Crossing the Andes on horseback

Chile - Argentina

(14 days, 13 nights )
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

Crossing the Andean Cordillera from Chile to Argentina is said to be one of the most spectacular horse-riding experiences in the world. Available in January or February, It brings back the same odyssey that the Spanish conquistadors carried out almost 500 years ago.
As we ride along, the scenery is always spectacular, changing from mountainside to rugged cliffs, flowered slopes and high valleys. The guides for these trips are "Arrieros", who are true cowboys, men who have worked with cattle and horses in the mountains all their lives and know the ways and paths of the vast cordillera intimately. As there are no marked trails here, many have learned the routes from their fathers and grandfathers before them. By the end of the day, they find us shelter when the storm comes and set up camp in idyllic places on calm bright nights. They light a fire, prepare the food and drinks and even sooth our ruffled spirits with some gentle Chilean guitar music.

Day 1. Santiago - San Alfonso
Arrival in Santiago, reception and transfer to San Alfonso, a village around 11/2 hours drive south east of Santiago in the mountains, on the River Maipo. Here, you will stay overnight at the Cascada de las Animas, from where the ride will depart.

Day 2. San Alfonso -Argentina
Breakfast in the restaurant at Cascada de las Animas,
San Alfonso. After breakfast, transfer in vans (approximately 2 hours journey) to "la Panimavida" from where the ride starts in the direction of the Piuquenes pass on the border of Chile and Argentina. At a height of 4024 m above sea level we see the frontier post, often standing in a bed of snow. This is an important border crossing in the cordillera, from which there opens out in front of us one of the most beautiful and colourful valleys of our ride. Campsite El Chocolate.

Day 3. Refugio de la Cruz
Today a gentle descent through the valley of the river Palomar, before crossing the river Tunullan. Often, as we come down from the frontier pass, we see thick snow blown into a form of drifts known as "penitentes" - named by the Conquistadores because the small peaks whipped up by the wind looked like the starched white head-dresses of the Penitentes in Spain. Campsite: Refugio de la Cruz.

Day 4. El Tacho
We traverse along the valley of the Tunullan River which we cross again. In rainy years the high Andes are covered by deep snow, which makes the riding slow and cautious. The guides go ahead testing the terrain and their experienced horses sniff the snow to assess its depth. Also the rivers become very high and if they are impassable we will take other routes, away from the traditional trail. Campsite: El Tacho.

Day 5. Corrales Negros
We ascend up through the Cien Vue
ltas (100 turns) to the Corrales Negros. Campsite: Vega Corrales Negros.

Day 6. Salinillas
Today we ride through the valley of the Marmolejo River until we arrive at the valley of the Salinillas, and cross the same river. Campsite at "El rial de los Chilenos'" with spectacular caverns and waterfalls.

Day 7. Torrecillas
Departure in the direction of the Torrecillas, gigantic wind-carved castles of pink and rose-coloured stone rising around a beautiful clear river. On the way we shall see white gleaming rock masses high above us which have been shaped and chiseled into the appearance of ancient man-made dwellings. The Torrecillas may remind you somewhat of Petra, but with wind carvings instead of man made, and which form a strange wild city around the small river, which passes through. Campsite: La Vega de Torrecillas.

Day 8. La Vega de Torrecillas
In the morning we go for a ride and in the afternoon we can relax in this beautiful site, perhaps swim, read or in some cases sing and dance by the camp fire. Campsite: La Vega de Torrecillas.

Day 9. Las Overas
From the Torrecillas we ride across the wide canyon of the Colorado River. The canyon has gleaming pink rock, shining with the minerals in the rock. We ride towards Las Overas, where it is usual to see large groups of guanacos, the handsome wild camelids of South America. Campsite: Las Overas.

Day 10. Laguna del Diamante
We cross the valley of the Papal River before finally arriving at the Laguna del Diamante. This is one of the highest points of the ride and our path takes us past thick clumps of llareta, which only grows above 3000 metres. Campsite: Las Enumeradas.

Day 11. Las Enumeradas
Ride to the Laguna del Diamante. This spectacular lake can often be seen from the air as you fly into or out of Chile. It is possible to bathe in the lake although the water is very cold. Campsite: Las Enumeradas.

Day 12. Laguna de Alvarado
We ride through the valley of Maipo Volcano before crossing back into Chilean territory through the Alvarado pass to the south. Here the landscape becomes steeper and softer and filled with flowers. (3400m). Campsite: Laguna de Alvarado.

Day 13. San Alfonso
Along the Alvarado canyon, with its incredible rock formations, we cross the Maipo River through the valley of the Maipo towards the Cruz de Piedra (stone cross), and the Chilean frontier control, where our vehicles will be waiting to take us back to Cascada de las Animas for a farewell dinner and last night's accommodation.

Day 14. Santiago
Transfer to Santiago airport for your return flight home.