Andean Crossing from Argentina into Chile

Introduction
Northern Patagonia Argentina

Join us on a special expeditions from Argentina into Chile.
Your trip starts in Northern Patagonia from a  15,000-acre cattle ranch in the Andean foothills 45 miles from San Martin de los Andes. The landscape of wide-open meadows, rolling hills, plateaus, rivers, and lakes, is set against a backdrop of the Lanin Volcano (13,000 ft.) and the Andes mountains. From  the ranch  you will ride for 4 days up into the Andes through the Andean  Steppes.  You will ford rivers, pass through Indian reservations, and ride over ridges from where you can almost see the Atlantic and through magnificent rocky gorges. This fast paced portion of the ride will let you gallop across water meadows and race along sandy tracks. Then you cross over into Chile. At the border crossing you will change horses and continue your ride through ancients forest and to wonderful hot springs. In Chile´s Lake District nature has produced a fascinating land where blue and emerald lakes, hot springs, torrent rivers, jungle-covered mountains, and perfect cone volcanoes extend in a chain over 225 miles from Villarica to Puerto Montt.

Accomodation

The Estancia is very comfortable, it is comprised of two guesthouses.  Two of the rooms have double beds, the rest are twin beds. All rooms have private bathrooms.

On camping expeditions, guests sleep in two person tents. Good quality, down sleeping bags are provided. Camp staff arrange all preparation of tents and meals, and also look after the horses. 

One night of the camping portion does not have any vehicle support. That day all camping gear etc is transported on pack horses.  Consequently, that night camping is a bit more rustic than the other nights. 

Meals: All meals at the Estancia are served in the dining room of the main house. Lunch and dinner are large meals in Argentina. Dinner is late (never before 9 pm and sometimes not until 11pm). Argentine beef is justly renowned both for its excellence and for its quantity. The estancia is virtually self -sufficient. Ham and Bacon are cured in the smokehouse, vegetables are grown in the greenhouse, fruit comes from the orchards, eggs from the chicken run, and milk from the dairy cow. Lunch is often an "asado" - the traditional Argentine barbecue.  Vegetarians can be catered for with prior notice.

This trip includes some wine with dinner and can accommodate special dietary requests.

Riding

Moderate with trots and good canters, slow riding on the Chilean side. Some long days in the saddle

Itinerary

Day 1 : You will be met at Chapelco airport, (San Martin de los Andes) and driven to Estancia Huechahue (approx. 30 mins.). After a late lunch there will be an afternoon ride to give you a chance to familiarize yourself with the horses, the tack and the way we ride.

Day 2 : A full day’s ride on Estancia Huechahue with an "asado" lunch. Follow the Huechahue stream through its basalt canyons, riding as fast as you want across the water-meadows sending the plovers and ibis screeching, before returning over the top of Chenque Hill, where the Andes rise up behind you and the vastness of Patagonia stretches out before you.

Day 3 to Day 6  : Set out from Huechahue for Chile. The next 8 days will be spent crossing from the wide open spaces of Argentine Patagonia over the Andes to the thickly forested steep slopes of Chilean Patagonia.  From  Huechahue you will ride for 4 days up into the Andes through the Andean  Steppes. Ford rivers, pass through Indian reservations, ride over ridges with stunning sceneries, and through magnificent rocky gorges. You can gallop across water meadows and race along sandy tracks. Nights will be spent camping by streams and rivers under the spectacular stars of the Southern hemisphere.

Day 7 : At lunchtime, at the base of Lanin Volcano in a forest of Monkey puzzle trees, you will reach the Argentine / Chilean border. Our Chilean partners will be waiting for you on the other side of customs. After passing through immigration and customs, you will wave goodbye to Argentina and the horse that has carried you to here and you will start down the western slopes of the Andes on your Chilean mount.

Day 8 : Continue riding down through the magnificent Southern beech forests, with spectacular views of lakes and volcanoes. The western slopes of the Andes are much steeper, the terrain very different. We reach the final campsite at picturesque Puente Barras by late afternoon.

Day 9 : Transfer back to Huechahue by road (about 3 hours).  After a late lunch there will be a ride on the estancia. You can spend the afternoon exploring the area, or decide as a group to visit one of the nearby site you have heard about. 

Day 10 : A farewell ride on Huechahue before transferring to the airport.

Rates and Dates for Andean Crossing from Argentina into Chile

Dates Note:

Other Info
Meeting: San Martinde los Andes - Chaleco
Airport: Chapelco airport) San Martin de los Andes
Transfer: (Chapelco airport) San Martin de los Andes / Bariloche

Climate: In the summer months the weather is generally hot and dry during the day with a maximum temperature between 22 and 35 deg. C. As we are at 700m, and on treks considerably higher, it always cools down at night, generally to between 5 and 10 deg. C, on treks it can be colder. It rarely rains - however it is necessary to be prepared with adequate raingear.

The best way to dress is in layers - a T-shirt, shirt, pullover (or fleece which is light and dries quickly), and a jacket to give protection against wind and rain.

If you do not intend wearing a hard hat, it is useful to have a hat with a wide brim (also good if it happens to rain).

Dress is always casual. There is a free same day laundry service at Huechahue (although we ask that you take laundry charges elsewhere into account when you come to tip the staff).

While on the pack trip across the Andes we provide sleeping bags, thermo rests (in Chile inflatable mattresses) and tents.
There is one night when you will not be met by vehicle at the camp site. For this night all camping gear including sleeping bags, tents and food are carried on  pack horses. There will be no thermo rests this night but you will use your saddle and sheepskin as the gauchos do. Each guest is provided with a set of saddle bags for their personal possessions - change of clothes, toiletries, camera etc. Jackets and pullovers can be tied to the back of the saddle.
On all the other nights there will be a vehicle, however space in the vehicle is limited to one hand luggage size bag per person which we provide.

In this bag you will need:
A change of clothes
A light pair of shoes, eg. plimsolls - for when you want to take your boots off
A set of thermal underwear - a light way of carrying extra warmth, hopefully unnecessary
Rain gear – jacket and trousers. Please note that whilst the Argentine side is semi-desert, the Chilean side is rain-forest.
Swimwear.
Wash bag.
Towel
A small torch.

The rest of your luggage will be transferred to Panqui to await your arrival, you will meet up with this on the border and have a chance to rearrange things.
If you are returning to Huechahue you may leave luggage at Huechahue.

 Fishing Gear:  Four, five weight rods with floating line. Chest waders. A selection of flies suitable for fishing in Montana works well - woolly worm, woolly bugger, pancora, matuka, Adams, hare's ear, prince nymphs etc. On pack trips it is best to take a smuggler type rod - it is very difficult to transport long rods through dense forests without damaging them. There are some rods available for borrowing.