Tierra del Fuego, Argentina - Horse Riding Holidays and Safaris

Tierra del Fuego, Argentina

7 NightsIntermediate to AdvancedFrom $5,075 USD?Tour costs $5,075 USD which is approximately $7,954 AUD

Venture to the End of the World! While the name might sound foreboding, Tierra del Fuego rewards intrepid travellers with supremely remote and majestic landscapes.

Get ready to venture to the End of the World, globetrotters! While the name might sound foreboding, Tierra del Fuego, the southernmost region of Argentina, rewards intrepid travellers with supremely remote and majestic landscapes.

Known as the ‘Land of Fire,’ this archipelago captivates with its dramatic terrain, tumbling away into the frigid waters of the Southern Ocean. Astride a proud Criollo horse and led by some of Globetrotting’s best-loved guides, you’ll explore Tierra del Fuego’s untamed expanses. From rugged mountains to dense forests to peat bogs to sweeping pampas and more, you’ll revel in diverse, challenging riding and breathtaking vistas. The unique flora and fauna add to the excitement, with potential sightings of guanacos, condors, foxes, and an abundance of bird life.

But this ride is not just about the thrill of exploration. It’s also about immersing deeply in Tierra del Fuego’s rich history and culture. Warmly welcomed at family-owned estancias, you’ll be invited to discover the traditional way of life in this remote region, and lean an ear into the wild legends of its turbulent past.

Whether cantering across the steppe or navigating rugged trails in the Andes foothills, globetrotting in Tierra del Fuego is an unforgettable blend of adventure, natural beauty and cultural richness.

Fast Facts

  • Horse Breed:The horses are locally born and bred, predominantly the Argentine Criollo breed, but some have Quarter Horse, Thoroughbred and even Percheron influences. *NB: You will change horses at least once throughout the itinerary, with a fresh herd being brought in on day 4.
  • Pace:Variable, depending on the nature of the terrain. There will be opportunities to trot and canter, but this is very dependent on the weather conditions and terrain.
  • Weight Limit:A maximum of 85kg / 187lbs.
  • Type of tack:Traditional Argentine ‘recado’ saddles with sheep skins. These saddles are composed of many layers of blankets, pieces of leather, and sheepskins placed on the horse’s back in a particular order. The last layer of sheepskin serves as a seat for the rider, making it very comfortable to ride.
  • Seasons:January & February.
  • Group size:A maximum of 8 guests.
  • Time in Saddle:Varies between 2 to 8 hours each day. On longer days, you will stop for a picnic lunch and siesta, untacking your horses and letting them graze.
  • Riding Ability:Suitable for intermediate to advanced riders. You must be comfortable at all paces.  Not sure what your riding ability is? Watch THIS video to find out.
  • Accommodation:A week’s safari at the End of the World will see you stay in several different types of accommodation – local estancias, fly camps and an iconic hotel.
    San José Lodge has twin share bedrooms with ensuites.
    Estancia Río Apen has four gaucho caravans. Each one has a bathroom and two double beds.
    Estancia El Boquerón has three bedrooms, two bathrooms and a very comfortable living and dining room.
    Puesto República is the most remote location on our ride, accessible only by horse. All of our supplies will be brought in by pack horses. This is proper camping - eating around open fires, under the stars and sleeping in two-man tents with cot-beds, mattresses and sleeping bags. There are no showers at this camp but fresh mountain springs to wash your face and hands. We will spend only one night here.
    Estancia Viamonte lodge has a handful of ensuite bedrooms to enjoy for your last night at the end of the world.
  • Ride Length:8 days, 7 nights (with 7 riding days).
  • Inclusions:

    The price includes transfers to and from regional airports (or local hotel accommodation) in Tierra del Fuego, all food, drink and accommodation, daily riding, guides and staff tips.

  • Exclusions:

    The price does not include international or domestic flights, and travel insurance.

