Patagonian Ranch: Nibepo Aike Adventure with Horseback Riding

Overview

Available languages

English

Spanish

24 hours

Mobile ticket

If you arrive at El Calafate in the morning or if you depart at night, the half-day program is perfect to experience the Patagonian rural life and complements the tour to the glaciers. It can be visited either in the morning or the afternoon and participate in different activities according to the time of each one. Among the activities, visitors can attend tests for horse reins and sheep shearing demonstration, and hikes. The trip includes an exquisite lamb grilled on a traditional Patagonian cross stake.

If you are available for the entire day, you can opt for the Full Day Option where, after lunch, you will have the opportunity to take a 3-hour horseback riding with a profesional guide.

Additional Info

Suitable for all physical fitness levels

Minimum age for horseback riding is 10 years

Please note: The duration of the Horseback Ride is 3 hours in Full-Day option; while in Half-Day option is 1 hour.

Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

What‘s Included

Local guide

Air-conditioned vehicle

Lunch or Dinner

Horse Riding Tour (1 hour for the half day option, 3 hours for the full day option)

Welcome reception with hot drink and pastries

Hotel pickup and drop-off (selected hotels only)

Gratuities

What To Expect

Escape the tourist crowds and delve into the authentic Patagonian experience at Estancia Nibepo Aike, a historic ranch preserving the essence of old Patagonian estancias. Dedicated to bovine production with a Hereford cabin and many vestiges of the time of the sheep production boom. Your adventure begins with a convenient hotel pickup before embarking on Ruta 15, the legendary Ranch Route, offering glimpses of condors, foxes, hares, and the majestic Frías hill backdrop. Upon entering Los Glaciares National Park, you'll be greeted at the ranch with a warm beverage (tea, coffee or mate) and pastries, setting the tone for an unforgettable day. Take some time to soak in the breathtaking views of the Andes mountain range and delve into the ranch's rich history with a leisurely stroll around the property. Choose between a guided horseback riding tour (1 hour for half-day option, 3 hours for full-day option) to explore hidden corners of Patagonia. Later, gather at the gazebo for a mouthwatering Patagonian lamb asado, perfectly complemented by the awe-inspiring backdrop of the Andes mountains. Immerse yourself in the charm and beauty of Patagonia's countryside with Nibepo Aike Ranch.

Sample Menu

main

Traditional patagonian lamb, with salad and dessert

Options

Nibepo Aike Half-Day AM Tour

Morning departure: Includes a delicious roast lamb for lunch. Horseback Ride: 1 hour
Pickup included

Nibepo Aike Full Day Tour

Includes: breakfast, sheep shearing demonstration and culminates with a roast of lamb for lunch. Horseback Ride: 3 hours
Pickup included

Reviews

4.08

24 reviews

Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor

Increíble experience
Robert L,
Apr 30, 2025
- Viator
5.00
This was great day. A comfortable bus ride took us past nice landscapes, and we even saw rheas in the fields on the way. The ranch itself is incredibly beautiful. The food was fantastic, and the horse back ride along the lake was unforgettable.
Nobel Aike
Fiona M,
Mar 16, 2024
- Viator
3.00
Nice property. Horse riding fun. Journey to and from El Calafate far too long. Lunch ok. Authentic ranch.
A fantastic ranch day
Anureet S,
Feb 21, 2024
- Viator
5.00
This was a beautiful experience. The views were spectacular and the hosts were kind and informative. We loved horse back riding. We are not experienced at all, but the horses were gentle and well-trained. Highly recommend!
Great scenery and setting, poor communication
Jingying P,
Mar 2, 2023
- Viator
4.00
We booked the 3 hour horseback riding version of this excursion. We were picked up in the morning at our hotel Los Ponchos in El Calafate. The third party tour coordinator, Tangol, provided multiple communications via WhatsApp and contacted our hotel to let us know Nibepo Aike transport would pick us up at 8:30 AM in the morning. However, the transport was about 15 minutes late with no communication, which worried us until I contacted Nibepo Aike directly via WhatsApp and asked for an update. From El Calafate it was about a 1.5 hour mini bus ride to Nibepo Aike. The farm tour and sheep shearing activities were a bit gimmicky, and lasted too long since they were trying to time lunch with multiple different group activities (people who went horseback riding in the morning, people who were just there for the tour, and people who were coming in just for lunch). Lunch was filling but average, you’re assigned seats at communal tables. We weren’t given instruction about where to go and when to leave for our afternoon horseback rides, so we had to ask around. The horseback ride itself was wonderful and was closer to 2.5 hours, with the horses walking at a very leisurely pace and the guide picking trails at random. There is very limited direction and conversation during the ride, so if you enjoy watching scenery on horseback in peace and relative silence, you’ll enjoy this. If you’re looking for more interaction with the guide or a more exciting ride, you’ll definitely be bored. We found the experience very serene, particularly because we had excellent weather and the scenery truly is stunning. When we got back from the horseback ride, we also received no communication about how we’d be transported back to El Calafate. After asking around, we were told to wait until 6 pm for a car. We were the last remaining tourists so when 6 pm came and went, no car showed up, and staff started heading home, we got pretty nervous (especially since there is no reception at the estancia). Luckily the car finally showed up and we made it back safely, but the overall experience was a bit soured by lack of communication and predictability. Overall we thought the peaceful horseback ride and scenery made up for these snafus, but I could definitely see this being a frustrating experience for those who only came for lunch / the tour. The experience could be significantly improved with more proactive communication from the staff.
Good but not perfect
Elsen B,
Feb 22, 2023
- Viator
4.00
The farm was really so far from el calafate and the road was very bad but the people who welcomed us were nice. Horseback riding was really tough. We did another one nearby Areco, and it was easier for the beginners. This one was with hills fulled with rocks/ climbing and all ..but still quite nice.The half day @ranch & lunch do not worth €300. You have to be even pay the bottle of water at lunch. You have just the one glass of wine…