Torres del Paine National Park
Torres del Paine National Park, with its iconic granite Towers, is one of Patagonia's most popular destinations: a paradise for hikers and outdoor adventure activities.
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Few figures are as iconic in traditional Patagonian culture as the gaucho, tending their herds, high in a sheepskin saddle under immense skies where the horizon is only broken by snow-capped mountains. This is your chance to embrace that lifestyle, riding for days on end from a remote estancia, seeing herds of guanacos from the saddle and sleeping out in rustic gaucho outposts. These rides are for those with the pioneering spirit who want to seek out those half-forgotten trails a world away from modern life, accompanied by local guides who were born in the saddle.
Swoop says
Torres del Paine is where my love of riding became a complete passion. The connection between me and my horse, and our joint experience of exploring some of the world’s greatest landscapes is one of the most uplifting feelings I know.
Lisette Nunez Ogalde Patagonia Team Leader
The criollo horse of Patagonia
Riding to Serrano Glacier in Torres del Paine
Riding out from an estancia
Early morning on the trail in Aysen
Embracing gaucho culture in Aysen
A gaucho with riding group
Pack horses crossing a river in Aysen
A tribute to Patagonia's horse culture
On the Torres del Paine skyline
Riding deep in Los Glaciares
A gaucho and his cattle
Kitchen breakfast at a gaucho outpost
Getting ready for the day's riding in Torres del Paine
Our favourite backcountry horseriding trips
4.6 out of 5
Riding to Hidden Glaciers
A real chance to experience the Patagonian life like a ranger, seeing crystal-clear lakes and hidden glaciers from the saddle and riding to remote corners from a traditional Patagonian ranch, spending nights in small rustic outposts. This complete program showcases…
- 7 Days
- $2,170
Travel on horseback like a gaucho into one of Patagonia's wildest, most remote locations. Explore the huge granite wall of the Avellano Towers, hanging glaciers and remote landscapes of Aysen that very few travellers get to experience. This fully-supported trip,…
- 5 Days
- $1,955
Experience true Patagonian lifestyle on horseback in one of the world's most stunning locations. Accompanied by an expert guide and local baqueano (cowboy) you'll ride across the plains, forests and lagoons of Torres del Paine National Park and stay on…
- 4 Days
- $4,395
A stunning horseback expedition following a route from the remote Bernardo O'Higgins National Park into Torres del Paine via lakes, wetlands and virgin forests - an epic way to enter Paine. Take a boat across Last Hope Sound, get up…
- 2 Days
- $1,950
Where to go backcountry horse riding in Patagonia
Horse riding adventures in Torres del Paine
Torres del Paine is a vast landscape of pampas, forests, lakes and fjords, threaded with old livestock trails from the heyday of the gaucho. In other words, it’s a perfect landscape to explore on horseback. This is the place where you can canter away from the hikers and spend long days in the saddle under an endless sky and the watchful gaze of the Paine Massif.
Our Riding Torres del Paine Estancias trip gives the opportunity to experience Patagonia’s traditional ranch life, riding into the park from Puerto Natales. The remote Fjord Trail takes a different approach, entering Torres del Paine via the little-visited Bernardo O’Higgins National Park, crossing rivers on horseback and passing through dense forest before Paine is laid out before you on the shores of Lake Brush.
Riding in the shadow of Torres del Paine
Horse riding adventures in Los Glaciares
Los Glaciares is dotted with estancias that are some of the truest bastions of traditional Patagonian gaucho culture, and its vast empty landscapes mean that it’s easy to disconnect from everything until it's just you and your horse, miles from the nearest phone signal.
Our Riding to Hidden Glaciers trip is the epitome of this: a multiday horseback adventure through the pampas with a skyline of snowy mountains. This is true pioneer adventure: at the end of the day you’ll stay at rustic outposts that still cater to the gauchos who spending weeks at a time in the wilderness with their herds, with simple accommodations and dinner prepared on a traditional wood-fired stove. Riding adventures don’t come much more authentic than this.