 

DEPARTURE DATES & RATES

NEW! Secure your saddle seat NOW with a 10% deposit - as part of our 10x 10% interest-free payment plan!
Departing FinishingAvailabilityTotal
December 15, 2024December 22, 2024SOLD OUT!
From: $5,075 USD ?Tour costs $5,075 USD which is approximately $7,954 AUD - Twin Share?Happy to share with another solo traveller of the same gender
January 8, 2025January 15, 2025SOLD OUT!
From: $5,075 USD ?Tour costs $5,075 USD which is approximately $7,954 AUD - Twin Share?Happy to share with another solo traveller of the same gender
February 9, 2025February 16, 20252 spots left
From: $5,075 USD ?Tour costs $5,075 USD which is approximately $7,954 AUD - Twin Share?Happy to share with another solo traveller of the same gender
Book

2.5% credit card surcharge

December 7, 2025December 14, 20257 spots left
From: $5,775 USD ?Tour costs $5,775 USD which is approximately $9,051 AUD - Twin Share?Happy to share with another solo traveller of the same gender
Book

2.5% credit card surcharge

February 9, 2026February 16, 20262 spots left
From: $5,775 USD ?Tour costs $5,775 USD which is approximately $9,051 AUD - Twin Share?Happy to share with another solo traveller of the same gender
Book

2.5% credit card surcharge

NB: There is no single accommodation available, only twin share.

WHAT IS INCLUDED IN THE PRICE?
The price includes transfers to and from regional airports (or local hotel accommodation) in Tierra del Fuego, all food, drink and accommodation, daily riding, guides and staff tips.

WHAT IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE PRICE?
The price does not include international or domestic flights, or travel insurance.

Accepted payment is by credit or debit card only. Depending on the ride you choose to book and your country of residence, there will be a 1.2% to 2.9% surcharge.

Click HERE to read more about our fees and charges.
Click HERE to read our recommendations on which cards are best to use to avoid international transaction fees.
WHY IS THE PRICE QUOTED IN USD?
With our riding destinations, the currency is dictated by our ride partner in that country. Therefore due to fluctuating exchange rates we have to quote in the same currency.

Itinerary

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*Please note, this is a suggested itinerary only and subject to change at the discretion of your guides due to weather and other influencing factors.

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  • Arrival

    Dependent upon your travel plans and budget, we recommend arriving a few days early and spending two nights in Buenos Aires to explore this vibrant city and recover from jet lag.

  • Day 1

    You’ll catch a morning flight to Rio Grande today where you’ll be met by your cheeful hosts. First stop on the drive to base camp is Estancia María Behety, one of the pioneering sheep farms in the region, with the biggest shearing shed in the world. You’ll truly kick off the day here with a hearty breakfast. Afterwards, you’ll continue on to Estancia San José (you’ll spend the first two nights here), where you’ll be shown to your rooms and given a chance to settle in before lunch at the shearing shed. It’s an Argentine institution to have a siesta every day after lunch!

    The afternoon ride is comparatively short, but it’s your first opportunity to get a feel for your horse and gaucho-style saddle. You will head out in the evening light, connecting to your horse and becoming oriented within the extensive steppe.

    This delightful first day will come to an end with drinks and dinner back in the shearing shed.

  • Day 2

    The mornings here are so beautiful that it’s worth getting up early. Breakfast is ready at 7am, but you won’t get the wake-up call until 8am. Normally, you’ll aim to start riding at 9am, but a fair bit of preparation is needed, and as you’ll see, packing saddle bags, pack horses, rolling ponchos and fastening them onto saddles all take longer on the first day.

    Once everything is ready and you’re all mounted up, it’s a casual three-hour ride across the pampas to enjoy lunch on the edge of the Rio Grande. For those who are avid anglers, this river is host to some of the largest sea run trout in the world, so it’s an excellent opportunity to try your hand at fly fishing! Your hosts will provide rods and all fishing equipment (waders, boots, jackets, etc.), but it’s important that previous notice of your fishing intentions is made ahead of time, as licenses and a guide will be required (this is an additional expense).

    For those who simply want to bask in the beauty of their surroundings, you’ll have a picnic lunch and a siesta on the banks of the river.

