Bariloche Horseback Riding & Hiking

Land at Bariloche airport and transfer to the 4-star Hotel Tronador, on the bank of Lake Mascardi. Mount Tronador rises behind it, over the smooth emerald water and the Patagonian forest. Unpack, take a long look at the mountain, and let the evening be quiet. Nothing is scheduled. The next two days are a menu, and the choosing starts here.

Today is yours to build. On dry land, see the region on horseback, or hike, rock-climb or bike. On the water, there is fishing, rafting and kayaking, and keen bird-watchers can spend hours with the local species. The guided horseback ride is one of the most popular picks. You choose a trusty horse and follow cattle trails through open plains and farms, with Mount Tronador getting bigger the whole way until you reach the foot of the mountain.

A day at Puesto Cretón swaps the trail for a working ranch. Try your hand at rounding up cattle, milking cows, and gathering fruits and vegetables for the week's meals. Lunch on the farm is an asado al disco, meat barbecued on a plow disc. There is also the option of a night on the farm, in comfortable but rustic accommodation. Or skip the ranch and keep the day open. It is called a day at leisure for a reason.

The stay at the lake ends the way it began, with a transfer. Head back to the city of Bariloche and fly to Buenos Aires, or on to the next destination in South America. Airfare is not part of the rate, so your Destination Consultant will time the departure around whatever comes before and after these four days.