Duration: 6 days / 5 nights
OVERVIEW:
Live a unique adventure through history and breathtaking landscapes!
Route Information
We travel high-altitude mountain trails, crossing the Portillo Argentino at 4,380 meters above sea level to traverse the Andes from Argentina to Chile. From this steep pass, the path descends into a world where the ancestral culture of muleteers and mountain dwellers remains alive, in harmony with the wildlife and imposing landscapes. This is the gateway to an ancient route once used by muleteers and historical figures such as Charles Darwin, who chose this pass in 1835 during his journey from Chile to Argentina.
We follow the footsteps of history, tracing the path of those who bravely crossed these mountains two centuries ago, joining the columns of the Army of the Andes led by the Liberator General San Martín. This is one of the six Sanmartinian routes used to cross the Andes in 1817 to liberate Argentina, Chile, and Peru.
Dates:
| December 2025: DEC 29 to JAN 03 |
| January 2026: JAN 08 to JAN 13 JAN 15 to JAN 20 JAN 22 to JAN 27 JAN 29 to FEB 03 |
| February 2026: FEB 05 to FEB 10 FEB 12 to FEB 17 FEB 19 to FEB 24 FEB 26 to MAR 03 |
| March 2026: MAR 05 to MAR 10 |
Key Information
- Rider weight limit: 90 kilograms / 198 pounds
Meet the instructors
Pablo Champagna:
Instagram: @pablo.champagna
Highlights
- 5 riding days
- Tunuyán river crossing
- Climb El Portillo Argentine
- Rest day in the middle of the Andes range
- Breakfasts, lunches, and dinners
- 5 nights’ accommodation
Skill level
- Intermediate
Styles
- Trail Riding
- Point to Point Trails
5 days with instruction in English, the organizer also speaks: Spanish
Accommodation
You will be accommodated in camping tents for the first 4 nights and 1 night in a complex of cabins in Cajon del Maipo.
The places you go through are inhabited and wild, far from any kind of civilization. During the trip, you won’t find any bathrooms or refuges.
The campsites will be set up in a place protected by the wind and where you will find streams from melted snow and crystalline water, pure and very cold, and small springs called.
Program
Previous Day – Arrival in Mendoza (not included in the price)
Arrival in Mendoza is required the day before departure. We recommend arriving in the morning to allow time for any unforeseen events. On this day, equipment checks are carried out, questions are answered, and final instructions are given before the expedition. This meeting may be held virtually depending on the group dynamic. Please do not schedule other activities on this day. We can arrange lodging and other excursions in Mendoza upon request. Ask us for rates.
Day 1 – Mendoza / Manzano Histórico (start of the horseback ride)
Pick-up at your hotel in downtown Mendoza at 7:00 AM to travel to Manzano Histórico, a historic mountain village located in the Uco Valley, Mendoza, Argentina.
At our base, the final payment for the service is made. Then, at “Refugio Portinari,” immigration procedures with the National Gendarmerie are completed. After customs, the ride begins. We ride for about 5 hours to Las Yaretas Camp at 3,600 m.a.s.l. Hot dinner, overnight in tents, and well-deserved rest.
Day 2 – Las Yaretas / Portillo Argentino / La Olla or Tunuyán River Valley Camp
After breakfast and preparing the horses, we begin a demanding and unforgettable day. We ascend to 4,380 m.a.s.l., crossing the Portillo Argentino, a natural pass with extraordinary views. The ride lasts about 8 hours. We arrive at La Olla or the Tunuyán River Valley. Shared dinner, stories, and rest in tents under a vast sky.
Day 3 – La Olla or Tunuyán River Valley Camp / Paso Hondo
After crossing the cold Tunuyán River, we continue with views of the impressive Tupungato, one of the Andes’ giants. Along the Palomares River, we are flanked by peaks such as El Castillo, Mesón San Juan, and Marmolejo. We pass through El Caletón and camp at the base of the ridge where Paso Portillo de Piuquenes is located. Restorative dinner and overnight in tents.
