Chile to Argentina

Introduction
Lake District Chile
The Crossing of the Andes - the greatest adventure on horseback in the Northern Patagonian Andes.

Riding amongst the snow capped volcanoes of the Chilean Andes, discover hidden mountain lakes, and meander your way through the Huerquehue National Park.  For days you will feel like the only people on Earth! Then, crossing at a pass in Icalma, the mountains open into the vast valleys of the Argentinean pampas. The views on the descent from the peaks of the Andes are stunning. Look out through the rugged terrain at the sparkling lakes below, and ahead to the open pampas you will soon be riding through. 

From smoking volcanoes and snow capped mountains, to deep blue mountain lakes, this ride is a once in a lifetime experience.

Get the best of two worlds and two great horse cultures.  The steep mountains, and endless virgin forests on the Chilean side will give you a new appreciation for the low and sturdy Criollo Chilean horses. You will understand why the Criollo horses have become the prized horse of choice for the Chilean people.  You also have the opportunity to observe the unique style of the Argentinean gaucho life, and the open space of the Argentinean pampas where they live and work. Descend along the Argentinean cliffs where we admire the majestic condor and other wildlife unique to the area.  There is no better way to experience all of this than on a horseback trip. 

Accomodation


Accommodations
These are progressive rides where nights are spent either camping or in cabins in different locations. 
On the 9-day Trips:  We spend 6 nights in tent camps, 2 nights in cabins. 
On the 10-day Trips: We spend 3 nights camping and 6 nights in cabins.
On the 11-day Trips:  We spend 5 nights in tent camps, 5 nights in cabins. 

Description
Accommodations are in comfortable tent camps and in cabins during this trip.
There are no laundry services on this trip but facilities to hand wash your cloths are available in some locations. WIFI access is only available in Pucon.

9 day Camping Ride Accommodation Itinerary - subject to changes based on availability
Night 1: Camping at Laguna Geppinger (shower & toilet facilities)
Night 2: Camping at Termas Rio Blanco (shower & toilet facilities)
Night 3: Camping at Flor de Valle
Night 4: Camping in Araucaria forest (toilet facilities)
Night 5: Cabin in Icalma (shower & toilet facilities)
Nights 6 & 7: Camping in Argentina
Night 8: Hernan's Ranch (shower & toilet facilities)

10 day Cabin & Camping Ride Accommodation Itinerary - subject to changes based on availability
Night 1: Farmhouse in Pucon (shower & toilet facilities)
Night 2: Camping at Laguna Geppinger (shower & toilet facilities)
Night 3: Guesthouse in Termas Rio Blanco (shower & toilet facilities)
Night 4: Camping at Flor de Valle
Night 5: Lodge Nevados de Sollipulli at Sollipulli Volcano (shower & toilet facilities)
Night 6: Cabin in Icalma (shower & toilet facilities)
Nights 7: Camping in Argentina
Nights 8 & 9: Hernan's Ranch (shower & toilet facilities)

11 day Camping & Cabin Ride with Sollipulli Volcano Accommodation Itinerary - subject to changes based on availability
Night 1: Farmhouse in Pucon (shower & toilet facilities)
Night 2: Camping at Laguna Geppinger (shower & toilet facilities)
Night 3: Camping at Termas Rio Blanco (shower & toilet facilities)
Night 4: Camping at Flor de Valle
Nights 5 & 6: Lodge Nevados de Sollipulli at Sollipulli Volcano (shower & toilet facilities)
Night 7: Cabin in Icalma (shower & toilet facilities)
Nights 8 & 9: Camping in Argentina
Night 10: Hernan's Ranch (shower & toilet facilities)

Farmhouse in Pucon
The Guesthouse cabin, is situated beside a small creek and surrounded by fruit and chestnut trees. There are 2 cozy bedrooms (each accommodating two guests), a dining area, cooking facilities and a full bathroom (shared between the 2 rooms). The kitchen area has a gas stove and a refrigerator, and the cabin is heated with a wood-burning stove. A second cabin is located 20 meters away from Liucura River, providing the same facilities.

Guesthouse in Termas de Rio Blanco
Tonight, you sleep in the newly built guesthouse of this beautiful hot spring area. The guesthouse is located just a few minutes’ walk from the natural hot springs. Rooms are basic but comfortable.

