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This camping itinerary is suited for lovers of riding and the outdoors and those who like
to get ‘off the beaten track’. In the company of our guide and Chilean horsemen,
we ride into some remote areas where the only access is on foot or horse. Pack
horses carry our luggage and often we see no other humans. Whilst camping in
these areas we can observe the plentiful wildlife, sit and enjoy some
traditional mate (pronounced matay) with the baqueanos, enjoy wine by the
campfire or find a peaceful spot and just sit and relax. There is also an option
of taking a boat trip out to the face of Glacier Grey. The campsites on this
trip have been chosen with much care and they are all very different, very
special and very beautiful. Some of them are wilderness sites with no
‘facilities’ at all. There will also be the opportunity to experience local
estancia life when we ride out to Estancia La Tercera for a traditional gaucho
barbeque. If the weather is bad, we’ll move inside to enjoy the log fire and
lovely comfy den with fantastic gallery windows framing the granite Towers to
the west.
This is an exciting ride for adventurers and wilderness-lovers starting
and finishing in Punta Arenas with eight full days riding. It starts with a
private transfer to the Magellanic penguin colony which is
home to the cute and rather curious ‘burrowing penguin’. From here we will drive
to Puerto Natales for a short lunch stop before continuing on into the Torres
del Paine National Park.
 IT-CHRT30
Rates include 11 nights lodging, meals as indicated, 8
riding days, English speaking guide
... 9 days camping and 2 days hotel
12 days/ 11 nights $2,550
Single:+$250
.. based on total of 7+ riders on trip
... included the night before and after the ride in Punta Arenas - no meals on
these days
Min/Max Riders: 7-12
3-6 riders only: +$130 per person
2 riders only: +$330 per person
2008 Dates:
02/09-02/20 03/14-03/25
11/05-11/16 12/06-12/17
12/22-01/02
2009 Dates:
02/09-02/20
03/14-03/25
availability
& reservation
Meeting: Punta Arenas
Transfer:
from hotel in Punta Arenas
Gratuity:
$75-$100 recommended
Level:
Good intermediate
Horses:
Chilean
Tack:
Chilean (similar to Western)
Pace:
Slow to intermediate - some canters
Price includes
eleven nights accommodation (9 camping, 2 hotels in
Punta Arenas) based on twin share throughout; eight
days riding; transfers to and from Punta Arenas and
whilst in Park; meals whilst camping (including wine
with dinner); all equipment (except sleeping bags
and mats which can be rented locally on request);
English speaking and local guides; Baqueanos who
care for the horses; pack horses for luggage;
waterproof stuff sacks for trip; use of saddle bags;
entrance fees to park and penguin colony.
Excludes flights; airport taxes; airport transfers and meals in Punta
Arenas; lunch in Natales on transfer days
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Overview
Our introduction to camping will be spent on a beautifully situated site close
to a working estancia on the edges of the lovely Laguna Verde. The next day we
will be making a steep ascent through forests to climb right up on top of this
mountain.
After our time spent in the southeastern section of the Park, we will be heading
north to the wide-open pampas and rivers of the flatlands. We will then move on
to second part of our adventure in the Dickson Valley. Dickson can only be
reached by foot or horse and provisions are delivered to the local ‘refugio’ on
horseback. Our stunning campsite will be in the beautiful Dickson Valley
surrounded by towering snow capped peaks and the pretty waters of Dickson Lake
with Mt. Cubo in the distance.
Our final night camping will be at Laguna Azul before transferring back to Punta
Arenas the following day.
Accommodation Camping; campsites have been chosen with much care and are
all very different, very special and very beautiful. Some are wilderness sites
with no facilities.
ITINERARY
Day 1 Client’s
arrival in Punta Arenas. Taxi from airport to Hotel
Terra Sur, Punta
Arenas, Chile. Meet leader in hotel lobby at 7.30
p.m. to be escorted to restaurant for dinner.
Day 2 Morning
collection from Terra Sur to start the day’s drive
towards the penguin colony to see and photograph the
cute burrowing Magellanic penguins. Continue in
comfortable transfer vehicle across the Patagonian
Steppe where you will have your first opportunity to
see some of the unusual plant and animal life that
exists in this area. After a short lunch stop in
Puerto Natales we will continue on to our campsite
situated close to a working estancia on the edges of
the beautiful Laguna Verde. Chance to stroll down
to the lakeside and enjoy the variety of bird life
and spectacular views of the horns whilst dinner is
prepared. No showers. Drive approx. 6.5 hours
including penguins.
Day 3 Today we
will be meeting our horses and the dedicated baqueanos who care for them. After assigning horses
to riders, we will have a safety check and short
familiarization with western riding before packing
our saddle bags with cameras, waterproofs, and our
picnic lunch and setting off around the shores of
this pretty lake through ancient southern beech
forests towards the Sierra del Toro. We will then
make a 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 manned
by one of the cattle ranchers from Estancia Lazo to
take our lunch. Afternoon return to our stunning
campsite at Laguna Verde. No showers. Hours in the
saddle: 3-4.
