Transfer Option:

--- due to the fires in December of 2010 some parts of the park have been closed. over 80% is still open and as beautiful as ever. Temporarily we have changed our regular itinerary to an alternative itinerary, that we believe is every bit as spectacular as the reg one ... an opportunity to see some parts you normally would not !

Temporary Itinerary
Day 1  Arrival into Punta Arenas.  Please take a taxi to the Hotel Ray Don Felipe in Punta Arenas. The group leader will meet you in the hotel lobby at 7:30 PM and the group will go to a local restaurant for a welcome dinner and tour briefing. Overnight. (no meals included today)
Day 2   Drive from Punta Arenas to Puerto Natales. Transfer to Tres Pasos. Ride Chorillo Picana. Night Estancia Tres Pasos
Today we are going to be starting our drive across the wide open pampas and land belonging to some of the huge estancias in this area as we head towards the Torres del Paine National Park. After a short lunch stop in Puerto Natales, where clients can choose from a variety of restaurants and cafes, we will continue our drive north. The road takes us along beside the waters of Last Hope Sound with the bobbing heads of the black necked swans to our left. Our first estancia for the night is Estancia Tres Pasos, now a comfortable Hosteria situated at the head of a magical flower filled valley. A working ranch this wooden, chalet-style property consists of a number of barns and outbuildings, pretty gardens and beautiful views down the valley. There will be a chance to unpack and relax a little before meeting our horses for an afternoon introductory ride in the vicinity of the estancia. Riders will get a chance to adjust to the style of riding and tack as we run through the paces and enjoy a relaxing afternoon's ride in this beautiful area. Return to the hotel for dinner in the lovely restaurant. Most of the food in this delightful family run establishment is home produced. Breakfast and dinner included (excluding wine/drinks). All rooms en suite. Hours in the saddle: 3-4.
Day 3: Ride north to Cerro Castillo and Hosteria el Pionero. Night Hosteria el Pionero.
Today after breakfast, riders will once again be saddling up for a full day's ride. This time, we will be heading north west to the outpost town of Cerro Castillo. This is a beautiful open ride across grassy meadows and welcoming pampas. Riding towards the dramatic mountain range of Torres del Paine enables us to fully benefit from the incredible mountain and lake views. There will also be opportunities for your first long canters on your responsive and comfortable horses. With the wind in your hair and a smile on your face you will experience the sheer joy that is riding in Patagonia! During late afternoon after a leisurely picnic lunch and an afternoon's riding we will see the welcome site of Hosteria el Pionero come into view. Surrounded by the customary layer of trees, the villa has the look and feel of an English country home and was built by European settlers to Tierra del Fuego at the beginning of the century. Once home to one of the most important and influential estancieros in the region it offers comfortable accommodation and an excellent restaurant offering a variety of typical local foods and international cuisine. The fireside bar is an excellent place to enjoy a pisco sour while getting to know your new friends and discussing the adventures to come.
Comfortable en suite accommodation (some rooms with fireplaces). Dinner in the comfortable restaurant. All meals included (excluding wine/drinks). Hours in the saddle: 6-7.
Day 4: Ride north to Guido (long ride). Night Estancia Cerro Guido.
