General informations

Trip length: 12 days, 11 nights

Riding days: 8

Riding  hours: between 4 and 6 a day

Meeting point: Santiago

Number of  riders: between 4 and 10.

Level: Experienced rider. It is important to be fit and healthy

Minimun age: 15 years with adult.

Climate: high moutain, in the night you can have negatives temperatures. It is very important to have a good personal equipment.

Dates: from december to april.

Itinerary

The trip begins with a taste of Chile’s history and culture, taking in the beautiful coastal cities of Valparaiso and San Antonio.  This will give you the perfect opportunity to recover from your flight and to immerse yourself in Chilean culture and hospitality in anticipation of your adventure…

After this relaxing start, our horseback adventure begins in the stunning Maipo Valley.   Each day we explore the magnificent Andes landscape for up to 8 hours, making our way through the pristine foothills, visiting breathtaking glaciers, and finally arriving at the foot of the soaring Tupungato volcano (6570m of altitude), right at the Chile-Argentina border.

The horses that will accompany us are born and bred locally, so they are finely tuned to even the most challenging terrain.  These beautiful animals have a very secure step and know innately how to overcome any obstacles that we may encounter. You will learn to give them your full confidence even in the most difficult river crossings and mountain passes.

Day 1 : In the morning we head to the World Heritage listed harbor city of Valparaiso, located 120 km from the capital.
During this full day you will have time to explore on foot the various charms of this city. Throughout the day we will use the traditional elevators to help us through the hilly terrain and have lunch in a characteristic local restaurant. We will spend the night in a Bed & Breakfast in Valparaiso.

Day 2 : We leave the harbor and head towards the village of Isla Negra in the South. There we will visit the museum house of Pablo Neruda, whose poetry, both playful and deep, earned him both a Nobel Prize and the enduring love of the Chilean nation. The afternoon is free to spend as you wish, perhaps visiting the windswept beaches of the Pacific Ocean or simply relaxing in a café and chatting with the locals. We will spend the night in a little hotel in Cartagena.

Day 3 : We return to the capital, stopping in San Antonio to enjoy the sights, sounds (and smells!) of its traditional fish market. On the way to Santiago we also stop for a wholesome lunch at the tiny village of Pomaire and for a taste of famous Chilean wine at a vineyard. We will spend the night in a Bed & Breakfast in Santiago.

Day 4 : We leave Santiago and head to the Maipo Valley (Cajón del Maipo), in the direction of a place called the Alfalfal.  There our guides and horses will be waiting for us and you will meet your equine travel companion for the first time. This is an exciting moment, as the pack-mules will be loaded with food and wood for the whole expedition. After lunch, a 3 to 4 hour ride will take us to our first camp, named Baños Azules (2700m). Night in tent.

Day 5 : After a hearty breakfast we journey towards the El Museo Valley where we will settle for our second camp. The encampment will be next to the picturesque El Museo River. Night in tent.

Day 6 : A superb discovery ride through the El Museo Valley will lead us to a glacier. Condors are often spotted in this area and, if we are lucky, we might catch sight of these enormous creatures, soaring gracefully or feasting on carrion. We will spend the night in the same encampment as the night before.

Day 7 : We continue our ascent on what will be one of our longest days on horseback, 6 to 7 hours riding, in order to reach the camp at Agua Buena.

Day 8 : Half a day’s ride to reach our camp at Flojo (3300m). Here the horses can regain some strength for the final push to our destination. Night in tent.

Day 9 : This morning we will get up early to reach the foot of the Tupungato Volcano (4200m) and the Argentine border. Here you can bask in the amazing view of the Cordillera stretching as far as the eye can see. After lunch we head back to the encampment.

Day 10 : This day we start making our way home again and will reach the camp at Baños Azules to spend the night.

Day 11 : End of the horseback riding trip! We arrive again at Chacayal, our departure point, tired but happy, around midday. In the afternoon we will return to Santiago where we will spend the night in a Bed & Breakfast.

Day 12 : This last day we will visit the city center of Santiago in the morning, have lunch at the central market and follow with a visit to a handicraft market to buy the last souvenirs. End of the program.

Note: Itinerary may vary due to weather or other unforseenable circumstances.

Rates

Price: 1450 euros por person.

The price includes :

• Airport transfer to and from Santiago Airport
  Vehicle transport throughout the tour when we are not on horseback
  Full pension & accommodation for the 8 days of horseback riding
  Half pension & accommodation on days 1, 2, 3 & 12 (i.e. breakfast & lunch excluded drinks at the restaurant, stay-over at the Bed&Breakfast)
  Camping equipment (tents accommodate 2 or 3 persons but without sleeping bag). 
  Horses and Pack animals, including saddle bags.
  Especialized guide and “arrieros” (local guides)

The price do not include:

• Dinners on days 1, 2, 3 and 12
  Drinks at  restaurants
  Expenses out of the program (e.g. excursions, gifts, souvenirs)
  Tips
  Travel insurance