On the gaucho trail in Los Glaciares
Horse riding adventures in Aysen
One of our favourite places for extended horse riding trips is in Chile’s Aysen region, where the Carretera Austral highway winds through some of the Andes’ most spectacular landscapes.
Aysen’s relative remoteness has meant that its gaucho culture is still very much alive. Local gaucho guides lead horse expeditions along remote trails used by local families to travel between valleys and villages.
Our multi-day riding to the Avellano Valley trip embraces this to the fullest, taking packhorses along with your mounts to allow you to experience the region at its wildest and most remote, and where to bed down in tents or the simplest of gaucho huts at the end of the day.
Following traditional pack horse trails in Aysen
Swoop says
Reaching in a gaucho's hut in the deep wilderness after a long day in the saddle is like finding a million star accommodation – a simple shelter under the biggest starry skies that Patagonia can muster, and falling asleep to the sound of your horse just outside the window.
Clo Mazille Patagonia Specialist
Explore more of Patagonia
Los Glaciares National Park
Los Glaciares is Argentina’s greatest national park. It’s home to Perito Moreno glacier and the FitzRoy Massif, offering visitors explore epic ice and world-class hiking.
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Aysen
Remote, beautiful and with one of the most famous road-trip roads in the world, Aysen is a destination for those seeking the very best of Patagonia without the crowds.
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How to get to Patagonia
Everything you need to know about how to get to Patagonia, from international connections to domestic flight routes inside the region.
Discover MoreBackcountry horse riding in Patagonia: FAQs
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When should I go horse riding in Patagonia?
Our multi-day horse riding trips run during the Austral summer, between October and April.
For more information on what to expect during different months of the year, see our page about when to visit Patagonia.
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What horse riding experience do I need?
These trips are designed for those already with some riding experience. You can expect to spend between 5–7 hours a day in remote locations, then get up the next day and do it all over again.
For those who fear being saddlesore, we offer plenty of beginner riding experiences in every region of Patagonia, from a few hours to a full day.
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Do I need to bring my own riding hat or gear?
All riding equipment is provided including a helmet, though you are welcome to bring your own. Chaps and gloves will be provided.
A full packing list for clothes is provided for every trip. All trips in Patagonia require dressing in layers with a windproof and waterproof outer shell being one of the most important items.
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What sort of horse will I ride?
Patagonia is the home of the criollo horse. These are the descendants of the first horses brought to the region by the Spanish in the 16th Century, which then roamed wild for centuries before becoming an integral part of local gaucho culture.
Criollo horse are typically 14–15 hands high, and have immense stamina and great feet: perfect for extended rides in the pampas.
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Will I have to groom & tack my own horse?
Your guides will groom and tack your horse every day, though you are normally welcome to help.
Those who are experiencing traditional Patagonian saddles for the first time often enjoy learning how to put them on their horse: the layers of blankets and sheepskin can seem tricky at first to get the required level of comfort, but by the end of the trip you'll be handling them like a true gaucho.
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How long are the riding days?
On a typical day you'll spend between 5–7 hours in the saddle.
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Where will I stay on the riding trip?
The exact accommodation depends on your trip. In Torres del Paine, you can opt either to riding between estancias or camp remotely. In Los Glaciares and Aysen, you'll typically stay in a rustic gaucho outpost.
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Can I extend my trip with other activities?
It's very easy to build out your horse riding trip into a longer adventure, whether you want to go hiking, kayaking, or pamper yourself with a stay in a luxury lodge.
There are almost too many options to list: see our destination pages for Torres del Paine, Los Glaciares and Aysen for more – or talk to one of our specialists to discuss ideas for an itinerary.
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Whatever your budget, group size, length of stay, preferred activity or appetite for adventure, we can help.
1 888 970 4571Swoop says
Clo Mazille Patagonia Specialist