Crossing Horse Riding Holiday in Argentina and Chile,
6 Days
Andes Mountain Range, Argentina – Chile
Route: «Tunuyan Valley» – Piuquenes Pass
Overview:
Breathtaking Chile and Argentina Horse Riding Holiday
This listing has the most popular offer available in Argentina
Treat yourself with an extraordinary trekking crossing the Andes Mountain Range by beautiful valleys between the highest peaks of the Andes. This unmissable expedition starts in Argentina and finishes in Chile. It is one of the most spectacular trekking in the world, and one that shall not be missed!
The high mountain pass «Portillo Argentino» 4380m. (located in the Argentinean Range), is the gate to an old trail used by ‘arrieros’ (muleteers) and travelers, such as Charles Darwin and General San Martín, to cross the Andes. From this steep col at 4.380 meters of altitude, the path descends into a world where an ancestral culture of «gauchos» and mountain people is still alive, in harmony with the wildlife and breathtaking landscapes.
We are going to follow the history path, of those who bravely transited these mountains two centuries ago, integrating the columns of the Army of the Andes led by «Liberator General San Martin»
Departure dates 2023/2024:
30 DEC to 04 JAN 11 JAN to 16 JAN 25 JAN to 30 JAN 08 FEB to 13 FEB 22 FEB to 27 FEB 29 FEB to 05 MAR 07 MAR to 12 MAR
Video Documental:
Key Information
- Rider weight limit: 100 kilograms / 220 pounds
Highlights
- 5 riding days
- Tunuyán river crossing
- Climb El Portillo Argentine
- Visit the Laguna de Los Patos
- Breakfasts, lunches, and dinners
- 5 nights’ accommodation
Skill level
- Intermediate
5 days with instruction
Accommodation
You will be accommodated at camping tents for the first 4 nights and 1 night in a complex of cabins in Cajon del Maipo.
Reservation and payment
It is advisable to book as far in advance as possible. This allows us to give recommendations regarding the equipment, clear doubts and coordinate additional services to the package in case of requesting them.
Payment is through international transfer by Western Union or cash (up to 03 payments)
Location:
Google Maps: Crossing the Andes Mountain Range – 6 days
Route: «Tunuyan Valley» – Piuquenes Pass
Program:
Previous day (not included)
You have to arrive in Mendoza a day before to departure date. It’s necessary to check equipment. We offer you add one night of accommodation, we can help you with this reservation and add this cost to the total rate.
Day 1: Mendoza – Historic Manzano (horseriding starts)
Transfer from the city of Mendoza to the Historic Manzano (130 kilometers). Reception and presentation of the group of guides and baqueanos who are part of this spectacular journey on horseback. A sillero horse is designated per person and the great crossing begins. Arrival at the Portinari Refuge, (National Gendarmerie). Here the customs procedures and
registration are carried out before the authorities of the National Gendarmerie. At noon, you will get a lunch box type lunch. In the afternoon, in the Scaravelli Refuge (called Real La Mula Muerta), you will prepare the camp to spend the first night in the mountain range. Dinner and stove.
Day 2: Scravelli – Protillo Argentino – Valle Rio Tunuyan
Breakfast and enlistment of the horses to follow the route. This day you will climb El Portillo Argentine, ascending to 4380 meters to continue to the Valley Tunuyán River, where you rest after a demanding crossing. This day is the most extensive and the most demanding of the expedition (8 / 9 hours approximately). When the night comes, you will enjoy an energizing dinner that will surely be adorned by the experiences of this day of adventure.
Day 3: Tunuyan River Valley
The third day will be destined to rest. You can choose to stay in the vicinity of the camp or take a reconnaissance trek accompanied by the guide, identifying native flora and fauna. In the afternoon, riding on horseback you will visit the Laguna de Los Patos, and return to the camp. Dinner and overnight in tent.
Day 4: Tunuyan River Valley – El Caleton
After breakfast, you will start the Tunuyán river crossing. The ride continues to the viewpoint of the Tupungato volcano and then, following the Palomares river, to El Caletón or Piedras Coloradas. In this place you will set up the camp to share a dinner in the light of the stars. Night in tent.
Day 5: El Caleton – International Border – Parque Del Yeso
Departure towards the Argentinean / Chilean Border. Another big challenge lies ahead on the fifth day. Departure to Step Piuquenes to 4030 meters, boundary between Argentina and Chile. At noon you will enjoy a unique lunch at the border marker. In the border, you have to change the mules who carry loads (they are prohibited cross the border). New Chilean mules and Chilean muleteer guides will lead you going down to the river El Plomo in Chilean territory, the final leg of the expedition. After crossing the river, private vehicles are waiting for you. Transfer by minibus to the Cajon del Maipo, coasting the Yeso dam to San Gabriel Village where are the customs formalities where you complete customs paperwork at the police office.
After 11 kilometers from the customs office, you will get to the accommodation in a beautiful complex of cabins and farewell dinner at local restaurant.
- Trek: Approximately 7-9 hours / 14-16 kilometers
- Waypoint: Piuquenes pass 4030 meters. Crossing the river Yeso. End in Parque del Yeso or Termas del Plomo 3000 meters.
- By car: Yeso / San Gabriel Cajon del Maipo 1260 meters
Day 6: Transfer Cajon Del Maipo (Chile) / Santiago De Chile
After breakfast, transfer to Santiago de Chile. Leave the group of Expeditionaries in the bus terminal Alameda.
Note: You must be in Mendoza city one day before the start day just to be ready early in the morning the next day.
