An estancia in a magical spot for a horse riding holiday, nestled in beautiful remote mountain surroundings, near rivers and lakes in wonderful unspoilt riding country.
Duration: 14 Days
Grading:MODERATEMax Group Size: 8
Type:SELF-GUIDEDPrices from: £1935
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Tour Overview
Having a wonderful unique friendly family estancia experience in the mountains. Experiencing living in a truly beautiful untouched enviroment far away from the trappings of modern life. Experiencing the gaucho way of life. Lovely meals and drinks in the evening with breathtaking views. The fresh meat and clean crisp bubbling of spring water.
You will experience and learn hw to tame horses in a soft 'doma india' style by a guest argentine horse tamer. We will have some two special artesan characters to give a talk each on their leather and textile work over drinks on one or two of the evenings and opportunities to visit them working during the day.
On your holiday you will travel through rugged country on horseback, care for your horse and experience the wonderful outdoors of the Andean cordillera. You will also learn how to load and lead a packhorse if this is new to you and other outdoor camp skills should you wish.
One things for sure, you will have a very special experience in a lovely peaceful unspoilt part of patagonia with a great family.
Estancia Ranquilco, from which the wilderness learning trip is based, is nestled in the remote untouched wilderness of northern Patagonia. The Estancia is accessible only by horse, so guests ride in and their luggage assembled on pack horses. The land hugs the cordillera of the Andes and is dispersed by beautiful rivers the largest being the Trocoman. It can only be described s a magical hide away, hosted by a wonderfully relaxed family. Of course a wonderful herd of horses of all personalities awaits all standard of riders.
Activities
The wilderness trip itself is a horse guide trek into the mountains. There will be opportunities for fly fishing on the trip, and at the estancia home there is access to flyfishing tackle and the neighbouring Rio Trocoman full of of trout. There will be opportunities to swim horses in river and lakes; tame horses. There will be experts from which to learn about artesan work, sourcing of natural dyes, leather work, wildlife and plants If clients were to extend their stay there is an opportunity to help with general activities on the estancia or simply relax and go on day rides.
Special relationship with various families throughout Argentina and Chile. Main area of expertise and interest is Patagonia.In depth knowledge of the land, people and cultural heritage. A great love of wilderness living. Born in a remote location in West Africa and thereafter a lifetime experience of exploring remote locations. Enjoy sharing discussions on wild flowers, wildlife, artesan activities and produce of indigenous communities. A pleasure sharing time with the gaucho and estancia families. Always learning. Love of horses and all things equine from breeding, breaking in horses, to living with them and dressing them with hand made tack and textiles from the local areas. All things natural are all the more practicle for horse and human. Loom woven pontio and hand spun woollen jumpers using natural locally sourced plant dyes. Never short of chat on literature of Patagonia, always carrying a small library of good reading, spanish and english. Wine, folkloric song, asado and dance are a special ingredients in this magical land.
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Tour Highlights
The tour is a unique opportunity to experience visiting and living in one of the world's last areas of beautiful unpopulated country. A warmly hosted home and a warmly guided and well informed wilderness journey. Your guides are passionate about this area of Patagonia.
Itinerary
Day 1
We'll meet on the morning of the first day in the town of Zapala. From there, we travel four hours by pickup truck to "Buta Mallin", an outpost on our land, and the end of the road. We will lunch with the gauchos. Then there will be an afternoon horse ride of 3 hours to reach the Estancia house with your bags on a pack horse.
Days 2
The second day we will have a relaxed day. There will be time to enjoy the river, the lodge, and the scenery. We will round up horses for and choose a horse for an opportional afternoon ride. Over lunch we chat about the 2 week itinerary and planned activities
Day 3
First of 5 days of 'taming' horses demonstration; so called 'Doma India'. We will onlook and participate in the mornings. We will have breakfasts, lunches, drinks early evening and supper in the beautiful verandah setting overlooking the river. Georgina, the chef, will change the locations around for suppers, with 'asados' (barbecues, Argentine style) in different outdoor fireplaces; meals in the dining room and out on the verandah. Everyday there will be optional afternoon rides from the estancia exploring the surrounding beautiful country.
Day 4
The 2nd day of taming horses. Today at early evening drinks there will be a short talk on artesan leather working by a well known artisan practising in the provincia. He will have examples of his work and will have a workshop you can pass by and chat during the day.
Day 5
3rd day of taming horses. This evening during drinks there will be a brief talk on local wildlife and flora.
day 6
4th Day taming horses. During the day there will cold shoeing demonstrations during the day. This evening we will have a local textile expert talking on mapuche textiles and dyes. Breakfasts, lunches and suppers as usual.
Day 6
5th and last day of taming horse work. In the late afternoon there will demonstration of how to prepare and pack horses for a mountain trip.