Day 4 After a
wholesome breakfast and packing up we will be
starting our ride eastwards towards the heart of the
Park. The morning ride is fairly relaxing as we
wind our way through this pretty valley passing a
number of lakes and mountain views. Plenty of time
to take photographs before we ascend to a lookout
with fabulous views of the pampas and lakes below.
After stopping to let the horses rest we will start
our steep descent of the Sierra del Toro to the
pampas below. Lunch will be taken in the valley and
we will have a chance to visit the Park Headquarters
to look at their relief map of the park. We will
then continue with some fast riding to the Serrano
River where we will camp beside the emerald green
waters of this beautiful river. Showers available.
Inside dining in case of inclement weather. Hours
in the saddle: 4 – 4.5.
Day 5 After
breakfast we will pack up camp and make an early
start across the pampas towards the huge and immense
Grey Glacier and Lake. This is open pampas riding
at its most exciting and there will be lots of
opportunities for nice long canters as we ride
towards the huge granite peaks of the Paine Massif.
We will then reach the highlight of today’s ride as
we dismount and cross the wooden footbridge onto a
small trail through the forest. This trail take us
onto Grey Beach for a walk along the grey sands
admiring the huge icebergs that have calved off the
nearby glacier. For those who are interested
there’s an optional boat ride across this iceberg-choked
lake towards the face of this spectacular Glacier (this
boat is very weather reliant and costs $70 per
person for the three hour boat ride). If the
boat isn’t running or for those clients who prefer
to stay ashore, there’s plenty of opportunities for
hiking, taking pictures or walking the short
distance to Hosteria Lago Grey to enjoy some
fireside pisco sours. After this exciting day we’ll
rejoin our horses for a lovely long canter across
the pampas to our riverside campsite at Rio
Serrano. Showers available. Inside dining in
case of inclement weather. Hours in saddle: approx
5.
Day 6 Today we
will be enjoying some beautiful trails which cross
the heart of the Park . Known as the ‘up and over’
our trail cuts through some incredibly diverse
scenery from verdant green valleys and beech forests
to azure lakes and wide open plains. We will see
magnificent condors hovering high above mountain
peaks whilst down on the plains herds of guanaco
scatter as we approach. We will be surprised at
every turn of our path as we cross over 30 kilometres
of this amazing riding country dominated by the
Paine Horns and Towers after which the park is
named. Finally, after a truly memorable ride
we take a short vehicle transfer to our beautiful
campsite nestled in a small valley with only a
gaucho ‘puesto’ (small wooden hut) and awesome views
of the Towers for company. No showers.
Hours in the saddle: 7-8. (NB: we hope to have
showers here for next season)
Day 7. After
enjoying breakfast in our stunning campsite we will
set off on an exciting and unique adventure into the
hills and forests of the Sierra Contreras. Our
destination is the pretty waterfall known as Cascada
Zamora. After lunch we will ride out to a remote
puesto ‘mercado’ riding up high over the pampas with
views off to the Las Chinas Valley and the Sierra
Baguales in the distance. Return to our camp at
puesto Tercera for night. No showers. Hours in
the saddle: 4-5.
Day 8. After
packing up camp and loading up the pack horses we
will set off on our exciting ride towards the Torres
and Lago Paine. Just before Laguna Azul we head
north towards Laguna Stokes where a large natural
vega or pasture exists and which attracts wild
criollos from the surrounding hills to graze in the
summer. 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. We
will be camping riverside at Lago Paine. No
showers. Hours in the saddle: 4-5 - 5.
Day 9 After
breakfast, we will be riding out to Lake and Glacier
Dickson. Dickson is one of the more remote and
rarely visited glaciers in the Park due to its
inaccessibility – in our opinion it is also one of
the prettiest. Our rides takes us past the
northerly peaks of the Paine chain where one of the
peaks is topped by a black, craggy rock in the shape
of a Tuhuelche Indian Face where the ‘headband’ is
decorated with snowdrifts even in summer. The trail
then heads north passing ancient southern beech
forests and scattered lakes before reaching our
solitary perch and viewpoint above this beautiful
lake and glacier. This will be our picnic spot for
lunch – a truly memorable destination. In the
afternoon we ride back to Lago Paine. No showers.
Hours in the saddle: 6-7. |
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Day 10 Today we
will be continuing on to Laguna Azul via a different
route. This is a beautiful ride through forests
and flower filled meadows and southern beech
forests. Lots of opportunities for long canters
before we reach the edge of the aptly named Laguna
Azul. On arrival at the campsite we will put the
wine in the lake to chill and serve canapes before
our dinner is served. During the evening we can
enjoy our final view of the Towers across the lake
whilst swapping tales of the adventure of the
previous days. Hot showers and a quincho for inside
dining. Hours in the saddle: 2-3.
