Horse trekking into the Andes

Our beautiful guest ranch is located in northern Patagonia in the foothills of the Andes in Argentina. Accessible only by horse and steeped in traditional gaucho culture, Estancia Ranquilco offers magical, out of the ordinary, riding adventures.

Estancia Ranquilco is breathtakingly beautiful, rugged, remote and pristine - and the best way to see it is from the back of one of our horses. Our horses are reliable, responsive and energetic, and we have one for every rider, new or advanced.

We offer a range of accommodations for the rider, including all inclusive lodging in our private cottages or a self catering option in simple adobe houses.

In 2010, we are excited to offer horse trekking into the Andes. Seven and ten day trips combine luxury lodging at our ranch with camping in the stunning, ever changing landscapes of the cordillera. Our horse pack trips allow you to reach areas in the mountains inaccessible by car.

Our horse treks are designed to bring you in direct contact with the landscape, animals and people of Patagonia. This is a unique small group horseback adventure into rugged and pristine mountains. You will enjoy breathtaking scenery, excellent local food, sure footed, responsive horses and the serenity only possible in deep nature.

If you love horses and want adventure travel to one of the world's last frontiers, think Patagonia. Horsemanship here is a way of life. Come join us.

Typical day at the ranch pre-trip: Enjoy a hearty breakfast at Casa Grande featuring homemade yogurt, granola, and fresh eggs cooked to order. We'll spend these two days at the Ranquilco lodge getting familiar with the horses, the tack, and the landscape. You'll learn to saddle and care for your horse, and also to help tack and load the packhorses. During day rides, we'll talk about trail safety, extended horse travel, and specific considerations of the local geography, weather, and culture. There will also be time to enjoy the river, the lodge, and the scenery. Finally, we'll go over personal gear, group items, food, and pack gear as we prepare to ride off into the mountains. Lunch and dinner will be served family style and will feature traditional Argentine dishes.

Teenagers & Adults, 14 and over. Previous guests have included a 72 year old retired navy man and a 14 year old new rider! This trip is for beginner or advanced horse enthusiasts who want challenging, adventure filled rides. It is for those riders who want to immerse themselves into the culture and landscape of Patagonia and the Andes.

Seven Day Mountain Pack Trip: This seven day, six night trip combines a luxury horse riding holiday with a unique adventure vacation. Enjoy four nights at the beautiful lodge at Estancia Ranquilco and two nights camping at Cerro Negro, our summer grazing lands in the foothills of the Andes.

Ten Day Mountain Pack Trip: This ten day, nine night trip combines a luxury horse riding holiday with a long distance ride that takes you up to our border with Chile. Enjoy four nights at the beautiful lodge at Estancia Ranquilco and five nights camping on the shores of a pristine lake, on mountainside terraces, and on the edges of alpine meadows, in the foothills of the Andes.

Estancia Ranquilco also offers horseback riding vacations. At Ranquilco, we give you the chance to author your own riding experience - a dream come true for equine enthusiasts. You choose the length of your rides and the difficulty, and then head out with a personal guide, typically one of our gauchos. Our 100,000 acres reaching all the way to the high Andes and Chile, means your opportunities for great riding are limitless.

Plus, in late January/ early February 2010 we are offering a chance to work and ride with our gauchos at our annual branding. Learn to drive, cut and run cattle on the range before working in the corrals. This is an amazing opportunity for the more advanced equestrian to work one of our responsive cattle horses and to experience gaucho culture firsthand.

Description	Distance
alpine ski town on lake	250 miles
hot spring intl resort	50 miles