Chile Forum

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Don't waste your time with the CNN article on the "innovative" and "ecological" sheep ranch at Monte Dinero in southern Argentine Patagonia, just across the frontier from Chile. CNN got the wool pulled over them on this one.

It's a bit of a scam. Monte Dinero is a guest ranch. But the article makes out the operation to be some splendid innovation in sheep ranching. Garbage. The British were using the so-called modern methods that the ranch owner here is cleverly trying to say are new and exciting.

If anybody is interested in guest ranch stays in Patagonia, it's a well developed industry, hardly invented by these folks. For US$150 to 300 a night you can be deprived of the fundamental comforts of modern life in the middle of some gawdforsaken wilderness so you can pretend to be a pioneer or colonist or something. We've been using some of these estancias on guided tours for many years, including Estancia La Angostura in Sta Cruz province, where two of the managers died of carbon monoxide poisoning a few years ago due to bad chimney installation.

you can be deprived of the fundamental comforts of modern life in the middle of some gawdforsaken wilderness so you can pretend to be a pioneer or colonist or something

Sounds like the type of holiday most spoilt city kids (mine included) needs at some point in their lives Nothing like frostbitten fingers to help them forget about Nintendo.

Tombi wrote:

you can be deprived of the fundamental comforts of modern life in the middle of some gawdforsaken wilderness so you can pretend to be a pioneer or colonist or something

Sounds like the type of holiday most spoilt city kids (mine included) needs at some point in their lives Nothing like frostbitten fingers to help them forget about Nintendo.

Just go easy on the carbon monoxide. It makes the kids' skin feel a little clammy.

yea, I never understood the dude ranch concept. So, you are talking a bunch of suckers in to paying you to do manual labor on your farm?

Considering I have never met a farmer anywhere in the World that would not let you just walk up for free and help him with his work, it is a rather absurd concept; but, I guess it is a new experience for some. The only hesitation you might get would be that they may think you are little crazy.

As for me, I have done more than one tour of duty bucking bails of hay for ungrateful horses and cows as a teenager. Although I do have to admit, it does make more sense than buying a membership in a gym for those that live in cities.

Yeah, forget about a dude ranch ... six weeks at a Kibbutz will fix you right up!

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Either I am missing the sarcasm (it has happened...) or there is a bit of a misunderstanding about what the southern Patagonian estancias offer for guest lodging.

I have never heard of any sort of work done by guests. There may well be visits to the working parts of the estancia but the idea of guests performing any real labour would be most unusual. Some of the estancias offer guests lodging at what are effectively puestos and they have to ride horseback to get to those locations. Many estancias offer guide services for fishing. Sometimes the food is actually rather decent but commonly it's ranch fare, often a lamb killed the same day as the guest's arrival.

Estancia La Angostura in Sta Cruz


Estancia Guer Aike, Sta Cruz, during a November 2008 trip to Río Gallegos.


Estancia Glen Cross, Sta Cruz, during a Ruta 40 trip in 2004. Glen Cross has quite nice accommodation for guests and the rather extensive grounds includes a rural school. This is just part of the caballeriza.


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Estancia María Behety in Tierra del Fuego is one of my favourites. It is both a working ranch and a fishing lodge, and offers some of the nicest examples of traditional southern estancia architecture.





A picture I took at Ea María Behety in 2001.

john wrote:Yeah, forget about a dude ranch ... six weeks at a Kibbutz will fix you right up!

I did that when I was 19 back in '96, loved it. I was in charge of the petting zoo and pony rides on the beach!

Tombi wrote:I did that when I was 19 back in '96, loved it. I was in charge of the petting zoo and pony rides on the beach!

I did my six week stint when I was 21 back in '63, loved it too. I was involved in bringing in the harvest ... nothing quite so exotic as you.