From Coyhaique to Chelenko: Ride Deep Into Patagonia On Horseback

From the vast steppe of Aysén region to the deciduous forests of Lenga and Ñirre, a fourteen-day NOLS horsepacking expedition in Patagonia offers a grand, authentic adventure for those who desire an epic experience matched to their skill level. Your course begins at the NOLS Patagonia campus in Coyhaique, Chile, where you’ll meet your instructors and the expedition support team. You’ll spend time preparing gear and organizing food before heading to Puerto Ibañez, the starting point of an unforgettable journey. From there, you’ll set out on a trail that winds through snow-capped crags, wide gullies, and expansive steppes that feel as open as the sky.

Photo by Milenka Heran

Here, you’ll explore the heart of what the Portuguese dubbed ‘The Land of Giants.’ You’ll retain insight into a rich and hardy culture few others have seen. You’ll ride through the deciduous Chilean forest in mud-spattered boots, scan wind-rippled Lake Chelenko and listen to the chatter of transparent river water rushing over volcanic rock — all from the back of your trusted horse. You’ll have opportunities to visit local ranchers, or pobladores, to work on your Spanish language skills and learn more about rural poblador life.

Milenka Heran

Ride Like a Gaucho Through Ancient Traditions and Wild Terrain

The nomadic Patagonian Gauchos, a proud culture of South American cowboys, maintain an ancient tradition of equestrianism. In true Gaucho fashion, you’ll become a skilled rider as you build a deep connection with your horse. You’ll see the way the Gauchos live, how they move across the plains and heaths, and how locals cook, speak and survive. You’ll gain vital wilderness skills and acumen needed to navigate the grasslands and arroyos, to pass fords, and ascend palisades.

Photo by: Milenka Heran

Your skill as a rider and team member is an essential part of the trek. During the day, you’ll typically travel between five and ten miles in a variety of terrain. Because NOLS is not a “riding skills” school, backcountry travel is done at a walk to allow both horse and rider to negotiate hazards and obstacles. You’ll be surprised to find your body sore from long days in the saddle, and the constant work of managing horses and camp. It’s in these moments, in the midst of weather shifts and stark conditions where you’ll bear responsibilities and pass through trials, learning local customs and creating togetherness under the Chilean sun and wind. You’ll see just how spacious a land can be — how free the untrod earth can feel.