Lodge Nevados de Sollipulli at Sollipulli Volcano
This rustic mountain lodge offers cozy accommodations in small huts, just at the foot of the Sollipulli Volcano. The huts come with comfortable beds, heating and a private bathroom. Guests can also relax in the hot tub and sauna.

Lakeside cabin in Icalma
For your last night in Chile, you stay in double rooms in a single standing cabin on the lakeshore about 20 minutes from Icalma village. The cabin is equipped with a wood stove, a spacy dining room and a BBQ area. Bathrooms and washrooms are shared. The view over the lake is great from the cabin.

Hernan’s Ranch
This rustic ranch is set in a remote location, close to the border and surrounded by mountains and unique Araucaria forests. There are 2 cabins with double and triple rooms. Each cabin has a wood burning stove and a small common area. There are bathrooms and washrooms in each cabin but the facilities are shared. The cabins are made of basalt stones and timber, giving them a lot of charm.

Camping
While camping, we provide you with "Robens” and “Salewa” dome tents (double or single tents available), which are solid, lightweight and with plenty of room for 2 persons. No need to bring your own mattress or sleeping bag. You will be given a Thermarest mattresses and a "Doite" (Chilean brand) sleeping bag with comfort zone from -7 to 0 degrees Celsius (19 - 32 degrees Fahrenheit).
Washroom facilities depend on the campsite from outhouses to hole in the ground.
Most of the camping nights, guests will have the opportunity to swim in lakes or river and some camps offer shower facilities.

Room Occupancy
Single supplement is not mandatory if we cannot find another rider to share.



Meals
All meals are included in the trip. On the trail, we have abundant breakfasts and dinners at camps or cabins and a picnic at lunchtime.

We serve a mixture of traditional dishes. BBQs are an important part of the diet, especially in Argentina. You will experience and taste the difference between Chilean and Argentinean dishes and of course the Chilean and Argentinean wines. 

Wine is included with dinner.

Dietary Restrictions
We can cater for special diet requirements with prior notice.

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

Riding


Riding Experience
You should have at least an intermediate level physical condition and some experience on horseback, but you do not have to be a highly experienced rider.

Pace
We ride up to 8 hours a day. In difficult passages, we may lead our horses walking on foot.
Some canters and short gallops are possible in flatter parts, especially in Argentina portion, in the mountainous areas the pace is mostly at a walk or trot.

Horses
We share our farm with 20 horses, all of them Criollo Chilenos and crossbreds. While some of them are registered, most are "ordinary" working horses. The Criollo Chileno are perfectly adapted to our landscape. Short with a low center of balance they are ideal for climbing the mountains of the Chilean Andes. They are extremely sure stepping and not nervous at all, no reaction to thunder, dogs or whirring cameras. They have a tendency to search for closeness to their riders.
Our horses roam and graze freely throughout two large paddocks (a 12-acre pasture on the riverside and a vast, 70-acre field in the mountains) and several smaller 2-acre paddocks beside the house. They range free as a herd all year round and have an open stable available to them where they can seek shelter during the winter. During the summer months, rich pasture and plentiful grass form the staple of their diets, though we supplement with corn and oats when they work. In winter, due to the slow growth of grass in these rough mountains, we feed them additional hay.

Tack
We are using all local Chilean saddles and gear. Most of this equipment is made by our local saddle maker from Villarrica.
We use typical Chilean "Avio" working saddles, designed for a long days on horseback. Those saddles are very comfortable for both rider and horse. The base is a wooden frame held together by pieces of metal in the front and back. The seat is formed by a broad band of rawhide tied in between the frame. It is covered by a wool-filled pad, followed by 2 - 6 layers of sheep fleece and a leather cover. All parts are strapped together by the "cincha" which holds the saddle on the horse's back.
The original Chilean stirrups are made of wood and are beautifully carved. Unfortunately, it is hard to fit your foot securely inside unless you're wearing the traditional pointed boots of the Chilean Huaso. Our saddler makes extra wide leather-covered "capacho" stirrups, so that wider shoes, like hiking boots, can easily fit. They offer good protection while riding through bushes and prevent branches and vines from tangling about your foot. We can also provide classical open stirrups for those who desire them.
You can find bridles and reins made of many different materials across the Chilean countryside, including leather, PVC, and ropes. We use the traditional hand-plaited reins, inox bits, and simple rawhide headstalls. Some of our horses are trained to be ridden without a bit; just slip on a halter or a rope and jump on. You can try out this method in the pasture if you like!
While trekking, all gear is packed in saddlebags we make ourselves (sewed on our 1936 Singer) out of sturdy leather. Tents and sleeping bags are stored inside waterproof bags to protect against rain and horse sweat, and then placed within canvas sacks and attached behind the saddle across the horse's rump.

