Horse Riding Pack Trips
Valley Lodge Program
Experience life on a real Argentine estancia in the most secluded, private, and spectacular part of the Patagonian Lake District.
- Get off the beaten path and enjoy a truly authentic adventure horseback riding through Northern Patagonia.
- Ride through towering mountains and enchanted forests, alongside beautiful lakes and across hidden valleys, rivers and creeks.
- Stand on mountaintops taking in breath-taking views of the Andes and the mighty Lanin Volcano.
- Get a first-hand look at one of the most peculiar looking trees in the world – the ancient Araucaria Araucana, or Monkey Puzzle tree.
- Enjoy an unforgettable adventure that will remain engraved in your heart and mind forever!
OVERVIEW
Northern Patagonia is one of the last truly wild places on earth. And the best way to experience it is on horseback. Ride across arid plains, through monkey tree forests, across lakes and rivers and play polo on two masterpiece polo fields on this adventure of a lifetime!
Daily rides will take you to different areas of the 55,000-acre Caballadas Estancia, which is set within the northern section of Lanín National Park in the most secluded and spectacular area of the Patagonia Lake District. You’ll explore canyons and valleys, climb mountaintops on the search for views, and relax lake- or creek-side tucking into delicious picnic lunches.
Throughout your trip, you’ll have ample opportunity to bear witness to one of the most peculiar looking trees in the world – the ancient Araucaria Araucana, or Monkey Puzzle tree. This species of tree is a prehistoric survivor and has been around for more than two hundred million years. The ones you see on this trip are descendants of those that survived the great volcanic eruption that flattened most of Patagonia 150 million years ago.
On this lodge-based adventure, you’ll sleep in our estancia set on top of a hill. At the heart of the ranch, you’ll wake up to breath-taking views of the valley and surrounding area. After riding each day, you’ll welcome the opportunity to come home to a hot shower, cosy bed, delicious cuisine and fabulous Argentine wine. Complete with four meals a day (yes, four!), a personal chef, and a traditional Argentine parilla (barbeque) one evening, you are sure not to go hungry!
DAY 1
Arrive on a morning flight from Buenos Aires to San Martin de los Andes/Neuquen/Bariloche airport.
Arrangements can be made for private transfers to the ranch.
The road trip from the airport to the ranch is simply magnificent, following the Alumine River Basin. Throughout the drive, you will see spectacular natural changes - ranging from the arid plateau to the subtropical woods of the northern Andes.
That night you will enjoy a nice dinner and go over plans for the days ahead.
(Please note: You will need to schedule your departure from Buenos Aires on mid morning flight the first day of the trip, so you will likely need to arrive in Buenos Aires the day before. Please let us know if you would like help arranging accommodation in Buenos Aires on arrival.)
B,L,D... Valley Lodge
DAY 2
Our first day on horseback! Today is all about getting to know your horse and gear in preparation for the days ahead.
You will set out each morning after breakfast, bring along a picnic and stop for lunch at a nice spot somewhere in the mountains next to a river or creek. After lunch, you will resume your ride and finish the day at the Valley Lodge where a hot shower and delicious meal await
Today we will ride through the Quillen Valley and enjoy a nice lunch at Las Tordillas barn.
B,L,D... Valley Lodge
DAY 3
The trail today will lead us deep into the Andes forest. Enjoy lunch in the beautiful “Mallin Largo Valley,” a hidden valley surrounded by ancient trees and the famous millenary Monkey Puzzle trees, Araucania.
B,L,D... Valley Lodge
DAY 4
Today you ride through the beautiful "mallin de los patos" and enjoy a traditional Argentine lunch in Malalco Valley. This canyon is surrounded by towering mountains, and gives you a small glimpse into what is to come the following day. Upon arrival our personal chef will have a bonfire going, and a traditional Patagonian dish cooking (like steak fillets cooked over the fire) and a welcoming glass of wine.
B,L,D... Valley Lodge
DAY 5
After a tasty breakfast, you will hit the saddle again for a final day of riding. Today, the trail leads you through spectacular scenery below the mighty Lanin Volcano and the towering Andes Mountain Range. Weather permitting, you will ride to the top of Mt. Rucachoroy (3,000m / 7,545'). At the top, you will be rewarded with incredible views of the Andes and four nearby volcanoes.
B,L,D... Valley Lodge
DAY 6
After breakfast, pack your things and say goodbye to the ranch. Upon request, arrangements can be made for guests to be picked up at the ranch and driven to the airport. During the journey back to the airport, you’ll have time to reflect on your amazing trip to Northern Patagonia!
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Expect to ride for five-to-six hours each day, covering approximately 40 kilometres (24 miles). The trip itinerary may vary based on weather conditions, fitness levels and riding abilities of participants, and/or the recommendations of your guide.
