Program "Cruce de los Esteros Horseback Ride"
A horseback ride designed especially for the riders who enjoy a good gallop by the vast expanse of the Argentinean Mesopotamia and that accept the challenge to arrive at an island by horse! A way of knowing the lifestyle of the "Gaucho correntino", their customs and their skill in horseback crossing marshlands and swimming across the rivers.
For many years, the Parana and Uruguay rivers kept in isolation a vast expanse of earth. It is not necessary to go back a long time ago to see the boats arriving with provisions from Buenos Aires. We wonder: How would big sailing ships go upriver? Systems of cords and chains with numerous draught animals were necessary; shouts and great effort to tow them from the coast, to manage the troops and/or the provisions arrive at the northeast of our country.
Today, the routes and the bridges have partly solved the isolation of the Mesopotamia, but the vast expanses of marshlands still are an important barrier for the communication and the movements. The large shipping of livestock and the young bulls herded together —whip in hand— swimming across the river, continue to be very frequent. The field man of Corrientes is a reflection of the natural and rough of the landscape. He continues maintaining his image "gauchesca", not only for his clothes and his passion for the horse, but also for his strong personality that allows him to live in with a complicated and aggressive ecosystem composed of 35% of water, difficult mounts to penetrate into and grasslands that are lost in the infinite. Clear waters, natural habitat of a great amount of aquatic birds, mammals and reptiles, complete the cast of actors; is a true natural paradise.
Today the reality of many gauchos is still the horse and the canoe. Crossing clothing by rowing or with the stakes, whereas riders and horses swim across. Our proposal is to invite good riders to live their own experience.
3 days/2 nights Program |
6 days/5 nights Program |
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Day 1: Arrival at El Tránsito
Arrival at the Mercedes Bust Station. From here we will go to Estancia el Tránsito.
The Province of Corrientes is situated in a subtropical climate zone. Spring and fall temperatures tend to be moderate. Summer is usually hot, although there are "nice" dry hot days with temperatures ranging from 25º C to 30º C. In winter, the temperatures average about 20º C, with highs of 28º C to 30º C, and nighttime lows of -0º C.
We tour the city, its old houses made of mud, warehouses and saddler's shops. Concepción is a village lost in time, with streets of sand and typical houses from Corrientes with wooden facades. This village shelters the estereños countrymen who work and live in the Iberá.
Then, we go towards Estancia El Tránsito, situated on the coast of the Iberá Marshlands. There we will have lunch and after that, we will try and choose the horses and the equipment, having gone for a stroll in the field in order to make sure that we are comfortable with the saddles and horses chosen.
Once settled in the rooms each rider will prepare their clothes, separating what they will take with them the next day. Later, having Mate, our guide will explain the next days excursion and the precautions to bear in mind. We must with time, prepare the horses, equipment, solar screen, mosquitoes repellent, hats and long sleeved shirts to protect us from the sun.
At night, we will share an Asado in the Estancia's hut, while we enjoy the view of the marshlands.
We will spend the night at El Tránsito.
Day 2: Horseback riding to Estancia San Alonso
We have breakfast at 5.30 am, to be able to get ready for the long horseback ride that we will undertake. We will put everything in the saddlebags and undertake the trip in which we will cross marshlands and streams.
At 6.30 am, we will begin the horseback ride towards the Arroyo Carambola. After a while, we will arrive at the first crossing of the stream. In such place, two countrymen who are experts on the area will be waiting for us, with a canoe to be able to move all our saddlebags, saddles and clothes while we swim across.
Wearing swimsuits, we will mount the horses without a saddle, and little by little we will enter the stream. The horses are able to touch the bottom at the beginning. After walking some meters, the stream becomes deeper and the horses begin to swim. This is a natural skill of all horses and the natives of the marshlands are used to do it. Once the water covers the backs, the horses seem to run in slow motion before swimming. To swim next to the horse, holding the horse's mane is a unique sensation!
They are three river crossings in the rainy season and two in the dry season, the rest of the way is made up of immense green landscapes, some scrubland and a few ranches that reduce the feeling of loneliness.
After midday, we will arrive at open woodland of carob trees, where we will prepare lunch and take a rest, to be able to recover for the last stretch of our crossing.
In the final stage, we will journey two hours at low speed, until arriving at our Estancia San Alonso. Antonia and Omar, the host family of the estancia, will be waiting for us to welcome us and to lodge us in the rooms of the main house. Then we will enjoy a deserved shower and some delicious cold lemonade in the gallery, in front of the Parana lagoon.