    This afternoon’s ride back to the estancia provides opportunities for faster riding, stopping for a whiskey along the way at the historic trenches dug during the Beagle conflict of 1978 – a border conflict between Chile and Argentina that was eventually settled by the Pope.

    Tonight you’ll enjoy dinner and drinks back at the estancia.

  • Day 3

    You’re on the move today, globetrotters, so you can expect a much longer ride covering about 35miles/56km, which will take about eight hours. But there’s a good change of pace, with plenty of opportunities to canter across a variety of scenery as you ride from the steppe into the mountains.

    During breakfast, you will be given saddlebags in which to pack your picnic lunch, snacks and other essentials in for the day.

    Lunch will be at a beautiful spot on Río Menendez and, after a siesta, you will continue your way to Estancia Río Apen. Your accommodation here will be in caravans with double beds and sleeping bags. There is a cabin with a fireplace, where dinner will be served.

  • Day 4

    Today, the horses that you have been riding so far will return to Estancia San José for a well-earned rest. You will be paired up with new horses brought from Estancia El Boquerón, where you will be riding to today. The estancia is a beautiful, yellow house set in the heart of the island, and is also owned by Ini Menendez Behety, who owns the iconic Estancia María Behety that you visited on your arrival day. It’s an easy three-hour ride to El Boquerón, where you will dismount for lunch.

    In the afternoon, you can go riding or walking if you would like to stretch your legs. The evening will be spent in talking, laughing and feasting in the yellow house at Estancia El Boquerón.

  • Day 5

    Today you will explore the most remote location of this ride – you’re heading into the wilderness! Leaving your luggage behind, you’ll take in your saddle bags whatever you need for one night’s camping. There is no vehicle access to the area you are visiting, so all supplies will be packed in on horseback. You will ride for about four hours in the morning, then stop for a picnic lunch before continuing on for another couple of hours until you reach Puesto República.

    El República is a very remote, simple shelter, built as a shepherd’s camp. Here you will sleep in dome tents big enough to stand in, on cot beds with mattresses and sleeping bags. Dinner will be cooked on an open fire under the stars.

  • Day 6

    This is the day that you ride up the highest peak of your ‘end of the world’ ride. Thrilling, albeit challenging, the scenery is breathtaking and provides the most extraordinary view of the whole trip. You will picnic at this epic location and, in the afternoon, ride back to El Boquerón to enjoy a good shower, a cosy bed and meet up with your luggage again.

  • Day 7

    Your last day in the saddle (boo!) sees you take a morning ride up to the ‘Cerro Pelado’ before returning to El Boquerón for lunch. Afterwards, you will say goodbye to the gauchos and guides, before your off-road experience in a 4×4 towards Estancia Viamonte begins. Estancia Viamonte was founded in 1902 by Lucas Bridges, author of ‘Uttermost Part of the Earth’ and one of the British pioneers to populate Tierra del Fuego amongst its indigenous people.

    Tonight you’ll share a farewell dinner with your fellow globetrotters and sleep soundly at the ‘end of the world’.

  • Day 8

    After breakfast, you will be driven two hours to Ushuaia Airport to begin your journey home.

  • Additional Activities

    Fly fishing for trout is an optional additional activity at lunchtime on day 2 of the ride. For this, your hosts need prior notice since the licenses, rods and a guide might need to be organised. This will have an additional cost.

  • Transfer Information

    We recommend flying into Buenos Aires at least two nights prior to the start of your ride, so you are not suffering from jet lag when it comes time to throw your leg over the saddle.

    You will then need to fly into Rio Grande on day one of your ride. On the final day you will need to fly out of Ushuaia (or you could opt to stay on in the area and do some further travel). Transfers from Rio Grande and Ushuaia regional airports (or your hotel accommodation in each location) are included in the price.

    **PLEASE NOTE: it is ESSENTIAL you check with Globetrotting before booking regional flights to and from the ride, as specific flights must be booked closer to the departure date.

STORIES FROM THE SADDLE

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