A 15,000-acre and 900-head of cattle ranch in the Andean foothills 45 miles from San Martin de los Andes.
The landscape is made up of shrub covered hills with table-tops, craggy rock outcrops and wide-open water-meadows with the Lanin Volcano (13,000 ft.) and the Andes mountains as a backdrop.
You can choose to ride out from  the Estancia everyday or to coordinate your stay with one of the 3 to 5 day wilderness pack trips into Lanin National Park.
The riding on the Estancia Huechahue provides glorious views of the vast grasslands. You ride through barren rolling hills and along the narrow rocky gorges of the Andean streams, to the tops of the hills where the mighty Andes rise up behind you and the vastness of Patagonia stretches out before you, whilst eagles and condors fly beside you. You can gallop across the water-meadows sending the Ibis and Plover screeching and visit the burial caves of the Mapuche Indians. You can ford the river and ride up through the neighbouring Indian reservation stopping to share a mate on the way.
The Estancia is a working cattle ranch, guests can always help the gauchos rounding up and working  the cattle. Often there are short cattle drives moving some of the herd to new pastures. You can also help rounding up the horses. The riding is forward going at all paced when not moving cattle. If you like a good long canter and gallop ... this is the place for you.
Amongst the wildlife to be seen there are red deer, wild boar, rhea, guanaco, armadillos, black-necked swans, ibis, plovers, burrowing parrots, eagles, vultures and the Andean condor. The area is renowned for its trout fishing.
On the slow moving pack trips you ride deep into Lanin National Park in the heart of the Andes. You ride through dense forests of southern beech and bamboo thickets. From the tops of the ridges there are breathtaking views, in the valleys there are tumbling streams and undiscovered lakes. You ride through forests of the only indigenous Monkey Puzzle trees in the world and across lunar landscapes of black ash, a legacy of the recent volcanic activity in the area.
Whilst packing there is no choice but to camp (usually 2 nights). We make this as comfortable as possible with two man tents. We provide all the equipment necessary, including good quality sleeping bags. The setting up of camp, cooking and care of the horses is all arranged by the gauchos.

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Rates: All inclusive from San Martin de los Andes, accommodations and meals, activities, 8 riding days - 3 day pack trips
8 days/ 7 nights $ 2,079 (with 3 day pack trip)
9 days/ 8 nights $ 2,375 (with 3 day pack trip)
Single+ 25%  - waived if willing to share
2008 Dates:  
01/06-01/13    01/10-01/17    01/16-01/24
01/25-02/02    02/05-02/12    02/17-02/24
02/24-03/02    03/11-03/18    11/05-11/13
11/16-11/23    11/23-11/30    12/01-12/08
12/08-12/15    12/15-12/23    12/23-12/30
   availability & reservation

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Stays without pack trips are available on request  $297 per day (min of 4 nights)

Meeting: San Martin de los Andes
Airport: Chapelco (CPC) or Bariloche (BRC)
Transfer: included from Chapelco or San Martin de los Andes. A transfer from  Bariloche can be arranged (extra charge).
Gratuities: 10% suggested
Pace: Moderate, trots, canters and gallops
Level:    Intermediate +
Included: Accommodations, meals, activities
Tack:  Argentine type saddle with  sheepskin
Horses:  Criollo crosses, bred on the Estancia. 15 to 16.5 hands. Broken to the neck-reining method. They are sure footed and well-mannered.
Min/Max Riders: 3-12
Accommodations: Very comfortable, with twin-bedded (some double-bedded) and private bath.
Meals: The Estancia is virtually self-sufficient, we have our own beef, chickens, dairy cow, pigs (and chorizos, salamis, hams etc.) as well as a large kitchen garden and numerous fruit orchards. Vegetarians can be catered for with prior notice.
Other activities: Bird-watching, walking, tennis, fly-fishing and river activities (rafting and swimming).
Note: suited for rider with riding experience only ...  Non riders have excellent opportunities for fishing in rivers and lakes. All the fishing on the Estancia is included, however, if guests want the services of a professional guide or wish to fish some of the other local rivers there are substantial extra charges.

Sample Itinerary with 3 day pack trip
Day 1 : You will be met by your host at the Chapelco airport, San Martin de los Andes and driven to the estancia (approx. 40 mins.). After lunch there will be an afternoon ride. A chance to familiarize yourself with the horses and tack and the way we ride.
Day 2 : A full days ride on the Estancia with an "asado" lunch. Follow the Huechahue stream through its basalt canyons, riding as fast as you want across the water-meadows sending the plovers and ibis screeching, before returning over the top of Chenque Hill, where the Andes rise up behind you and the vastness of Patagonia stretches out before you.
Day 3 : You will spend the day with the gauchos rounding up cattle into the corrals. Lunch with the gauchos is strips of beef ribs threaded onto a stick and cooked over the open fire. You cut off the chunk you fancy and eat it sandwich style. Meat, bread and mate - the gaucho diet. After a siesta in the shade you will get the chance to seperate the cows on horseback or try your hand with a lasso.
Day 4 : A full days ride on the estancia to visit the Indian burial caves. The caves were formed when the glaciers carved the valley opening an entrance to the lava flow tunnels formed during previous eras of volcanic activity. The Tehuelche Indians laid out their dead, surrounded by their weapons and always somewhere where they could see their enemies coming. They decorated the walls with designs. The remains have disappeared, but the petroglyphs and the view are still there.
Day 5 :  A morning's ride to see our stallion with the mares and new foals, and to herd some of the young horses into the corrals. Although we do not tame them until they are 3 or 4 years old, we try to bring them in on a regular basis to get them used to being herded and to being handled. But basically they are wild and bringing them in is a challenge. After a late lunch there will be an evening ride to the cliffs where the condors and eagles nest. While we have a cocktail and the sun goes down, the condors return. They soar above and below us before settling for the night.
Day 6 to Day 8:  A 3 day pack trip in the Andes mountains. The exact itinerary will depend on the time of year and weather / snow conditions. You may depart from the estancia itself or you may go into the mountains by vehicle. You will ride through the spectacular scenery of the southern Andes with its snow capped volcanoes, crystal clear lakes and pristine forests. Nights are spent camping in carefully chosen, picturesque  campsites by a lake shore or at a stream's edge. These are rides into the wilderness. Everything is carried on pack horses and the camping is simple. The terrain itself generally dictates a slow pace. At the end return transport will be waiting to bring you back to the estancia for baths, dinner and good beds!
Day 9: A farewell ride before transferring to the airport.

A SAMPLE WEEK -
RIDING AT THE ESTANCIA

Day 1 : You will be met by your host at the Chapelco airport, San Martin de los Andes and driven to the estancia (approx. 40 mins.). After lunch there will be an afternoon ride. A chance to familiarize yourself with the horses and tack and the way we ride.
Day 2 -5 : See itinerary above
Day 6 : A days ride through the neighboring Indian reservation. Our saddle rugs and saddle bags are woven by some of the Indian women and the skins from the cows we butcher are worked into rawhide and then bridles and halters by the men. We will pass by to see what progress is being made and to share a "mate" on our way through.
Day 7 : A full days ride to a different part of the Estancia. There are 15,000 acres in all so there is still plenty left to explore. Lunch will be on the river with opportunities to swim and to fish. A chance to see guanaco, deer, wild boar and peludos - the baby armadillo.
Day 8 : A farewell ride on the Estancia before transferring to the airport.

  see Condors "in flight"

  see more recent images