we have a country breakfast and we start to pack. The ride will be across the Pichileufu Valley to Carreras mountain high pass at 1800 MTS, which is a great spot for watching condors and eagles and plenty of wildlife. We will start our descent towards the source of the Rio Alto Chubut with dry vegetation. Camp here at 1500 MTS. Some nomads' shepherds are still spending some time there.
(6-7 hours of riding) (B-BL-BBQ) (Night camping without facilities)

Day 04 Valle del Chubut / Establecimiento El Sapucaï After breakfast, saddle up the horses and leave the valley. Ride along gaucho and cattle trail for around 3 hours. Then we reach the Plumb mine where the familia Miranda lives. Indigenous reservations are located here. Time at midday for a short visit of a plumb mine. Our afternoon ride will take us to Estancia El Sapucaï just on the same valley of Alto Rio Chubut Valley. Nice dinner at camp.
(6-7 hours riding) (B-BLD) (Night in Tipis with hot showers)

Day 05 El Sapucaï / El Ternero
Breakfast and pack. Today we leave the Chubut River. Ride across the estancia towards a lovely stream called la Horqueta. Lunch on the lush pampas on the side of the stream. We will head west passing really remote places and little used trails where the landscape will gradually turn greener and lush. We will reach the arroyo el ternero on the pre range .Last wild camp in Argentina closed to the Liempe Village.
(6-7 hours riding) (B-BL-D) (Night camping without facilities)

Day 06: El Ternero / El Bolsón
Last day riding with the Argentinean -creoles horses' .Today our ride will take us down the trail with forests and villages. We enjoy lunch. 2 hour afternoon ride to the El Maiten Road. Transfer by bus to El Bolson. We spend the night in a hostel and have the chance to do some laundry. Dinner and party!!!
(5-6 hours riding) (B-BL-D) (Night in a hotel ***+ in El Bolson)

Day 07: El Bolson / Bandurrias Island
Late breakfast, private transfer to the Lago Puelo quay, load the boat and continue our adventurous trip. The turbo-jet boat will take us across the two lakes, thereby passing the immigration control. After having complied with the custom procedures, we'll cross the rapids that join the two countries of Argentina and Chile. We enjoy lunch. A local guide will be waiting for us and will take care of our luggage. After the custom control in the Chilean side we will have a 10'walk to the Las Rocas Lake where a motorboat will take us to Bandurrias Island. We will have great views of the Andes and the surrounding mountains today. A warm welcome and a nice rest will be waiting for you in your exclusive cabaña on the Island.
(30 minutes by private transfer, 2.5 hours by boat) (B-BL-D) (Night at Las Bandurrias cabins)

Day 08: Bandurrias Island / Lago Azul
We enjoy an early breakfast. This morning we'll ride for 2 hrs visiting the Blue Lake "Lago Azul" with its crystal clear waters and abundant fish life. The majestic peaks and stunning landscapes will not escape your attention! Picnic and relax on the shore of the lake. After lunch we will ride on steep passes across the forest along the mountains passing through typical cold jungle or Valdivian-type rainforest. You will enjoy its ancient Alerces trees as well as other local "giants" such as the "Coihue" and "Arrayanes"(the cold tree). End the ride at the Palenque. Sail back to the Island.
(45 minutes by boat round trip, 5 hours riding) (B-BL-D) (Night at Las Bandurrias Cabins)

Day 09: Las Rocas / Lago Verde
After breakfast, a motor boat will take us back to the other side of the lake where the horses will be waiting. Cross the river using a traditional raft method on manpower based! Horses will get on as well! Reach "Segundo Corral" the last settlement close to the border. Then follow the trail down the Puelo River to a fantastic hanging bridge, "la Pasarela del Rio Puelo", an important hanging bridge crucial for the communication between the inhabitants and the outside world. Night and dinner at cosy house in front Rio Puelo. German and Chilean hosts will invite us to share their house.
(30 minutes by boat, 5-6 hours riding) (B-BL-D) (Night in a local farm house)

Day 10: Lago Verde / Ventisqueros
Nice breakfast , saddle up and cross again the Hanging Bridge and follow the west side of the Ventisqueros Valley- Enjoy the remote and green landscape. Ride into the Ventisqueros valley where we will stop for lunch and relax. In the afternoon, the ride will get us to a little house where the owners are lodging us for 2 nights.
(4 hours riding) (B-BL-D) (Night in a local farm house)

Day 11: Ventisqueros
After breakfast and packing we embark on a gentle ride, crossing the river once more to join the other valley and approach its glacier. This little Valley turns wild and remote, with incredible flora and devoid of habitants. We will arrive close to the Alerces forest on this occasion. Box lunch and ride back to our guest farmhouse. Later there is a chance to go for a walk around the area or simply relax with a glass of wine.
(4 hours riding) (B-BLD) (Night in a local farm house)

Day 12: Ventisqueros / Rio Puelo
Home made breakfast at the farm house. Back on the saddles! This morning the trail takes us across beautiful ancient forest, clean pampas and the unique opportunity to cross several times the Ventisqueros River. Enjoy a pleasant box lunch at the Ventisqueros shore. In the afternoon we ride where we will probably meet farmers working on their land looking after the cattle and making a living through family agriculture. Is amazing to see how fertile these mountains can be!! At the end of the day we will cross the river just as the locals do: on a public little motor boat with the horses swimming by the lead. Last night accommodation at cozy farm cottage
(6-7 hours riding, 20 minutes by boat) (B-BL-D) (Night in a local farm house)

Day 13: Llanada Grande / Puerto Varas
Home made breakfast. Last ride, horses will take us through the forest and along the Puelo River to the hamlet of Llanada Grande. A private transport will be waiting for us, to drive for one hour to the ferry that will cross us to the other side of the Tagua & Tagua Lake. Pic - nic lunch. And drive to Puerto Varas. The road goes at the side of the Reloncavi Estuary. You will enjoy the beautiful sight of the river's mouth flowing into the sea .On our way to Puerto Varas, we will be able to contemplate the colours of the sensational virgin nature of the National Park of Vicente Perez Rosales, skirting Lake Llanquihue and the volcanoes of Osorno and Calbuco, all around the beautiful Puerto Varas town.

(3-4 hours riding, 4 hours by private transfer) (B-BL-D) (Night in a ***+ hotel in Puerto Varas)

Day 14: Puerto Varas / Airport
Breakfast and transfer to the local airport.
(45 minutes by private transfer) (B)

Other Details

Accommodation Details

Estancia Las Chinas
A simple ranch house recently converted into a cosy 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 season, North Face VE 25 (3 person) tents, based on twin-share occupancy. We have a Mountain hardwear domo dining tent.

Hosteria 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.