This incredible 6 day journey in the El Morado area will take us into the high Andean Cordillera. We have designed this trip for those who wish to experience a true one week Andean horse-riding adventure. During the trip we will pass through high mountain ranges and visit beautiful valleys, rivers, springs, and rugged peaks. This is an exciting "trip of a lifetime" with a team of experienced guides and arrieros, exquisite food and plenty of music under the stars at our campsites. From our base camp located in the high mountains near sparkling streams and amidst an abundance of flowers and birds, we have a wide choice of incomparably beautiful rides. Also, if any member of the group does not wish to go on all the rides, the campsite is a lovely place to spend the day - the choice is yours: ride every day, or only on some days, as you prefer.

Day 1: Santiago - Lo Valdes

Early transfer from Santiago to Lo Valdes. This small mountain village lies at the foot of a spectacular mountain cirque with dramatic rock formations around and vertical plaques that drop over a crushing river. We meet the guide and horses and after some basic riding instructions, we start riding along an old mining road that leads us up to a hidden valley that reveals a fabulous view of hanging glacier. The Morado National Park of Chile, accessed from Lo Valdes (also known as Baños Morales), is famous for its red river and its glacier. Many tourists visit it, but we take a different approach, where we will barely see anyone else except perhaps a mountaineer. After a heavy winter this approach will be through snow, while after a dry winter, or later in the season, there will be less snow. We ride to the foot of the glacier where there is a lake, blue in late summer and frozen white in early summer. We picnic among dry rocks at the base and enjoy incredible views, both of the glacier and snow-covered peaks. We return to our camp in time to relax, read, bathe, play cards, photograph flowers to our heart's content. We settle into our campfire scene with a pisco sour and a hot evening meal while the horses are let loose to eat their fill of the rich grass. If the night is clear we will marvel at the night sky, glinting with the light of thousand's of stars.
Overnight camping. (BL, D)

Day 2: To the foot of Marmolejo

This ride is a little challenging, as we negotiate rivers, adding a touch of drama - though they are not difficult to cross and the horses are familiar with the terrain. From here we'll ascend, first through a flower carpeted valley and then over patches of snow (depending on the season) to a rocky picnic spot with a fantastic view of Marmolejo mountain. Once again, we ride down on time to relax and enjoy the late afternoon at our campsite. We spend the evening at the campfire and listen to the sounds of nature around us.
Overnight camping at the basecamp. (B, BL, D)

Day 3: To the fossil lake

This is the most challenging ride as although it is not difficult or dangerous, it is an immensely steep climb. The horses do not find it hard, but they need to rest from time to time as we climb the altitude very rapidly. The ride up is past an incredible slab of clean-cut stone, casting a dark shadow where it obscures the bright sun. When the horses reach the first ridge the vista below is almost unbelievable - as if studying a 3d map, or looking out from and airplane, we can see all the routes of the other rides, including the campsite with its little river Clarillo meeting the red Morado river and the tents, though they are hard to pick out as they are so small. It is enough for some people to have arrived here, to picnic and look at the view, but the more energetic will want to carry on for a short way ahead, over into the next valley. The last bit of the ride up from this ridge and over into an almost unknown high mountain valley is a little bit more difficult and for inexperienced riders it may be easier to make the short climb on foot. But the view, the lake and the fossils are sufficient reward for the hard core adventurers who press on this far.
Overnight camping at the basecamp. (B, BL, D)

Day 4: El Avion

This ride is so named because an airplane crashed into the side of the mountain in 1963, leaving no survivors. The passengers were local taxi-drivers and bus owners going on an expedition. There are fragments of airplanes on the mountainside still, glinting glass on the rocks and a moving metal cross placed by the families of the dead. Apart from this historical interest it is a ride full of beauty, to a high point where there is a vega, or meadow. It would be possible to ride on up to a mountain known as the Diablo, which is accessed from here by mountaineers. The ride goes up quite steeply past banks of incredible flowers. These vary with the time of year, but in January you should see wild alstromerias as well as ananucas (lily of the mountain) and a myriad of other flowers. Looking back we see the secret lake valley across the other side of the gorge and going down there is a bird's eye view of Lo Valdes.
Overnight camping at the basecamp. (B, BL, D)

Day 3: La Engorda Valley

We depart to La Engorda valley. This is a gentler ride, with no very steep or difficult pasages, although we'll cross the river twice on horseback. The valley offers an idyllic scene flower carpeted meadows sprinkled with grazing cattle and horses. We'll enjoy a picnic at the top end of the valley near the water and below the steep mountain before riding back down.
(B, BL, D)

Day 6: Riding down from the camp - Santiago

This is a 2 to 3 hour ride, easy but beautiful and with a small river to cross. We chose this route in order to have plenty of time to pack up and enjoy an easy ride on the day of departure. Evening transfer back to your hotel in Santiago.
(B, BL)

Rates per person valid through April 2009

Minimum number of participants: 2
Departures: November - March

Included:

5n camping, camping equipment, all meals while on ride, 1 english speaking guide, local guide(arriero), transfer Santiago-Lo Valdes-Santiago, entrance fee

Not Included:

Expenses of a personal nature, tips and gratuities, any kind of travel insurance, personal sleeping bag & pad not incl. (Rental available)

Rates may change without prior notice. Lower rates available for larger groups, please inquire.

For further information and booking inquiries please send us and e-mail.