This working Estancia is a 15,000-acre ranch with 900-head of cattle located in the Andean foothills - 45 miles from San Martin de los Andes.
The landscape is made up of shrub covered hills, craggy rock outcrops, and wide-open water-meadows with the Lanin Volcano (13,000 ft.) and the Andes mountains as a backdrop.
You can choose to ride out from the Estancia everyday or to coordinate your stay with one of the 3 day wilderness pack trips into Lanin National Park.
The riding on the estancia provides glorious views of the vast grasslands. You ride through barren rolling hills and along the narrow rocky gorges of the Andean streams, to the tops of the hills where the mighty Andes rise up behind you and the vastness of Patagonia stretches out before you, whilst eagles and condors fly beside you. You can gallop across the water-meadows sending the Ibis and Plover screeching, and visit the burial caves of the Mapuche Indians. You can ford the river and ride up through the neighboring Indian reservation, stopping to share a mate on the way.
Guests can always help the gauchos rounding up and working the cattle. Often there are short cattle drives moving some of the herd to new pastures. You can also help rounding up the horses. The riding is forward going at all paced when not moving cattle. If you like a good long canter or gallop ... this is the place for you.
Amongst the wildlife to be seen are red deer, wild boar, rhea, guanaco, armadillos, black-necked swans, ibis, plovers, burrowing parrots, eagles, vultures, and the Andean condor. The area is renowned for its trout fishing.
On the slow moving pack trip option you ride deep into Lanin National Park in the heart of the Andes. You ride through dense forests of southern beech and bamboo thickets. From the tops of the ridges there are breathtaking views, in the valleys there are tumbling streams and undiscovered lakes. You ride through forests of the only indigenous Monkey Puzzle trees in the world and across lunar landscapes of black ash, a legacy of the recent volcanic activity in the area.
Whilst packing there is no choice but to camp (usually 2 nights). We make this as comfortable as possible with two man tents. We provide all the equipment necessary, including good quality sleeping bags. The setting up of camp, cooking and care of the horses is all arranged by the gauchos.

The lodgings are very comfortable, with twin-bedded (some double-bedded) and private bath.

Meals: The Estancia is virtually self-sufficient, we have our own beef, chickens, dairy cow, pigs (and chorizos, salamis, hams etc.) as well as a large kitchen garden and numerous fruit orchards. Vegetarians can be catered for with prior notice

Other activities: Bird-watching, walking, tennis, fly-fishing and river activities (rafting and swimming).

On camping expeditions, guests sleep in two person tents. Good quality, down sleeping bags are provided. Camp staff arrange all preparation of tents and meals, and also look after the horses.

This trip includes some wine with dinner and can accommodate special dietary requests.

Suited for rider with riding experience only ... Non riders have excellent opportunities for fishing in rivers and lakes. All the fishing on the Estancia is included, however, if guests want the services of a professional guide or wish to fish some of the other local rivers there are substantial extra charges.

Day 1 : You will be met by your host at the Chapelco airport, San Martin de los Andes and driven to the Estancia (approx. 40 mins.). After lunch there will be an afternoon ride. A chance to familiarize yourself with the horses and tack and the way we ride.
Day 2 : A full days ride with an "asado" lunch. Follow the Huechahue stream through its basalt canyons, riding as fast as you want across the water-meadows sending the plovers and ibis screeching, before returning over the top of Chenque Hill, where the Andes rise up behind you and the vastness of Patagonia stretches out before you.
Day 3 : You will spend the day with the gauchos rounding up cattle into the corrals. Lunch with the gauchos is strips of beef ribs threaded onto a stick and cooked over the open fire. You cut off the chunk you fancy and eat it sandwich style. Meat, bread and mate - the gaucho diet. After a siesta in the shade you will get the chance to seperate the cows on horseback or try your hand with a lasso.
Day 4 : A full days ride on the estancia to visit the Indian burial caves. The caves were formed when the glaciers carved the valley opening an entrance to the lava flow tunnels formed during previous eras of volcanic activity. The Tehuelche Indians laid out their dead, surrounded by their weapons and always somewhere where they could see their enemies coming. They decorated the walls with designs. The remains have disappeared, but the petroglyphs and the view are still there.
Day 5 : A morning's ride to see our stallion with the mares and new foals, and to herd some of the young horses into the corrals. Although we do not tame them until they are 3 or 4 years old, we try to bring them in on a regular basis to get them used to being herded and to being handled. But basically they are wild and bringing them in is a challenge. After a late lunch there will be an evening ride to the cliffs where the condors and eagles nest. While we have a cocktail and the sun goes down, the condors return. They soar above and below us before settling for the night.
Day 6 : A days ride through the neighboring Indian reservation. Our saddle rugs and saddle bags are woven by some of the Indian women and the skins from the cows we butcher are worked into rawhide and then bridles and halters by the men. We will pass by to see what progress is being made and to share a "mate" on our way through.
Day 7 : A farewell ride on the Estancia before transferring to the airport.