After a breakfast of home baked bread and cakes served in the bright dining room, we will be saddling up for the long ride north east across the pampas. This is a classic Patagonian ride with the seemingly never ending pampas stretched out in front of us. Our journey takes us north towards the spectacular and dramatic La Cumbre and Baguales mountain ranges that separate Chile from Argentina with the mountains of the Paine Massif to the east. We will be crossing the land belonging to various local farmersand with luck may be invited to pop into a local estancia for tea or mate. After 7 or 8 hours riding with lunch taken in one of the many picnic spots en route, we will be riding onto the land belonging to Estancia Cerro Guido. Located to the north east of Torres del Paine, this estancia offers very comfortable accommodation, views of the fabulous Towers and a number of historic buildings to wander around. Founded in the late 19th century, Guido is one of the largest estancias in the area and the owners have undertaken a sensitive refurbishment resulting in very comfortable guest accommodation while preserving the heritage of the original estancia.
Comfortable en suite accommodation (some rooms with fireplaces). Dinner in the pretty restaurant. All meals included. Hours in the saddle 7 - 8 hours.
Day 5: Ride to Tercera. Night Estancia Tercera.
Today is a shorter ride as we saddle up in the pretty gardens before our beautiful ride out towards Estancia Tercera. This is an exciting ride and one that again offers different scenery. Surrounded by the wide open pampas and grassy valleys, our route takes us towards the huge granite peaks of the Paine mountain range as we head south west to the land belonging to Estancia Tercera. The terrain today is perfect for lovely long canters while we relax on our horses and enjoy the spectacular views. Our base for the night is the estancia known as Estancia Tercera Barranca and the comfortable ranch house belonging to this working estancia. Pretty rooms and cosy accommodation in this authentic country house with fabulous views of the Towers from its large west facing windows. Fireside living room/bar and traditional quincho (wooden dining room with outside BBQ area).
En suite rooms. All meals included (excluding wine/drinks). Hours in the saddle: approximately 5 - 6.
Day 6: Ride out to Laguna Azul following a circuit that skirts Laguna Amarga and Cascada Paine. Night Estancia Tercera
Todayʼs ride takes us west towards the peaks of Torres del Paine as we approach the stunning deep blue waters of Laguna Azul framed by the Towers themselves. Our ride takes us through native forests and grassy flower filled meadows as we follow the route round this beautiful lake with its stunning mountain backdrop. We then head south before crossing the area known as Canadon Macho with its Vega Nandu normally inhabited by large groups of both Guanaco and Rhea. This is a great area for spotting and photographing wildlife. We then ride on before dismounting and walking out to see the beautiful Salto Paine, a very pretty waterfall where glacial waters thunder over the rocks in their journey south. We will ride past Estancia Laguna Amarga and around the salt encrusted shores of Laguna Amarga (bitter lake) with its emerald green waters acting as a mirror as the surrounding mountains reflect in its surface. Continue east onto the land belonging to Estancia Tercera and our base for the second night.
Night Estancia Tercera. All meals included (excluding wine/drinks). Hours in the saddle: approximately 6 - 7.
Day 7: Short ride in the morning. Transfer to Serrano River. Night Cabanas del Paine.
Today, now more familiar with our horses, 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. This is a beautiful ride, not least because we get to ride towards the mountains themselves. 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. We can also stop to pick some lovely ripe calafate berries from one of the many bushes that grow around here. 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 towards Lake Nordenskjold. The views are spectacular from here as we see the famous Horns (Cuernos) of Paine piercing the skies with the beautiful turquoise waters ofthe lake in front. We will ride as far as the Nordenskjold lookout where we will meet our comfortable transfer vehicle for the drive across the Park to the immense Glacier and Lake Grey. We head out on foot across the small footbridge before walking through the forest and down to the lakeʼs 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 ($80 per person). After our time spent here we will continue in our vehicle to the nearby salmon stocked waters of the Serrano River where we will spend the night. Our base for the night is the comfortable Cabanas del Paine. This area provides some of the best photo backdrops in the Park with the classic yellow pampas in the foreground and the fabulous peaks of the Horns of Paine (los Cuernos) behind. Night Cabanas del Paine. All meals included (wine/drinks available at extra cost). Hours in the saddle 3-4. For early risers, this area offers some of the most spectacular sunrises in all of Patagonia.
