Gaucho with sheep. Photo by Debbie Stone
Welcome to Torres del Paine National Park. Photo by Debbie Stone
By DEBBIE STONE
Santa Fe
For the Los Alamos Daily Post
I had promised myself that I would not ride another horse – ever – since I rode horses Experience has shown me that horses and I don’t get along. Normally, they would tell me that to be riding a gentle mare only to have that “gentle” mare persistently bite another horse, constantly chews on the patchwork of grass, hesitates to cross a shallow stream, then turns around and I go the other way, and my favorite, unexpectedly takes off at a quick trot, leaving the rest of the group (and almost me too!) in the dust.
So you might question what I was doing riding another “gentle” mare, this time in Patagonia, from Every place. After saying “no” several times to a horseback excursion, I finally got it persuaded by Estancia Cerro Guido’s main guide to give it a try. He guaranteed my rhythm it would be slow and the horse would be obedient (yes, I’ve heard that before!). More important, the tour would offer me another way to experience the sublime landscape, as well as understand how horses and Patagonia are culturally and historically interconnected. The group It consisted of just me and my husband, the main guide and one of the Estância gauchos or “cowboys.”
Initially, I was very nervous riding my horse, Lola, and I’m sure she realized that right. Right away. But after a while, when I realized that she was content to follow the other horses without bothering them, responded well to my occasional use of the reins and never stopped to eat, I was finally able to relax and truly appreciate my wonderful surroundings.
During the tour, we stopped at a gaucho shelter and participated in the tradition of drinking mate with our gaucho, while learning about gaucho culture in Patagonia. These “cowboys” are symbolic characters of the Chilean countryside. They round up sheep and cattle, train sheep dogs, shearing sheep, repairing fences and helping to preserve natural pastures all play an important role in protecting livestock and taking care of horses. They are incredibly skilled pilots who appear to be horse whisperers with an almost telepathic connection to animals.
Estancia Cerro Guido borders the eastern side of Torres del Paine National Park in the south Chilean Patagonia. The ranch covers an area of approximately 250,000 acres and is the largest resort in the area.
The park’s name refers to three tall rock towers that make up the park’s best-known site. area. These towers are very distinctive 8,000-foot granite peaks that stand like sentinels over the Paine Massif, a foothill of the Andes. Torres is the Spanish word for towers and Paine is the word to blue.
Torres del Paine National Park is a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve and covers more than half a million inhabitants. acres. The park is a world-class attraction, often described as one of the most impressive beautiful corners of the Earth. It has an exceptional landscape that attracts avid walkers, nature lovers and photographers from all over the world.
As a guest at Estancia Cerro Guido you can choose between the all-inclusive or all-private inclusive package. Both offer full board, as well as an open bar, entry fees to the National Park, various excursions (shared or private depending on the package) and shared or private transfers from Puerto Natales (less than two hours) or Punta Arenas (close to five hours).
The farmhouse has twelve guest rooms and is designed in authentic English style. with all the comforts you would expect from a luxury property. The decor is discreet elegance with classic furniture, fabulous feather beds, organic amenities and lots of space, but cozy and comfortable.
Inside the inn there are two charming rooms, also in English style. Guests have full use of these rooms to relax, view historical photos, enjoy coffee or tea and a bottomless drink cookie jar!
The main house is where the restaurant, bar and common living areas are located and where the reception is located. A wall of windows overlooks the famous Torres del Paine. Dinner every day with such a picturesque view it is so special and when the sun sets it is magical. The sky and the peaks they are full of pictorial tones that change every minute. And if you happen to wake up at sunrise, the colors are even more dramatic.
As for food, know that you won’t go hungry at Estancia. It is fresh and seasonal with much products from the farm’s vegetable garden. Breakfast is buffet style with freshly baked items products, fruits, cheeses, meats, yogurts, eggs to order, etc. At lunch and dinner, guests choose between a menu with several dishes of salads, soups, starters such as hake, chicken, shrimp, risotto and pasta, steaks, beef stew and more. Occasionally there is a traditional roast lamb barbecue. Dessert is a mindmind-boggling array of sumptuous sweets. The service is warm and attentive, as is the case throughout property.
