Estancia Huechahue Itinerary

Day 1 : You will be met by your host, Jane, at Chapelco airport, San Martin de los Andes and driven 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 2 : A full days ride on Estancia Huechahue with an "asado" lunch. Follow the Huechahue stream through its bassalt 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 corrales. 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 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 5 : A morning's ride to see our stalion with the mares and new foals, and to herd some of the young horses into the corrales. 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 : 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 7 : A full days ride to a diferent part of the Estanica. 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 armadilo.

Day 8 : A farewell ride on Huechahue before transfering to the airport.