Day 8: Ride to Glacier Balmaceda. Night Hosteria Balmaceda (long riding day). We will be making a relatively early start today for the beautiful ride out of Torres del Paine and into the remote and pristine Bernardo OʼHiggins National Park. This is a new ride in a virgin area and one where you will see few, if any, other clients. The Bernardo OʼHiggins National Park straddles the regions of Magallanes and Aysen. Not only is it the largest park in Chile, it ranks among the three largest national parks in the world. It is one of the least explored corners of southern Patagonia due its extreme climate and its dramatic location crammed between the isolated fjords and the southern ice field itself. The waters of the Serrano River flow through some of the greatest scenery on earth on their journey from Torres del Paine to Last Hope Sound. The river seems to change colour constantly as it joins forces with the Rivers Grey, Tyndall and Geike covering about 36 km of distance before spilling out into Last Hope Sound in the Bernardo OʼHiggins N.P. Have your camera at the ready as you ride south along the same route with its exquisitely pretty trails and abundance of snow capped peaks, crystal clear lakes and lush green forests.As an added bonus today, we will get to see the horses swim the waters of the River Nutria. This always proves fascinating to watch as the horses, completely trusting of their handlers, head into the frigid waters and quite naturally swim across to the other side of the river. Our ride then takes us due south through acres of native forest passing scattered lakes and streams as we approach the abundant and completely pristine waters of Lago Brush. There is a small lakeside puesto here where our horses will have a chance to rest while we relax and enjoy a picnic lunch in our beautiful, silent surroundings.
After lunch we cross some beautiful grassy meadows as we ride closer to the Serrano River with the dramatic mountains of the Chacabuco range looming up to our left. Our destination is the remote Hosteria Balmaceda with incredible views of the Serrano Glacier and its only access by boat, foot or horse. Night in Hosteria Balmaceda with comfortable but basic lodgings in dorm-style rooms. All meals included (wine/drinks available at extra cost).
Day 9: Boat trip out to see two glaciers. Return to Puerto Natales by boat with estancia lunch. Night Hotel.
After breakfast we will be taking a boat out to visit two glaciers in thisarea. The very pretty Serrano Glacier with its meltwater pool home to a number of floating icebergs and the hanging Balmaceda Glacier that clings to the granite of its host mountain as it spills down the mountainside into the waters of Last Hope Sound below. Return to the dock at Puerto Toro for the boat trip back to Puerto Natales. This is a 3 hour navigation that stops at the remote and beautifully located Estancia Perales for a traditional asado before arriving at the quayside in Puerto Natales at around 6 p.m.
Night in Puerto Natales in Hotel Weskar or similar. Farewell dinner at one of the townʼs excellent restaurants. All meals included (with wine/drinks available at extra cost).
Day 10: Transfer to PUQ via Penguins. Night Rey Don Felipe.
After a leisurely morning in Puerto Natales we will be joining our transfer vehicle for the drive back to Punta Arenas via the Magellanic Penguin Colony at Otway Sound. Plenty of time to observe these cute, burrowing penguins as they waddle from their burrows to the
nearby ocean to fish. Night Hotel Rey Don Felipe. Dinner at leisure. Breakfast only included today.
Day 11: Taxi on your own to the airport. Breakfast only.