Pack trip option:
A 3 day pack trip into the Andes mountains. The exact itinerary will depend on the time of year and weather / snow conditions. You may depart from the estancia itself or you may go into the mountains by vehicle. You will ride through the spectacular scenery of the southern Andes with its snow capped volcanoes, crystal clear lakes and pristine forests. Nights are spent camping in carefully chosen, picturesque campsites by a lake shore or at a stream's edge. These are rides into the wilderness. Everything is carried on pack horses and the camping is simple. The terrain itself generally dictates a slow pace. At the end return transport will be waiting to bring you back to the estancia for baths, dinner and good beds!

2009 Pack trip dates:
November: 11,12,13 - 20,21,22
December: 5,6,7 - 18,19,20 - 27, 28, 29

Other Info
Meeting: San Martinde los Andes - Chaleco
Airport: Chapelco (CPC) San Martin or Bariloche (BRC)
Transfer: Chapelco - San Martin de los Andes/Bariloche

WINTER SEASON
Due to the landscape variety in San Martin de los Andes, the winter season allows the tourist to make the most of Mt Chapelco. You can practice winter sports such as skiing, sledding and snowboarding. You can also go for a ride on a jet ski or a snowcat. This mount offers varied alternatives for the whole family to have a great time.

FALL, SPRING AND SUMMER
San Martin de los Andes offers the possibility to enjoy numerous activities and trips around its mountains, plateaus, woods (araucarias, coihues, colihue canes, radales and lengas), steppes, rivers and lakes; green-tinted in spring and summer and reddiss, ocher and yellow in fall.

From San Martin de los Andes, you can visit Quila Quina, Arrayán vantage point, Mt. Chapelco, Hua Hum, Lakes Lolog and Epulafquen, Lake Huechulafquen and Lanín volcano, Villa La Angostura, Córdoba pass and Lake Traful.

SAN MARTIN DE LOS ANDES WEATHER & CLIMATE
The sharp geographic differences between Patagonian steppe and the Andes cordillera are the cause of the sharp climatic differences from East to West which determine the existence of woods toward the West and the steppe toward the East. While the climate in the mountains is mild-cold, moderated by the influence of the Pacific Ocean, the climate in the Patagonian steppe is cold, reaching temperatures of -15ºC in winter. In summer, temperatures range between 9ºC and 25ºC. (average values) and in winter, between 1ºC and 8ºC, with temperatures lower than 0ºC.

Summer: Days are warm and sunny and nights are cool. During the day temperature may vary from 9ºC to 27ºC, which means you can fully enjoy outdoor activities, including beach activities on the shores of the lakes. Scarce winds mainly from the SW and few rainy days. Due to its latitude, daylight extends up to 10 p.m.

Fall: Days are mild-cool and nights are cold. During the day, temperatures may vary between 4ºC and 13ºC. This is the rainiest season and in general, with gentle rains during the night.

Winter: Cold days with snowfalls in the surrounding mountains, which do not affect traffic in the town. During the day, temperatures range between 1ºC and 10ºC.

Spring: Days are still cool and nights cold. Days become longer and longer and temperatures rise gradually during the day, reaching marks between 7ºC and 20ºC by the end of the season.

RAIN
In San Martin de los Andes, the rainy season is from March to December and the dry season is summer. It rains around 1500 mm per year. The gradient goes from the West, with 4000 mm per year toward the East, with 600mm in the steppe. This is because rains fall mainly on the cordillera. Precipitation may be rain in fall and spring and snow in winter, depending on the altitude.

Estancia Getaway

Rates include:

Packages and Options

Tour Dates

Rates do not include: