Argentina ~ Patagonia, Andesluna
7 night rides using simple farmstead, mountain refuge and camp accommodation. Shorter stays based at El Sapucai, a working farmstead, on request. Season October to April.
Where In northern Patagonia, on the Argentine side of the Andes, from a small farmstead about 3 hours south of Bariloche.
What is it like El Sapucai is a simple, family owned farmstead nestled amongst rough open grassland in the foothills of the Alto Chubut mountains. The area is in the rain shadow of the Andes, so it's generally drier than the Chilean side. Riding routes climb the hills to elevated grassland plains, cross rivers and lakes and follow winding paths through native forest of 'lenga' and 'nire' (southern beech). These rides are no frills, connecting with nature in back-to-basics, simple living.
Who does it suit Simple, authentic, welcoming - these are for anyone who wants to switch off and re-connect with nature. You can ride out from the farmstead to explore on a sure footed Criollo horse, you can enjoy the silence of the mountains in isolation by the river or, as the nomadic Tehuelche Indians did for hundreds of years, you can ride from camp to camp with a pack horse carrying your luggage. Riders of all levels are warmly welcomed and the whole feeling is relaxed, peaceful and friendly.
Why we love it There is little in Argentina to beat the Patagonian landscape and tuning into a more simple rhythm of life, feels completely refreshing. These rides are also great value!
SUMMARY
Riding: 5-7 hours a day or tailored to suit
Horses: Criollo and farm bred crosses
Pace: slow to moderate
Riding ability: novice to experienced; families welcome
Weight limit: about 90kg (14st), please check if you are close to this
Accommodation: 3* camping / mountain huts / yurts / rustic homestead
Group size: maximum 8
Season: October to April
Price: 8 night rides from USD 3030 (approx £2425) per person
HORSES & RIDING
Horses: You will be riding local Creole horses, many of them homebred and all well adapted to mountain life. The horses average 15hh, are strong, sensible, very sure footed, responsive and forward going, so great fun to ride. They are ridden western style and are used to neck-reining and relaxed contact with the mouth. Saddles are Argentinian style, similar to a western or Maclellan style army saddle, with a comfortable sheepskin on top. Saddlebags are provided for personal belongings and pack horses transport luggage on 'progressive' rides.
Hours: On the Alto Chubut rides there is usually between 4 and 7 hours riding a day with breaks for rests and lunch. When based at El Sapucai for consecutive nights, riding hours are flexible and can be adapted to suit.
Riding Experience: Place to place rides are aimed at reasonably experienced, confident riders. To join them you must feel relaxed, comfortable and secure in the saddle on a well schooled horse at a walk, trot and canter. You should also be used to riding for reasonably long hours, in an open environment, on varied terrain. Although the riding pace is not fast and much is at a walk, there are occasional interesting river crossings and may be obstacles to negotiate which require riders to be quiet and confident in the saddle. Riders of all levels are welcome at El Sapucai, where riding can be very flexible.
ACCOMMODATION
El Sapucai is a traditional, Patagonian style farmstead; rustic and simple but reasonably comfortable. It is the home of your hosts and there are two double guest bedrooms in the farmhouse and two cosy yurts which provide additional bedrooms. The bathroom is shared, with water heated by wood burning boiler and there is no electricity or 'phone signal. You are truely off-grid. On Alto Chubut Rides other nights are in a small hotel or guesthouse in Bariloche, in camps set up in the mountains, in homesteads of local families or in shared rooms in simple mountain huts. Camps use 3 man dome tents (for 2 guests) with inflatable mattresses provided and as far as possible, are set up ahead of your arrival. Meals are cooked by the 'baqueanos' (the name given to the gauchos in this part of Argentina) over an open fire and eaten seated around the camp fire on logs or rocks.
RATES & DATES
|
2024-2025 Rates |
Alto Chubut Ride (8 nights) |
|
Dates 2024-2025 |
Alto Chubut Ride |
Average temperature guide
ITINERARY
| Itinerary in brief - Alto Chubut Ride. Please enquire for other itineraries. | |
| Day 1 | Arrive Bariloche airport in Argentina. Meet your guide and transfer with the group to a hotel in Bariloche. Traditional ‘asadao’ (barbecue) dinner. Night at the hotel. |
| Day 2 | Breakfast and set off driving about 2 hours to El Sapucai, your hosts simple farmhouse. A relaxing day with a chance to try the horses and prepare for the journey ahead. Night El Sapucai. |
| Day 3 | Breakfast and saddle up, following Chubut River valley to a remote homestead. Saddlebag picnic lunch before continuing on to camp on the Cerrucho stream. Dinner around the camp fire. |
| Day 4 | Set off riding to the “Paso sin Nombre” pass, at 1,700 meters above sea level and after a lunchbreak head down away from the dry open country to an idyllic spot surrounded by native southern beech forests. Dinner and night in simple mountain refuge. |
| Day 5 | Breakfast and the ride continues alongside the Pantanoso stream, descending through remote southern beech forests. Reach the junction with the Chubut river where camp will be set up. Dinner and night in camp. |
| Day 6 | Continue riding along the Chubut River valley. Stop for a picnic lunch then a final 2 hours riding back to El Sapucai, where a hot shower is waiting. Dinner and night at El Sapucai. |
| Day 7 | Today's demonstrates your horse's skill and agility on all terrains - wetland, rocky hills and forest. Climb high into the hills stopping for a picnic lunch with wonderful 360 views. In the afternoon ride back to El Sapucai by a different route for dinner and the night. |
| Day 8 | The last riding day and a final ride following an ancient track through the hills to Puesto Viejo.Picnic with the gauchos before saying goodbye and depart by minibus for a 2 hour transfer to Bariloche. Dinner and night at a guesthouse in Bariloche. |
| Day 9 | Breakfast and transfer to the airport or own arrangements for onward travel. |
TRAVEL
The meeting point for these rides is San Carlos de Bariloche, which has a domestic airport and regular daily flights from Buenos Aires Jorge Newbery (Aeroparque) domestic airport. There is also a good overnight bus connection, with comfortable buses (flat bed) from Buenos Aires to Bariloche providing a convenient and safe way to travel (the bus journey takes about 18 hours).
Alternatively you can fly to Puerto Montt in Chile via Santiago and take a scenic bus/boat route across the border to Bariloche.
Please contact us if you need more flight or travel information.
