Where to go riding in Argentina?
Anyone who enjoys frontier adventure knows the best places take some getting to. From Buenos Aires, our journey begins with a two-hour flight to Bariloche, a 90km drive to the northern shores of Lake Falkner and a 30-minute motorboat to meet our horses. We then enjoy a breathtaking two-hour ride to basecamp.
Basecamp Patagonia
We arrive at dusk to pisco sours and piping chimneys. The log cabin clubhouse overlooks the Filo Hua Hum River and is decked in local textiles. Here, you’ll enjoy hearty meals and play games in the evening. Wood burners warm the five cabins that frame the main lodge. Each includes good beds, a veranda, and a private bathroom. This is the African safari camp – wild, cosy, quietly stylish – transposed to Patagonia. Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, who roamed these lands in the early 1900s, would have been right at home perched at the basecamp bar.
Day-to-day
The week-long Patagonia adventure is paced to perfection: morning rides to lookout points for delicious picnics, followed by shady siestas and river swims, before meandering back to camp for sundowners and feasts of plenty. On the third day, we embark on a 2-day expedition to Fly Camp. Threading our way through lowland pastures, we ford rivers and climbed steeply through petrified forests before pausing for a well-earned lunch at the 3,000-foot summit.
Riding in The Pass of Tears
There is an awesomely perilous traverse along the spine of the Andes, banked on either side by sheer shale cliffs. A jaw-dropping volcanic moonscape known as the Pass of Tears. We descend into lush prairies where the horses take water and cool their bellies in the river before dropping further into a forest glade. Our tents have been set up, a campfire is roaring, beers are cooling in the river and Alberto, our brilliant camp chef, is tending to the heartiest-looking stew I’ve ever laid eyes on.
The Basics
This particular ride has a capacity for 8 guests and runs from the middle of November to the end of February. Your guide is Jakob von Plessen, who has been leading riding expeditions for some 20 years in Kenya and Argentina. Experienced riders are preferred and the 7-night programme is inclusive of all meals and activities. The horses are in excellent condition – sure-footed and well-mannered. Meals tend to be strong on meat and fish, but special dietary requirements can soon be catered for. Get in touch with our travel team for further details and a full itinerary.
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