Horse Riding Pack Trips
Polo & Horse Riding Experience in Patagonia
Live the high life at the world-famous Argentine Open Polo Championship in Buenos Aires before flying south to experience life on a real Argentine estancia and finally live the dream of playing polo in Patagonia.
- 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, across hidden valleys, rivers and creeks.
- Stand atop a mountain to admire breathtaking views of the Andes and take in the epic sight of the mighty Lanín 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.
- Experience the spectacular Argentine Open Polo Championship, five minutes from downtown Buenos Aires.
- Experience "El Desafio Mountain Resort" and play the Sport of Kings at one of the world’s most beautiful polo clubs.
- Enjoy an unforgettable adventure that will remain engraved in your heart and mind forever!
This trip starts with some city slicking at the world-famous Palermo Open Polo Championship in Buenos Aires before heading south to take to the saddle yourself exploring our private estancia on horseback. The only reason you'll agree to leave is when we tempt you with the prospect of playing polo on two masterpiece polo fields in San Martin de los Andes. Call yourself horse-mad? Well, this is your adventure of a lifetime!
Boasting the highest number of ten-goal players in the sport, Argentina has long been regarded as the mecca of polo. "The Open" is the world's fifth-oldest polo competition (it celebrated its 120th anniversary in 2013) and one of the most important international tournaments on the planet. Think Wimbledon for horses! Glamorous crowds flock to the event to watch the world’s top polo horses and players fight for glory before celebrating at glittering parties in the capital’s most exclusive bars and clubs.
After seeing the best of the best in Buenos Aires you travel south to Northern Patagonia, one of the last places on earth that can truly be called wild. From arid plains to monkey tree forests, lakes and rivers, this is nature at its finest and there's no better way to explore than on horseback.
Whilst at Caballadas, you will spend long days exploring the estancia on horseback. The diversity of landscape is nothing short of awe-inspiring – you will explore canyons and valleys, climb mountaintops and relax lake- or creek-side enjoying delicious picnic lunches.
Located within the northern section of Lanín National Park, this is the most secluded area of the Patagonia Lake District and it is home to one of the most peculiar looking trees in the world – the ancient Araucaria Araucana, or Monkey Puzzle tree. A prehistoric species which dates back two hundred million years, the Monkey Puzzles you see on this trip are descendants of those that survived the great volcanic eruption that flattened most of Patagonia 150 million years ago.
This is a lodge-based adventure so each night you return to the estancia for hot showers, delicious cuisine, fabulous Argentine wine and your cosy bed! Each day your personal chef will prepare four meals (yes, four!) and a foodie highlight is our traditional Argentine parilla (barbeque) which you will enjoy one evening.
Before bidding farewell to Argentina, you have the option of experiencing the best polo in Patagonia with a visit to the prestigious and impressive El Desafio Mountain Resort. As well as being home to South America's first Greg Norman signature golf course, this resort has two very fine polo fields. Whether you are a beginner or an experienced player, you can watch or play this adrenalin-fuelled game.
N.B. The polo season runs from November to April. Our services include: top polo ponies, equipment, lessons, stick & ball, practice chukkers, and bilingual instructors.
Day 1 ~ Buenos Aires – Abierto de Polo
A taxi will be waiting for you at the airport and take you to your hotel in Buenos Aires. Most flights will arrive in the morning so you have time for lunch before going to watch a match at the "Argentine Open Championship".
(Note: Please let us know if you would like help arranging accommodation in Buenos Aires some days in advance
Day 2 ~ Flight and transfer to the ranch
Arrive on a morning flight from Buenos Aires to San Martin de los Andes 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.
B,D... Valley Lodge
Day 3,4,5 & 6~ Riding at the ranch
You will set out each morning after a nice breakfast, be given a picnic which you will carry in your saddle bag and stop for lunch at a pretty spot 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!
Every day the ride takes a different route – be it through the forest behind the lodge or down the long valley below - and we adapt speed and distance to suit the weather and your riding abilities. The range of landscape you cover, the quality of horses your ride and the passion of the gauchos and guides sets the riding at Caballadas apart from anything else you will find in Argentina. This is not a horse trail where you plod along in line, but a chance to explore untouched Patagonia freely on a beautiful criollo horse.
B,L,D... Valley Lodge
Day 7 ~ Polo at El Desafio Mountain Resort for two days / two nights
After breakfast, pack your things and say goodbye to the ranch. You will have a private transfer to the biscuit box town of San Martin de los Andes (known for its chocolate shops) where you will check into either the charming Tipiliuke Estancia, famous for its fly-fishing. Or opt for the peaceful Loi Suites Hotel set below the Andes Mountains overlooking a pristine golf course. After lunch and few hours rest, we will head to the nearby El Desafio Mountain Resort for a late afternoon stick & ball session. The following morning we will have a four chukker practice.
B… Estancia Tipiluke or Lois Suites, San Martin de los Andes
Day 9 ~Departure
After breakfast, pack your things and say goodbye to Northern Patagonia!
B...
Note: 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: 7d / 6n
Start / Finish: Buenos Aires Caballadas Northern Patagonia, Argentina
Dates:
This trip is available as a custom, private departure on dates of your choosing, during the Argentine Open Polo Championship mid-November to early December.
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!
Cost: on request
Cost includes:
AT THE RANCH & BUENOS AIRES
- Entrance to the Abierto de Polo
- Trip briefing upon arrival
- Logistics
- 5 nights accommodation at 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
POLO EXPERIENCE IN SAN MARTIN DE LOS ANDES
- 2 night accommodation in San Martin de Los Andes with breakfast
- Polo practice in El Desafio Polo Club
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 55-acre 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).
Polo Experience at el Desafio Polo Club: Lois Suites, San Martin de los Andes
The only 5- Star hotel in the area, it stands in the wonderful landscape of the Andes Mountains, facing the golf course co-designed by Jack Nicklaus and Jack Nicklaus II. The strategic setting makes it ideal for indoor and outdoor activities all year round. International cuisine, lobby bar and Don Bernardo cellar make up this first class resort. Also, luckily for us polo fanatics, it happens to be conveniently located opposite El Desafio Mountain Resort so you can travel from hotel to polo field in a matter of minutes.
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 good 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.
