Day 1: Mendoza 750 meters / Hornillas 2,100 meters

You will start from the city of Mendoza by vehicle to the Uspallata Valley and later to Barreal. During the transfer, you will go through Potrerillos, Uspallata Valley, Pampa del Leoncito, and the town of Barreal, until arriving at Las Hornillas, a site located at the base of the Cordillera Frontal (Álvarez Condarco, province of San Juan). In Las Hornillas, you will wait for the arrieros with the horses, the mules, and all the necessary equipment of the expedition.

• Distance: Mendoza – Las Hornillas 350 kilometers approximately north of Mendoza
• Duration of the trip by vehicle: 7 hours approximately

Day 2: Las Hornillas 2,100 meters / Manantiales 3,020 meters

This will be the first day on horseback and in the middle of the Andes mountain range. You will arrive at the Manantiales or El Peñón camp. Tonight, you will camp close to a stream, with fertile plain and clear water. Dinner and overnight will be in the tent.

• Distance: 16.71 kilometers
• Riding time: 5 hours
• Average speed: 3.3 kilometers / hour
• Height gain: 974 meters

Day 3: Manantiales 3,016 meters / Paso Espinacito 4,481 meters / Vegas de Gallardo 3,016 meters

With the third day begins the most intense day of the expedition. You will go up to where the Las Leñas river goes down. The road becomes increasingly rocky, crossing the same river several times. You will travel through the Cordon del Espinacito, passing a large mountain ridge, until reaching the pass at 4,500 meters. You will descend from the Portezuelo and enter a valley. You will go through the Vegas of Yeso, through Vegas de Gallardo and downstream, where you will arrive at the campsite.

• Distance: 31.15 kilometers
• Riding time: 9 hours and 20 minutes
• Average speed: 3.3 kilometers / hour
• Height gain: 1,695 meters

Day 4: Vegas de Gallardo 3,016 meters / Valle Hermoso 2,990 meters

You will cross the Yeso hills and by following the path, you reach the imposing Valle de los Patos. Passing by the Refugio de Gendarmería Nacional «Ingeniero Sardinas», you will continue your journey to the Valle Hermoso where you will set up camp and spend three nights. During the crossing, the highest mountain in America, Mount Aconcagua (6,962 meters) is present. You will also observe Cerro Alma Negra with a large glacier on its summit.

• Distance: 22.18 kilometers
• Riding time: 8 hours
• Average speed: 4.1 kilometers / hour
• Height gain: 266 meters

Day 5: Valle Hermoso 2,990 meters / Hito límite Argentina – Chile 3,518 meters / Valle Hermoso 2,990 meters

The cavalcade continues its march westward and you will arrive at the border with Chile (border of Argentino – Chilean) where you observe a reminder to the Sanmartiniana epic and the milestone which indicates the border between both countries. You will arrive at the most desired point of the expedition, «cross the limit», and in the middle of the mountain range, Trekking Travel will offer and share an emotional picnic lunch. You will return to Valle Hermoso camp for dinner and rest.

• Round trip: 21.06 kilometers
• Riding time: 6 hours and 30 minutes
• Average speed: 3.7 kilometers / hour
• Height gain: 586 meters

Day 6: Valle Hermoso 2,990 meters – day for rest

The sixth day will be reserved for rest. You will walk to a neighboring camp where there are Chilean goats summer with their goats (veranada) and make handmade cheeses. After lunch, you will go up the river to a sector where trout are often found. Following a small stream, you will reach a waterfall where you can bathe. Dinner will be chivito on the grill with salads.

Day 7: Valle Hermoso 2,990 meters – Piedras Coloradas 3,322 meters

From Valle Hermoso, you will go through the Los Patos Valley again and take up the highlands mountain summits. You will go through Puente de Tierra, Vegas de Gallardo, and upstream, you will arrive at Piedras Coloradas.

• Distance: 28.52 kilometers
• Riding time: 7 hours
• Average speed: 4 kilometers / hour
• Height gain: 691 meters

Day 8: Valle Hermoso 2,990 meters – Piedras Coloradas 3,322 meters

Again, you will ride along the great slopes of the Andes mountain range, reaching 4,300 meters of altitude, passing through the Paso de la Honda. The downhill return following the Leñas river is demanding. You will camp in springs as well as on day two of the expedition.

• Distance: 24.36 kilometers
• Riding time: 7 hours and 39 minutes
• Average speed: 3.2 kilometers / hour
• Height gain: 1,254 meters

Day 9: Manantiales 3,020 meters – Las Hornillas 2,100 meters

Today will be the last day on horseback. After breakfast, the last four hours will assemble up to the burners. There, you will have lunch and by vehicle, you will move to the town of Barreal and later to the Uspallata Valley. You will stay in a hotel in Valle de Uspallata, where you celebrate the farewell dinner.

• Distance: 18 kilometers
• Riding time: 4 hours and 10 minutes
• Average speed: 4.1 kilometers / hour
• Height gain: 89 meters

Day 10: Uspallata – Mendoza

After breakfast between 09:00 and 11:00, you will have a transfer by vehicle to the city of Mendoza.

The horses

The horses are very strong and they always take the safe and firm step and you only need to have confidence in them.

Other information

You are exhibited over 4,500 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. Sometimes it is snowing, sometimes sunny, and sometimes the temperature is over 10 degrees during the days in the mountains and sometimes the temperature is 1 degree below zero. The weather in Los Andes mountain range can change very quickly.