Food
The following meals are included:
- Breakfast
- Lunch
- Dinner
- Drinks
The following dietary requirement(s) are served and/or catered for:
- Regular (typically includes meat and fish)
What’s included
- Tame horses with mounts
- Professional instructor guide; Baquianos and arrieros permanently
- Transfer from the city of Mendoza to the starting point of the ride
- Saddlebags
- Transportation of personal equipment on mules (up to 10 kilograms per person)
- All meals and drinks during the development of the horseback program
- Complete campaign team (tents, kitchen utensils, crockery, etc.)
- 5 nights’ accommodation
- First aid kit
- Satellite telephony for emergencies (does not include private calls)
- Personal accident insurance
- Transfer from the end of the ride to the place of accommodation in Chile (Cajón del Maipo)
- Transfer from the lodging place in Chile (Cajón del Maipo), to Santiago de Chile
- IVA
What’s not included
- Transfer (return) from Santiago de Chile to Mendoza (Consult for option)
- Transfer to Chile of the luggage that is not carried on the expedition
- Sleeping bag (available for rent)
- Personal equipment (clothing, clothing, etc.)
- Meals not stipulated in the program
- Drinks in restaurants
- Personal expenses such as telephone calls, tips, laundry, etc.
- Any cost derived from the abandonment of the program ahead of time
- Rescue expenses
- Medical or air evacuation expenses
- Travel insurance or medical assistance
Aditional services:
- Transfer Airport / Hotel – Hotel / Airport.
- 02 nights of accommodation in a 3* hotel in Mendoza City with breakfast (one nigth before and one night after the horseriding program).
- Bus ticket Santiago de Chile / Mendoza.
Rate per person (single room): USD 230
Rate per person (double room): USD 170
Cancellation Policy
- A reservation requires a deposit of 14% of the total price.
- The deposit is non-refundable, if the booking is cancelled.
- The rest of the payment should be paid on arrival.
Book with flexible conditions Need to cancel your trip due to COVID-19? Cancel up to 7 days prior to the arrival date and you can reschedule your booking free of charge, or receive store credit for your non-refundable deposit to use at another time.
Suggested clothes:
- Wide-brimmed hat.
- 1 windstopper jacket.
- Warm clothes (1 sweater, 1 polar jacket, thermal underwear, long underwear or cotton leggings).
- Waterproof jacket.
- Wool cap and gloves (like ski gloves).
- Scarf.
- Warm sleeping bag (-10ºC).
- 2 trousers (comfortable for riding) like the gaucho bombacha. If the weather is cold you can carry warm underwear. Don´t use jeans as they are hard and in low temperatures they make you feel cold.
- 2 long-sleeve shirts.
- 3 to 6 pairs of socks.
- 2 T-shirts.
- 02 pairs of comfortable sports sneakers or trekking shoes. Don’t bring width shoes (it’s necessary that you can put your feet easily in the stirrup). You can wear riding boots.
- Neckerchief.
- Gaiters to mount.
- Leather gloves to mount.
- A blanket which you will use to pad the saddle and to warm you up during the night.
Suggested personal gear:
- Personal medicine.
- Passport.
- 1 plastic bottle or a water bottle.
- Flashlight and batteries.
- Sun glasses. Eye drops (for persons who are sensitive or allergic to the dust).
- Sun protective cream (factor 30 or more), moisturizing cream, protective lipstick, milking cream in case of chapped skin.
- Elements for personal hygiene (hand towel, soap, toothbrush, towelettes, etc.).
- Camera.
- Don’t bring watch.
Preparation of the luggage for the horseback riding trip
During the horse riding, we recommend not wearing a backpack or hanging elements that may be uncomfortable throughout the journey. A fanny pack is the most convenient option, although it is not mandatory to have one.
It is NOT necessary to bring bags or backpacks to carry the luggage during the ride.
To each rider we deliver you:
1- One saddlebag: Here you must keep the personal items of first necessity that you are going to use during the day of riding (documentation, sun glasses, sunscreen, water, camera, hygiene items, etc.). The saddlebag is placed on the back on the saddle. Everything that is stored in the saddlebag will be easily accessible to the rider.
2- A resistant plastic bag, labeled with the name of the rider: Here you must keep the rest of the luggage that you bring to the ride (clothes, footwear, etc.). These bags are then placed in a duffel bags, specially designed to carry the luggage on the back of the mule (animal pack). It is important to know that you will not have access to the luggage thau you have kept in the bag until the end of the day of riding just in the camp (at which time the load is disarmed).
The sleeping bag and the blanket are packed separately (they do not go in the saddlebag or in the bag).
Important
You must also prepare a change of clean clothes (minimum clothing that you will use in the cabins of Chile and for the trip back to your home city), pack it inside a tightly closed bag, and place it at the bottom of the plastic bag labeled. In this way, the extra clothes will remain clean during the expedition and you can use it in the cabin complex in Chile after an expected bath (last night of the program).
Attention:
the excess baggage cannot be put in a suit case or rigid bags or backpacks of the rigid structure because in the transfer on the mules, they can be damaged. We provide duffel bags in these cases, and you can only carry a lightweight bag to place your luggage at the end of the expedition.
Additional comments:
You must know, this is a difficult trip, but this is possible for beginner riders.
Why this is possible if for novice riders? Because the horses are very strong, and they always take the safe and firm step, and you only need to have confidence with them. Then, why is a difficult trip? Because you are exhibited over 4500 meters above the sea, and the wind can be very strong, and the forecast can be bad. If you are lucky you can spend a very good weather during the trip. Sometime is snowing, sometime is sunny, sometime the temperature is over 10 degrees during the days in the mountains and sometime the temperature is 1 degree below zero. The weather in Los Andes Mountain Range can be change very quickly.
Frequently asked:
https://trekking-travel.com.ar/english/crossing-andes-frequently-asked/
Contact us:
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e-mail: info@trekking-travel.com.ar
WhatsApp: +54 9 261 530-68707
Comments of people who made this Horseback Riding: TripAdvisor 