Reg. Itinerary ... may be available again in late 2012
Day 1  Arrival into Punta Arenas.  Please take a taxi to the Hotel Ray Don Felipe in Punta Arenas. The group leader will meet you in the hotel lobby at 7:30 PM and the group will go to a local restaurant for a welcome dinner and tour briefing. Overnight. (no meals included today)
Day 2   Today we are going to be starting our drive across the wide open pampas and land belonging to some of the huge estancias in this area as we head towards the Torres del Paine National Park. After a short lunch stop in Puerto Natales, where clients can choose from a variety of restaurants and cafes, we will continue our drive north. The road takes us alongside the waters of Last Hope Sound with the bobbing heads of the black necked swans to our first estancia for the night. Estancia Tres Pasos, now a comfortable hosteria is situated at the head of a magical flower filled valley. A working estancia the wooden, chalet-style property consists of a number of ranch buildings, pretty gardens and lovely views down the valley. There will be a chance to unpack and relax a little before meeting our horses for an afternoon introductory ride in the vicinity of the estancia. Riders will get a chance to adjust to the style of riding and tack as we run through the paces and enjoy a relaxing afternoon’s ride. We will then return to the hotel for dinner in the lovely restaurant. Most of the food in this delightful family run establishment is home produced. Breakfast and dinner included (excluding wine/drinks). Hours in the saddle: 3-4.
Day 3   After breakfast, riders will once again be saddling up for a full day’s ride. This time, we will be heading north west to the outpost town of Cerro Castillo. This is a beautiful open ride across grassy meadows and welcoming pampas. Riding towards the dramatic mountain range of Torres del Paine enables us to fully benefit from the incredible mountain and lake views. We will also have some opportunities for our first long canters on our responsive and comfortable horses. During late afternoon after a leisurely picnic lunch and an afternoon’s riding we will see the welcome site of Hosteria el Pionero come into view. Surrounded by the customary layer of trees, the villa has the look and feel of an English country home and was built by European settlers to Tierra del Fuego at the beginning of the century. Once home to one of the most important and influential estancieros in the region it offers comfortable accommodation and an excellent restaurant offering a variety of typical local foods and international cuisine.  The fireside bar is an excellent place to enjoy a pisco sour whilst meeting your new friends and discussing the adventures to come.  Comfortable en suite accommodation (some rooms with fireplaces).  Dinner in the comfortable restaurant.  All meals included (excluding wine/drinks).    Hours in the saddle: 6-7.
Day 4: After a breakfast of home baked bread and cakes served in the bright dining room, we will be saddling up for the long ride north east towards Estancia Tercera Barranca. This is a classic Patagonian ride with the soft, inviting pampas stretched out in front of us as we journey north towards the mountains of Torres del Paine and La Cumbre mountain range that makes up the natural barrier between Chile and Argentina. We will be crossing the land belonging to various local farmers and with luck may be invited to join a local for tea or mate. After 5 or 6 hours riding with lunch taken in one of the many picnic spots en route, we will be riding onto the land belonging to Estancia Tercera Barranca. Our destination is the comfortable ranch house belonging to this working estancia. Comfortable and cosy accommodation in this authentic country house with fabulous views of the Towers from its large west facing windows. Fireside living room/bar and traditional quincho (wooden dining room with outside BBQ area). En suite rooms. All meals included (excluding wine/drinks). Hours in the saddle: 5-7.
Day 5: After breakfast, we will once again be saddling up for our exciting ride west towards the Torres and Lago Paine. Just before Laguna Azul we head north towards Laguna Stokes where a large natural vega or pasture exists. This area attracts wild criollos from the surrounding hills to graze in the summer and with luck with will get to see them (the viewings are not guaranteed!). There will be many excellent photo opportunities on this route as we pass through forests, pastures and the lake where Lady Florence Dixie first camped having sighted the Towers. Afternoon return to Estancia Tercera Barranca. Breakfast, packed lunch and dinner included (excluding wine/drinks). Hours in the saddle: 5-6.
