Tour highlights
- Canter across some of southern Patagonia’s most perfect riding country
- Sail to the face of a towering valley glacier, Grey Glacier the largest in the Park
- Enjoy unlimited flexibility with a private driver and vehicle
- Stay in some of Torres del Paine’s most comfortable hotels and lodges
- Enjoy the tranquility of a small group tour with a friends or family
- Ride at your own pace with your expert guide as your companion
- Experience slow travel as you explore the Park on horseback
- Enjoy a day at fjordside ranch and see the mountains from a different perspective
- Recently married? This is a great honeymoon option and we can add some special touches
- Spend your first two nights in the contemporary Hotel Simple Patagonia with views across the fjords.
Day by day
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Arrive Puerto Natales
Guide’s briefing and welcome dinner in one of the town’s many excellent restaurants.
Night Simple Patagonia or upgrade to the nearby Hotel Singular Patagonia
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Today we will be walking the short distance to the dock where we will meet a catamaran and our hosts for a 20 minute boat ride across the fjords to the peninsula on the other side of the water. Here we will be spending the day at the lovely Estancia La Peninsula one of the area’s oldest ranches accessible only by the water home to the MacLean family and specifically Kevin and Ian who run the estancia.
After an introduction to the estancia we can enjoy a coffee and pastries before heading out to meet our horses. Once mounted and depending on the weather we will be riding out into what feels like an island landscape with rich forests, giant green foliage, soft grassy valleys and sandy shores full of drift wood and with a good variety of bird life including the native black necked swans that nest along the shores. Our ride will take us north across the land belonging to the estancia to a look-out with far reaching views across the fjords to the peaks of Torres del Paine and the Bernardo O’Higgins National Parks. Heading back we can step up the pace a little as we canter along the beach shores back to the estancia where we will dismount and relax while lunch is prepared consisting of a typical gaucho asado (vegetarian options available).
Lunch will be in the main house and we can then relax on the comfortable sofas and read about the area or chat to the hosts. There will then be a demonstration of shearing or working the dogs prior to boarding the catamaran which will take us back across the sound to the dock in Puerto Natales.
Transfer the short distance back to your hotel.
Night Simple Patagonia or upgrade to the nearby Hotel Singular Patagonia
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Transfer into the west of Torres del Paine and the small village of Serrano with iconic views of the western face of the Paine Massif. Meet your horses and ride out to Grey Lake and Glacier
Today’s ride is fast and exciting as we head out along the Serrano River before heading towards the mountains themselves. Our ride takes us across the wide open pampas before we arrive at Lago Grey. We will head out on foot across the small footbridge before walking through the forest and down to the lakes grey sandy shores where we can admire the spectacular and almost surreal views. Measuring 28 km in length and almost 35 metres in height this fast retreating glacier remains the largest in the Park. The views from the beach are dramatic. The grey waters of the lake form an interesting contrast to the blue-white icebergs that have calved off the crystalline ice wall and which float on its surface. Time permitting, interested clients can join the Grey Boat trip that takes you up to the face of the glacier. The cost can be payable locally ($140 per person). Return to horses and ride back to the Serano River (or travel in the vehicle if preferred).
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Ride across the Park to Laguna Amarga
Today we will be setting off across the wide open pampas towards the heart of the Park with the Towers of Paine and mountains of the Paine Massif dominating the horizon. Our trail takes us across rivers and past many lakes, all a different shade of blue as we ride through the summer grazing grounds of large groups of guanaco. Plenty of time to take photos and enjoy the athletic antics of these fascinating and agile animals.
Our route then takes us onto one of our favourite trails which takes us south of the Paine mountains following the route taken by the Paine River as we ride along the southern lakes finally reaching the much photographed Laguna Amarga (Bitter Lake) with its salt encrusted shores and waters reflecting the mountains behind.
Transfer to Hotel Las Torres or Estancia Cerro Guido
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Today you will be switching horses to ride in the vicinity of the hotel or estancia according to riders’ preference and fitness. If you are staying at Estancia Guido you can head out to remote Indian burial sites or dramatic valleys and canyons in the north eastern section of the Park close to the Baguales and La Cumbre mountain ranges that form a natural border with Argentina. Alternatively, with the Hotel Las Torres as your base you can take a short drive to Laguna Azul in the north east of the Park and a ride out to the Las Chinas Falls with a local gaucho, Moncho and his troop of beautiful Criollo horses.
Night Hotel Las Torres or Estancia Cerro Guido
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Transfer to Puerto Natales where the trip will end with drop off at hotel, bus station or airport.
