In Nibepo Aike, through the windows of our room, we have a perfect view of the snow-capped mountain ranges, the beautiful scenery, sometimes chickens and birds outside. We could stay in our room, sitting on the sofa, zipping tea, reading books and from time to time, look up to appreciate the beauty of nature.
There are horseback riding activities from one hour to three hours. The first day we did a 3-hour horseback riding in the afternoon around the area. The pasture and the lake are tranquil and beautiful; the horses, the cattle and the birds look relaxed. Patagonia Criollo horses are renowned for their endurance. Criollo horses are intelligent, steady and calm, often forming deep partnership with the riders. The tan-colored horse I rode on the first afternoon lived up to the reputation. It was the best. She was gentle, experienced and responded well to the rein. Its narrower body was comfortable to ride on. I connected with it right away. This afternoon in Patagonia Estancia gave me the best horseback riding experience ever. Unfortunately “my horse” needed rest in the following days. The next afternoon, I rode a black horse with a broader body. It was not as comfortable. We did an hour of horseback riding to herd the sheep back to the barn in the evening. It was fun even though it was mostly the staff riders who guided the sheep back to the barn. The third day was a morning ride. My white horse was the most active. It just wanted to gallop, especially when she saw other horses galloping. I had to keep reining it in. Three horses in three days, even in a short time, it is apparent these horses have very different temperaments. I am most connected to the gentle tan-colored horse on the first day and the other two horses seem to sense my preference.
We got to know a few of the Estancia staff. We met the owner when we looked for the directions to the hiking trail up the short hill overlooking the ranch. The owner looked older. He was so tall and energetic that he walked three times faster. We needed to jog to keep up with his walking. He is a happy fellow. The general manager Silvano took such good care of us. We chatted with him whenever he was not as busy. He makes a wonderful hotelier with good knowledge of the ranch operations, and endearing people skills. There is a native, the know-it-all, taking care of all kinds of chores in the farm and he is everywhere working all the time. There is also a gentleman and a young lady taking care of the horses and are very knowledgeable about them. The female tour guide spoke arguably the best English and handled multiple languages at ease as she took us around on the ranch day. Even for a few days, I came to know the ranch staff better than the staff of other accommodations, as we saw each other throughout the days.
The Estanica experience gives us a true connection to the animals, the caring staff and nature. It is an experience of a lifetime.
Coming up: El Chaten, the hikers’ paradise, Nov 21 to 25.
oliviatamccue 
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