Horseback rides:
Located on the Anita Ranch, Alta Vista has 75,000 hectares of its own rangeland with
different types of geographical relief and a wide variety of landscapes. From the
flatlands near the inn and Lake Argentina, to the mountain valleys of the Baguales range,
from the immense steppes to the Patagonian beech forests, there are many different
environments to discover, always with the Andes range and the Perito Moreno glacier as a
backdrop.The duration of the rides is calculated at a
slow gait (walk). For more experienced riders, most of the itineraries in the steppe also
allow for a trot or gallop. All rides are conducted by an expert local guide. Our guests
will also be able to watch, and accompany on horseback, sheep drives from the plains to
the mountain pastures, or viceversa.
Campo
Chorrillo:
Duration: 2 hours.
An easy ride across the plains near the inn, bordering Chorrillo Malo Creek.
Chorrillo
Malo lookout point:
Duration: 3 to 4 hours.
The most popular excursion leaving from the inn, bcause by crossing easy, practically flat
terrain we arrive at a lagoon full of flamingos, swans and geese, and then ride up to a
lookout point from where we can see the entire basin of Lake Argentino, from the Andes
with its glaciers to the distant steppes. We can pan-fry a steak for lunch beside the
creek the edge of at the edge of the forest before riding back around the lagoon to the
inn.
Visit to the
Anita Ranch:
Duration: 4 to 5 hours.
Located just 3 km by road from the inn, the ranch is a must for all our guests. We get
there from the inn by riding over the highland pastures and, after a look at the sheds and
other installations, we ride back through the lagoon-studded plains amid herds of
thousands of sheep, with the Andes as a backdrop.
Paso
Volcán:
Duration: 6 to 8 hours.
On this ride, we reach the foot of Mount Fraile, a dormant volcano that serves as summer
pasture for the ranch’s herds.
Crossing the
Chorrillo, we ride up through the forest to a point 1,200 meters above sea level in the
middle of the Baguales mountains, with a panoramic view towards the Paine Towers. We
return through the hills behind the inn, descending along Alta Vista Creek.
Paso Zamora:
Duration: 8 to 10 hours.
The longest and most spectacular of our rides, for the variety of landscapes through which
we pass. It takes us through pristine beech forests and highland pastures to the border
with Chile. Riding up the Rico River valley, we cross the river and ascend through the
forest along old cattle trails to its upper tributaries, long the summer pastures for the
region’s cattle in the heart of the Baguales range.
Hikes:
All the riding itineraries can be done on foot by people accustomed to walking, in more or
less the same time.
For trekking and mountaineering enthusiasts, we also propose climbing to the tops of some
of the mountains within or near the ranch for incomprable views of the lakes, mountains,
glaciers and steppes of the region.
The following hikes do not require special equipment (trekking shoes are sufficient) or
technical skills, just good physical condition and the ability to hike at a steady pace in
the mountains. Altitude sickness is no problem, as all the climbing takes place between
250 meters (the inn) and 1,200 meters above sea level.
Mount
Cristales:
Ascent: 1,000 meters.
Duration: 6 hours (round trip).
The Cristales range lies between the border and Lake Roca near Lake Argentino’s
southern branch. From Mount Cristales (1,300 meters), its highest point, you see the
southern part of the lake basin, and the Andes from Chile’s Torres del Paine National
Park to faraway Mount Fitz Roy on the far side of Argentina’s Los Glaciares National
Park. We climb the north side of the mountain, after a 15-km car ride that leaves us at
its base.
Mount
Fraile:
Ascent: 1,100 meters.
Duration: 7 hours (round trip).
The peak of this ancient dormant volcano, origin of the numerous basaltic lava flows in
the region, offers a 360º view which synthesizes, from the Andes with their glaciers in
the west to the boundless steppes in the east, the geographical and geological diversity
of Patagonia.
We can drive
from the inn to the base of the mountain, and from there climb it along its eastern slope.
At the top, a small slope leads to the old chimney of the volcano, around which there are
several condor nests.
Mount
Frías:
Ascent: 900 meters.
Duration: 6 hours (round trip).
Beside the main body of Lake Argentino, this mountain, girded by a fringe of Patagonian
beech forest, is the great watchtower from which to discover the extent of the area that
was covered by the glacier that melted and formed the lake.
Overlanding
(4WD):
India Dormida route (Huyliche Ranch, Calafate Balcony, Portezuelo Creek, Centinela River).
6 hours.
Colonial route: Around the Perito Moreno Peninsula. 6 hours.
Chapas outpost: Take the Cachorro up to the Anita Ranch’s Chapas summer pasture.
Mount Frías: Go up through Barcena’s place and return through the Buenos Aires
Ranch.
Mountain
bikes: Our bikes are always available for guests who want to go cycling in the
pastures around the inn.
Fishing:
The inn is in the southern part of the Lake Argentino basin, a few kilometers from the
best fishing grounds in the area: Lake Roca, Brazo Sur and Brazo Rico. The Santa Cruz
River is a half hour’s drive, the Vizcachas and Gallegos rivers two thirds of an
hour. Spinning equipment is available for guests. There are private guides with boats for
those who want a more exclusive fishing arrangement. There are rainbow trout, Canadian
trout and resident brown trout in the Vizcachas River, sea-run brown trout in the Gallegos
River. |
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