Staff
Besides the long years team (Mathias, Alejandra, Katie, Luis and Aldo), we get additional guide and helpers throughout the summer months.

Itinerary


On a typical day, breakfast is served around 9 am and we start riding at 10 am. The lunch break is usually at 1pm and the ride ends at about 6 pm.

Sample Itinerary: 9 day camping ride - subject to changes

Day 1: Arrival
Pick up in Pucon in the morning, welcome to the farm. We take an initial ride through the Mapuche Indian Community Quelhue and along the rapids of Trancura River to evaluate your riding experience, get familiar with the saddle and tack, and determine which horses to take on our great adventure. In the evening we move to our base camp at Laguna Geppinger from where we start our ride the following morning.

Day 2 - 5:
On Days 2-5 we ride through virgin rainforests and dense stands of Coighue trees and bamboo, and pass by crystal mountain lakes and gurgling creeks. In the evening we make camp besides rivers and lakes; the trails lead through the National Park Huerquehue, the National Forest Reserve Villarrica and the Mapuche Indian Communities of Reigolil and Icalma.

Day 5:
On the 5th day we return to civilization again and ride through the small Mapuche settlement of Icalma where we stay overnight at a beautiful spot on the lake-shore

Day 6 - 8:
On the 6th day after arranging custom formalities with the Chilean border control we are heading into the mountains to cross the actual border to Argentina. High in the mountains we say goodbye to our Chilean horses and the guides that led us to this magnificent place. Then we cross the border 10 meters on foot, and greet Hernan and his wonderful Argentinean horses which will bring us through the unique world of the Argentinean Andes for the next three days.
On the following days we ride the valleys and cliffs of Argentina, watch condors pass us by, meet shepherds with their herds of cattle or goats and enjoy amazing views over the endless wide open spaces of this uninhabited part of the world.
On the evening of the 8th day we reach the outpost were Hernan lives with his horses and which marks the end of our journey. We celebrate the end of the trek with a typical Argentinean barbecue while recounting our adventures from the past week and sharing our impressions of this experience of a lifetime.

Day 9:
Transfer from Hernan's ranch back to Pucón, Chile were we pick up luggage and say farewell. If desired, travelers may finish their trip in Argentina and travel on directly from Hernan's or spend more days riding in the Argentine pampas.



Sample Itinerary: 11 day cabin & camping ride - subject to changes

Day 1: Arrival
Arrival day, pick-up in Temuco airport or hotel in Pucon. Welcome to the ranch and dinner at the ranch house.
Meals included: Dinner
Overnight at Farmhouse in Pucón

Day 2: Ride around Pucón
We'll ride through the Mapuche Indian Community Quelhue and along the rapids of Trancura River to evaluate your riding experience, get familiar with the saddle and tack, and determine which horses to take on our great adventure. In the evening we go to our base camp at Laguna Geppinger from where we start our ride the following morning.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Overnight camping at Laguna Geppinger

Day 3: Laguna Geppinger to Rio Blanco
We cross the first of three mountain ranges on our trail towards Argentina. At night we camp beside the natural hot springs in Rio Blanco Valley.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Overnight camping near Rio Blanco

Day 4: Rio Blanco to Flor de Valle
We ride through virgin rainforests and dense stands of Coighue trees and bamboo crossing the 2nd range. The night we spent at a mountain farm at the Mapuche Indian community “Flor de Valle”
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Overnight camping at Flor de Valle

Day 5: Flor de Valle to Nevados de Sollipulli
We ride along the slopes of Sollipulli volcano, overnight in the mountain lodge “Nevados de Sollipulli”.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Overnight at Nevados de Sollipulli

