We GUARANTEE you won't find the same horse riding holiday at a lower price through any other source... and if you do, we promise to refund the difference!
from £3,655 or €4,210
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Note: Rates are subject to daily exchange rate fluctuations, please refer to our Terms & Conditions for full details.
Included – All riding, guiding, accommodation, meals, soft drinks & wine with dinner during the ride.
Excluded – Flights, transfers, tips and other alcoholic drinks.
14 – 23 May
Private Groups – Other dates on request, this is a fantastic adventure to embark on with a group of friends.
Crossing The Andes Comfort Tour: Getting There
Arrival to & departure from Temuco airport
Transfer
They are included in the package at set times from Pucon.
Additional charge of £205 each way, group rate for pick up from Temuco airport.
If you would like to cross the Andes in more comfort you can opt for the lodge to lodge version with just 2 nights camping! Pack horses and an accompanying 4×4 truck will carry most of your luggage with nights spent in cosy cabins and the “Nevados de Sollipulli” Mountain Lodge.
Ride from the snow capped volcanoes of the Chilean Andes through a pass in Icalma, to the open valleys of the Argentinean pampas. You will explore and witness the landscape transitioning as you travel. Encounter smoking volcanoes, snowy peaks, deep blue mountain lakes and dense towering rainforests during this once in a lifetime experience.
Riding without excess baggage will allow you to go a faster pace whenever the terrain allows and you will descend into the valleys bringing you closer to civilisation in order to meet the 4×4 and reach your cabin for the evening.
Crossing The Andes Comfort Tour: Horses – The Criollo Chileno is the oldest registered breed in South America. They descend from the Iberian horses the Spaniards brought when they conquered Southern America. These horses have evolved in conjunction with the landscape and are perfectly adapted to mountain trekking. Short, with a low centre of balance, they are ideal for the steep ascents and descents of the Chilean Andes The word “Criollo” basically means a mixture of Spanish and native parts. This may refer to food, customs, horses and even people. Criollo Chileno must not be confused with other Criollo Breeds such as the Criollo Argentino, which has a similar name but is very different.
Level of Riding & Pace – Intermediate to advanced riders.
Tack – You will ride on typical Chilean “Avio” working saddles, designed for long days on horseback and are very comfortable for both rider and horse.
Weight Restriction – 100kgs / 15 stone 7 lbs / 220lbs. Please let us know if you are over this as we can arrange a second horse at an additional cost.
Crossing The Andes Comfort Tour: Group Size – Minimum 2 / Maximum 8
The cabins are rustic mountain style with cosy beds, shared bathrooms and kitchen areas. Some are more basic but they are all comfortable.
When you are camping, each 2 guests share a dome style tent complete with mattresses.
Breakfast and lunch are normally served out on the trail with plenty of bread, cheese, ham, fruit and salads. Dinner is at the campfire where wonderful Chilean and Argentinean wines will be served. The meat is usually beef although some lamb and goat may also be on the menu. Vegetarian and vegan diets can be catered for.
Horse Riding Holidays like this Crossing the Andes Comfort Tour expedition, are part of the Zara’s Planet collection of Horse Riding Holidays Chile.
Day 1
Pick up in Pucon or Temuco in the afternoon, welcome to the farm. Time to get to know the horses, tack, and equipment, and to get settled.
Day 2
We go for a day ride through the Mapuche Indian Community Quelhue, into the mountains of the Villarrica Forest reserve, and along the rapids of Trancura River to evaluate your riding experience, get familiar with saddle and tack, and to determine which horses to take to our great adventure. In the evening we enjoy a Chilean BBQ.
Day 3 – 6
Ride through virgin rainforests and dense stands of Coighue trees and bamboo and pass by crystal mountain lakes and gurgling creeks. The trails lead through the National Park Huerquehue, the National Forest Reserve Villarrica and the Mapuche Indian Communities of Reigolil and Icalma. Overnights at the natural Hot springs of Rio Blanco and on the shore of Icalma Lake.
Day 7 & 8
On the seventh day we return to civilization again and ride through the small Mapuche settlement of Icalma where we arrange custom formalities with the Chilean border control before heading into the mountains to cross the border to Argentina. High in the mountains at the border we say goodbye to our Chilean horses and the guides that led us to this magnificent place. Then we cross the border 10 meters on foot and greet Hernan and his wonderful Argentinean horses which will bring us through the unique world of the Argentinean Andes for the next two days.
We ride the valleys and cliffs of Argentina, watch condors pass us by, meet shepherds with their herds of cattle or goats and enjoy amazing views over the endless wide-open spaces of this uninhabited part of the world. On the evening of the 8th day, we reach the outpost were Hernan lives with his horses and which marks the end of our journey. We celebrate the end of the trek with a typical Argentinean barbecue while recounting our adventures from the past week and sharing our impressions of this experience of a lifetime.
Day 9
A farewell ride to the condor nests in the steep rocks north of the camp, and through the high plain pastures where the gauchos graze their herds of sheep and goats in the summer months.
Day 10
Transfer from Hernan’s ranch back to Pucón, Chile where we pick up luggage and say farewell to Antilco and the horses that carried us in Chile. If desired, travellers may finish their trip in Argentina and travel on directly from Hernan’s, or spend more day’s riding in the Argentine pampas.
All our horse riding holidays hold a price guarantee. We believe in your piece of mind on price when you book one of our horse riding holidays and will refund the difference should you find the same horse riding holiday elsewhere at a lower price.
If you are having trouble finding exactly the right horse riding holiday for you from our horse riding holidays collection, please contact us directly using the form below and tell us in your own words what you would like to do and we will use our extensive knowledge to make sure we find that perfect horse riding holiday.
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