Day 4 – Rest Day
This day is for physical rest and reconnection with nature. You may stay at Paso Hondo camp enjoying the scenery, chatting, reading, or taking a gentle walk. A strategic break before crossing into Chile.
Day 5 – Paso Hondo / Argentina-Chile Border / Parque del Yeso (Chile)
We ride to Paso Portillo de Piuquenes at 4,030 m.a.s.l., the natural and political border between Argentina and Chile. At the border marker, we enjoy a special lunch in a unique setting. Due to sanitary regulations, horses do not cross the border, so there is a change of animals and muleteers. The new Chilean muleteers lead us to the Yeso River. From there, private vehicles take us along the El Yeso reservoir to Cajón del Maipo. In San Gabriel, immigration is completed, and we arrive at a charming cabin complex in San Alfonso. Farewell dinner and overnight. Perfect opportunity to extend your stay for another day or two, ask us!
Day 6 – Transfer from Cajón del Maipo (Chile) to Santiago
After breakfast, we begin the transfer to Santiago. The group is dropped off at the Bus Terminal. We can help arrange your return ticket to Mendoza (ask us). If you need transport to another destination, we offer an additional door-to-door service.
Level of riding
Rider Experience and Skill
No previous horseback riding experience is required to participate in the Horseback Crossing of the Andes. You don’t need to have taken lessons or ridden before—the excursions are designed for both beginners and experienced riders.
The horses are tame, calm, and well accustomed to mountain trails.
Terrain Difficulty
The challenge of this journey lies mainly in the natural conditions of the Andes. The terrain is uneven and rocky, with narrow paths, steep ascents and descents, and crossings of streams and fast-flowing rivers.
Weather conditions can change suddenly: you may experience heat, intense cold, strong gusts of wind, snow, sun, and rain—all in a single day.
These factors make the activity physically demanding. However, this is not a problem for the horses, which are mountain animals fully adapted to this kind of terrain.
Daily rides last between 6 and 8 hours, reaching altitudes over 4,000 meters (13,100 feet) above sea level. For these reasons, the crossing is rated as moderate difficulty.
Physical Condition
You don’t need to be an athlete, but you must be in good overall health and willing to embrace the adventure. It’s important to be able to mount and dismount without assistance several times a day, sleep in tents, and adapt to outdoor living without the usual comforts.
This is an experience of direct contact with nature, which requires physical endurance and mental balance to fully enjoy the challenge.
A medical certificate stating physical and mental fitness, signed by a healthcare professional, is required.
Location 
This horse riding holiday will start from Base Manzano, Manzano Historico, Mendoza, Argentina.
Meals
For breakfast, Trekking Travel offers homemade bread and toast with fruit jams, tea, coffee, milk, and both sweet and savory biscuits.
Lunches are light, as the horseback ride continues afterwards. We prepare cold cuts and cheese platters (salami, ham, and other cured meats), milanesa sandwiches, tuna or mackerel salads, olives, homemade bread, mayonnaise, fruit, and juice.
Dinners are hearty and comforting: «asado» (grilled meat), lentil stews, slow-cooked beef, chicken stew with potatoes, pasta, lettuce and tomato salads, homemade bread, vegetable soups, seasonal fruits, Mendoza wine, and juices.
If you follow a special diet, we recommend letting Trekking Travel know when making your reservation.
Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Afternoon snack, Dinner
Included meals:
- Breakfast
- Lunch
- Afternoon snack
- Dinner
Herbal teas and infusions
We drink water from mountain streams. Wine is included with dinner.
Special diets catered to:
Regular diet (includes meat and fish)
If you have specific dietary requirements, it’s important to inform the organizer in advance.
What’s included
- Professional guide (local guides and permanent muleteers).
- Tame horses with saddles.
- All meals and drinks during the ride.
- Complete camping gear (double igloo tents, individual utensils).
- First aid kit.
- Saddlebags.
- Transport of personal gear (up to 10 kg per rider). No suitcases or carry-ons.
- Satellite phone for emergencies (private calls not included).
- Personal accident insurance.
- Transportation from Mendoza to the start of the ride.
- Transportation from the end of the ride to the accommodation in Chile (Cajón del Maipo).
