Norte Chico Adventure

Introduction
Northern Chile Chile

Riding the paths of the Inca and gold diggers, through the Andes far from civilization. This horseback adventure offers three trips in seven days. You will explore the wild Sierra, the huge Andes and experience a romantic and pure nature. Hacienda Los Andes, which is under German and Austrian management, guarantees you a hundred percent Nature & Adventure in the sun.

Chile Chico is situated only 500 kilometres north of Santiago. Planes from Santiago land in La Serena (health and seaside resort at the Pacific) three times every day. Visitors from distant countries hardly know this region. Nevertheless, well known is the term "Pisco" which is a colourless and natural brandy extracted from the grapes of the local sunny vineyards. When autumn and winter starts on the northern hemisphere, holiday season, which is from October to April, begins here in this mild and dry climate. The blue Pacific with its hidden fishing villages and little villages in the wild Andes is part of this region as well as lonely valleys, endless mountain trails, and the peace and quiet of the Andes over which condors fly. A well-known holiday resort is Pisco de Elqui in the valley of the same name. The Rio Hurtado valley is situated nearby, only 15 kilometres as the crow flies, to the west; and that is where the Hacienda is. One of northern Chile's Indian ceremony places in the best condition is situated in this green valley only 120 minutes ride from the Hacienda Los Andes.

More than forty rock paintings are the last traces of the ancient Indian culture of the Diaguitas. They owned gold mines which attracted the Inca to the Hurtado valley some time later. They introduced the irrigation system which is a labyrinth of channels and which was used by the Spaniards too from the 16th century on, and still the farmers today profit from it. The Spaniards followed the old trade trail of the Inca, known as Inca trail, upstream the Rio Hurtado and further over the Andes.

They gave this pass its name "Linia Santa Rosa" and still today thousands of animals with their herdsmen follow this trail from Chile to the summer pastures in Argentina, like some hundreds years ago. The Hurtado district has only about 250 kilometres of roads which can be travelled by car, and thousands of kilometres of cattle trails which are travelled by the people (and by our guests) on horseback. Naturally, small changes to traditional life have brought small hospitals, schools, parish halls, restored villages and democratic developments to the area.

Visitors to this region will find a mixture of the old Chilean culture and the achievements of the new century. The hospitable people who can be met here are small farmers, herdsmen, workmen and cattle breeders. They live in small villages surrounded by huge and colourful mountain massifs, semi-desert landscapes, steppes, and a wide Sierra.

The sky is bright blue more than 300 days a year. The crystal-clear, clean air attracts astronomers from all over the world.

Accomodation

Haciendas are a type of organisation for country farms of several hundred acres and were introduced by the Spaniards in South America in the 16th century. A lot of workers were needed to tend the livestock, till the ground and bring in the harvest. In the past, the Hacienda was centre of life for the people. Also for us the hacienda is the centre of life surrounded by a marvellous nature. The 1000 acre ranch property reaches from the river to the top of the Cerro Gigante mountain.

What’s included in my trip?
Transfer, in and out of the hacienda from / to La Serena-Airport, Ovalle and Vicuña.
3 overnight stays in comfort tents (Hillerberg)
4 overnight stays at the Hacienda.
All meals
Equipment for riding explorations: comfortable Gaucho-saddle with sheep-fur padding, sleeping bag and clean inlet, thermal mat, tent, personal pannier (cup etc.), ice-box, thermo bottle, by request safety helmet, sombrero head and riding gaiters, first aid kit, saddle bags and finally one of our well trained and calm Chilean mountain horses
Any facilities of the Hacienda such as nature trail and river access (sauna and jacuzzi not included in price). 
Explorations accompanied by English, German and Spanish speaking guides

This trip includes and can accommodate special dietary requests.

Riding

The saddles provided are Chilean type, which are called Avios. Its origin is Spanish and they have been designed specially for long trips. Its wooden mount, reinforced with iron, is cushioned with “chiporro” and protected with leather. The other clothing beneath the saddle is called: batán, pellón and matra, and are normally laid on ground by gauchos to provide a soft and warm bed.

Itinerary

Day 1: Transfer (2:30 PM) from the colonial city La Serena to the Hacienda. Time for Jacuzzi, sauna, a walk across the 1,000 acres nature reserve. Dinner. Overnight stay in a room with private bath.

Day 2: American breakfast and meeting of the team to go over the tour itinerary. You will get to know your horse and the Chilean riding style (similar to Western). The first ride through the valley Rio Hurtado reaches an idyllic mountain village. Picnic in the garden of the Plaza. Returning to the Hacienda through the Andean landscape. Dinner in front of the fireplace. Overnight stay at the Hacienda.

Day 3: Breakfast. Packing saddle bags. Riding along the gold diggers path through the calmness of the Sierra passing through lonely valleys. It leads us through canyons finally reaching the Andean plateau Oro Blanco - white gold. In the afternoon, we leave the wilderness behind and stay overnight at a hermitage. We camp and have dinner under fig trees. Overnight stay in comfortable Hilleberg tents with inflatable sleeping-mat and warm sleeping bag.

Day 4: Andean breakfast: home-made bread, goats cheese, sausage and fresh eggs. Starting from the oasis, which is at a elevation of  6,000 feet, we ride along the historic mule path of the gold diggers up into the Andes. We are surrounded by a gigantic panorama, tremendous overlook and untouched nature. Lunch break at a spring. The afternoon takes us through a canyon to the Rio Hurtado. In the evening we reach the goatherd village Las Breas where we camp beside the river and enjoy dinner over a camp fire.

Day 5: Breakfast with a local family. After meeting the local people we continue our tour. The track winds through the wide Andean valley passing small, idyllic villages. Picnic in a small village inn. Returning to the Hacienda along shepherds paths. Time for Jacuzzi, a swim in the river or sunbathing under the palm tree. Dinner and overnight stay at the Hacienda.

Day 6 : Big breakfast. Today, we are after another adventure with our horses: the Inca-trail. We cross two passes and visit the cave drawings of the Molle Indians who lived with the Inca. You will have a totally different landscape than before: Wide Andean plateaus, small valleys, natural meadows and animals. Picnic lunch. Passing the colorful Sierra and in the evening we are guests at a 120 years old, simple pioneer farm. Overnight stay in tents beside the mountain stream. Camp fire, meeting people, and stories.

Day 7: We experience the romantic and lonely Andes in the saddle. Along the Inca-trail we cross a pass and come through lonely valleys to the ceremony place Laguna. Glaciers and peaks are the features of this panorama. Picnic. We follow an ancient trading track which still leads to Argentina. Riding across a romantic Western style landscape for hours. Back at the Hacienda it is time for relaxing: sunbathing, swimming in the river, relaxing in the hammock. Dinner and overnight stay at the Hacienda.

Day 8: After breakfast transfer to the airport in La Serena. Certainly, you may stay some more days at the Hacienda and join other activities.

Rates and Dates for Norte Chico Adventure

Dates Note: Additional departure dates are available.

Other Info
Meeting: Ovalle or Vicuna/Rio Hutado
Airport: La Serena
Transfer: La Serena or Orvalle

Climate:

There are 310 sunny days a year. The Hacienda  is situated in the typical dry Andean climate of South America at heights of 1000 metres. As a rule, temperatures at night are around 50°F (10°C) colder than temperatures by day.

• fleece clothes to keep you warm during the cool nights in the Andes
• light and comfortable trekking shoes for hiking and riding (do not worry, there are no poisonous snakes in Chile!)
• a good pair of sunglasses, headgear and sun cream