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When imagining modern ranching in Patagonia, North Americans should dial the clock back 100 years to the frontier of the American West. Indeed, even the landscape of Estancia del Cielo harkens to parts of Colorado, Montana, and New Mexico. Horseback gauchos (Argentina’s famed cowboy) are a common site, traveling down the trails of their ancestors, working on the same land where they were born.
The term “estancia” is used to describe the oversized landholdings of the enormous livestock ranches found throughout Argentina. Patagonia’s estancias can range in size from 10,000 to one million acres. These ranches were amassed by pioneers as recently as during the 20th century. The necessity of their sheer size is dictated by the low animal-per-acre ratio that the land can sustain. In order to increase herd sizes, ranchers were forced to expand their landholdings. Entire leagues of land, the size of a quarter on a map, can belong to as few as two or three ranching families. To give an idea, between Estancia del Cielo and her three estancia neighbors to the south, the total land acreage quickly surpasses 500,000 thousand acres.
The 110,000-acre landholdings of Estancia del Cielo have a history that spans half a millennium. The indigenous Mapuche Indians originally inhabited the land, a civilization that represented the fringe of the Incan Empire. The conquest of Patagonia by the Argentine government in the 1800’s ceded the Andes Mountains to Western settlers. Today, the blood of the Mapuche Indians is seen in the faces of gauchos, and in the provincial villages where Mapuche traditions and customs are a part of everyday life.
The lands of Estancia del Cielo changed hands several times during the 20th century, until the current North American owner, Ashley Carrithers, purchased the ranch in 1978. Under his stewardship the Estancia has become a refuge of old customs and traditions, and a gathering place for new creativity. Conservation efforts have returned vivacity to the countryside after a century of over-grazing. In addition to renovations of the century-old buildings, new structures were built in architectural styles that range from timber-frame to adobe brick design. |
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How To Contact This Supplier
To contact this supplier, click on the name of one of the vacation packages listed below. On the vacation information page, either a phone number or an email form or both will be provided for you to use to contact the supplier.
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| Vacation Packages
offered by supplier M14216 |
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Product Type |
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Activity |
Price |
Destination |
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The Ranquilco Lodge
10% off.
- View Details
- Contact Supplier
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Property |
110,000-acre estancia located on 10 miles of Trocoman River. Flyfishing and horseback riding in Patagonia Argentina. |
Fishing lodges
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USD 300
Per day
and above |
Argentina
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