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If you’d like to cross the Andes on horseback in more comfort, opt for our cabin to cabin version!
Packhorses and an accompanying 4x4 pick-up truck will carry most of our luggage; more nights are spent in cozy cabins and the "El Paso mountain lodge" instead of in tent camps; and additional guides help with the tents, the cooking, and the horses. Of course, as on all of our rides, your help is always welcome.
Riding without luggage allows us to take a faster pace whenever the terrain permits, and the truck allows us to carry more personal items.
The route is basically the same as on our 9-day trail ride, except that in order to meet the truck and reach the cabins we have to descend into the valleys more often, bringing us into closer contact with civilization.
Cross the Andes on horseback with us and get the best of two worlds and two historic horse cultures!
From the snow-capped volcanoes of the Chilean Andes, through a pass in Icalma, to the open valleys of the Argentinean pampas, we'll explore and witness the landscape transition as we ride. Encounter smoking volcanoes, snowy peaks, deep blue mountain lakes, and dense, towering rainforests during this once in a lifetime experience.
On the Chilean side we'll experience steep mountains and endless virgin rainforests with our low, sturdy Chilean Criollo horses. Crossing the border, we'll witness the unique Argentinean gaucho lifestyle, the vast plains, and the dramatic cliffs where we can admire the majestic Patagonian condor.
1st day: 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.
2nd day: 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.
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On days 3-6 we 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.
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On the 7th 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.
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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.
On the 8th day we reach the Argentinean border control and later the cabins at Hernan's ranch.
We celebrate the end of the trek with a typical Argentinean barbeque while recounting our adventures from the past week and sharing our impressions of this experience of a lifetime.
On the 9th day we take 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.
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10th day: Transfer from Hernan's ranch back to Pucón, Chile were we pick up luggage and say farewell to Antilco and the horses that carried us in Chile. If desired, travelers may finish their trip in Argentina and travel on directly from Hernan's, or spend more days riding in the Argentine pampas
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Meeting point |
3.00 pm Pucon, pick up in Temuco Airport at additional cost |
Trail length |
10 Days, 9 nights, 8 days on horseback |
Number of Riders |
2 - 8 riders |
Type |
Cabin to cabin and tent camps; luggage is carried by pack horses and accompanying truck |
Riders Qualification required |
You should have medium physical condition, experience on horseback required. We ride up to 7 hours a day, walking, trotting and cantering. |
Accommodation |
6 nights in cabins, 3 nights in tent camps. |
Sanitary equipment |
Shower, water, and toilet on all days but 4th and 7th day.
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Food |
Complete food soft drinks from dinner on the first day to the farewell BBQ on the last riding day and breakfast on the return day. On the trail we have breakfast, a snack at midday and dinner at the campfire. We serve wonderful Chilean and Argentinean wines for dinner. |
Includes |
All transports from and to Pucón and Temuco, all fees, all equipment from spoon to tent and sleeping mats. For the tent camps we have first class equipment, Salewa and The North Face tents,Thermarest mats, warm and comfortable sleeping bags. |
Personal luggage |
Here is a suggestion of things to bring to the ride. Weight and volume limit for personal items, excluding sleeping bag, mat and tent: 5 kilo / 11lbs, 10 liters / 610 cubic inches. |
Heike Schiele, Von Chile nach Argentina und 12 Tagestour Januar 2009 heike_hcsch@yahoo.de
The trick is to be in the right place at the right time - and I couldn't have timed my visit to Pucon in Chile any better. From a friend in Germany I knew that Antilco had to offer some pretty good riding, but they exceeded all my expectations. 2009 was the first year with a 12 day ride and a crossing of the Andes from Chile into Argentina on offer. There was only one week between rides and I decided to do them both. I have been asked, which one was the better ride. And the answer is simply that they were both amazing in their own right and can't be compared easily. I loved them both for different reasons and would do them all over again given a chance. Anybody who wants to experience all the highlights Antilco has to offer should try and do both.
Sandra Kirst, Chile - Argentina Februayr 2010 sandra.kirst@gmx.net (
Traduced from German - check the original)
Hola mathias!
I’m back at home now and just wanted to say Thank you again. The Crossing the Andes Trail was truly unbelievable and exceeded all my expectations. Everything was wonderfully organized, the horses were great, and the team, Lena and Aldo, was fantastic. Nothing during my further travels through Argentina and Uruguay could compare with this experience.
muchas gracias por todo y suerte por tu vida!
sandra aus köln
Waleska Pavez, Chile to Argentina, January 2009 Pavez.W@zdf.de
(Traduced from German - check the original)
"A week after the Crossing the Andes tour and I’m still overwhelmed with impressiveness of the ride. The entire excursion was well organized, guides and helpers gave 200% and worked with heart and soul, the horses were great and in good shape, and the trails- in the middle of the woods where no one else rides!- could not have been better. All this made it a true once in a lifetime experience.
Muchas gracias, Mathias!!!!!"
More testimonials about the ride Chile into Argentina
Edward's description of his Crossing the Andes ride
Heike's description of her Ride across the Andes, Chile into Argentina
At almost any moment we can organize rides at different / additional dates with a minimum of 2 riders.
We do all our rides with a minimum of 2 riders, whenever we have a confirmed booking we put the date in the calendar so other riders can join.
Exception the Chile - Argentina rides where most departures are preassigned before the season; anyway sometimes we can add additional departures. Any daubts - please inquire.
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Chilean border control, 1.5 hours on horseback away from the actual border.
Until December we will still find snow on the passes
Argentinean landscape - more dry and open wide
Evening at a campsite in Argentinean pampa
© 2000 - Antilco - Cabalgatas en Chile y Argentina