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The Baqueano Zamora Trail (7D/6N)
offered by supplier M09819 (view this supplier profile)
Key Information:
Tour Duration: 6
day(s)
Group Size: 2
- 8
people
Destination(s):
Chile
Specialty Categories:
Horse Riding
Farm Stay & Ranching
Season: November - March
Airfare Included: No
Tour Customizable: Yes
Minimum Per Person Price: 1995 US Dollar (USD)
Maximum Per Person Price: 2595 US Dollar (USD)
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We take you along the trail of this famous gaucho, one of the first explorers to this still untouched landscape. We ride through 3 valleys, crossing pristine rivers and galloping across beautiful pampas, following along the natural border between Chile and Argentina; camping under the Patagonia sky. This challenging and one of a kind ride allows you to experience one of the least visited areas surrounding the Torres del Paine National Park; a long way from any other tourists, becoming familiar with and sharing a part of estancia life.
Your Itinerary:
Day 1 We recommend you take the early flight from Santiago to Punta Arenas (4 hours), flying over the Andes and observing incredible views of the Patagonian Ice Fields. Upon your arrival in Punta Arenas, the most southern city on the continent, a private transfer will be waiting to take you to Estancia Las Chinas. (Chile Nativo will offer a pick-up from the airport at 3:20 PM, corresponding with LAN airline, Flight # 091, or at 3 PM from your hotel in town).
As we leave the airport we can see the Straits of Magellan and the mystical Tierra del Fuego. During a five hours we drive across open pampas passing huge ranches (estancias) and with luck we will be able to see one of the most typical animals in this area, the ñandu, (a rare South American ostrich). We head north to Puerto Natales, located on the Sound of Last Hope, a small fishing town surrounded by mountains. From there we will follow an unpaved road to Las Chinas Valley. Our final destination is Estancia Las Chinas (a typical example of an estancia in the region), with an amazing view of Torres Del Paine.
(5 hours by private transfer) (D) (Night at Estancia Las Chinas)
Day 2 Early morning, and after a country style breakfast, we meet our baqueano (local cowboy), who is going to join us for the next days of riding. We choose our horses and start a round trip ride to the Sierra Contreras Mountain Range. Our baqueano leads us through a typical Patagonian landscape, a vast terrain call “Pampa”, at the foot of the Sierra Contreras mountain range. Here we have the chance to observe Guanaco herds, and maybe a few Rheas. Our trail becomes steep as we head to the top of the Sierra, with a magnificent view of the Las Chinas Valley with the famous Torres Del Paine granite peaks in the background. After enjoying a gourmet picnic lunch we return to our cozy ranch-house. In the evening we will gather in front of the fireplace, with a pisco sour in hand (Chilean brandy made from Muscatel grapes).
(5 hours slow riding, trotting and cantering) (B-BL-D) (Night at Estancia Las Chinas)
Day 3 The ride starts from the stables of the estancia. After crossing the Baguales River, we will head northwards following the western bank of the river. The path rises gradually and we will be able to see Las Chinas Valley behind us. The vegetation here is pre-Andean shrubland, with the dominant species being the Black Bush (Juniellia tridens). We will also be able to see Lenga forests (Nothofagus Pumilio) on some of the slopes.
We will continue our ascent riding along the river shore and the lower slopes. We will see herds of guanaco (lama guanicoe) and may occasionally see a Hare (Lepus capensis): this animal was introduced from Europe at the end of the 19th century. After 4 hours we will arrive at Las Chinas puesto (post) where we will set up our camp. During the afternoon we ride to a look out point of the valley as well as a good opportunity to find fossils.
(4-5 hours slow riding, trotting and cantering) (B-BL-D) (Night at Puesto Las Chinas Camping) (No showers available)
Day 4 This horse-ride is one of the few trips that mixes a beautiful ride with an in-depth exploration of the most hidden and unexplored valleys in the area. We will follow Las Chinas River along its eastern bank, riding uphill for about an hour and a half until we reach a pass in the foothills, which will lead us to our eventual destination on the plains of the Zamora Valley. From this pass and throughout the rest of the trip we will be able to see groups of guanacos and birds such as the condor (Vultur gryphus), the white throated caracara (Phalcoboenus albogularis) and the red backed hawk (Buteo polysoma). We will leave behind us Las Chinas valley with its incredible view of the Sierra Baguales. We descend from the pass following the source of the Zamora River. We have to weave in and around a dense Lenga forest, which borders the river, much of the time creating our own path. Once past the forest we will enter a long, raised plateau, with plenty of up hills and down hills until we will reach the border with Argentina. This is located near the puesto La Rosada which is situated in an idyllic spot surrounded by meadows and very close to the Argentinean border.
(6-7 hours walking, trotting and cantering) (B-BL-D) (Night at Puesto La Rosada Camping) (No showers available)
Day 5 The ride will mostly follow a path rarely used by vehicles. The scenery reminds one of the writings of Lady Florence Dixie, the first female tourist to the area; in her majestic book Across Patagonia, where she describes seeing this incredible geography after having (presumably) crossed from Argentina.
During the summer season, the valley is full of cattle driven by the baqueanos from Estancia Cerro Guido. This round up, called the “arreo”, lasts several days at the beginning and end of the season and is a spectacular sight to observe. The path we follow runs through the valley for almost 3 hours before arriving at La Porfiada puesto. After a good lunch we ride to Laguna Azul area, one of the entrances to Torres del Paine National Park. Finally we have the opportunity to take a well deserved hot shower.
(6 hours walking, trotting and cantering) (B-BL-D) (Night at Camping Laguna Azul)
Day 6 We will take a private transfer to Punta Arenas. (Clients should take the flight at 4:00 PM, from LAN airline, flight #286, arriving to Santiago at 8:15 PM), if you decide to stay the night in Punta Arenas; we will drop you at your hotel.
(5 hours by transfer) (B)
REGARDING THE SCHEDULE
The schedules indicated above are subject to change due to weather conditions or unexpected circumstances beyond our control, but we will try our best to keep them unaltered.
DEPARTURE DATES:
EVERY OTHER SATURDAY FROM NOVEMBER 03, 2007 – APRIL 19, 2008
Notes:
Airfare is not included in the tour price.
Price per person:
2 pax USD $ 2.095
3 pax USD $ 1.795
4 - 8 paxs USD $ 1.495
Also see tour packages in:
South America
Chile
Horse Riding
Farm Stay & Ranching
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