Tours and excursions are one of the pillars of the Estancia. The farm is proud of its extensive menu of activities for guests, from short walks to full-day hikes. The most classic hike is the Base de las Torres or Base das Torres, which involves a round trip of 21 kilometers and takes about eight to ten hours to complete. If this hike isn’t for you, know that there are plenty of trails suitable for a variety of levels and skills. You don’t need to be a super hiker to enjoy and appreciate this privileged destination.
The Estancia also offers land tours in parks, conservation safaris, cultural and historical tours, horseback riding, fly fishing excursions and more. All activities are led by experienced professionals guides who are knowledgeable about Patagonia’s landscape, history and wildlife and who are clearly in love with this charming place.
As you explore the area on these tours, you will get a sense of the vastness of Torres del Paine National Park and its surroundings. It is a diverse and inspiring topography, with a landscape never seen before.ending the sky. Whether you hike, horseback ride, or take another tour, you will be treated to exquisite scenes of snow-capped mountains, forests, lakes in all shades of blue, rushing rivers, waterfalls, glaciers, the immense pampas and, of course, wildlife in their natural habitat.
Torres del Paine National Park is home to guanaco, puma, fox, emu, condor, flamingo, armadillo and other creatures. The guanaco, which is related to the camel as well as the llama and alpaca, is prolific here. It can be found grazing in pastures, usually in small groups of females with their young and a dominant male.
These graceful animals can run at more than 35 miles per hour, faster than any other animal in Patagonia animal, except the cougar. If they sense danger, one of the guanacos will issue a piercing warning shout, signaling to the herd, which will quickly run away. Guanaco can also jump and has been known to jump over fences almost two meters high. I’ve seen this happen on several occasions and it’s a impressive feat!
The puma is the largest predator of the guanaco in Patagonia. But although the cougar is faster – capable of running fifty miles per hour – he is a sprinter and cannot maintain that speed for long. What explains why this animal normally chases its prey and then attacks it, instead of chasing it below.
Although I saw numerous guanacos during my visit, I unfortunately never saw a puma. Despite plenty of opportunities to try and spot one during wildlife safaris and park trips or hikes ventures, these creatures were elusive and remained out of sight. Our guides would tell us about have seen the animals, often in small family groups, mainly at dawn or dusk. But from Of course, they reminded us that cougars, like all wild animals, have their own agenda and it’s only because chance for people to see them.
In addition to hordes of guanacos, I saw armadillos, gray foxes, flamingos, emus and condors during my visit. The rhea is identified as Darwin’s rhea or lesser rhea and looks like a small ostrich. This bird is does not fly, but is known to be a skilled runner. It is also unique because once the female lays the eggs, she leaves and the male protects the eggs and raises the young. The paternal instinct is in full effect strength!
It’s hard not to miss the majestic Andean condor. Being the largest flying bird in the world, it weighs over thirty pounds, is over three feet long, and has a wingspan of twelve feet. Due to its weight, the condor needs winds and thermals to lift its enormous body into the air. When you see one, it’s usually hovering over the landscape’s peaks and canyons, keeping its keen eyes open for carrion in the form of a scavenger.
To learn more about the Estancia itself, all guests are invited to participate in a historical and cultural tour tour of the property. You will hear how the place was founded over a century ago and who is the main players were in their establishment and growth. It’s a journey through time involving the roots of the cattle and sheep industry in Patagonia, along with the mountaineering tradition.
The tour also takes guests to different areas of the property, including the stables, orchard, garden, greenhouses and shearing shed. If you’re lucky, you’ll even have the chance to see sheep being shorn and learn how wool is processed and turned into products for sale. Additionally, you can watch the sheepdogs herding the sheep out of the barn and see how the Gauchos work skillfully with animals. These intelligent dogs are your faithful companions.
The tour not only provides an in-depth view of the Estancia, but also gives you an understanding of Patagonia’s cultural heritage, the people’s way of life and the rich traditions that define its essence.
www.estanciacerroguido.com/en/
www.pura-aventura.com
The scenario is diverse. Photo by Debbie Stone
Turquoise lake. Photo by Debbie Stone
Reflective beauty. Photo by Debbie Stone
Sunrise at the towers. Photo by Debbie Stone
Guanaco. Photo by Debbie Stone