Days 7 to 12
We head off after breakfast with pack lunch into the cordillera We'll visit some wonderful remote valleys and ridges making our camps each night. First day 6 to 8 hours.
Day 8
We will visit a wonderfullu hospitable family living in a cave and enjoy an asado camping nearby. Drinking pistine spring water bubbling up from local spring. Short ride to see spectacular sunset ospot with a wonderful view of the Andes.
Day 9
We travel back down into a the river valley, where we will prepare natural hot thermal pools for bathing. Onward to a favoured camp spot higher up the valley. 4 hours riding. We will stop to visit gaucho who produces wonderful cheeses.
Day 10
Crossing up over high ridge pass with views over into Chile and dropping down into another valley leading towards the estancia. With a spectular siesta spot with pristine spring and view down onto Laguna Negra. Fun sandy descent and onto one of many optional camping spots near the lake and tributuary river (lots of small trout to put straight in the frying pan!). Here there will thus be opportunities for fishing and indeed swimming the horses in the lake. 6 hours riding.
Day 11
Onward crossing into yet another major river valley, more spectacular views. Riding alongside Laguna Lauken and onto favoured river bank camping. This a long day in the saddle, a wonderful journey.
Day 12
This will be are last day and a relaxed 4 - 6 hour ride back to Ranquilco for mid afternoon. Fires will be soon roaring heating your water for a lovely shower, snacks and drinks all the way to supper.
Days 12 to 14
The last days will be spent relaxing at the lodge and enjoying all of the comforts and joys of this amazing place. On the final day we'll head back to Zapala, arriving in the late afternoon.
Days 13
Today we will have a morning rest. Breakfast and lunch as normal. I will take whoever still has riding legs to swim horses in the River on a short 2 hour ride in the afternoon. Drinks and evening asado with guitar and dancing!
Day 14
This morning we will be all packing your suitcases out of of Ranquilco to meet your transfers onto buses or flights. It will be a 3 hour horse ride out of Ranquilco.
There is no pretending to be eco friendly when you are living remotely like this - there is no option. We drink spring water, grow vegetables and herbs; rear the meat we eat. The fruit are vegetables are seasonal. The plum tree, the apple orchard, the peach and quince trees. Rosehip berries for tea and vitamin C. No cars only horse for transport.
Our Trusted Partner's Responsible and Sustainable Travel Policy
The estancia lodge is virtually self sustaining and thus enviromental impact is negligable. Electricity is generated by water turbine, meat is reared on farm. Livestock is minimal and thus no over grazing. Access is only by horse.
About our Trusted Partner
Remote estancia lodge. Running wilderness learning courses, moving by horse back. learning survival skills and how to travel by horseback self sufficiently.
Swimming horses in Laguna Negra up in the mountains : Equine Immersion Holiday at www.NatureandKind.com (THE.NATURAL.CHOICE)
Swimming horses in Laguna Negra up in the mountains
Heading off into the wilderness from Ranquilco Estancia House : Equine Immersion Holiday at www.NatureandKind.com (THE.NATURAL.CHOICE)
Heading off into the wilderness from Ranquilco Estancia House
Ready and leaving Ranquilco house for the wilderness trip : Equine Immersion Holiday at www.NatureandKind.com (THE.NATURAL.CHOICE)
Ready and leaving Ranquilco house for the wilderness trip
Estancia manager and botanist : Equine Immersion Holiday at www.NatureandKind.com (THE.NATURAL.CHOICE)
Estancia manager and botanist
Hereford cows grazing the high summerlands : Equine Immersion Holiday at www.NatureandKind.com (THE.NATURAL.CHOICE)
Hereford cows grazing the high summerlands
Rio Trocoman flowing through land here : Equine Immersion Holiday at www.NatureandKind.com (THE.NATURAL.CHOICE)
Rio Trocoman flowing through land here
Looking at one of the houses at Ranquilco from afar : Equine Immersion Holiday at www.NatureandKind.com (THE.NATURAL.CHOICE)
Looking at one of the houses at Ranquilco from afar
Goat kid asado on the wilderness trip : Equine Immersion Holiday at www.NatureandKind.com (THE.NATURAL.CHOICE)
Goat kid asado on the wilderness trip
swimming and playing in the mountains : Equine Immersion Holiday at www.NatureandKind.com (THE.NATURAL.CHOICE)
swimming and playing in the mountains
Hugo and I asking about the pass we are about to ride over : Equine Immersion Holiday at www.NatureandKind.com (THE.NATURAL.CHOICE)
Hugo and I asking about the pass we are about to ride over
Another unique moment lunching with gaucho in the mountains : Equine Immersion Holiday at www.NatureandKind.com (THE.NATURAL.CHOICE)
Another unique moment lunching with gaucho in the mountains
more horse and mountains : Equine Immersion Holiday at www.NatureandKind.com (THE.NATURAL.CHOICE)
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