- 1 night in shared cabins in San Alfonso, Cajón del Maipo – Chile, including farewell dinner and breakfast.
- Transfer from the Chilean accommodation to Santiago. Group is dropped at the terminal. Ask us about door-to-door transfers.
What’s not included
- Return from Santiago to Mendoza. Bus return with the group is suggested. We can assist with ticket purchase.
- Transport of luggage not taken on the expedition.
- Sleeping bag (available for rent at our office).
- Personal gear (clothing, footwear, etc.).
- Meals not included in the program.
- Drinks in restaurants.
- Personal expenses: phone calls, tips, laundry, etc.
- Costs for quitting the program.
- Rescue expenses.
- Airport transfers.
How to get there
Recommended Airports
MDZ – Gov. Francisco Gabrielli International Airport (El Plumerillo) – 10 km from Mendoza City.
Transfer not provided
Recommended Gear
Clothing:
- Wide-brimmed hat (must have a cord to tie it under the chin).
- Sunglasses (should have a neck cord).
- 1 lightweight windbreaker/waterproof jacket.
- Warm clothing (1 sweater, 1 sweatshirt or fleece).
- Thermal jacket suitable for high mountains (we recommend down).
- Rain poncho or waterproof outer layer.
- Thermal underwear (top and long johns or leggings).
- Wool or fleece hat and gloves.
- Neck scarf. Thermal/fleece neck gaiter or multifunctional fabric.
- Warm sleeping bag (-10ºC / 14°F). No sleeping pad is needed. Between the ground and the sleeping bag we place leather, fabric, and sheepskin layers that are part of the saddle setup (the traditional cama gaucha), which serve as insulation and a mattress.
- 2 loose-fitting pants. Gaucho-style pants or military-style work pants are ideal. Do not wear jeans, as they are stiff and feel very cold in low temperatures.
- 2 long-sleeve shirts.
- 3 to 6 pairs of socks.
- 1 T-shirt.
- Swimsuit (for quick dips in glacial streams).
- Footwear: 2 pairs. One pair for riding that is also comfortable for mountain walking, plus one pair of comfortable sneakers for resting at camp. Avoid very wide shoes so they fit in the stirrups (riding boots are fine if you’re used to them).
- Riding gaiters or chaps.
- Riding gloves, preferably leather.
- One single-sized blanket.
Personal Items:
- Personal medications. We suggest including over-the-counter items such as ibuprofen, paracetamol, and rehydration salts.
- ID card or passport.
- Plastic bottle or canteen for water (1 liter). We suggest a Gatorade-style bottle.
- Flashlight and spare batteries.
- Eye drops (recommended for people with allergies or sensitivity to dust).
- Sunscreen (SPF 30 minimum), lip balm, moisturizing cream or udder cream.
- Insect repellent.
- Personal hygiene items (medium-sized towel, soap, toothbrush, wet wipes, etc.).
Why Choose Us?
- More than 24 years crossing the Andes with you!
- Over 2,000 people have already lived this experience
- Professional staff, local guides, safe logistics
- Genuine connection to the Sanmartinian historical route
- Well-organized groups and personalized attention
- Leave-no-trace adventure: minimal environmental impact
Booking and Payment Policy
- A 20% deposit is required to book.
- The deposit is non-refundable in case of cancellation.
- The balance must be paid in full on the first day of the program.
Change and Cancellation Policy
Cancellation by the participant:
If the participant cancels, the deposit is non-refundable under any circumstances.
Request to postpone or change date:
If requested more than 15 days in advance, changes are allowed within the same season, preserving 100% of the credit.
If requested less than 15 days in advance, the deposit is lost. Any additional amount paid will be held as credit. This credit is non-refundable and non-transferable and can only be used for this program on another date within the same season.
Payment method:
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PayPal: Open the app and log in to your account. Choose “Send” and then Pay
Contact Us: request to book
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 Normally answers within a day
Cinthia: +54 9 261 306-8707
Mariana: +54 9 2622 23 0532
e-mail:
info@trekking-travel.com.ar
Instagram: @cruce_andes