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ITINERARY
ANDEAN CROSSING ON HORSEBACK
ITINERARY
The
guides for these trips are "Arrieros", who are true cowboys, men
who have worked with cattle and horses in the mountains all their
lives
DAY 1. Santiago - San
Alfonso
Arrival in Santiago, and
transfer to San Alfonso, a village around 1 1/2 hours drive south east of
Santiago in the mountains. Oovernight at the Cascada de las Animas, a
local horse ranch.
DAY 2. San Alfonso
-Argentina
After breakfast, transfer in
vans to "la Panimavida" from where the ride starts in the
direction of the Piuquenes pass on the border of Chile and Argentina at
4024m. This border crossing in the cordillera opens into one of the most
beautiful and colourful valleys of our ride. Campsite El Chocolate.
DAY 3. Refugio de la Cruz
Today we have a gentle descent
through the valley of the river Palomar, before crossing the river
Tunullan. Often, as we come down from the frontier pass, we see thick snow
blown into a form of drifts known as "penitentes" - named by the
Conquistadores because the small peaks whipped up by the wind looked like
the starched white head-dresses of the Penitentes in Spain. Campsite:
Refugio de la Cruz.
DAY 4. El Tacho
We traverse along the valley
of the Tunullan River which we cross again. In rainy years the high Andes
are covered by deep snow, which makes the riding slow and cautious. The
guides go ahead testing the terrain. Campsite: El Tacho.
DAY 5. Corrales Negros
We ascend up through the Cien
Vueltas (100 turns) to the Corrales Negros. Campsite: Vega Corrales
Negros.
DAY 6. Salinillas
Today we ride through the
valley of the Marmolejo River until we arrive at the valley of the
Salinillas, and cross the same river. Campsite at "El rial de los
Chilenos' .
DAY 7. Torrecillas
Departure in the direction of
the Torrecillas, gigantic wind-carved castles of pink and rose-coloured
stone rising around a beautiful clear river. On the way we shall see white
gleaming rock masses high above us which have been shaped and chiseled
into the appearance of ancient man-made dwellings. Campsite: La Vega de
Torrecillas.
DAY 8. La Vega de
Torrecillas
In the morning we go for a ride and in the afternoon we can relax in this
beautiful site, perhaps swim, read or in some cases sing and dance by the
camp fire. Campsite: La Vega de Torrecillas.
DAY 9. Las Overas
From the Torrecillas we ride
across the wide canyon of the Colorado River. The canyon has gleaming pink
rock, shining with the minerals in the rock. We ride towards Las Overas,
where it is usual to see large groups of guanacos, the handsome wild
camelids of South America. Campsite: Las Overas.
DAY 10. Laguna del Diamante
We cross the valley of the
Papal River before finally arriving at the Laguna del Diamante. This is
one of the highest points of the ride and our path takes us past thick
clumps of llareta, which only grows above 3000 metres. Campsite: Las
Enumeradas.
DAY 11. Las Enumeradas
Ride to the Laguna del
Diamante. This spectacular lake can often be seen from the air as you fly
into or out of Chile. It is possible to bathe in the lake although the
water is very cold. Campsite: Las Enumeradas.
DAY 12. Laguna de Alvarado
We ride through the valley of Maipo Volcano before crossing back into
Chilean territory through the Alvarado pass to the south. Here the
landscape becomes steeper and softer and filled with flowers. (3400m).
Campsite: Laguna de Alvarado.
DAY 13. San Alfonso
Along the Alvarado canyon, with its incredible rock formations, we cross
the Maipo River through the valley of the Maipo towards the Cruz de Piedra
(stone cross), and the Chilean frontier control, where our vehicles will
be waiting to take us back to Cascada de las Animas for a farewell dinner
and last night's accommodation.
DAY 14. Santiago
Transfer to Santiago airport
for your return flight home.
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