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A trip for horse lovers; crossing the amazing
diverse and dense landscape into Chile through the
Lion’s pass. Crossing two different cultures this
trip will give you great insight in how rough the
west was once!
The contrast is
simply mind-boggling: all the things absent in the
arid plateaus are crammed into the transitional zone
of the Cordillera foothills. Our trails take you
from the red waste desert into the indigo and
turquoise-colored lakes of the mountain area. Every
day another landscape. And you get to enjoy it on
the back of your horse!
Patagonia's sheer size gives the impression that it
is a continent by itself, not the southern half of
Argentina and Chile. Whichever way you look at it,
it is a place unlike any other. A seemingly
never-ending collection of mountains, forests,
valleys, lakes, rivers, streams, volcanoes, more
forests, more valleys, more mountains, more lakes,
glaciers. And we want to keep it that way! We just
take what we need and leave the places we find the
same or better than we found them. We travel on
horseback through the national parks and huge
farmlands of the lake district between Argentina and
Chile. This trip takes you right through the
transition area from the steppes to the humid forest
in Chile. We start in the Lake-District of northern
Patagonia, Argentina. The town is called San Carlos
de Bariloche (or just ‘Bariloche’ as we say). It is
set at the foot of the Andes and stretched out along
the Nahuel Huapi Lake. Bariloche has its own
international airport (BRC) with regular daily
flights to and from Buenos Aires or Santiago de
Chile. It is an interesting touristy town that most
Westerners compare to Switzerland or Western Canada.
The first few days we spend in the Manso Valley in a
nice rustic cabin. Then we cross over into Chile with its
ancient forests and valleys. Here we use pack horses
to move our equipment and riding is at a much slower
pace … but at the same time incredibly beautiful.
During this breathtaking journey we will be spending
some nights in comfortable rustic cabins and some
sleeping in tents.
 IT-ARRT14
Rates: All inclusive
3 nights cabin, 4 nights camping and 1 night hotel
lodging, camping gear, meals and beverages in
the Manso valley and Chile, bilingual guides.
9 days/ 8 nights $ 1,995
... small group supplement 3 only +$275
pp.
... small group supplement 2 only +$545
pp.
... small group supplement 1 only +$1600
2008 Dates:
and any
time from
November to March
Meeting: San Carlos de Bariloche
Airport: Bariloche
Transfer: included from Bariloche
Gratuities: 10% suggested
Pace:
Mixed. Some faster paced days in Argentina with
slower riding days in Chile. Sometimes difficult
terrain – 4-7 hrs per day
Level:
Intermediate
Weight: max 90 kg (200 lbs)
Tack:
Argentine type
saddle
with sheepskin
Horses:
Criollo
crosses
Min/Max Riders: 1-8
Note: This is a pack trip across the
Andes. Bring your own sleeping bag.
Itinerary
Day 1 Transfer In from Airport passing
across San Carlos de Bariloche city. We take you
further to the beautiful valley of El Manso where we
welcome you in our comfortable lodge and you have
time to enjoy the beautiful surroundings and fresh
water streams of the river. In the afternoon we get
acquainted with our horses and have an easy ride
around the area passing through old forests and
small creeks. At night a typical homemade dinner
awaits us in our cabin accompanied by delicious
Argentinean wine. (In the saddle: 1,5 hours)
Day 2 Getting ready in the morning we cross
the river by horse and head into a green valley that
will take us up mount Montura for some of the best
views of the Manso valley. Up on the mountain we can
enjoy a nice picnic, before we head back on the
steep trail to the valley. In the afternoon we
have time to relax on the blue riverside before a
good Argentinean BBQ awaits us. Swimming, fishing or
walking are just some of the favorite pass-times.
(In the saddle: 3 hours)
Day 3 ( Today we cross over to the next
valley with its immense blue lake Steffen. We ride
through the forest, passing small open spaces left
and right. On our way we cross some typical farms
and one of the oldest native families of the region.
The lake is tucked in between the woods and holds a
bewildering silence. The water is quiet and
welcoming and leaves us a beautiful opportunity for
a tasty lunch on its white sand. After a small nap
we head back to the Manso valley and our comfortable
beds. In the saddle: 5 hours)
Day 4 Our last breakfast in the cabin and we
head down the valley to the west to pass by the
National Gendarmerie. Here we need to do our
migration papers to be able to get out of the
country. On the other side of the border a Chilean
Cowboy is waiting for us with Chilean horses
(Argentinean horses are not allowed into Chile). We
ride to the West till “Lion Crossing” and have lunch
there. After preparing the equipment and listening
to an instructive talk we will go to the Chilean
carabineers site to finish with customs. Then, it’s
on to River Torrentoso where we reach the campsite
late afternoon and spend the night in the open air.
» Optional: you can combine the first day with
rafting up to the limit with Chile. » Possible:
transfer from cabin to Argentinean border by car,
due to Customs office hours.
Day 5 Today we pack our horses and reach the
Southern part of Vidal Lake. The few farmers that
live here are truly hidden from any luxury and
contact with society. We follow the lake up north
climbing above the shore offering occasional views
of the spectacular lake. On one of the pebble
beaches we have a nice lunch. Then we keep on going
on paths up to the Northern part where we spend the
night on a farmers land.