Day 6: After a wholesome breakfast and packing up we will be starting our ride westwards towards the heart of the Park. We will now be riding directly towards the Paine Massif mountain range so the views are dramatic and beautiful. Our trail skirts the southern edge of the mountains on a rarely trodden path as we pass azure and turquoise lakes with the huge granite mountain peaks standing behind. After a picnic lunch taken in one of the pretty valleys we will continue west to the beautiful soft pampas beside the Serrano River. Here we will have a chance for a nice long canter as the light fades and the shadows lengthen and we arrive at our destination hotel, the Cabanas del Paine. Situated by the emerald green waters of the Serrano River with river and mountain views this is our base for the next two nights. Breakfast, packed lunch and dinner in restaurant included (excluding wine/drinks). Hours in saddle: 5-6 depending on photo stops.
Day 7: Today we saddle up for the fast ride to Mirador de los Hielos (iceberg lookout). Our view will be dominated by the huge granite peaks of the massif as we ride out along the Grey River towards the largest Glacier in the park, Glacier Grey. We will eventually arrive at a lookout with dramatic views of the iceberg choked waters of Grey Lake with the immense Grey Glacier in the distance (the largest glacier in the Park). After plenty of time to rest, take photos and enjoy our incredible lunch perch we will rejoin our rested horses and head back to our comfortable hotel Cabanas del Paine at the Serrano River.
*For clients who are interested, there is an optional excursion available which includes round trip transfers back to Grey Lake and a boat trip out across this iceberg-choked lake towards the face of this spectacular Glacier. Note the boat trip is weather reliant and the excursion with transfer costs US$180 (potential volume discounts on the transfer element of this excursion depending on final number of clients wishing to join). Breakfast, packed lunch and dinner included (excluding wine/drinks). Hours in the saddle: approx 5 -6.
Day 8: Today after breakfast, we will once again be joining our horses and the baqueanos who have now become our friends for another full day’s ride. This time, we will be heading south east to the Mirador del Toro and the beautiful Laguna Verde. The day starts with our final ride across the fabulous wide open pampas before crossing the much photographed Puente Weber and riding towards the Sierra del Toro. After stopping to tighten girths and check our tack, we will make a steep ascent of this mountain climbing high above the national park and surrounding areas. Eventually we will arrive at the dramatic and often very windy lookout (Mirador del Toro) with its incredible far reaching views of the lakes, mountains and glaciers below. Depending on the weather, we will take a picnic lunch in this beautiful setting before continuing on through southern beech forests passing a myriad of pristine lakes and valleys as we approach the land belonging to Estancia Lazo. Our base for 2 nights, this very comfortable converted Estancia situated beside the tranquil green waters of Laguna Verde offers splendid views, great food and comfortable accommodation. The lake shore is a great place to stroll spotting the wild geese and ducks who inhabit these waters. Dinner will be in the restaurant offering an excellent variety of local foods and wine. Breakfast, packed lunch and dinner included (excluding wine/drinks). Hours in the saddle: 4-5.
Day 9: After breakfast, we will pack our saddle bags with cameras, waterproofs and our picnic lunch and set off around the shores of this pretty lake through ancient southern beech forests behind the estancia for our climb up and over the Sierra del Toro. We will be making another steep ascent through forests to climb right up on top of this mountain. The last section of the ride will often be through snow as we stop to marvel at the views of the entire Park below us. We will then wind down to a pretty authentic puesto (gaucho post) manned by one of the cattle ranchers from Estancia Lazo to take our lunch. After lunch, we will be riding back to our comfortable accommodation at Estancia Lazo where sadly we will be bidding our horses and baqueanos goodbye. Breakfast, packed lunch and dinner in the restaurant (excluding wine/drinks). Hours in the saddle 4-5.
Day 10: After a leisurely breakfast of coffee and home made cakes/bread we will transfer to Punta Arenas via Puerto Natales. We will have time in Puerto Natales to shop for souvenirs or postcards before continuing on to the Magellanic penguin colony situated outside Punta Arenas. Late afternoon is a great time to visit these cute burrowing penguins before they return to their burrows. Time spent taking photos and wandering the trails which extend down to the beach where you can witness the penguins waterside. Arrive in Punta Arenas at about 6-7 pm depending on time spent at the penguin colony. Breakfast included. Driving time approx. 6 hours with penguins. Night Hotel Don Rey Felipe.
Day 11: Departure after breakfast on your own (taxi to the airport). 