Length: 6d / 5n
Start / Finish: Caballadas Northern Patagonia, Argentina
Dates:
This trip is available as a custom, private departure on dates of your choosing, from November to mid-December and March to mid-April.
Activity Level:
For experienced riders in good and active physical health. You will enjoy your riding much more if you are “riding fit.” The more comfortable and relaxed you are in the saddle, the more terrain we will be able to cover, and the more you will be able to see and experience of this incredible landscape!
We can tailor trips to any riding level, from intermediate, to advanced. You shoud have riding experience, and be secure in the saddle at a walk, trot, and fast canter.
Cost: on request
Cost Includes:
- Trip briefing upon arrival
- Logistics
- 5 nights accommodation in Caballadas Valley Lodge
- All meals (B=breakfast, L=lunch, D=dinner)
- Wine and sodas with meals
- Horses and tack
- Local English speaking guide and crew
- VAT tax
Airport transfers available on request.
Option to add a night of camping.
The Valley Lodge is located at the heart of the ranch, set on top of a hill providing panoramic views of the entire valley and surrounding area. It can sleep 18 people in 10 spacious double and single bedrooms, all with private bathrooms. A large communal living room with a fireplace, dining room, and a large playroom for the kids with a ping-pong table are also available throughout your stay.
The lodge includes:
- A host
- Personal chef
- Four meals a day: breakfast, lunch, tea, & dinner
- Red and white wine and other alcoholic beverages
- Housekeeping services
Our campsites are set in spectacular locations across our 20,000 hectars estancia and are only accessible on foot or horseback, and only to our guests. On camping nights, your campsite will be up and running when you arrive. Your personal chef will have a nice bonfire going, along with some traditional Patagonian food and a glass of wine waiting for you. After a hearty meal, you’ll sleep under the stars (we provide the tent and the mat, you provide your own sleeping bag). Nights can be cool, so warm clothes and a hat are advisable (we’ll send you a clothing and equipment list when you reserve your trip).
HORSES
Caballadas is home to about 60 beautiful horses that roam free on our 55,000-acre ranch. You will ride well-schooled, local stock horses mixed with anglo-normando, criollos and polo ponies. We have a large selection of horses, which allows us to cater to all riding abilities and confidence levels. They are neck-reined, sure-footed and usually well behaved, making our riding trips safe and enjoyable.
The horses of Patagonia are different. They are a rare breed. What makes them unique is their strength, endurance, and, most importantly, their ability overcome obstacles. A “regular” horse would struggle when confronted with the challenges of the Patagonian terrain. They would hesitate and perhaps become flightly and dangerous for both itself and its rider. But the horses in Patagonia, our horses, stay calm. They look at any obstacle, and, whether it be dense brush on a steep climb or deep water during a river crossing, they move through it slowly and surely, delivering the rider safe and sound.
TACK
Caballadas has a large selection of saddles and tack. Our saddles include Chilean saddles (designed with comfort in mind for long days in the saddle), “pato” saddles (similar to a U.S. Western-style saddle with a horn), old army saddles, and polo saddles. To ensure you have a more comfortable experience, they all have sheepskins on top, secured with a rawhide over-girth.
Our bridles, halters, and over-girths are handcrafted from rawhide leather. At Caballadas, we care very much for our horses, which is why all our girths and pads are made from braided sheep wool, handcrafted by local Mapuche Indian women.
We ask our guests to provide us with details of their riding experience before each visit. This way we can begin thinking about which horse would be best suited to you.
PACE
The riding pace in Patagonia varies as much as the terrain. Some routes are rugged, steep, and narrow, with thick vegetation that requires a slow pace. Other areas are open pampas with plenty of opportunities for long, fast canters for those who are interested, or leisurely and relaxed for those who prefer to take things easy.
RIDING EXPERIENCE
We can tailor trips from intermediate to advanced riding levels. The more comfortable you are in the saddle, the more terrain we will be able to cover, and the more you will see and experience of this incredible landscape!
We recommend you have some riding experience, and are secure in the saddle at a walk, trot and fast canter. This is because Patagonia includes widely varied and sometimes steep terrain, as well as river crossings, so you need experience of riding across varied terrain.
This is not somewhere you come to learn to ride, and you will get a lot more out of it if you are “riding fit.” Therefore, if you do not currently ride regularly, we recommend you get in some “saddle time” before your trip in order to accustom yourself to the long hours you will spend in the saddle at CaballadasTERRAIN
The Northern Patagonian landscape offers a wide range of riding opportunities, from wide open pampas to steep Andean mountains, with forests, rivers and valleys between. From our estancia, we will take you deep into the mountains - be aware that the steep hillsides may challenge those who are not comfortable with heights but the views are breath-taking and well worth the climb! Our horses are adept at covering this terrain, but they will respond to you so you do need to be confident. At times, you may be asked to get off your horse to lead it up or down steep hills, so you should be comfortable walking on uneven and steep ground.
