HORSEBACK RIDING: HIDDEN GLACIERS
Description
SEASON: DECEMBER - MARCH Operational notes: Day 4: the activity may be cancelled due to weather conditions that affect the navigability or the land. To keep in mind: • Regular departures: first, second and third Wednesday of each month. • Difficulty: Intermediate. Riders must have experience in horseback rides of almost 6 daily hours. • Amenities at the “puestos”: Both La Rosada and Puesto Laguna 3 de Abril are refuges with multifunctional living (kitchen, dining room and bedroom). It is recommended to bring a sleeping bag. If cannot, please let us know in advance. • The program may vary according to weather conditions and / or to take better advantage of the hacienda work if there were any on the dates of the program. 1 El Calafate / Estancia Nibepo Aike. D Departure from El Calafate through the Route of the Old Patagonian Estancias. After settling, the guide explains the program, while horses and other equipment are being prepared to leave the lodging on the following morning. Afternoon at leisure to enjoy the estancia, exploring its surroundings by bike or foot, through self-guided trails and having the chance to take part of the sheep-shearing demonstration using traditional hand shears. Dinner. Day 2 Estancia Nibepo Aike / Puesto La Rosada. B L D In the morning, departure by horse to start climbing Cristales Mountain Range. As we get higher, the lakes, the Southern Branch, the Rico Branch, the Lake Roca and the Frías Hill get better outlined. Once in the “abra” (mountain pass), the path goes into the Andean Patagonian Forest. Arrival at Puesto La Rosada to enjoy a picnic lunch. The historical moment is left for the afternoon: El Hito (The Minestone), end of the Estancia and of Argentina. On the other side, Chilean territory. Return to Puesto La Rosada and dinner. Day 3 Puesto La Rosada / Puesto Laguna 3 de Abril. B L D We depart from La Rosada outpost and begin the descent to reach Cachorro outpost, where we have lunch. We then proceed to Laguna 3 de abril outpost while retracing the path of the authentic rural workers. Arrival at the outpost and dinner. Day 4 Puesto Laguna 3 de Abril. B L D After breakfast, we depart towards the glaciers. This excursion combines a boat trip and treks, in order to experience what only few people reach. We embark to travel until the Southern Branch to the take a short trek to Lake Frías. We sail in a zodiac the 3 km (1 mile) of the lake to disembark on the opposite shore, where we start to trek, bordering the river until arriving to “the Amphitheater” of the glaciers Gorra, Frías and Grande, with its lagoon and icebergs fallen from the glaciers. Day 5 Puesto Laguna 3 de Abril / Estancia Nibepo. B L We return riding on the side of the Southern Branch until reaching the hull of the estancia at 18 km from Puesto 3 de Abril. We arrive at lunchtime. Return to El Calafate. Transfer to the airport in order to board the scheduled flight.
Location Map
Highlights
Exclusions
- Needed transfers;
- Acommodation: 4 nights Nibepo Aike (1) - Puestos (3);
- Tours: Horseback ride to Hidden Glaciers –Trekking South Glacier Adventure;Meals: 4 breakfasts – 4 lunches – 4 dinners;
Terms & Conditions for This Tour
These are the key terms that apply to tour bookings. They form part of your contract with 1860 Travels — see the full Terms & Conditions for the complete text.
Pricing, Inclusions & Exclusions
- Prices are per person unless stated otherwise, and may change at any time until your booking confirmation is issued.
- The Inclusions and Exclusions listed on this page are specific to this tour — anything not listed under Inclusions is excluded from the price.
- Prices exclude local taxes, charges, gratuities, food and beverages, and transfers unless expressly stated otherwise. Gratuities are entirely at your discretion.
- Children under 16 must be accompanied by a responsible adult. Student and senior (60+) pricing requires valid ID at the time of booking and on the day of travel.
- Group tariffs may be available for parties of 10 or more — contact us for a quote.
Amendments & Cancellations
- Amendments to this booking can be made by contacting us at least 96 hours before the departure date.
- Cancellation notice must be received at least 1 week before departure, otherwise a 100% cancellation charge applies.
- Theatre tickets, dining products, and overnight tours cannot be amended or cancelled unless otherwise stated at the time of booking.
- For health or pandemic-related cancellations, options may include a travel credit voucher, rebooking on flexible dates, or a full refund, subject to the specific product's conditions.
- If you miss a coach tour through no fault of 1860 Travels, no refund will be issued; a discounted rebooking rate may be offered as a gesture of goodwill.
Refunds & Compensation
- If a venue cannot be visited during the tour due to unforeseen circumstances, a partial refund of the admission value may be issued at our discretion.
- No refund is given for non-operational air conditioning or washroom facilities on an assigned vehicle.
- Refund requests cannot be accepted more than 30 days after the tour's completion.
- Approved refunds are processed within 15–20 working days via the original payment method.
- Third-party tours where 1860 Travels acts as an agent are non-refundable and subject to the supplier's own terms.
Payment
- Full payment is required at the time of booking unless otherwise specified.
- We accept Visa and MasterCard and charge no service fee, though your card issuer may apply its own charges.
- Customer payments are held in a dedicated client money trust account until your booking is completed or cancelled.