Day 11 Pack up
camp for our transfer back to Punta Arenas to arrive
late afternoon. We will once again make a lunch
stop in Puerto Natales and this will give clients an
opportunity to purchase any
souvenirs/books/postcards etc. Clients will be
dropped off at the Hotel Terra Sur in Punta Arenas
at around 6p.m. Transfer time: 5 hours.
Day 12 Taxi to
airport (not included) for onward travel.
Accommodation We use comfortable 3-man tents which are roomy, comfortable
and able to withstand the sometimes high winds in the area. Accommodation is
based on twin-share. If you require single accommodation, there is an extra
charge of. Some of the camping will be true ‘wilderness’ style
camping with the only washing facilities being in a river or lake. Showers are
available for four out of the nine nights on the Glacier Ride. Guests typically
set up their own tents.
Meals Meals are varied and wholesome and include fresh salmon
and local fish, pasta, chicken, beef, lamb and some local Chilean meals. Fresh
salad is served every night. Local wine is served with dinner and all meals are
prepared. Packed lunches are prepared by the clients at breakfast and are
carried with us in saddle bags. These consist of sandwiches (e.g. tuna, cheese,
ham, peanut butter, salami), fresh fruit, trail mix, chocolate, biscuits, snacks
etc. Clients are responsible for looking after their lunch boxes. Breakfast is
normally hot and cold cereals, toast, jams, marmalade, coffee, tea and juice. At
times a cooked breakfast is served. Vegetarians can be well catered for and
clients should indicate their requirements at the time of booking. A dining tent
is carried for eating meals and cooking although sometimes we choose to eat in a
camp ‘shelter’ or around the campfire (weather obviously permitting)! Where
possible, vehicle support is arranged. Supplies of bread, salad and fresh fruit
are replenished. On arrival at the campsite, wine and canapes are served giving
clients ample time to relax while the evening meal is being prepared.
Suitability
This itinerary is suited to lovers of riding and the outdoors and those who like
to get ‘off the beaten track’. In the company of our guide and Chilean horsemen,
we ride into remote areas where the only access is on foot or horse. Pack horses
carry our luggage and often we see no other humans. Whilst camping in these
areas we can observe the plentiful wildlife, sit and enjoy some traditional
‘mate’ with the baquianos, enjoy wine by the campfire or find a peaceful spot
and just sit and read. The campsites on this trip have been chosen with much
care and they are all very different, very special and very beautiful. Some of
them are wilderness sites with no ‘facilities’ at all.
Horses: The horses are Criollo-cross and vary in size with the majority
being between 14.0 and 15.2 hands. They are strong, fit, willing and
sure-footed. 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.
Climate: 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.
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 reasonably 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 more novice riders. All riders (but especially the novices) would benefit
from getting ‘riding fit’ before coming here. A few tough one hour lessons with
lots of trotting immediately before traveling would be a good idea.
Weight Limit: 210 Pounds.
Age Limit: 18 - 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.
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). Price according to the number of non-riders in the group.
Please ask for details and prices.
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.
Water: During the trip we use local water supplies from rivers, streams
and lakes. Clients should bring a water bottle to fill for their personal daily
drinking supply. 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 bourne diseases such as
guiardia). If however a client does not feel confident in drinking this, 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.
Equipment: On our Camping trips clients are required to bring a sleeping
bag (on Estancia Ride these are provided for the two nights in refugios but
clients might like to bring a sleeping sheet) and for our camping trips they
should also bring a mat. The sleeping bag should be 3 or 4 season and should be
carried in an effective stuff sack. We can rent sleeping bags and mats to guests
and you should indicate this at the time of booking. For those clients renting a
sleeping bag, we recommend you bring a sleeping bag inner (available in silk,
cotton and fleece) for your comfort and hygiene.
Waterproof stuff sacks are supplied to each client for the duration of the trip
(the size of an average 60 litre backpack/3,200 cubic inches and is sufficient
for the demands of the trip). This enables clients’ belongings to be packed
comfortable, safely and drily onto the pack horses. Excess luggage not required
for the trip can be stored either at the client’s hotel in Punta Arenas or with
us in Puerto Natales.
Tips/Gratuities: At the end of the trip it is customary for each client
to contribute towards a tip for the baquianos who have traveled with us. The
normal amount given by each client is between $60 and $100 for the trip although
of course it is up to the client to decide on how much they would like to give.
This is presented by one of the group to the head baquiano at the end of the
trip.
Single Supplements: For those clients who prefer not to share, we can offer
single accommodation in tents The single supplement is to cover extra camping fees
and cargo space on the packhorses.
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