6 Day Trekking Andes Crossing 

Andes Crossing Trek – 6 days, from Argentina to Chile
Route: «Tunuyán Valley
» – Portillo de Piuquenes Pass

Extraordinary trekking crossing the Andes Mountain Range through beautiful valleys between the highest peaks of the Andes.

This unmissable expedition starts in Argentina and finishes in Chile.
One of the most spectacular trekking in the world, will not be missed!

The high mountain pass «Portillo Argentino» (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 horsemen 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 season 2023 / 2024:

Services included:

  • Transfer Mendoza City / Manzano Historico (start point of the expedition).
  • Professional mountain guide and muleteers. English speaking guide.
  • Transport of the equipment on mules. Up to 10 kg per person.
  • All meals and drinks during the riding expedition.
  • Complete camping equipment. (Tents, cutlery, plates, etc.).
  • 04 nights of accommodation in tents (igloo shape, for 2 or 3 people).
  • First Aid equipment.
  • Satellite phone (in case of emergency).
  • Transfer from the end point of the horse expedition to a complex of cabins in «Cajón Del
  • Maipo» (Chile).
  • 01 night of accommodation in a complex of cabins (3 to 8 people per cabin) in «Cajon Del Maipo» (Chile), with Dinner.
  • Transfer “Cajon Del Maipo” to Santiago de Chile Bus Station. Ask us for other destinations.

Services not included:

  • Transport to Chile of the equipment and bags that you don’t lead the expedition.
  • Personal gear. (Clothes, shoes, etc.)
  • Sleeping bag (You can rent with us, the sleeping bag and the blanket)
  • Food not stipulated in the program.
  • Drinks in restaurants.
  • Personal expenses (phone calls, tips, laundry, etc.).
  • Any costs derived from early withdrawal from the program.
  • Rescue or evacuation costs.
  • Medical assistance or insurance.

Aditional service (not included):

• 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): CONSULT
Rate per person (double room): CONSULT

Itinerary:

Previous day:
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 / Las Yaretas (acclimatizacion day)

In the morning the expedition begins with a meeting during which you will get to know the members of the trip. Then we will drive in a private vehicle towards the «Manzano Historico» (2 hs.), located in the «Valle de Uco» (Uco Valley).

Uco Valley is a viticulture region southwest of Mendoza City in Argentina. It is widely considered one of the top wine regions in Mendoza, and all of Argentina. Here lies a monument in memory of the liberator «San Martin»,

Reception and presentation of guides and the people that will be part of this spectacular TREKKING expedition.

Here we perform customs clearance and registration with the authorities of the National Gendarmerie. After that, we go to camp Las Yaretas. Trekking around of the camp. Dinner and campfire.

BY CAR: 4 hours
Mendoza 750 m / Las Yaretas 3600 m.

Day 2: Las Yaretas / Valle del Tunuyan

Breakfast and enlistment of the luggage. This day we are going to climb to the «Portillo Argentino», rising to 4380 m. The second day part will be by car from «Scaravelli» until Portillo Base. After we have 8 / 9 trekking hours (mostly in a downhill trail) until Tunuyan Valley, Camp «Real de la Cruz». Once in the camp, we enjoy a dinner that will surely be energizing adorned by the experiences of this day for adventure. Night in tent.
BY CAR: Las Yaretas 3545 m / Portillo Base 4000 m / 18 km.
TREK: Portillo Base 4000 m / camp Real La Olla 3000 m.
Approx 8 hours / 12 km

Day 3: Rest in the Valley

This day is for resting. This day we make a hiking RT of recognition accompanied by the guide, identifying flora and fauna. Dinner and overnight at camp «La Olla».

Day 4: Camp La Olla / Paso Hondo

After breakfast, we prepare the luggage for the mules, and embarking the Tunuyan river. For crossing the river, we will need the help of our strong horses guided by the skillful muleteers. The trek continues through the viewpoint of «Mount Tupungato 6800 meters» and then following upriver the beautiful «Palomares» stream, until the last campsite in Argentinean territory: «Paso Hondo»
Rest, night in tents.
TREK: Approx 10 hours / 18 km.

Day 5: Paso Hondo / Internacional border Portillo de Piuquenes / Cross From Argentina to Chile

Departure towards the Argentinean/Chilean Border. Another big challenge lies ahead on the fifth day. Departure to Step Piuquenes to 4030 m, boundary between Argentina and Chile.

At noon we will enjoy a unique lunch at the border marker. In the border we have to change the mules who carry loads (they are prohibited cross the border). New Chilean mules and Chilean muleteer guides will lead us going down to the river «El Plomo» in Chilean territory, the final leg of the expedition in Parque del Yeso.

After crossing the river, private vehicles are waiting for us. Transfer by minibus to the Cajon del Maipo, coasting the «Yeso dam», to San Gabriel Village where are the custom formalities where we complete custom paperwork at the custom office. After 11 km from the custom office we will get to the accommodation in a beautiful complex of cabins and farewell dinner at local restaurant.

This fabulous accommodation complex located in Cajón del Maipo will fascinate you, we suggest you enjoy it one or two extra nights at the end of the expedition: do not forget to contact us.

TREK: Approx 7-9 hrs / 14-16 km.

Day 6: Cajon del Maipo / Santiago de Chile

After breakfast, we transfer you to Santiago de Chile. We leave you at the Santiago Bus Terminal. We can manage your return ticket to Mendoza by bus (consult us). If you need to go to another place, you can pay an additional fee for the door-to-door service.

Video (documental)

Equipment list:

a) CLOTHES
Long and lightweight underwear kit (long boxers and turtleneck t-shirts). Polypropylene or capilene.
since synthetic fibers perform better than cotton.
Fleece pants.
Heavyweight Parka with hood. It should fit comfortable over your mid layers.
Waterproof jacket and easy to perspire.
NOT exclusive: waterproof and light pants and easy to perspire.

b) HEAD
Sunhat with peak and buff headwear.
Balaclava.
Head lamp, extra batteries and extra light bulbs.
Sunglasses 100% UB with side shields. Bring an extra pair if you use prescription glasses.

c) HANDS
Thin gloves, 1 pair, fleece or polypropylene.
Fingerless gloves or ski gloves.

d) FEET
Hiking boots or trekking shoes.
Sneakers for resting.
Footwear suitable for crossing streams.
Thick socks, wool or synthetic fabric, (2 pairs), for cold weather.
Thin socks, flannel, nylon or polypropylene. It reduces blisters.

e) TECHNICAL GEAR
Trekking poles (1 pair).

f) GENERAL GEAR
Backpack: capacity 60 liters
High quality sleeping bag to endure temperatures of -10° C.
Insulating sleeping pad, neoprene or Thermal rest.
Penknife. Leatherman tool or similar.
Water bottle (2 liters).
Sunscreen SPF 30 – 60.
Sun lipstick. SPF 20 – 60.
First-aid kit.
Trekking Travel provides you a Duffel bag for the gear transported by mule.

To each trekker we deliver you:

A resistant plastic bag, labeled with the name of the expeditionary: Here you must keep the rest of the luggage that you bring to the trekking (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 than you have kept in the bag until the end of the day of trekking just in the camp (at which time the load is disarmed).

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

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.

Contact Us:

We are entirely at your service to answer your questions Don’t hesitate to contact us!
Contact form (click here) and we will contact you shortly 


+54 9 261 306-8707 
e-mail:
info@trekking-travel.com.ar