Horseback trail ride in ARGENTINA: THE PATAGONIA ON HORSEBACK

INDICATIVE ITINERARY *

Day 1: Arrival. You need to arrive in Ushuaia the day before the start of our riding excursion. You will be picked up from the Ushuaia international airport and transferred to your hotel. In the afternoon / evening, there is an obligatory briefing with the group.
Meals included: none. Overnight at Hotel in Ushuaia.

Day 2: Ride to Puesto La Chaira. The program begins with a 230 kilometers car transfer from Ushuaia to the starting point: Estancia Maria Luisa. This is a typical Patagonian ranch for breeding cattle. On the way, our road passes through some of the most iconic landscapes of Tierra del Fuego (Garibaldi Pass through the Andes and Lake Fagnano panorama). Once we reach the end of the road, we leave the civilized world behind us. We will meet our horses for the first time at the estancia. A horse will be assigned to each guest at this point. We will load our luggage and start our adventure. The first day is desinged to allow you to acclimatize so there are no major difficulties along the way. We will ride through some rolling hills of lush green grass. This will take us up to the first river, which we can only cross during low tide. The river is called the Irigoyen River which is world famous for huge trouts. After a long beach ride, we reach our first overnight destination ‘Puesta La Chaira’, which is part of the old ‘Estancia Policarpo’. This is the last shelter inhabited by gauchos on our route.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner. Overnight at Puesto La Chaira.

Day 3: Puesta La Chaira to Puesto Rio Bueno. After breakfast we will undertake our long ride to ‘Puesto Rio Bueno’. Along the way, all traces of civilization slowly disappear and we gradually see the wilder side of Tierra del Fuego. We will see several shipwrecks such as the "Barca" - an old wooden boat, which has been buried by centuries of sand. There are also abandoned shelters, many of which have been built with remains of ships. We will see the local fauna in all its glory here, including curious foxes, guanacos, majestic condors, beavers and various species of birds, and with a little luck we might even see marine mammals. Here, traces of the native Haush Indians can be found. After passing the river Leticia, we will reach our shelter for the night. The trail generally follows the beaches, which we can only traverse during the low tides.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner. Overnight at Puesto Rio Bueno.

Day 4: Puesto Rio Bueno to Estancia Policarpo. During this day we will cross two rivers ‘Rio Bueno’ and ‘Rio Policarpo’. Our destination for the day are the remains of the ‘Estancia Policarpo’ (a National Historical Monument). Travelling conditions are similar to the previous day with the addition of several peat lands where our horses will demonstrate their excellent ability to find the safest way through. Once again we will encounter many wild animals, including herds of wild horses, colonies of sea lions and possibly even some solitary penguins. On this day, we will also visit the most famous of all shipwrecks in the Mitre Peninsula, the British clipper ‘Duchess of Albany’.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner. Overnight at Estancia Policarpo.

Day 5: Estancia Policarpo to Bahia Thetis. After leaving Caleta Falsa bay, we pass by several beaches. At Laguna Centenario, we can enjoy a unique spectacle: the varied species of birds of Tierra del Fuego in all their glory. This may include cormorants, southern crested caracaras as well as the two emperors of the sky: black browed albatrosses and Andean condors. We might also pass by colonies of sea lions which may even be accompanied by their lovely puppies depending on the season. Afterwards we will drift away from the coastline and will ride further inland through the Fueguino peatland. Weather permitting, we can see the mythical and inaccessible State Island with its San Juan de Salvamento lighthouse, which became famous after publishing Jules Verne’s book “The Lighthouse at the End of the World.” The peat land becomes even more boggy here, which will force us to dismount the horses on several occasions and cross some sections by foot. Finally we arrive at Bahia Thetis. Here, we will pass by an abandoned factory. Close by, exists another interesting historic point, the former Argentina Subprefectura (1889 - 1896), once a military detachment and rescue shelter for survivors of the many shipwrecks that are now sprawled along the shores of the Mitre Peninsula.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner. Overnight at Bahia Thetis.

