Where gauchos still ride wild plains and mountains touch the sky, Patagonia’s landscapes beg to be explored from the saddle. This untamed corner of Argentina offers riders the chance to experience freedom the way local cowboys have for centuries, with nothing but wind, wilderness, and hoofbeats for company.
Let’s saddle up and explore some trails where horses still rule the land, and every turn brings views that make you reach for your camera while holding tight to your reins.
Los Glaciares National Park
Horses pick their way along trails overlooking the massive Perito Moreno glacier. Local gauchos lead rides through lenga forests to viewpoints where ice meets the sky.
The thunder of calving glaciers sometimes spooks even the most seasoned trail horses.
Tierra del Fuego
Riding along the world’s southernmost trails brings you to the end of the continent. Wild horses still roam these windswept plains near Ushuaia.
Native forests provide shelter from the famous Patagonian winds, while beaches offer chances for long canters.
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Valle Chacabuco
The former ranch turned conservation area offers endless riding opportunities. Guanacos and rheas scatter as horses approach across the steppe.
Old sheep stations provide rustic overnight stops between long days in the saddle.
Nahuel Huapi National Park
Lake views accompany riders through ancient Andean-Patagonian forests. Trails climb to peaks offering views into Chile on clear days.
Evening rides often include watching condors return to their roosts.Lake views accompany riders through ancient Andean-Patagonian forests.
Trails climb to peaks offering views into Chile on clear days. Evening rides often include watching condors return to their roosts.
Lago San Martin
Remote trails circle this massive lake shared with Chile. Rides pass through valleys where pioneers first settled these harsh lands.
Local ranchers still move cattle along these same paths their grandparents used.
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Torres del Paine Border
Though the towers stand in Chile, the Argentine side offers spectacular riding. Trails follow the frontier, where two countries meet in dramatic fashion.
Wild horses sometimes join domestic ones along these remote paths.
Peninsula Valdes
Coastal rides bring chances to spot whales breaching offshore. Horses stay calm even when elephant seals bellow from nearby beaches.
The mix of cliff-top trails and beach rides makes each day different.
El Calafate Steppes
The gateway to Glacier Country offers endless steppe riding opportunities. Local gauchos share mates around campfires after long days riding.
Morning rides often start in frost and end in sunshine.
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Los Alerces National Park
Ancient alerce trees tower over trails through this forest wonderland. Lake trails connect remote camping spots perfect for multi-day trips.
The park’s wild horses sometimes watch curiously as riders pass.
Valle Exploradores
This hidden valley offers rides through the untouched Patagonian wilderness. River crossings add excitement to daily rides.
Evening camps offer views of peaks that are still waiting for the first ascents.
Paso Roballos
This historic mountain pass holds centuries of gaucho history. Border trails offer rides in two countries in one day.
Local families still run sheep ranches using horses daily.
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Rio Pinturas Valley
Cave paintings show humans have ridden here for thousands of years. The famous Cueva de las Manos sits near excellent trail systems.
Multi-day trips visit sites rarely seen by tourists.
Lago Buenos Aires
South America’s second-largest lake provides a backdrop for epic rides. Beaches offer chances for gallops, while cliffs demand careful walking.
Local estancias welcome riders with traditional asados.
El Chalten
Trails beneath Mount Fitz Roy challenge both horse and rider. Alpine meadows provide perfect lunch spots with million-dollar views.
Weather changes keep both guides and horses alert.
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Esquel Valley
Welsh settler history mixes with Gaucho culture in this rich valley. Train tracks from the famous Old Patagonian Express parallel some trails.
Local sheep farms offer authentic estancia stays.
Lago Viedma
Ice-carved valleys lead riders toward massive glaciers. Wind-sculptured rocks create natural obstacle courses.
Evening light on the ice creates unforgettable photo opportunities.
Rio Gallegos Estancias
Traditional sheep ranches still operate as they did a century ago. Gauchos welcome visitors to join their daily rides.
Skills passed down generations help riders handle the famous winds.
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Parque Nacional Perito Moreno
Not to be confused with the glacier, this park offers pristine riding. Trails pass lakes where flamingos feed in shallow waters.
High passes test both horse and rider.
Valle Hermoso
The ‘Beautiful Valley’ lives up to its name with stunning riding terrain. Mountain streams provide water stops along the way.
Wild berries grow trailside in the summer months.
Cholila Valley
Butch Cassidy’s former hide-out offers historic riding opportunities. Old ranch buildings still stand among excellent trail systems.
Local folklore adds spice to evening campfire stories.
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Hooves and Horizons
These trails tell stories of pioneers, outlaws, and the gauchos who still call Patagonia home. Each ride carries the promise of adventure, from glacier-carved valleys to wind-swept plains where wild horses run free.
Exploring Patagonia from horseback connects riders to centuries of tradition and untamed beauty. These aren’t just trail rides – they’re journeys through one of Earth’s last wild places, where horses still make the most sense as a way to travel.
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