Ride through open steppe beneath the Andes, glacial peaks on the horizon
Hand-picked by our editors — only the best 3 experiences from 12 reviewed.
Verified partners for Cerro Frias Horse Riding tours, free cancellation where available, and instant confirmation on every booking.
4 hr
Ride through Patagonian trails to panoramic mountain viewpoints, then descend via forest paths
Reserve
1 hr 30 min
Explore Patagonia's steppe and lakeshore on horseback with expert guides in a small group setting
Reserve
4 hr
Ride through pristine Patagonian reserve, explore ancient ravines, and savor a traditional gaucho lunch
ReservePrices from verified partners. Availability updates in real time at checkout. Free cancellation policies apply where shown.
Every Cerro Frias Horse Riding tour side-by-side — duration, what's included, how you redeem.
| Experience | Duration | Rating | Pickup | Guide | Small group | Free cancel. | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Standard Entry Most popular
Cerro Frías Horseback Adventure from El Calafate
|
4 hr | ★ 4.8 | ✓ | — | — | ✓ | $150 | Book → |
|
Standard Entry
Lake Argentino Horseback Riding Adventure
|
1 hr 30 min | ★ 5.0 | — | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | €64 | Book → |
|
Standard Entry
Patagonian Horseback Adventure at Estancia 25 de Mayo
|
4 hr | ★ 5.0 | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | €128 | Book → |
All prices from verified partners. Availability and exact terms confirmed at checkout.
They complement each other; most visitors who do both call the Perito Moreno glacier trekking the more physically demanding pursuit, while cerro frias horse riding tours offer a relaxing way to survey the landscape. Choosing between these activities depends on whether you prefer immersive ice exploration or panoramic valley vistas.
| Feature | Top pick Cerro Frías Riding | Perito Moreno Trekking |
|---|---|---|
Physical Demand |
Low to moderate | High |
Required Gear |
Comfortable long pants | Crampons provided by tour |
Landscape Focus |
Mountain and valley views | Glacial ice formations |
Accessibility |
Easy for most ages | Moderate fitness required |
Terrain Type |
Steep dirt trails | Uneven ice surface |
Included Services |
Guide and horse | Guide and equipment |
| See tickets → |
Verdict: Select the cerro frias horse riding tour for relaxed scenery, or choose glacier trekking if you seek a technical challenge on the ice with specific cerro frias horse riding tickets available for separate booking.
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Arrive at the entrance, show your voucher on your phone, and walk in. Most tickets include priority or skip-the-line access.
Practical details for Cerro Frias Horse Riding tickets straight from our verified partners — hours, access, rules, and how to get there.
RP 11, 22-25 km west of El Calafate
Main ranch entrance for all arrivals
Open in Google MapsFollow RP 11 west from El Calafate toward the Perito Moreno Glacier.
Wear warm, layered clothing, a windbreaker, and sturdy, non-slip footwear. Gloves and a hat are highly recommended for the cerro frias horse riding experience.
Small backpacks for personal essentials are permitted during the activity. Large luggage should be left at your hotel or the designated storage area at Estancia Alice.
Photography is encouraged throughout the cerro frias horse riding journey, especially at the high-altitude viewpoints. Please be mindful of your horse and safety instructions when handling equipment.
The terrain for cerro frias horse riding is rugged and natural, requiring riders to mount and dismount independently. Those with back issues or limited mobility should consult with staff prior to booking.
Mobile phones are permitted. Keep ringer off inside exhibition spaces.
Children aged 6 and older can participate in cerro frias horse riding tours under guide supervision. Families often enjoy the ranch atmosphere at Estancia Alice following the excursion.
Most cerro frias horse riding packages include a meal or snack at Estancia Alice. Options range from traditional Patagonian stews to afternoon tea with local pastries.
Pets are not allowed, with the exception of service animals with appropriate documentation.
Last entry is typically 1 hour before closing. Check the specific ticket for timing.
RP 11, 22-25 km west of El Calafate
Main ranch entrance for all arrivals
Get directionsBest time to go, insider tips, nearby landmarks, and the cancellation fine print — flip through to skim what matters to you.
How crowds, weather, and events shift across the year.
Mild temperatures for comfortable riding.
Small details that turn a good visit into a great one.
Book your cerro frias horse riding for the morning if forecasts show clear skies for maximum visibility of the distant mountain ranges.
