Patagonian Ranch: Nibepo Aike Adventure with Horseback Riding

El Calafate, Argentina

1 day (approx.)
Pickup offered
Mobile ticket
Offered in: English

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Overview

Go beyond the tourist trail and spend time in Estancia Nibepo Aike in Los Glaciares National Park and experience Patagonian rural life on this tour from El Calafate. Choose a full-day horseback riding option, marvel at rugged scenery, watch a sheep shearing demonstration, hike, and enjoy a local grilled-lamb lunch. Hotel pickup and drop-off at select El Calafate hotels are included for convenience.

Get a glimpse into rural life in Patagonia on this off-the-beaten-path tour
Go where cars can't as you go horseback riding with a guide
Enjoy a day away from the hustle and bustle of the city
Round-trip hotel transport is included for a seamless day of sightseeing

Sample Menu

Main

Traditional patagonian lamb, with salad and dessert

What's Included

Welcome reception with hot drink and pastries
Lunch or Dinner
Local guide
Hotel pickup and drop-off (selected hotels only)
Air-conditioned vehicle
Horse Riding Tour (1 hour for the half day option, 3 hours for the full day option)

Gratuities

Meeting and Pickup

Pickup points

Select a pickup point

Pickup details

The pick up transfer is only from selected centrally located hotels. If your hotel is outside the geographic area, we will confirm you the closest meeting point. Indicate the name and address of your hotel.

Operating hours
.8:30 am

What To Expect

Estancia Nibepo Aike

Additional Info

Confirmation will be received at time of booking
Not wheelchair accessible
Minimum age for horseback riding is 10 years

Most travelers can participate
Please note: The duration of the Horseback Ride is 3 hours in Full-Day option; while in Half-Day option is 1 hour.
This tour/activity will have a maximum of 20 travelers

Supplied by

Cancellation Policy

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.

Traveler Photos

Gallery picture 1 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 2 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 3 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 4 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 5 (from a traveler's review)

Featured review

Irina_V

Loved everything that was part of our trip - breathtaking views, farm life all around us, horse ride, sheep shearing shown to us, and a wonderful dinner offered! we told our friends and highly recommended them this activity in El Calafate. We might even return ourselves, on the next trip.

Reviews

4.2

based on 26 reviews

Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor

We perform checks on reviews

Increíble experience

Robert_L, Apr 2025

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 2024

Nice property. Horse riding fun. Journey to and from El Calafate far too long. Lunch ok. Authentic ranch.

Response from Host, Sep 2024

Dear Fiona_M, Thank you for sharing your experience with us and for your kind words about the property and the horseback riding experience at Nibepo Aike. We are glad to hear that you enjoyed the authentic atmosphere of the estancia and the activities offered. We are sorry to hear that the trip from El Calafate seemed long. We understand that the drives can be strenuous, especially in a destination as vast as Patagonia, where the distances between points of interest are considerable. However, we believe that the unique experience of Nibepo Aike, immersed in the Patagonian landscape, compensates for the travel time. Regarding lunch, we appreciate your comment and we will take it into account to continue improving our services. We hope that, despite the long journey, you were able to enjoy the overall experience and that you will have the opportunity to visit us again in the future. Best regards, Tangol Tours

A fantastic ranch day

Anureet_S, Feb 2024

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 2023

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 2023

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…

Disappointing Day

Rachael_P, Jan 2023

A bit of a disappointing day, considering what is available in the area. Very uncomfortable 90 minute drive to and from the ranch, and more of a day suited for small children than adult couples. The staff work very hard and welcoming - and the meal was well prepared.

Amazing day!!

Catherine_L, Dec 2022

This tour was just SOOO great!! We were only 6 and had the whole place to ourselves. The ranch is such a gem! Everybody was just so kind! I was happy to have a vegetarian meal for lunch as well and it was super good, with the wine and the view. We had a really good weather that day and I did the 3 hour horseback riding in the valley which was just breathtaking.

Estancia experience

Bonny_M, Mar 2020

We reserved the whole day at N.A.R. The pickup from our hotel went fine. We arrived to the ranch to the welcome coffee and pastries/breads that was very good. We then took a short hike with some narrative about the fauna, before a cow milking and sheep shearing demo. Lunch was served sitting inside. It was absolutely delicious. Some salad and about 3 or 4 types of bbq's lamb and sausages. Afterwards we had about an hour or so siesta (which I think most of us would have preferred to continue with the day and return sooner). About 3pm we started our 3 hour horseback ride. The scenery was absolutely amazingly beautiful. Along side the water and views of Perito Moreno on the other side of the mountain. The really only negative in my opinion was that there was absolutely no direction about the horses. You got on the horse and given the reigns...and that's it. Also our guide spoke only Spanish. We had Germans, French, and Americans on the tour. So again no narrative whatsoever on where we were going and what we were seeing. I had read earlier reviews that the guests were allowed to gallop. Our horses were slower than molasses...so basically it was a beautiful trail ride. Afterwards they put us in a taxi for the 1 hour drive back to El Calafate.

Response from Host, Sep 2020

Dear Bonny Thank you so much for sharing with us your experience on your tour. On this excursion, we can see an important extract of the beauties of the south of Argentina. El Calafate is a "must" when you come to our country! We are pleased to know that you enjoyed the landscape and the local food. Your words make us very happy, and we really appreciate your time to write this review!