Torres del Paine has a milder and drier microclimate than the surrounding areas of Patagonia because of some unique geological features. The weather however is famously unpredictable and it is possible to experience four seasons in the course of a few hours! Average daily temperatures vary but in summer one can expect 10 - 20 degrees Celsius with the occasional hot day of 25 degrees. Temperatures can drop to zero at night and high winds are common in this area. Although you can never be sure of how Paine will treat its guests, we ask that clients are prepared (both mentally and physically) for unpredictable and sometimes challenging weather conditions and that you pack accordingly. Good waterproofs (top to toe) are essential.

On these trips guests are required to bring a sleeping bag. The sleeping bag should be 3 or 4 season and should be carried in an effective stuff sack. We can rent sleeping bags to guests and you should indicate this at the time of booking. Waterproof stuff sacks are supplied to each client for the duration of the trip. This enables their belongings to be packed comfortable, safely and dryly onto the pack horses. The capacity of these bags is 3,200 cubic inches and is sufficient for the demands of the trip. Excess luggage not required for the trip can be stored either at the hotel in Punta Arenas or with us in Puerto Natales.

Water:  During the trip we use local water supplies from rivers, streams and lakes. You should bring a water bottle to fill for your personal daily drinking supply. Two 'half litre' bottles seem to work better than one 'one litr' bottle as these fit more easily into pockets (saddle bags are provided but one needs to dismount to access these). Water is always available at camp and there are further rivers and streams to replenish supplies en route. This water is clean and pure and is about as close to the source as is possible. We have never had any problems with any client drinking this water (there are no communities in the park to contaminate the water and there are no tropical water borne diseases such as guiardia). If however a client does not feel confident in drinking this water, we would recommend they bring iodine drops (and the taste inhibitors that are sold with them) for their personal supplies as it is impossible to carry any alternative source of water on the pack horses.

*Please note it is a condition of travel that you provide Hidden Trails with proof of insurance coverage in advance of your trip. This insurance must adequately cover your intended activity, i.e. riding, kayaking or hiking. It is also essential that you have cover for emergency evacuation and medical treatment. Unfortunately we will not be able to accept uninsured clients on this trip*

Accommodation
We use both working and converted estancias and the former offer a family stay environment with clean and comfortable facilities. All accommodations are beautifully located and most have amazing views.  Cattle and sheep are farmed and horses will be seen in a working environment.  Facilities may be shared. In order to ensure a visit to the beautiful Dickson Valley we will use the Park refugio (mountain lodge) where accommodation is of a simple standard.  The refugio itself is constructed of wood and is in a stunning setting.  The atmosphere is convivial and comfortable and dining is ‘group style’.  Whilst we endeavor to provide twin share accommodation, there may be times that guests are required to share with one or two other people.   In converted estancias and hosterias such as at Laguna Verde and Cerro Castillo the accommodation is comfortable twin share with en suite facilities. 

Meals
Will be eaten in the restaurant or with the family.  Food will consist of lamb, beef, chicken or salmon with fresh vegetables or salad accompanied by rice or potatoes.  Wine and beer is available at a reasonable cost throughout the trip.  Lunches will be prepared by clients at breakfast and packed in our saddle bags and will consist of sandwiches (tuna, cheese, salami, ham, peanut butter etc), fresh fruit, nuts and snacks and biscuits/chocolate.  Clients are required to look after their own lunch boxes. The restaurants in the Refugios offer a lively atmosphere and wholesome food. Vegetarian options are also available.  Breakfast will include toast, coffee, cereal, ham/cheese, bread rolls and juice and occasionally eggs. 

This trip includes and can accommodate special dietary requests.

Tack:		Chillean metal framed saddles onto which is layered felt, sheepskin and leather.
Horses:		Criollo-cross 14.0 and 15.2 hands.
Pace:		This is a faster paced ride with some very long riding days. Fitness and experience are essential. | Walk | Trot | Canter | Gallop |
Level:		(3 to 4 out of 5)    Good Intermediate
Age:		Min 12	Max 70
Weight:		Max 210 lbs
Riders:		Min 4 riders	Max 12 riders

This trip is for riders wishing to combine some local flavour and comfortable accommodations with their outdoor riding adventure. It is designed for those who prefer not to camp and who enjoy fairly fast paced riding with long days in the saddle. Riders will experience a first hand view of Patagonia estancia life and the joys, threats and difficulties posed by farming cattle and sheep in this area. The majority of the ride takes place within the park itself and offers plenty of diversity with rides across open pampas, rides to wild glaciers and iceberg-filled lakes and peaceful rides through valleys and ancient southern beech forests. Throughout these long, exciting days in the saddle, the snow capped mountains are never far away!