Day 6 We have a tasty farm breakfast
and get the horses ready to ride a stunning trail up
to a small mountain lake. This area is uninhibited
by people and only used for cattle to graze in the
summertime. The trail shows us how once the pioneers
had to search for a piece of land to live off and
the sacrifices they made and still do.
In the afternoon we head back to the farm where a
nice home cooked meal awaits us.
Day 7 After some good “mates” (a typical
Argentinean tea) we prepare everything and go south
along the east side of the Lake Vidal until we reach
the river Manso. We will fish and probably catch an
exquisite salmon trout for our goodbye dinner. With
the fish roasting on the campfire, we warm our hands
and enjoy a nice night under the stars.
Day 8 Packing our stuff we prepare the horses
to bring us back to Lion’s Crossing where we say
goodbye to these worthy four footers and their
Chilean bosses. A nice welcome awaits us across the
border and you are taken back by car to San Carlos
de Bariloche to spend the night at a nice hotel.
Day 9 After a nice breakfast in your hotel we
pick you up and bring you to the airport or bus
station from where you can continue your journey
through Argentina.
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Patagonia,
the lower part of the South American continent, with
vast windswept sierras and arid plains filling the
space between these lateral boundaries. Somewhere,
scattered around this huge land, lie the friendly
towns of the solus south. Get invited to check out
the insider places that only the locals know about.
Whether these be the best places to eat Patagonian
delicatessen, have the best Bavarian cakes, Swiss
chocolate, Italian cappuccino, smoked trout, salmon,
wild pig, deer and rabbit, local jams and
marmalades, or to get to know the best places to
fish trout, kayak the wildest rivers or drift in
quiet lagoons, ride horses along enchanted trails
that you have all for yourself, even for several
days. There are so many ways to connect to
Patagonian nature and its never-ending wealth and
beauty that is constantly around you, that if you
should ever get bored, you probably aren't meant for
outdoor life. Better check back into your anthill.
»
Climate
The location this far south on Earth belies the
temperate microclimates in and along the thousands
of valleys lying tucked between the gigantic
Cordillera Range. San Carlos de Bariloche has very
much a land-climate with warm days in summer and
lots of snow in winter. Temperatures range from -2°
C in winter to 30° C in summer and it descends as
you go south, due to the vicinity of the Polar zone.
In this respect Argentinian summers are opposite
those of the States and Europe. Not a bad idea if
you despise the cold of winter.
The most characteristic feature of the Patagonian
climate is the wind. The winds in this region are
originated in the Pacific Ocean, they download their
humidity in the Andean mountains, causing abundant
rains, and then sweep with great intensity the
enormous barren plateaus. In the mountain area the
winds are less, though autumn can be quite rough.
»
Flora
In summertime the flora of Patagonia is divers and
colourful. Swaying pastures blooming in spring with
abandon, eternal forests meditating in their
undisturbed bliss.
To the east, just a few kilometers away from the
town of Bariloche, stretches the vast Patagonian
steppe, covered in xerophytic shrubs and clumps of
hardy grasses.
Suddenly, when you get to the lake region, the
mountains are covered in forests, which become
denser and taller eastwards, till near the Chilean
border they look almost like jungles, with gigantic
"Coihue" and "Alerce" trees (some of them are over
3000 years old), tall ferns and lianas. Out of the
protected areas these trees are almost extinguished
because of the quality of their wood, which does not
rot and can be separated into little tiles for roof
and walls.
In contrast, at the top of the mountains, above the
timberline, there are lovely fields of flowers,
which often reach the snowline on the tallest peaks.
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Fauna
To list the flora and fauna of Patagonia in all its
variety would be beyond the scope of this present
text. But the animal population of a region often
gives people an intuitive grasp about its character,
so here is a short list of the most representative
species. Let's start with the native species: the
huemul, a small native deer in danger of extinction,
the pudú, an even smaller deer, the mighty puma (the
largest ones are found in the Andes), three kinds of
wildcat, red and grey fox, patagonian skunk, guanaco
(a smaller cousin of the lama), beaver, various
armadillos, reptiles, rodents and countless insect
species.
The birdlife of Patagonia constitutes over 160
species, from pinky-sized hummingbirds to the Andean
condor with a wingspan of nine feet. Exotic animals,
most of which were introduced by man during the past
and beginning of this century, include red deer,
european hare, mink and wild boar. Most rivers and
lakes have been seeded with rainbow, brook or
fontinalis, and brown trout, as well as landlocked
salmon in a few places, very coveted by flyfishers.
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People
Most people who live in Patagonia have family or
forefathers from all over the world, so you will
rather soonly adapt and immerse yourself in this
multi-faceted, international community of nature
loving people that do not reject city life, they
just know something better than it. There is really
no way to avoid quick adaptation. No strangers as
such are to be found here for Europeans from Norway
down to the boot of Italy, or North Americans and
Canadians. Most people, like everywhere else, work
for a living, as do the people in Patagonia. But
they have time for things and moments that neurotic
city life has erased from the list of things to do
and appreciate while on this planet.
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