Riding Torres del Paine Estancias

Day 1: Fly to Punta Arenas; Transfer to Hostería Pioneros

We recommend you take the 4hr early flight from Santiago to Punta Arenas, flying over the Andes and observing incredible views of the Patagonian Icefields.

During your transfer, we'll cross open pampas and pass huge estancias. With luck we'll be able to see one of the most typical animals in this area, the ñandu – a rare South American ostrich. We'll also pass by Puerto Natales, located on Last Hope Sound, a small fishing town surrounded by mountains. 

From the town we'll follow an unpaved road to Cerro Castillo, a village at the head of the Torres del Paine commune and spend the night at Hostería Pioneros.

Length of  transfer: 5hrs by private vehicle

Meals: Dinner

Accommodation: Hostería Pioneros

Day 2: Ride to Tercera Barranca; Estancia Tercera Barranca

After a hearty breakfast, we have a transfer to Lake Sarmiento where we'll pick up our horses for a full-day ride to Tercera Barranca. We'll slow ride, trot and canter across the diverse Patagonian landscapes, with views of the Towers in the distance and have encounters with guanacos and ñandus.

You'll spend a quiet evening at the beautiful Estancia Tercera Barranca. This is a family-run working estancia just outside of the Torres del Paine National Park. You can enjoy the fantastic views looking out from the huge windows and relax in front of the fireplace.

Length of ride: 7hrs slow riding, trotting and cantering

Meals: Breakfast, picnic lunch, dinner

Accommodation: Estancia Tercera Barranca

Day 3: Ride to Salto Las Chinas waterfall; Estancia Tercera Barranca

In the early morning, after a country style breakfast, we meet our baqueano who is going to join us for the next days of riding. We choose our horses and start our trip. Our baqueano leads us to the eastern side of the Torres del Paine National Park on a route taken by Lady Florence Dixie whose 1880 account of journeying in Patagonia has taken on iconic status.

Riding across the pampas and plateaus we could see condors soaring in the skies above us. When we reach the Salto Las Chinas waterfall, we'll enjoy a gourmet picnic lunch before riding back on the same trail to the cozy Estancia Tercera Barranca.

In the evening we will gather in front of the fireplace, with a Pisco sour in hand (Chilean brandy made from Muscatel grapes).

Length of ride: 5hrs, slow, trotting and cantering

Meals: Breakfast, picnic lunch, dinner

Accommodation: Estancia Tercera Barranca

Day 4: Ride to Serrano River; Serrano Camp

After breakfast we'll get back in the saddle and head towards Torres del Paine National Park. When we reach Estancia Lazo, a working cattle ranch on the edge of the park, we'll follow Green Lagoon through a dense forest and past small lake. This entire section has fantastic views of the Paine massif.

Our ride for the day will end at the River Serrano where we'll settle in to Serrano Camp and enjoy dinner together.

Length of ride: 6-7hrs, slow, trotting and cantering

Meals: Breakfast, picnic lunch, dinner

Accommodation: Serrano Camp

Day 5: Ride to Lake Grey lookout; Serrano Camp

In the morning we'll ride across huge pampas and on a suspension bridge over the River Grey for fantastic views from the Lake Grey lookout. You'll see the lake full of icebergs which have broken off from Glacier Grey, part of the southern icefield and the third largest reserve of fresh water in the world.

After a picnic lunch in front of this magnificent view, we'll set off on a short hike through a beech forest to the pier, listening for woodpeckers and Austral parakeets as we walk. We'll then take a 1hr boat ride to view the glacier up-close, weaving through icebergs of different tones of blue up to Glacier Grey. We'll spend a while here, taking in the complexities of this ice formation and hopefully seeing some icebergs calve.

As we make our way back, look out for impressive ice mushrooms atop Paine Grande. We'll transfer back to Serrano Camp for a second night.

Length of ride: 4-5hrs, slow riding

Length of walk: 30mins

Length of boat trip: 3hrs

Length of transfer: 30mins

Meals: Breakfast, picnic lunch, dinner

Accommodation: Serrano Camp

Day 6: Transfer to Punta Arenas airport

You can either take a private transfer to Punta Arenas Airport, or if you decide to stay the night in Punta Arenas, you can be dropped at your hotel. If flying from Punta Arenas, your flight should be after 2pm in the afternoon to allow for the road journey.

Meals: Breakfast