Estancia Horseback Riding in Patagonia: Review & Recommendations
Patagonia for many is one of the top Bucketlist hiking destinations in the world. We spent 2 weeks exploring both the Argentinian and Chilean side of Patagonia, from tackling the peaks of Torres del Paine to taking scenic drives that led us to some of the most picturesque viewpoints, and it was unforgettable. But true to our travel style, we always seek to go beyond the classic tourist trail and dive deeper into the local culture. That is how we discovered that you can visit a local Estancia, enjoy its delicious cuisine prepared in the traditional way, and go horseback riding through the breathtaking Patagonian landscape. If you want to experience something truly unique and off the beaten path, horseback riding in Patagonia is a fantastic option. In this post, we will share our firsthand experience with the tour, what we liked and what we did not, and our essential recommendations so you can decide if it is right for you.
Essentials for Planning your Torres del Paine Trip
If you are short on time and want some quick suggestions for planning your visit to Torres del Paine, these are our top recommendations:
✅ Favourite things to do in Torres del Paine:
🏇🏻 Horseback Riding in a Traditional Estancia (This is the Tour we did and recommend!)
🏔 Torres del Paine Scenic Drive
🥾 Base de Torre Hike
🐆 Puma Tracking
🦀 Enjoy the delicious seafood like King Crab!
🏨 Where to Stay when Visiting Torres del Paine:
🇨🇱 Puerto Natales (Chile) – Hostal Boutique Factoria Patagonia or Vinnhaus ⭐⭐
🌲 Within Torres del Paine – Rio Serrano Hotel & Spa or Tierra Patagonia ⭐⭐
Full Guide on Where to Stay when Visiting Torres del Paine
📆 Favourite Tour Booking Platform in Patagonia: Nomades (local owned, usually cheaper)
📲 Recommended E-Sim: Airalo
🚌 Car Rental We Used in the Patagonia: Booking.com Car Rental
🚑 Travel insurance we used: Genki Travel Insurance
Is Estancia Horseback Riding in Patagonia Worth it?
Yes! Getting to experience horseback riding in an Estancia in Patagonia is absolutely worth it!
Estancias are basically the South American version of a ranch, but with a much more cultural and historical charm. Many are family run over generations and were traditionally focused on cattle and sheep ranching, which means you get a real glimpse into authentic Patagonian life! So not only do you get to horseback ride through some of the most breathtaking landscapes of Patagonia, but also a cultural immersion into the local ranching traditions!
Having travelled to both the Argentinian and Chilean side of Patagonia, this Estancia Horseback Riding experience was without a doubt our favourite tour of the entire trip (along with the Perito Moreno Glacier Tour in Los Glaciares)! We did our tour on the Chilean side, but there are also fantastic Estancia/horseback riding experiences on the Argentinian side. If that is where you are headed, we will share our top recommendations too.
Horseback Riding in Patagonia: Tour Overview
- Tour Name: Estancia LA Peninsula Full Day
- Location: MacLean Dock, around 10 minutes drive from Puerto Natales in Chile
- Duration: 8 Hours
- Highlights: Horseback Riding in the mountains of Patagonia, some of the most delicious asado lamb, unlimited wine, shearing lamb demo, sheep herding demo
- Price:
Review: Estancia Horseback Riding Experience
Here we’ll give you a full rundown of the Estancia Horseback Riding Experience in Patagonia, what to expect during the tour, and share our thoughts about what we liked and what we didn’t like as much.
Which Horseback Riding tour We Took
We joined this Estancia Horseback Riding Tour as part of our Torres del Paine Roadtrip Itinerary. This tour is on the Chilean side of Patagonia and fits in perfectly either before you begin your hiking adventures (W or O Trek) or as a relaxing rest day between treks (like we did, as we focused on Day Treks in Patagonia).
Although there are several horseback riding tours available in Patagonia, we wanted one that went beyond just the ride. We were looking for a deeper cultural experience that would immerse us into the history and traditions of the region. Our tour with Estancia La Peninsula delivered in every way.
The Estancia Experience
One of the unique aspects of this tour is the whole Estancia Experience. You’ll start by meeting at the Maclean Dock where a boat will take you across the stunning Patagonian Fjords to the remote island where LA Estancia is located. What really makes this tour stand out is the location itself, completely isolated, surrounded by fjords and lakes, with the dramatic Patagonian mountains as a backdrop. This was the ultimate immersion into the breathtaking landscapes.
Estancia, meal, and Traditions
Then after your Horseback riding experience, you’ll enjoy one of the most delicious lamb barbecue meals ever! The guide confidently claimed that it is the best BBQ lamb in all of Patagonia, and I couldn’t agree more! On top of that, you’ll have free flowing local red wine to pair perfectly with the feast!