At night, we will share a nice meal, prepared with organic fruit and vegetables, most of them from our kitchen garden, while we enjoy the view of the Parana Lagoon.
To sleep with the windows open and the fresh breeze of the night, listening to the teeming of the frogs and crickets, makes this place unforgettable.
We spend the night in San Alonso.
Day 3: San Alonso
We will have breakfast with freshly squeezed juices, home made bread and jams and fresh fruit.
In the morning we will navigate trough the Parana Lagoon.
San Alonso may be most well known for it's extraordinary abundance of birdlife. Throughout the Esteros del Iberá there are nearly 400 species of birds, many of whom are in danger of extinction, and bird watching at San Alonso allows birders to watch many of these species. Some guests like simply sitting on the terrace of the main house and bird watch right there in the gardens!
At midday we will leave towards the City of San Miguel by boat, so as to then reach the City of Bella Vista, were you will be able to get on the Suite Bus at 19:45 towards Retiro Bus Station in Buenos Aires.
Program includes:
Program does not include tickets of arrival or departure and alcoholic beverages.
Suggestions
We suggest the Flecha Bus "semi-cama" from Retiro Bus Station (Buenos Aires) to Mercedes. This bus leaves every day at 21:00. (www.flechabus.com.ar)
For the return we recommend suite from Flecha Bus (leaves at 19:45 every day from the City of Bella Vista), or the Bus service of Albizzatti, suite service that leaves at 19:45 every day from the City of Bella Vista (Te: +54 11 4315-0499).
Do not forget to bring
We advise you to bring enough clothes since it is easy to get dirty and wet while you visit the heart of the marshlands. We also advise you to bring a couple of pair of shoes and many pairs of socks. On day long activities, it would be useful if you had a small backpack.
If you have them, do not forget:
You should consider that it might rain at any moment. The annual rain in Corrientes is of 1200 mm and in Misiones of 1500mm. Electric storms are not unusual. For the rest of your stay at Rincon del Socorro it is best to take some more clothing, comfortable shoes to walk with and even rubber boots in case the trail get to muddy. Depending on the time of your visit some light jacket is recommended as it may get chili in the evenings. |
Day 1: A visit to the city of Concepción – Arrival at El Tránsito
Arrival at the airport of the city of Corrientes at 8.15hs.
Estancia Rincón del Socorro is situated in a subtropical climate zone. Spring and fall temperatures tend to be moderate. Summer is usually hot, although there are "nice" dry hot days with temperatures ranging from 25º C to 30º C. In winter, the temperatures average about 20º C, with highs of 28º C to 30º C, and nighttime lows of -0º C.
We leave the city of Corrientes and go towards the city of Concepción. We tour the city, its old houses made of mud, warehouses and saddler's shops. Concepción is a village lost in time, with streets of sand and typical houses from Corrientes with wooden facades. This village shelters the estereños countrymen who work and live in the Iberá.
Then, we go towards Estancia El Tránsito, which is placed in the coast of the marshlands, 220km from the city of Corrientes. There we will have lunch and after that, we will try and choose the horses and the equipment, having gone for a stroll in the field in order to make sure that we are comfortable with the saddles and horses chosen.
During the afternoon, it will be possible to participate in typical field activities, like doing the work in the corrals, taming of horses and so on.
At night, we will share a barbeque in the estancia's hut, while we enjoy the view of the marshlands.
We will spend the night in El Tránsito.
Day 2: Horseback riding to Estancia San Alonso
We have breakfast at 5.30 am, to be able to get ready for the long horseback ride that we will undertake. We must prepare in advance the horses, the equipment, provisions, the insect repellent, the sunscreen, hats and long sleeves shirts to protect us from the sun.
We will put everything in the saddlebags and undertake the trip in which we will cross marshlands and streams.
At 6.30 am, we will begin the horseback ride towards the Arroyo Carambola. After a while, we will arrive at the first crossing of the stream. In such place, two countrymen who are experts on the area will be waiting for us, with a canoe to be able to move all our saddlebags, saddles and clothes while we swim across.
Wearing swimsuits, we will mount the horses without a saddle, and little by little we will enter the stream. The horses are able to touch the bottom at the beginning. After walking some meters, the stream becomes deeper and the horses begin to swim. This is a natural skill of all horses and the natives of the marshlands are used to do it. Once the water covers the backs, the horses seem to run in slow motion before swimming. To swim next to the horse, holding the horse's mane is a unique sensation!