Day 6: Bahia Thetis (no riding). Today, we spend some time around Bahia Thetis, the farthest point of our ride. We can offer a hike to Cape San Diego Lighthouse at the farthest east end of Tierra del Fuego. The walk is mostly through peat land and is approximately seven hours (round trip). We follow the coastline and then cross the channel leading to the inner bay. There is a chance to see guanacos (cousins of lamas) within a stone’s throw. From the lighthouse, we can enjoy an exceptional 360 degree view of the South Atlantic Ocean, Strait of Le Maire, Staten Island and the entrance to the Beagle Channel. We can also explore the old lighthouse and then have lunch with the most breathtaking panoramic view of the surroundings. Here we might even get the chance to see a small sea lion colony. In the afternoon we walk back to our patiently waiting horses, enjoying the iconic Patagonian landscape. Please note that this hike is quite long and can be tiring so good trekking shoes are required.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner. Overnight at Bahia Thetis.

Day 7: Bahia Thetis (no riding). On this day we can take time out to enjoy short walks around the area and explore the true magic of this beautiful land. We can observe wildlife and look for traces of the Indians who inhabited this land many years ago. There is a camping site where we can sit back, relax and soak up the mesmerizing surroundings with a glass of wine. This is the perfect day to take time to regenerate before beginning our journey back.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner. Overnight at Bahia Thetis.

Day 8: Bahia Thetis to Estancia Policarpo. On our way back, we will follow the same trail between Bahía Thetis and Estancia Policarpo. Once again our Criollo horses will demonstrate their incredible strength and ability to navigate the best way through the peat land. From the cliffs, we can enjoy an extraordinary spectacle of light and color, a beautiful landscape of the sub- Antarctic forest, the Andes and the South Atlantic Ocean.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner. Overnight at Estancia Policarpo.

Day 9: Estancia Policarpo to Puesto Rio Bueno. After preparing the horses, we will cross peatland once again, eventually reaching the coastline next to Rio Policarpo (the widest and most challenging river during our expedition). On the other side of Rio Policarpo, lie the longest beaches of our journey (Donata and Policarpo Bay). Here we can enjoy long canters which often creates incredible feelings of freedom from within. With a little luck, it’s possible we will encounter large groups of wild horses in their natural habitat. This is an unforgettable experience. We will take a break near the old “Duchess of Albany” shipwreck, snack and take some more photos. Before stepping onto the beaches once again. As our luggage becomes smaller and lighter, we can enjoy a slightly faster pace (more trots and canters).
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner. Overnight at Puesto Rio Bueno.

Day 10: Puesto Rio Bueno to Puesto La Chaira. In the morning we will have some time to walk around the Rio Bueno shelter and listen to stories about the legendary “puesteros” who once inhabited the land and worked with the cattle here. After, we will mount our horses, cross the Leticia River and climb to the top of the grassy cliff on the other side. From this point, we can appreciate panoramic views of the entire region including the route we have taken. On our way to La Chaira, we can enjoy more canters along the magnificent beaches. That evening, we will have a hearty meal with plenty of time to share stories and reflect on our time together.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner. Overnight at La Chaira.

Day 11: Ride back to Estancia Maria Luisa. Our last full day together sees us leave La Chaira, saying a final farewell to the gauchos of the Mitre Peninsula. We leave behind the most remote and wildest region of Tierra del Fuego. Slowly but surely we will cross Río Irigoyen and return to civilization. At Estancia Maria Luisa, we will dismount our horses for the last time. After removing all saddles and luggage, we will say a final goodbye to our beautiful and brave horses. From here we will transport all participants back to their accommodation in Ushuaia.
Meals included: Breakfast & Lunch. Overnight at Hotel in Ushuaia.

Day 12: Departure. After breakfast, transfer to the airport.
Meals included: Breakfast.

* Indicative itinerary, may be changed if necessary.