Non-bookable sights within a short walk — free to visit, easy to pair.
Expansive glacial lake visible from the hills.
Flexible, no hidden fees.
Full refunds are typically provided for cancellations made at least 24 hours in advance. There is no separate entrance fee; activity cost includes access to Estancia Alice.
Hand-picked options within walking distance — pick a district for vibe, or a specific hotel for convenience.
High-end lodge located near the ranch.
Estancia Alice sits twenty-three kilometres west of El Calafate on a gravel track that dead-ends at the edge of the Patagonian steppe.
The working ranch was established in the nineteen-thirties by Scottish immigrant families who grazed sheep beneath the eastern face of Cerro Frías, a basalt ridge that rises nine hundred metres above the surrounding plains. Today the estancia operates as a small-scale tourism venture, offering guided horseback excursions across terrain that remains largely unchanged since the original homesteaders arrived—windswept grassland, scattered calafate shrubs, and volcanic outcrops streaked with iron oxide.
Cerro frias horse riding tours follow trails that ranch hands have used for decades to move livestock between winter and summer pastures. The standard two-hour route climbs gradually toward the mountain's lower flanks, crossing dry creek beds and passing through corridors of lenga forest that shelter guanacos, foxes, and Patagonian hares. Riders traverse open slopes where condors circle thermal updrafts and the southern Andes form a serrated horizon to the west. The longer four-hour excursion extends into the upper valleys, reaching a rock saddle at approximately seven hundred metres elevation that offers unobstructed views of the Perito Moreno Glacier massif thirty kilometres distant.
The horses are Criollo stock, a hardy breed descended from Iberian imports that adapted to the region's cold winters and sparse forage. Guides match mounts to rider experience—calm geldings for beginners, more responsive animals for advanced equestrians. Tack is Argentine recado style, with sheepskin padding and wide stirrups suited to long-distance riding. The estancia maintains a remuda of eighteen horses and limits group size to eight riders per departure to minimize trail erosion and wildlife disturbance.
Cerro frias horseback riding operates year-round, though winter months see reduced frequency due to snow accumulation above six hundred metres. Spring and autumn offer optimal conditions—moderate temperatures, dry trails, and high visibility for wildlife spotting. The ranch's isolation means no cellular coverage and minimal infrastructure beyond a small lodge that serves mate and pastries after rides. Visitors arrive by private vehicle or pre-arranged shuttle from El Calafate, following Route Provincial 11 to the estancia's unmarked turnoff at kilometre marker twenty-two.
"The horses are Criollo stock, a hardy breed descended from Iberian imports that adapted to the region's cold winters and sparse forage."
A step-by-step walkthrough of Cerro Frias Horse Riding tickets — what you'll see, how long each stage takes, and the details that matter.
You arrive at Estancia Alice mid-morning to find horses already saddled in the corral. A guide fits your stirrup length and assigns you a bay gelding named Tormenta. You mount from a wooden platform and walk single-file down a dirt track that leads away from the ranch buildings into open steppe.
The pace is deliberate—walk and occasional trot—as the trail climbs through low scrub toward the mountain's base.
Twenty minutes in, you cross a dry wash and enter a belt of lenga forest where the temperature drops five degrees. Tormenta picks his way over exposed roots without direction. You emerge onto a rocky slope and the guide stops to point out a condor perched on a boulder fifty metres uphill. The bird's wingspan, he explains, can reach three metres.
You continue to a viewpoint at six hundred metres elevation where the southern ice field appears as a white band on the western horizon. The guide pours mate from a thermos and passes the gourd. You sit fifteen minutes before descending a different route that loops back through grassland dotted with guanacos. You return to the corral two hours after departure, legs stiff, eyes stinging from wind.
The attraction is open daily from 08:00–21:00 to accommodate various tour shifts.
No experience is necessary, as the horses are well-trained and guides assist throughout the cerro frias horse riding adventure.
The maximum weight limit is 100 kg to ensure rider and horse safety.
Participants must be at least 6 years old to join these horse riding tours.
On clear days, panoramic views of the Torres del Paine range are a highlight of the excursion.
Wear layered, warm clothing and sturdy shoes suitable for mountain terrain.
Yes, most packages include a meal or snack at Estancia Alice following the activity.
Most tours include round-trip transfers from your hotel in El Calafate to the ranch.
Yes, you can typically get a full refund if you cancel at least 24 hours in advance.
