Horse Riding Tours
Our 8-day Laguna-ride offers the unique opportunity to explore the high Andes on horseback. We will cross the Chilean side of the mountains up close to the Argentinian border while passing over the beautiful Laguna del Maule. We will stop by some beautiful natural hot springs and in summer you can even swim bareback with your horse in a lake. During our journey we will also meet some Puesteros – guardians of the animals in the mountains – and you’ll get the chance to learn a lot about their traditions, stories and lifestyle. Our Laguna ride lets you completely get away from the buzz of modern life and dive right into simplicity. Like the Chilean Puesteros you will cook all your meals over the campfire and camp out in pristine surroundings with only the stars watching over you.
- Trip length: 8 days
- Riding days: 6 days
- Riding hours: between 3 and 9 hours per day
- Meeting point: Linares (bus terminal)
- Number of participants: between 2 and 10 persons
- Experience: outstanding experience with local culture and traditions, bathing in natural hot springs, optional: detour up to the Chilean/Argentinian mountain border
- Seasonal activities: swimming with horses, fishing, skiing
- Sightseeing: volcanoes, swamps, lakes, rivers, traditional puestos
- Level: riders of all levels, there are cantering opportunities for experienced riders
- Horses: Criollo horses
- Saddle: Western saddle, Chilean saddle
- Minimum age: 10 years with parent
- Climate: dry mountain climate
- Dates: From December to April
Our 9-day cowboy experience offers one of the most authentic forms of horse trekking you can imagine: in old Chilean tradition we are changing our semi-wild herd of horses between its winter pasture in Rari and its summer pasture high up in the Andes. We just offer this ride three times in the year! You will experience the lifestyle of a real Arriero – accompanying the herd through all hardships of the day until having a well-deserved rest besides an open fire at night. You will get the chance to meet and share a Mate with a lot of other Arrieros that travel with their herds of cows, sheep and goat and learn all about their traditions and lifestyle. Towards the end of the trip there is some time to wash the sweat away while swimming with your horse or relaxing in natural hot springs.
Got you curious? Contact us for concrete trip dates read on for more information!
- Approximate starting dates (please contact us to inquire about this years specific dates):
~1st December – mustering, branding and driving up to summer pastures
~1th January – mustering herd in the mountains, changing summer pastures
~25th April – mustering horses on summer pasture and driving down to winter pasture - Trip length: 9 days
- Riding days: 7 days
- Riding hours: about 6 hours per day
- Meeting point: Linares (bus terminal)
Please advise us if you need assistance in organizing a bus ride from Santiago or another city - Number of participants: between 1 and 6 persons
- Experience: very authentic experience as a Chilean Arriero (Cowboy) driving a semi-wild herd of horses into or from their mountains summer pastures, witnessing local culture and traditions, bathing in natural hot springs
- Seasonal activities: fishing, swimming with horses
- Sightseeing: volcanoes, swamps, lakes, rivers, traditional Puestos and Arrieros
- Level: intermediate riders, there are cantering opportunities for experienced riders
- Horses: Criollo horses
- Saddle: Western saddle, Chilean saddle
- Minimum age: 14 years with parent
- Climate: dry mountain climate, hot days & cold nights
Discover the peaceful hills of Rari in this two day ride with one night of camping under the stars. You will pass through native forest, cross some hilltops with stunning views and get the chance to take a bath in the natural pools of river Rari during the end of the trip. In summer a stunning sunset and a breathtaking night sky at the campsite are almost guaranteed.
- Trip length: 3,5 days
- Riding days: 3 days
- Riding hours: between 5 and 6 hours
- Meeting point: Linares (bus terminal)
- Number of participants: between 2 and 10 people
- Experience: watching the sunset from a stunning lookout, camping under the stars, bathing in natural river pools
- Sightseeing: native forest, river Rari, view of the Precordillera, view of the volcanoes Descabezado Grande, Cerro Azul
- Level: riders of all levels
- Horses: Criollo horses
- Saddle: Western saddle, Chilean saddle
- Minimum age: 8 years with parent
- Climate: in summer hot & dry, in winter mild & humid
- Dates: all year around
Our Rari Day Ride is the ideal short trip to get away into nature for the day and return for a warm shower and comfortable night back in civilization.
We meet at 8.30 am at our farm cottage in Rari. Optionally we can organize a pick-up in Linares (bus terminal) for you. After being greeted by your guide for the day you will get to know your horse and get a quick riding introduction in the arena. In the morning you will ride through a beautiful old native forest. As we climb up to the first look-out over Rari and Panimavida you will find a lot of herbs on the side of the path. If you like herbal tea you can collect some leaves for your own tea infusion later at the picnic lunch. In the following short but steep climb you can experience the surefootedness and willingness of the Chilean Criollo at its best. Hold on to your horses mane and lean forward till you reach another look-out with a 180 degree panoramic view over the Lake Colbun and the surrounding settlements! Afterwards we take a picnic lunch over the fire together. Don’t miss the chance to learn about the tradition and rules of sharing a traditional Mate and take a sip! In the afternoon we continue our ride over a mountain ridge and you have plenty of time to soak up the surrounding mountain views until we dive back in to the forest. Upon arrival at the farm cottage you can wash the dust away in the pool. Optionally you can stay for a traditional Chilean BBQ or go and explore the settlement of Rari with their traditional crafts made of “crin” (horse hair). Read more…
- Trip length: 1 day
- Riding days: 1 day
- Riding hours: between 4 and 5 hours
- Meeting point: our farm cottage in Rari, optional pickup in Linares (bus terminal)
- Number of participants: between 1 and 10 people
- Experience: a relaxed ride where you can see a lot of native flora and get to know charming Rari
- Sightseeing: native forest, viewpoint over Lake Colbun, Rari & Linares, river Rari, landscape of the Precordillera
- Level: riders of all levels
- Horses: Criollo horses
- Saddle: Western saddle, Chilean saddle
- Minimum age: 8 years with parent
- Climate: in summer hot & dry, in winter mild & humid
- Dates: all year around
Our Moonshine ride is a special gem in our Rari tour collection. You will pass through beautiful native flora in the golden evening light before reaching a viewpoint with a 180 degrees panoramic view for sunset. After having a little snack over the campfire we get back in the saddle and find our way home with just the moon illuminating our path. It’s truly a magic experience as sounds and smells are so much more intense at night. You can trust our horses to find their way home surefooted as they can see way better than us in dim light. This is not a beginner ride though and you should at least have some previous experience in handling a horse. Read more…
- Dates: December till April
Please contact us for concrete dates as we cannot offer this ride on newmoon-weeks - Trip length: 1 evening (from 5 pm till about midnight)
- Riding hours: between 4 and 5 hours
- Meeting point: 5 pm at our farm cottage in Rari
Optionally you can book a pick-up in Linares (bus terminal) - Number of participants: between 2 and 10 people
- Experience: passing native flora and fauna in the golden light of the evening, taking an evening snack at a gorgeous viewpoint during sunset, riding back to the farm in mystic moonlight
- Sightseeing: native forest, viewpoint over Lake Colbun, Rari & Linares, river Rari, landscape of the Precordillera
- Level: intermediate riders
- Horses: Criollo horses
- Saddle: Western saddle, Chilean saddle
- Minimum age: 13 years with parent
- Climate: hot & usually dry during the day, cool at night
We are always happy to arrange a custom tour for you!
You may want to take a ride one on one with our guide or it may be a special occasion like a marriage proposal or anniversary. Write us a message with your special requirements – we will make sure to create a private experience for you and your loved ones without any strangers on board!