They are three river crossings in the rainy season and two in the dry season, the rest of the way is made up of immense green landscapes, some scrubland and a few ranches that reduce the feeling of loneliness.
After midday, we will arrive at open woodland of carob trees, where we will prepare lunch and we will rest to be able to recover for the last stretch of our crossing.
In the final stage, we will journey two hours at low speed, until arriving at our Estancia San Alonso. Antonia and Omar, the host family of the estancia, will be waiting for us to welcome us and to lodge us in the rooms of the main house. Then we will enjoy a deserved shower and some delicious cold lemonade in the gallery, in front of the Parana lagoon.
The main house of San Alonso sits at the shore of the Paraná Lake in the middle of the Esteros del Iberá and is coolly shaded by a grove of old lapacho and timbo trees.
At night, we will share a nice meal, prepared with organic fruit and vegetables, most from our kitchen garden, while we enjoyed the view of the Parana Lagoon.
To sleep with the open windows and the fresh breeze of the night, listening to the teeming of the frogs and crickets, makes this place an unforgettable memory.
We spend the night in San Alonso.
Day 3: San Alonso – Boat trip at the Parana Lagoon
After breakfast, we will enjoy a boat trip at the Parana Lagoon. San Alonso may be most well known for it's extraordinary abundance of birdlife. Throughout the Esteros del Iberá there are nearly 400 species of birds, many of whom are in danger of extinction, and birdwatching at San Alonso allows birders to watch many of these species. Some guests like simply sitting on the terrace of the main house and birdwatch right there in the gardens!
All our guests are encouraged to ride out onto the Savanah grasslands on horseback, especially in the early morning or late afternoons when the sun is lower and not so strong. Animals such as capybaras (carpinchos), alligators, vizcachas can be seen as well as some of the nearly 400 bird species that are found within the Esteros del Iberá. An asado under one of the monte trees is available during the ride.
We spend the night in San Alonso.
Day 4: Rincón del Socorro
After breakfast we will fly over the Iberá Marshlands in a private turbo propeller aircraft. During the flight we will be able to appreciate the vastness of this incredible 1.300.000 ha. Ecosystem.
After a 20 minutes flight we will arrive at Estancia Rincón del Socorro.
Once settled we will take a walk around the main house and its surroundings, to get to know a little more about the History of the place and the recovery of the environment that takes place in Iberá.
After lunch we will have some free time to walk or relax by the pool or watch a video that resumes CLT´s activities in the area.
Before dinner, we go out on the 4x4 to watch the fauna and learn about their environment.
We will spend the night in Rincón del Socorro.
Day 5: Rincón del Socorro
After breakfast we will head towards our " Quincho" next to the pier, 23 Km away from our Estancia on the way to C. Carlos Pellegrini, from were we will start our boat ride through the Iberá Lagoon. This is the Area that has been protected the longest, so it is the perfect place to observe flora and fauna. Martin our guide will tell us the secrets of each specie. You will be able to see lots of Caymans, carpinchos and with some luck a marsh deer will approach us. We will be surrounded by lots of bird fauna.
Before returning to the Estancia we will visit the Information center of the Provincial Reserve of Iberá, were we can learn more about the flora and fauna of the area. We will visit the Monkeys Trail and the Jungle.
Dinner and night in Rincon del Socorro.
Day 6: Rincón del Socorro
After breakfast, end of programme. According to your itinerary, air or land transportation to Corrientes, Iguazu, Mercedes or Posadas may be arranged.
Important: The order of the activities described above can be changed, since they all depend on weather conditions.
Program includes:
Program doesn´t include transfers, alcoholic beverages, open bar, personal spendings or extras, extras tips, and insurance.
Do not forget to bring
We advise you to bring enough clothes since it is easy to get dirty and wet while you visit the heart of the marshlands. We also advise you to bring a couple of pair of shoes and many pairs of socks. On day long activities, it would be useful if you had a small backpack.
If you have them, do not forget:
You should consider that it might rain at any moment. The annual rain in Corrientes is of 1200 mm and in Misiones of 1500mm. Electric storms are not unusual. For the rest of your stay at Rincon del Socorro it is best to take some more clothing, comfortable shoes to walk with and even rubber boots in case the trail get to muddy. Depending on the time of your visit some light jacket is recommended as it may get chili in the evenings. |
