Experience the traditional 'gaucho' way of life at a 200 year-old estancia in Patagonia, Argentina. Fly-fish for spectacular brown and rainbow trout, raft the rapids of the Alumine River, ride horses with the gauchos across the pampas under the umbrella of the Patagonian Andes, and watch for the famous Red Stag, wild javelin and puma surviving in their native habitat. Visit a Mapuche Indian village just down the trail and learn how they make a subsistence living. Sleep comfortably each night at the estancia's charming inn, dining on traditional Argentine cuisine and relaxing by the stone fireplace. Overland van transfer provides a spectacular crossing into the neighboring country of Chile. Spend another six days in Patagonia, Chile in one of the largest temperate rainforests in the world. You have never seen vegetation this lush, green, or dense. Travel by horseback and enjoy the hospitality and culture of local families as you dine at their table and sleep each night in their homes, or camped under the stars. Visit hidden waterfalls known only to the locals, raft and fly-fish on the world-famous Futaluefu River. Watch for condors passing above the glacial peaks, as this location is in the heart of the Andes Mountain range. Pass an evening with a local family, as they prepare a traditional lamb or goat asado with all of the embellishments.
Sample Itinerary
Please note: While the itinerary presented is an accurate depiction of what your trip will be like, it is only an example. Our trips are real adventures in the outdoors--not pre-packaged tours that happen on a schedule.
Day 1: Depart the United States from your home location
Day 2: Arrive in Buenos Aires, Argentina early in the morning. Transport to the domestic airport for the second, two-hour flight to San Martin de los Andes. Transport by van 2.5 hours to Estancia Quillen. Relax for the remaining afternoon, or go for a hike along the river. Refreshments and dinner served at the dining room of the hosteria.
Day 3: Tour the estancia's 200-year old, brick stable. Learn about the history of Patagonian settlement and the gaucho culture. In the late morning, horseback ride to a peaceful setting that is adjacent to a refreshing river. Swim, relax, practice your Spanish and enjoy the lunch asado. Return by horseback to the hosteria in the evening for refreshments and dinner.
Day 4: By horseback, we will tour the greater than 22,000 acres of estancia's boundary, which lie in the pre-cordillera of the spectacular Andes Mountain range. Don't forget your camera! Watch for the famous Red Stag or Ciervo, wild pigs or javelins, pumas, and condors, all native to this ecosystem. Depending on the time of year - participate in castrating, branding, or vaccinations the estancia's cattle.
Day 5: After an early breakfast, we will transfer to a local rafting outfitter in the nearby pueblo that specializes in rafting excursions on the class 2 to 4 rapids of the Rio Alumine. A picnic lunch served along the route. Return again to the hosteria for dinner with optional hiking and fishing along the river shore.
Day 6: Again, after an early breakfast, we will find ourselves again on the Rio Alumine. Learn or practice your fly-fishing cast with professional fly-fishing guides, in float boats specialized for fishing.
Day 7: Explore additional tributaries of the Alumine, practice shore fly-fishing on your own, or supported by the professional guides. For those interested in learning about the indigenous Mapuche culture, travel 15 kilometers down the trail for an encounter with this remote village. There will be an opportunity to purchase local crafts, hand-woven wool sweaters, hats, or socks.
Day 8: This is a ten-hour, overland transfer from Argentina to Chile. The road trip extends along the famous route of siete lagos, or seven lakes, which pass through pristine, Andean lakes. As the road extends east, the mountains fade; we enter the flatland of the Argentine pampas. As we near the Chilean border, the grasslands give way to snowcapped mountains, and the dense, temperate rainforest of Chile begins. Arrive late in the Andean village of Futaluefu, Chile.
Day 9: Ride horses on spectular trails past hidden canyons and waterfalls deep within the forest. Also seize opportunities to fish, swim, or relax next to the lakeshore.
Day 10: Take a day to off to relax, go kayaking, hiking, fly-fishing, or practice Spanish with locals.
Day 11: Raft the world-class Rio Futaluefu, site of the 2000 World Kayaking Championships. Classes 3 to class 5 rapids are common! Practice your fly-fishing in the afternoon, hike, or relax next to the river.
Day 12: Professional guides will help you practice your fly-cast on the Futaluefu. Other options include hiking, kayak lessons, or depending on the weather, take a relaxing float tube down the Rio Espolon.
Day 13: This is a three-hour overland trip through the rainforest to the Termas Amarillo hot springs. Soak tired muscles in the natural hot springs, surrounded by glacial peaks.
Day 14: Relax in the morning. Transfer back to Esquel, Argentina in the early afternoon for the return flight to Buenos Aires. Flights back to the United States depart Buenos Aires this evening.
Day 15: Arrive in the United States.
Travel, Terrain, Etc...
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Wilderness Inquiry is proud to serve Caribou Coffee on all our trips. Great food, great coffee, and great company are just some of the ingredients that make Wilderness Inquiry trips special.
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[ Dates & Fees ]
WI leads trips to the Patagonia but typically only for pre-existing groups (schools, clubs, families, friends who travel together, etc...).
If you have a group of 8 to 12 people interested, we can set up a trip to the Patagonia just for you! Typical cost for a 14-day trip is about $3,600 per person, which includes everything except transportation to and from the start of the trip.
Please contact us if you are interested in a group trip to the Patagonia.
info@wildernessinquiry.org
612-676-9400
800-728-0719
(Join our waiting list to be notified when WI schedules a trip to Patagonia Adventure)