Day 6: Volcano Ride
We ride up the volcano, reaching its 2.5 miles wide crater which is filled with a 660 feet deep glacier. We return to “Nevados de Sollipulli” for a second night.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Overnight at Nevados de Sollipulli

Day 7: Nevados de Sollipulli to Lake Icalma
We cross the last range before Argentina and spend the night in a cabin at the shore of Lake Icalma.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Overnight in cabin near Lake Icalma

Day 8: Lake Icalma to Argentina
We ride to the border, after arranging custom formalities with the Chilean border control we cross the border 20 meters on foot, and greet Hernan and his wonderful Argentinean horses which will bring us through the unique world of the Argentinean Andes for the next three days. We ride up to the top of Batea Mahuida Volcano with 6560 feet the highest point on our ride.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Overnight camping

Days 9 and 10: Argentinian Rides
We ride the valleys and cliffs of Argentina, watch condors pass us by and enjoy amazing views over the endless wide open spaces of this uninhabited part of the world. On the evening of the 10th day we reach the outpost were Hernan lives with his horses and which marks the end of our journey. We celebrate the end of the trek with a typical Argentinean BBQ.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Overnight camping (night 9) & at Hernan's Ranch (night 10)

Day 11: Departure
After breakfast we transfer back to Chile. We can bring you to Temuco city (1.00 pm) or Temuco airport (1.30 pm) or Pucon (3.30 pm). If you prefer, you may finish the trip in Argentina, and keep on traveling or riding some more days in the Argentinean pampas, or transfer to your next destination in Argentina (not included).
Meals included: Breakfast



Sample Itinerary: 10 day cabin & camping ride - subject to changes

Day 1: Arrival
Arrival day, pick-up in Temuco airport or hotel in Pucon. Welcome to the ranch and dinner at the ranch house.

Day 2: Ride around Pucón
We go for a day ride through the Mapuche Indian Community Quelhue, into the mountains of the Villarrica Forest reserve, and along the rapids of Trancura River to evaluate your riding experience. Get familiar with saddle and tack.
In the evening we enjoy a Chilean BBQ.

Day 3-6:
we ride through virgin rainforests and dense stands of Coighue trees and bamboo, and pass by crystal mountain lakes and gurgling creeks. The trails lead through the National Park Huerquehue, the National Forest Reserve Villarrica and the Mapuche Indian Communities of Reigolil and Icalma.
Overnights at the natural Hot springs of Rio Blanco and on the shore of Icalma Lake.

Day 7-8:
On the seventh day, we return to civilization again and ride through the small Mapuche settlement of Icalma where we arrange custom formalities with the Chilean border control before heading into the mountains to cross the border to Argentina. High in the mountains at the border we say goodbye to our Chilean horses and the guides that led us to this magnificent place. Then we cross the border 10 meters on foot, and greet Hernan and his wonderful Argentinean horses which will bring us through the unique world of the Argentinean Andes for the next two days.
We ride the valleys and cliffs of Argentina, watch condors pass us by, meet shepherds with their herds of cattle or goats and enjoy amazing views over the endless wide open spaces of this uninhabited part of the world. On the evening of the 8th day we reach the outpost were Hernan lives with his horses and which marks the end of our journey. We celebrate the end of the trek with a typical Argentinean barbecue while recounting our adventures from the past week and sharing our impressions of this experience of a lifetime.

Day 9:
We take a farewell ride to the condor nests in the steep rocks north of the camp, and through the high plain pastures where the gauchos graze their herds of sheep and goats in the summer months.

Day 10:
Transfer from Hernan's ranch back to Pucón, Chile were we pick up luggage and say farewell to the horses that carried us in Chile. If desired, travelers may finish their trip in Argentina and travel on directly from Hernan's, or spend more days riding in the Argentine pampas.

Note about resuming your trip from the ranch in Argentina:
There are no bus transportation from the ranch near the border of Chile and Argentina. Clients can take a taxi (Transportes Rincon) from the ranch to the town of Las Lajas, then take a bus from Las Lajas to the airport in Nuequen.

Rates and Dates for Chile to Argentina

Dates Note: This trip can be arranged at other dates between Dec 1 and March 30 - with a minimum of 2 riders.

Other Info
Meeting: Pucon
Airport: La Araucanía International Airport in Temuco (ZCO)
Transfer: Temuco Airport or Pucón

Climate:
                                               Temuco area