Rates Note:

Transfer and Other Charges:

Our riding programs on the estancia very much depend on our guests, on how much riding experience you have, how long you wish to ride each day, and the time of year you visit. The condors are best in September, October, November, March, and April; lunches on the river with swimming are best in January and February. At all times of year there are lots of opportunities for working with cattle on horseback. We like to ride as fast as we can!

Below is a sample program for a week spent riding with us. You can stay the length of time which suits with a minimum 3 night stay. As long as you arrive before 18.00 we will ensure that you get on a horse and out riding  that evening before dinner.

Sample Itinerary- subject to changes

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 min..). 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 and eat it sandwich style. Meat, bread and mate - the gaucho diet. After a siesta in the shade you will get the chance to separate 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 a chance to herd horses. 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 day's ride through the neighboring Indian reservation. Riding up over the top, a chance to see guanaco, deer, wild boar, and 'peludos'- the baby armadillo. Lunch on the river, a great place to swim. Returning to the estancia riding down the river with lots of birdlife.

Day 7
A day's ride over the ridge and into town for a look at the shops. We race along the top of the ridge with huge views on either side. Lunch is a picnic at the neighbour's, watched over by the Lanin Volcano. Later we cross the River Chimehuin and on into Junín de los Andes.

Day 8
Up early for a farewell ride on the Estancia before transferring to the airport.

--This above is a sample itinerary only and is subject to changes at the tour operator's discretion.--

San Carlos de Bariloche area

Seasons
As we are at 700m and higher, it always cools down at night. It rarely rains - however it is necessary to be prepared with adequate rain gear. It is possible to experience all four season in one single day, so the best way to always dress is in layers. We suggest guests come prepared for all eventualities and as a word of warning, the sun is very strong here and we recommend wearing factor 50 sun cream and having a hat. Dress is always casual.
Please be aware that on the treks we climb to an even higher altitude, so the temperatures will continue to drop, especially at night!

Summer
In 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
During 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
Winter sees 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 in springtime. Days become longer and longer and temperatures rise gradually during the day, reaching marks between 7ºC and 20ºC by the end of the season.

The rainy season is from March to December and the dry season is during the summer. It rains around 1500 mm per year. The rains fall mainly on the cordillera. Precipitation may be rain in fall and spring and snow in winter, depending on the altitude.

In the summer months the weather is generally hot and dry during the day with a maximum temperature between 22 and 35 deg. C. As we are at 700m, it always cools down at night, generally to between 5 and 10 deg. C... It rarely rains - however it is necessary to be prepared with adequate raingear. It is strongly recommended that you should bring your own riding helmet although we can lend if necessary.

The best way to dress is in layers - a T-shirt, shirt, pullover (or fleece which is light and dries quickly), and a jacket to give protection against wind and rain.
Trousers should be comfortable for riding - jodhpurs, jeans, etc.
Footwear that is SAFE for riding, we can provide half-chaps.
Swimwear.
Protection against the sun, which is very strong. Sun block, lip balm and if you do not intend wearing a hard hat, a hat with a wide brim (also good if it happens to rain).

Dress is always casual. There is a laundry service at Huechahue.

Whilst on the pack trips we provide tents.
Each guest is provided with a set of saddle bags for their personal possessions - change of clothes, toiletries, camera etc. Jackets and pullovers can be tied to the back of the saddle.

Detailed list:
- Good 4 season sleeping bag.
- A complete change of clothes.
- A light pair of shoes, eg. plimsolls - for when you want to take your boots off.
- A set of thermal underwear - a light way of carrying extra warmth, hopefully unnecessary.
- Rain gear – jacket and trousers.
- A small flashlight.

Accommodations
This is a stationary ride so all nights are spent in the same location.

Description



The lodge has ten double or twin-bedded guest rooms all with bathrooms en-suite. Four are on the first floor of the lodge and the others are in two chalets, a short stroll across the lawn. Each chalet includes a communal sitting room area. All of the rooms have WiFi. Laundry is available for $10US per load.


Room Occupancy
Single rooms are available at no additional cost.

Meals
All meals are included in the trip from lunch on Day 1 (depending on your arrival time) to breakfast on the last day. Lunch and dinner are large meals in Argentina and the estancia is virtually self-sufficient. Ham and bacon from our pigs are cured in the smoke-house, eggs come from the chicken run; milk and home made yogurt from the dairy cow and of course our own beef, venison, and wild boar. With our large orchards, fruit is in abundance and all the preserves, bottle fruit, even the apple juice are homemade! There is a large vegetable garden and bread is freshly baked on a daily basis!
Argentine wines are finally achieving international recognition and we like to serve wines from the province. The beers and spirits are good too - we always have a siesta!

Dietary Restrictions
We can cater to dietary restrictions with prior notice.

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

Tack:		Chilean-type saddle with a sheepskin on top
Horses:		Criollo crosses, bred on the Estancia. 15 to 16.5 hands. Broken to the neck-reining method. They are sure footed and well-mannered.
Pace:		Very flexible to rider's needs from 2 hours per day walking up to 6 hours per day of fast riding
Level:		(2 to 4 out of 5)    Novice
Age:		Min 8
Weight:		Max 220 lbs
Riders:		Min 2 riders	Max 12 riders (per riding group)	Max Capacity 20

Huechahue is home to about 80 horses and with 15,000 acres, as much as is possible they live as 'wild' horses. Our prize-winning Criollo stallion, a beautiful 'lobuno' colour can be seen taking care of his mares and foals. Our riding horses are Criollo crosses, part Anglo-Normando, of about 15 1/2 hh. They are bred and trained on the Estancia and are sure-footed and well behaved. As much as possible we like to have them out enjoying the freedom of the water meadows which makes for an exciting ride rounding them up! We ask arriving guests to provide us with an insight into their riding experience and history so we can try and get a feel for the type of horse would be a good match. We have an eclectic selection of horses allowing us to cater to all riding abilities and confidence levels. They are neck-reined and the riding is similar to Western style. The saddles used are "montura de monte" which are similar to old English army saddles with a sheepskin on top. Following traditional gaucho methods, you will find only the stirrups have buckles on our saddles. The saddles are cinched using leatherhide, a custom not forgotten from the days when gauchos, like the American cowboy, would ride into the wilderness unable to replace a broken buckle. Our gauchos continue to practice this and you will see them fully equipped with their lassos, gaucho knives and boleros.

Suited for the 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 nearby local rivers there are substantial extra charges.

Explore the Region!

You can 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; Watch condors and eagles as they float high above you. Gallop across water meadows or visit the Indian burial caves where ancient drawings can still be seen on the walls. You might also ride through the neighboring Indian reservation, help the gauchos work the cattle or have a game of polo-crosse.

Working cattle on horseback is challenging and fun and brings out the gaucho spirit lurking in all of us!

Huechahue is not a dude ranch - it is the real thing! When working cattle we start early in the mornings and days can be long, every animal must be found, every canyon and hilltop scouted, behind bushes or down creeks - but there is tremendous satisfaction when the job is done. The time of year determines what needs to be done but it can include round-ups, vaccinating, separating, branding, moving cattle and horses to new pastures. Herding horses at speed is magic! There are opportunities for lassoing enthusiasts and everyone is welcome to get involved with gaucho life.