Throughout the tour, your guides will share fascinating insights into the local gaucho traditions. You’ll get to watch the whole cattle/sheep herding routine and see the herding dogs in action! Next comes a demonstration of sheep shearing, showing how they collect the valuable wool.
Free time to explore the island
The tour wraps up with some leisure time to explore the island at your own pace, relax at the estancia, or indulge in some more Chilean wine! By the end of the day, we really felt like we really got to experience every aspects of the Gaucho life, from horseback riding, tasting the local meals, drinking Chilean wine, to seeing the day-to-day routines of sheep herding and shearing.
One last thing we really loved was that after our tour, the guide took us to The Singular Patagonia, located right next to the dock. The hotel is housed inside a restored early 20th century cold-storage factory, and many of the original machines and historical artifacts are still on display. It’s a really fascinating place to walk through, part museum, part luxury hotel, and the perfect spot to try a Calafate Sour.
Horseback Riding Experience
The horseback riding experience was easily one of the biggest highlights of the tour. After arriving on the island, you’ll be outfitted with traditional riding gear before setting off into the stunning Patagonian landscapes. The ride itself lasts 2 hours, taking you up mountains and through forests until you reach one of the most breathtaking viewpoints overlooking the Fjords and the Torres Massif.
The experience is both relaxing and thrilling! Along the way, we got to chat with one of the local guides and learned a lot about the life there. Once at the viewpoint, the guides will happily help you capture photos with your horse from all different angles. Time flies with all the excitement, and before you know it, it’s back to the estancia for the mouthwatering lamb barbecue.
What we Liked and Didn’t Like On the Tour
First, let’s start with what we loved about the tour, which was most of it!
We loved the mix of experiences, from learning about the traditional gaucho life to the exciting horseback riding. The meal was absolutely delicious and of course, free flowing wine only makes the experience even more fun! The location was perfect, surrounding by the Fjords and mountain range. This was one of the reasons why we chose this tour as many other horseback riding tours are far from the lake. The staff at the Estancia were also very friendly, knowledgeable, and welcoming!
The only small complaint I have with the tour is that I wish we had more time horseback riding. 2 Hours passes by very quickly, especially with the distance needed to reach the viewpoint, and we felt quite rushed once we arrived at the viewpoint. We wish we would’ve had more time to soak it all in since it was absolutely breathtaking!
With that said, we do understand that this day is packed with so many incredible experiences, so it makes sense that each activity has its time limits. In any case, most other horseback riding tours in Patagonia seem to be also limited to around 2-3 hours, other than Pingo Salvaje who offer rides between 3 hours up to 6 hours!
Other than that, we loved everything else on the tour and would rate it a solid 9/10!
🇦🇷 vs. 🇨🇱: One of the hardest decisions we faced when planning our Patagonia trip was choosing between the Chilean side, the Argentinian side, or doing both. If you’re struggling with the same question, we put together a full guide comparing Argentina vs Chile Patagonia, including the pros and cons of each, and which type of traveler each destination is best suited for.
Recommended Tour: Horseback Riding in Chile Patagonia
As you can probably tell by now, we highly recommend the LA Peninsula Estancia Horseback Riding Tour from Puerto Natales, Chile. We ended up booking the tour through Nomades, our go to tour platform throughout South America, and it made the whole process super easy.
The advantage of booking through Nomades was the easy credit card processing, flexible cancellation and rescheduling policy, easy browsing of available tours, and we had already used them for several tours in Atacama and Patagonia, so we knew they were reliable.
Other Horseback Riding Only Tours
If you’ve followed our travel guides for a while, you know we like to be thorough and look at all the options. So, if you’re mainly interested in horseback riding without the full estancia experience, there are three other horseback riding tours available from Puerto Natales. Each one takes you to a different area, so you can compare them and choose the one that matches the scenery you’re after.
- Horseback Riding to Lago Figueroa
- Horseback Riding in Puerto Demaistre
- Horseback Riding to Cerro Dorotea
Horseback Riding with a stay at Estancia Cerro Guido
One final option we would like to present is Estancia Cerro Guido Full Day tour and you can stay at the Estancia Cerro guido.
In fact, Estancia Cerro Guido has an excellent location on the East side of Torres del Paine and can be the perfect base to explore Torres del Paine. From the lodge, it is only a 40 minute drive from the entrance gate of Torres del Paine.
You’ll also be fully immersed in the Patagonian landscapes with constant views of the Paine Massif! Estancia Cerro Guido is renowned for being one of the largest and most traditional estancias in Chilean Patagonia
This post is part of our series about Patagonia. If you want to learn more about Patagonia on both the Chilean and Argentina side, planning your trip, and some of the best experiences there, check out the guides below:
Horseback Riding Tours in Argentina Patagonia
We didn’t end up doing any Horseback Riding tours in Argentina since we had already done the Estancia Horseback Riding Experience in Chile. However, there are plenty of horseback riding tours available. These are the two we saw highly recommended from fellow travelers and each offering a different experience.