Horses: On sturdy and agile Criollo-cross horses, we cover between 25 and 40 kilometres each day.  The riding days are generally full with between 5 and 7 hours spent in comfortable ‘western style’ saddles.  The horses are bred locally and respond to ‘neck reining’.  The horses vary in size with the majority being between 14.0 and 15.2 hands. They are willing, sure-footed, fit and safe and cope admirably with both the terrain and the demands of our rides.   We are able to provide good horses for both experienced riders and for riders who are more novice or a bit 'rusty'. The pace of the ride will be adjusted to suit the majority of riders but as we always travel with more than one riding guide, there is great deal of flexibility and riders soon find their own pace for the trip. Riders are not responsible for grooming or tack.

Pace of Ride: Moderate - Fast. The pace is largely dictated by the terrain and the distance we need to travel on a certain day but where possible there is a lot of trotting and cantering. Distances vary between 20 and 40 kilometers in a day. 

Riding Experience: We prefer riders to be confident at walk, trot and canter. We can provide willing, free going horses to experienced riders who like to go at a faster pace and in addition the horses are extremely kind to the lower level riders. All riders (but especially the novices) would benefit from getting ‘riding fit’ before coming here and investing in instruction. A few tough one hour lessons with lots of trotting immediately before traveling would be a good idea.

Tack: The tack is Chilean and comprises of metal-framed saddles onto which is layered felt, sheepskin and leather.  Rope, rawhide and leather form the bridles, girths, straps etc.  The saddles provide adequate comfort for the long days riding and the stirrups consist of a leather cup through which the foot cannot pass.  Most of the horses are ridden in simple snaffles.  Halters are worn throughout the ride with rope tied around the horse's neck to tie up at lunch stops/rest stops etc.
The trips are guided from start to finish. The guides will be joined on trips by baquianos (Chilean horsemen) and an assistant who helps with preparing meals and other camp chores. The leader has many years experience of leading groups in this area and is bilingual.

Age Limit: 12 - 70 years unless by prior arrangement. We will accept children over 10 as long as they have the stamina and attitude to complete a trip of this nature. We would prefer them to be a confident rider. We will request riders over 70 to complete a medical/suitability questionnaire before their booking is confirmed.

Insurance Coverage:
For these trips it is mandatory that you have proof of travel insurance that covers you for all activities during the tour and also covers emergency evacuation and medical treatment.

Non-Riders: For non-riding partners, we can arrange a hiking trip which follows a similar route taken by the riders. This will be guided where necessary (with occasional vehicle assistance to enable him/her to make up the distance) and the hiker will meet the riding group at the end of each day (with one or two slight deviations). 

Passports
Passport valid for at least six months required by nationals referred to in the chart.
Passport Note
Passports issued to children must contain a photo and state the nationality.

Visas
Not required by all nationals referred to in the chart above for stays of up to 90 days except the following:
(a) 1. nationals of Greece for up to 60 days and nationals of Romania for up to 30 days.
(b) transit passengers continuing their journey on the same or first connecting aircraft provided holding required travel documents for onward destination and not leaving the airport transit lounge.

Note: Nationals not referred to in the chart above are advised to contact the embassy to check visa requirements (see Contact Addresses).
Visa Note
2. Nationals of Australia, Canada and the USA entering Chile for touristic purposes will be charged a processing fee payable on arrival and in cash only. For nationals of  Australia, the fee is US$56; for nationals of Canada, the fee is US$132; and for nationals of the USA, the fee is US$100 .