Join Destination Expert Hayley on an adventure in Estancia Cerro Guido, a hidden gem in Chilean Patagonia! Nestled near Torres del Paine National Park, this working sheep farm and exclusive guest lodge offers a perfect blend of adventure, local traditions, conservation, and wildlife encounters.

Hello fellow travelers! It’s your Destination Expert Hayley here to share my family and I’s recent trip to visit Estancia Cerro Guido, located in Chilean Patagonia, near Torres del Paine National Park. It is renowned for its breathtaking views, traditional Patagonian culture, and unique blend of history and modern luxury. The estancia operates as both a working sheep farm and an exclusive guest lodge, offering visitors a chance to immerse themselves in the rugged beauty of the Patagonian landscape.

A Warm Welcome to Estancia Cerro Guido

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We were picked up in Puerto Natales and drove approx. 1 hour and 45 minutes out to the estancia where the incredibly friendly staff and lunch was waiting ready for us. After some grub, we started our first excursion, learning about the history of the estancia, the current conservation project, offering real practical solutions to help protect the native wildlife (primarily puma), the farming traditions, and income of folks here.

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In the evening, they have a traditional gaucho style fire, and all the staff comes out around the fire to greet the guests who arrived that day. There are appetizers, drinks, and always a round of “hierba mate” going around, a traditional tea drank from a gourd through a metal straw.

Charming interior of Estancia Cerro Guido. (Photo: Hayley Ward)

Conquering the Towers: A Breathtaking Hike in Torres del Paine

Today we woke up early to begin our excursion into the Torres del Paine National Park, about a 1-hour drive, to hike up to the base of the towers, one of the most famous hikes! In addition to cultural and social experiences, Estancia Cerro Guido offers the best excursions to the national park. Getting the first sunny day in a few weeks, we were sharing the trail with many other hikers taking advantage of good Patagonia weather! Hiking up the Ascencio River Valley, we soaked in the views, taking time to rest and go at our own pace with our personal private guide, Jorge.

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A family adventure to Torres del Paine National Park! (Photo: Hayley Ward)

Reaching the towers after a few hours climb, we enjoyed our box lunch, thoughtfully prepared by the kitchen staff and sent in metal lunch boxes to reduce trash. After an hour or so at the lake, we loaded up our day packs and made our way back down the trail and back to the estancia. We enjoyed views of where we had just hiked from our dining table and refueled with fresh focaccia, served before every dinner, and an amazing Chilean stew called “Cazuela.”

Protecting Patagonia: Conservation Efforts and a Rare Puma Sighting

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Rhea spotted! (Photo: Hayley Ward)

On our second full day here at Estancia Cerro Guido we opted to learn more about the Cerro Guido Conservation Foundation to explore some of the projects in the field with our private guide, Daniela. We loaded up into the 4x4 vehicle and headed out to the alkaline shores of Lake Sarmiento. In addition to being a working sheep farm and exclusive guest lodge, Estancia Cerro Guido also has been working hard to promote 7,000 hectares of protected land, helping to conserve the habitat of native species such as puma, guanaco, condor, fox, rhea and others.

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One of the working dogs at the Estancia. (Photo: Hayley Ward)

We learned about the herding dog protection project they are working on to help keep the pumas away from the sheep and prevent hunting of the puma. This is one of the main practical tools they have gotten positive research feedback that it is working and are sharing with other estancias in the area.

We were not expecting to see any pumas but while hiking up a ridge, our guide spotting one thought the binoculars taking a nap and we were able to see it! It popped its head up to look at us and we stayed watching for about 30 minutes and then let it be. We learned about how many places in the region use trackers to find pumas for tourism, not for research and how harmful this impact can be. This is part of the conservation project to help educate other estancias and lodges as to be able to offer wildlife viewing for guests with minimal impact.

Farewell to Estancia Cerro Guido: Horseback Rides and Gaucho Traditions

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Family horseback riding adventures! (Photo: Hayley Ward)

On our last morning here at Estancia Cerro Guido, we had a slow wake up and enjoyed a wonderful buffet breakfast and then headed out to the stables for a short horseback riding adventure and some local gaucho culture. The estancia boasts a beautiful stable with 2 gauchos (traditional Patagonian cowboys) who work hard to take care of the horses and livestock here on the farm.

We soaked in the stunning views of the Torres del Paine massif, boasting 12.5 million years of age, and got to enjoy some time with Victor, one of the main gauchos at the estancia. He was kind enough to take Anuk, my son, on a little horse ride, which was the highlight of his trip! Of course, the hierba mate was abundant! We said our goodbyes to this magical place and set off to continue our Patagonia adventure. Thanks for following along! See you next time!