- Adventure Horseback Riding on Cerro Frias focuses only on the horseback riding
- Nibepo Aike Adventure with Horseback Riding Tour is similar to the LA Peninsula tour, where you get to horseback ride, visit an estancia, have a lamb barbecue lunch, and witness the lamb shearing process.
Where to Base Yourself
If you’re planning to do the La Peninsula Estancia Day Tour, we recommend staying in Puerto Natales. That’s what we did, and we also used it as our base for self-drive day trips into Torres del Paine.
If you’re visiting the park as well and debating whether to stay in Puerto Natales or inside Torres del Paine National Park, we’ve put together a full comparison guide that breaks down the pros and cons of each option.
Otherwise, here are a few of our recommendations of where to stay in Puerto Natales.
Best Places to Stay in Puerto Natales
If you are staying in Puerto Natales, the following accommodations are ideally located right in the downtown area, and offer a comfortable stay for every budget.
Recommended Hotels in Puerto Natales | |||
Hotel | Features | Budget | |
Hostal Y Residencial El Mundial |
| $ | |
Hostal Boutique Factoria |
| $$ | |
Vinnhaus |
| $$$ | |
FAQ
Is this Estancia LA Peninsula Tour children-friendly
Yes, this tour is perfect for families with children. The Estancia experience, herding demonstrations, shearing demonstration are all perfect for children.
Regarding the horseback riding, it will depend on the exact age and level of comfort of the child to see if they can get on the horse. If ever it is not suitable, you can also ride a 4×4 to experience the stunning landscapes and reach the viewpoint.
Do you need to know how to ride a horse already?
No. They will show you the basics of how to ride a horse. Several people in our group had never ridden a horse before and loved the experience.
What if you don’t want to horseback ride but want to experience the estancia
There is the option of taking a 4×4 ATV to experience the surrounding landscapes instead of horseback riding.
When is the best time to do the tour?
The best time to visit Estancia La Península near Puerto Natales is between November and March when the weather is pleasant and with less chance of rain. However, Patagonia’s weather is famously unpredictable, and you can experience all 4 seasons in one single day! We ended up visiting end of March and experienced a mix of sun and rain during our Estancia experience.
Do you need to book in advance?
We recommend booking as early as possible. The tour accommodates up to around 20 people and there is only one tour per day. If you are set on doing this specific tour, then we recommend booking around a month in advance.
What to wear during the Estancia Tour
As we mentioned previously, Patagonia’s weather is highly unpredictable. We recommend having a nice insulating layer, a windproof and waterproof jacket for the rain, and gloves for the horseback riding experience. The Estancia is located on a remote island where the wind can get quite strong so it is advisable to have a proper jacket rather than a disposable poncho.
Our Favourite Experiences in Chile’s Patagonia
If you’re reading this guide, you’re probably searching for the most unique and worthwhile experiences to do in Chile’s Torres del Paine. We spent close to a week exploring Chile’s Patagonia and some of our favourite experiences include this Estancia Horseback Riding Tour, doing the Scenic Viewpoints Roadtrip through Torres del Paine, the hike up to Base de Torre, and indulging in the delicious seafood like King Crab.
We wrote a full guide on How to Visit Torres del Paine including all our favourite viewpoints, things to do, where to stay, and other essential tips!
Using WISE card in Chile and Argentina
When taking cash out of an ATM while abroad, you will most likely be charged both a foreign exchange fee and a foreign transaction fee by that country’s ATM. With my Canadian card, this can easily be 3-4$ + 2.75% + a markup on the exchange rate charged by my bank, and then another 3-5$ charged by the foreign ATM.
This can be really costly. For this reason, we recommend using WISE card which has only minimal fees and just about no foreign currency exchange markup. This helps me save at least 5-7$ every time I take out money from an ATM. If you want to see our full review of the card showing exactly how WISE can help you save, check out our WISE Travel card Review post.
Recap: Estancia Horseback riding in Patagonia
The Estancia Horseback Riding Tour in Patagonia turned out to be everything we wanted and more. It was the perfect activity to slot between our hikes in Torres del Paine, and offered a mix of culture, history, stunning scenery, and ridiculously good food all wrapped into one experience.
If you’re looking to add something truly memorable to your Patagonia itinerary, this tour is absolutely worth it. It gives you a deeper connection to the region beyond the iconic viewpoints, and it’s one of those rare experiences that feels both adventurous and culturally meaningful. We’d do it again in a heartbeat.
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