3 Days Amazing Ranch Vacation in Northern Patagonia, Argentina

Facilities

The lodge

You will stay in a double room accommodation with an en-suite bathroom. Overlooking the valley, the traditional wood and stone-built houses are set in beautifully landscaped gardens with mature trees, shrubs, and colorful borders. There are several outside seating areas to enjoy a drink before lunch or to watch the sunset.

In the main house, the sun lounge, bar, living room, and dining room with their fireplaces were designed to create a cozy and relaxed atmosphere for guests. Each of the four individually decorated twin or double bedrooms have en-suite facilities and heating. In an adjacent house, there are two other bedrooms with en-suite bathrooms.

The lake cabin

About a mile and a half from the main house, the cabin perched on a rocky outcrop overlooking the lake commanding a magnificent view. It has a twin bedroom with a bathroom and a spacious living room with extra beds if needed. There is also a deck overlooking the lake to enjoy the sunset.

Rooms

The six bedrooms are all en-suite. The bathrooms are bright and like the bedrooms with their distinctive decoration create a homely environment. All the rooms are suitable for single, twin, or double occupancy.

Spaces

The living room with its welcoming fireplace and bookshelves lends itself to a relaxing meeting place for guests who wish to read or chat. The adjacent sun-lounge with its wonderful views over the garden, valley, and distant mountains make it an ideal setting for a "sundowner". The bar in traditional wood is another place to catch up with the day's "catch" over a "pisco sour" or whatever your tipple may be.

Note: Due to other animals on the ranch, no pets are allowed. Smoking is not permitted inside the houses.

Estancia Arroyo Verde's lodge riding package is a two-night stay and the daily rides from the lodge offer a variety of excellent experiences. Each day after breakfast, you will take a different trail. You will ride through forests and along the River Traful as well as climbing high into the Andes. For this trip, you will be staying in the lodge and returning back home to a hearty home-cooked dinner with excellent Argentine wines.

Horse riding

All riders (beginners, intermediate, advance, or experienced) can choose between easy trail riding or more advanced mountain riding. The rides can be for a few hours, half day, or full day depending on guests' preferences. On your arrival, you will be allocated a horse to suit your needs. The horses are very sure-footed and well-mannered. The rides are taken out by the experienced staffs who at all times accompany the guests not just for safety reasons but to any answer questions on the area and its wildlife that you may have.

Hiking

With innumerable trails to choose from, guests can explore the ranch. You will have a gentle hike down the river or more energetic ones around the lake and up the mountains. All hikers, beginners or experienced, can choose between easy trails or more advanced mountain hikes. The hikes can be for a few hours, half day or full day depending on guests' preferences. The hikers will be taken out by the experienced staff who at all times accompany the guests not just for safety reasons but to any answer questions on the area and its wildlife that you may have.

Itinerary

Day 1

You will arrive at Estancia Arroyo Verde in time for a welcome drink and lunch. Starting out in the first afternoon, you will have an easy ride to allow you to familiarize yourself with the horses and the different tack used. Your English-speaking guides are experienced trail riders.

Day 2

You will enjoy a full day ride to "Las Mellizas", twin lakes situated on the mountains, approximately a two and a half-hour ride from the house. The route will follow the Arroyo Verde stream over rocks and through trees climbing higher and higher until reaching the source in the Green Lake, one of the twins. Some Indian rock paintings can be seen on this ride. There will be picnic lunch and a well-earned rest for all including the horses. If weather permits, swimming in the lake can be very enjoyable or just sit and admire the view. The journey back will take a different path along the side of Lake Traful and through a native forest of Coihue (Nothofagus dombeyi) some specimens are over 40-meter high. You will arrive back at the lodge around 19:30.

Day 3

You will depart from Estancia Arroyo Verde.

Estancia Arroyo Verde is located in the River Traful Valley within the Nahuel Huapi National Park, Northern Patagonia. The entrance to the ranch is seven kilometers from Confluencia Traful and 80 kilometers north of Bariloche. The elevation at the lodge is 2,400 feet (850 meters).

Nearby places

• Confluencia Traful, 7 kilometers

You will be served full board meals (breakfast buffet, lunch, and dinner with alcoholic beverages and an open bar). Estancia Arroyo Verde is known for its traditional and international homemade dishes. Some Argentinean ones such as empanadas, carbonado, milanesas, puchero, roast beef, and panqueques con dulce de leche are visitors' favorites. For dinner, Estancia Arroyo Verde serves mainly fish, pasta or chicken, and a great variety of homemade soups.

Outside dining is very popular, especially for lunch. There is also traditional asado (barbecue) with a whole lamb and side of beef accompanied by local sausages, homemade fried bread, baked provolone cheese, baked potatoes and sweet potatoes, and a large variety of salads. Before lunch and dinner, a variety of snacks and finger food are served including the smoked regional delicacies. All the meals consist of three courses: starter, main course, and dessert.

You may enjoy birdwatching. The Andean condor and the Magellan woodpecker are just two of the many species of birds that call Estancia Arroyo Verde home. In the company of specialized guides, guests roam the area in search of these feathered friends. Half day or whole day trips can be organized. Birdwatching is a great way of discovering the magnificence of the Traful Valley at Estancia Arroyo Verde. Down on the lush valley pastures, you will be noisily greeted by the southern lapwings.

Upland and ashy-headed geese, black-faced Ibis, and several duck species such as southern widgeon and speckled teal feed on the marshy areas are always observed closely by the handsome southern crested-caracara. You will see a lot of birdlife and the guides are prepared to answer questions regarding variety, but if you want a specific Birdwatching activity and guide please send inquiry to Estancia Arroyo Verde to book in advance and it has a extra cost.

Once in the southern beech (Nothofagus) forest, you must rely on your hearing: amazingly loud calls of the ground-dwelling chucao tapaculo or the black-throated huet-huet drumming of the Magellan woodpecker making his way through the bark to feed. If quiet, you can observe their work from close up. While on the river, you can find the ringed kingfisher that gives quite a show when he dives because unlike the fishermen, he almost never fails.

• 2-day horseback riding sessions, hiking, trekking, and picnics
• Guide during the entire stay
• Transfer in/out to San Carlos de Bariloche Airport (BRC) or the city
• Full board (breakfast buffet, lunch, and dinner with alcoholic beverages and open bar)
• 2 nights’ accommodation
• Wi-Fi only in certain areas of the lodge
• Taxes

• Tips for the staffs of the lodge (40 USD per room per day)
• Tips for a guide with your car if you have (60 USD per day)
• Phone
• Personal and traveler's insurance
• Washing clothes
• Services not specified

Arrival by airplane

Please book your flight to arrive at San Carlos de Bariloche Airport (BRC). Transfer from and to the airport is included. Estancia Arroyo Verde will pick you up from the airport.

The city of Bariloche and its international airport are the closest at an hour and a half drive. More than eight flights arrive in Bariloche daily and the airport can handle international private jets. San Martin de Los Andes is located at two and a half hours from the ranch and also has a domestic airport.

• A reservation requires a deposit of 50% of the total price.
• The deposit is non-refundable, if the booking is cancelled.
• The rest of the payment should be paid 30 days before arrival.