Estancia Río Verde Wool Heritage Walk
Visit a working Patagonian sheep estancia north of Punta Arenas to experience the wool culture that built the city and shaped an entire region.
- 1
Punta Arenas to Estancia Drive
The 90-minute drive north crosses sweeping steppe, past herds of guanacos and rheas, to the estancias that once dominated the Magallanes region.
- 2
Estancia Farmhouse
The traditional estancia farmhouse, often built in early 20th-century style, serves as the operations hub for thousands of hectares of pastureland.
- 3
Sheep Shearing Shed
The shearing shed is where thousands of Merino sheep are shorn each spring — some estancias still host demonstrations of this traditional skill.
- 4
Open Steppe Pastures
Walk through the open pastures where Merino sheep graze on native grasses, the Andes visible to the west and the strait glinting to the east.
- 5
Gaucho Demonstration
Patagonian gauchos demonstrate traditional horsemanship and sheep-herding with working border collies — a living link to the region's pastoral past.
- 6
Asado Lunch Courtyard
A traditional Patagonian asado — whole lamb roasted on a cross over an open fire — is served in the estancia courtyard as the day's finale.