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In his book "In Patagonia" Bruce Chatwin describes some of the explorers, outlaws,
missionaries and gauchos who have found their way to Patagonia. The romance of the
American cowboy has captured the world's imagination, but the lives and traditions of
the Argentine version are just as colourful and picturesque. At Estancia Huechahue you
may not hear reports of sightings of Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, but you
experience some of the way of life on a working Estancia in this wild land.
Estancia Huechahue covers 15,000 acres in the foothills of the Andes. It is 125 miles northeast
of Bariloche, in the Lake District. The Estancia is a working cattle ranch, very different
from its origins as an Indian battleground -
which is the meaning of the Indian word Huechahue. Wildlife
includes guanaco, rhea, red deer, wild boar, armadillos, black-necked swans,
ibis, plovers, eagles, vultures, burrowing parrots and the Andean condor.
As well as enjoying the wealth of visitor
activities, guests are always welcome to join in with the everyday ranching if they wish;
many guests find the self-sufficiency of the estancia fascinating.
The accommodation at the estancia is very comfortable. There are 2 guesthouses;
each has 3 twin bedded rooms with private bathrooms.
Activities include horse-riding, fishing, bird watching, walking, tennis and river activities
(rafting and swimming).
Estancia Huechahue is a haven for experienced riders and those who wish it can ride out every day
from the Estancia or to co-ordinate your stay with one
of the planned pack-trip departures into the fantastic Lanin National Park or to combine
both in your stay (see description of both options below)
Riding out from the Estancia means going through barren rolling hills and along
the narrow rocky gorges of the Andean streams. You can ride to the tops of the hills
where the mighty Andes rise up behind you and the vastness of Patagonia stretches
out before you. Watch condors and eagles as they float high above you. Gallop across
water meadows or visit the Indian burial caves where Indian drawings can still be
seen on the walls.
Or try your hand at working cattle with the gauchos. The amount and type of work
with the cattle will depend on the season - in November and December there are the
spring round ups and you may help the gauchos move the cattle to their summer grazing
and again in April, help bring them home for the winter. You might also ride through
the neighbouring Indian reservation, most of the tack is made on the reservations from
rawhide produced on the Estancia so there is usually some negotiating to be done.
The riding program is tailored to the needs and abilities of those visiting the
Estancia and is suitable for the expert horseman as well as the novice - providing
you are reasonably fit and enjoy the outdoor life. There is scope for faster, more challenging riding when based at the Estancia.
The horses are criollo crosses, part anglo-normando, of about 15.5 hh. They are bred and
trained on the Estancia, are sure- footed and generally well behaved. They are neck-reined
and the riding is similar to Western style. The saddles used are "montura de monte" which
are similar to old English army saddles with a sheepskin on top.
Sample Itinerary
DAY 01.
We will meet you at Chapelco airport, San Martin de los Andes and drive you to Estancia Huechahue (approx. 30 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 02.
A full days ride on Estancia Huechahue 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 03.
A day spent working cattle with the gauchos. Lunch with the gauchos is strips of beef ribs threaded onto a stick and cooked over the open fire. A siesta in the shade and a chance to separate the cows on horseback or try your hand with a lasso.
DAY 04.
A full days ride on Estancia Huechahue 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 05.
A morning's ride to see our stallion with the mares and new foals, and a chance to herd horses. 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 06.
A days ride through the neighbouring 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 07.
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. On the way home a chance to see guanaco, deer, wild boar and "peludos" - the baby armadillo.
DAY 08.
A farewell ride on Huechahue before transferring to the airport.
On pack trips, you ride deep into Lanin National Park in the heart of the Andes.
Here you ride through dense beech forests and bamboo thickets. From the tops of the
ridges there are breath-taking views, in the valleys there are tumbling streams and
undiscovered lakes. You ride through forests of the only indigenous Monkey Puzzle trees
of the world and across lunar landscapes of black volcanic ash, a legacy of the recent
volcanic activity in the area. The snow-capped volcano "Lanin" dominates the entire area.
Pack trips are between eight or nine days long including three to five days camping. A minimum of four riders are needed for
a pack-trip to run. You are required to have at least one day's riding on the estancia
before leaving on a trek to ensure that you are happy with your horse, comfortable in
your saddle and that the planned trek is one that you really enjoy.
The exact itinerary of the pack trip 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 on route are spent camping in carefully chosen, picturesque campsites by a lake shore or at a stream's edge, with tea brewed over the fire or a traditional "mate" when you arrive, a chance for a refreshing swim before a good dinner and evening spent relaxing around the campfire. A ride into the wilderness. Sometimes the terrain itself dictates a slow pace, but whenever possible you will go as fast as you can! At the end return transport will be waiting to bring you back to Estancia Huechahue for baths, dinner and good beds!
Whilst on pack trips, you stay in two-man tents and good quality down sleeping bags are provided. The camp staff arranges all the setting up of camp, cooking and care of the horses.
The estancia lies on the River Alumine which contains good populations of wild brown and rainbow trout. No supplemental stocking of hatchery fish is done. One to three pound trout are common and there are reasonable numbers of three to five pounders. There is mostly wet, but some dry fly fishing. The fishing is on a catch and release basis. The season runs from mid-November to mid-April.
Red deer and wild boar can be hunted - both of European origin. The rutt is usually mid-March to end of April.
Rated: Moderate
A maximum of 12 riders are allowed. Most rides are led by your host and guide,
Jane Williams, who is British and married into an Argentine family.
The season for riding on the Estancia runs from early November to the end of April. However,
groups of a minimum of 4 are also welcome at the Estancia during the months of August to October.
Fixed Departure dates
Below are the departure dates for pack trip itineraries
Pack Trips: 9 day - 8 night program which includes a 3 day pack trip.
5 to 12 November, 2006 – Pack trip on 8, 9, 10 November.
12 to 19 November, 2006 0 – Pack trip 15, 16, 17 November.
19 to 27 November, 2006 – Pack trip 23, 24, 25 November.
29 November to 7 December, 2006 – Pack trip on 4, 5, 6 December.
12 to 20 December, 2006 – Pack trip on 17, 18, 19 December.
3 to 11 January, 2007 – Pack trip on 8, 9 10 January.
18 to 26 January, 2007 – Pack trip on 23, 24, 25 January.
31 January to 8 February, 2007 – Pack trip on 5, 6, 7 February.
12 to 20 February, 2007 – Pack trip on 17, 18, 19 February.
24 February to 4 March, 2007 – Pack trip on 1, 2, 3 March.
5 to 12 March, 2007 – Pack trip 8, 9, 10 March.
19 to 26 March, 2007 – Pack trip 22, 23, 24 March.
26 March to 2 April, 2007 – Pack trip 29, 30, 31 March.
Arrival and departure dates can be flexible.
NEW ESTANCIA TO ESTANCIA RIDE 28 October to 5 November, 2006
| Tour Tariff | ||
| Per person | ||
| USD | $ 292 | |
| EUR | 242 | |
| GBP | 163 | |
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