Useful hints about your time in Chile:

Climate
Due to Chile's lengthy land mass you will find many different climatic zones, from subtropical, dry zones down to polar zones.
Climate is formed too by the ocean in the west and Andean mountain ranges in the east, generally you can say that Northern Chile is warm and dry, Central Chile has mild weather all year round and the southern part gets cold and wet in winter. Notice that as Chile is in the southern hemisphere, seasons are opposite to the seasons on the northern hemisphere.

Mail
Letters and cards need about 7 days to Europe or the US, even longer around Christmas. They all go by airmail. Please notice that on the horse trails there is no chance to send cards.
Internet is very common in every town, but don’t expect it on the trails.

Language
The official language is Spanish; there are some Indian languages in the north and Mapudungun which is spoken by the Mapuche Indians in Southern Chile. Communication without any Spanish knowledge is difficult, but as the Chileans are quite willing to understand, you can manage without. It’s not common to find someone who speaks English.

Electricity
The Voltage is 220 Volts AC. You need adapters with 2 round poles, which you can buy in almost any shop - for both European and US plugs.
On the riding trails there is no electricity, so make sure you carry enough spare batteries for your camera. We can charge batteries on the farm.

Tips
In Southern America a 10% tip is common in restaurants and bars. The tip for the local guides - which forms an important part of their income - should always maintain a relation with the quality of their efforts.

Links

About Chile

Lonely Planet - International travel guide

CONAF - Administration of national parks

Lodging

La Tetera - Charming and comfortable guesthouse
¡école! - Cozy hostel and excellent vegetarian restaurant
Youth Hostels Us and other cheap hostels you can book at Hostelbookers.com. No booking fees.

Pucón and surroundings

Language Pucón - The place to learn Spanish in Pucon( maybe Chile), focusing on "Spanish for Traveller"

Pucononline - Web cams, 360 degree pictures, hotel listing and good information about Mapuche Indians

Villarrica Volcano - Information about the nearby volcano

Trip advisor - Here you find independent traveller ratings of hostels , agencies and activities in Pucon

Mapuche Indians

Mapuche Culture Good information on history, culture, arts. In English

Weather in Pucon

Accu Weather
Yahoo! Weather

Horseriding
Mancha und Gato Info of the legendary ride 1925, Buenos Aires - New York

Horse riding pages in Chile

Horse trails Chile Page of Casa Chueca Hostel, organizing rides in the Andes

pantupikerauri Karin's girlfriend from schooldays, whom we just relocated, doing horse rides on Easter Island.

More horseridingpages You may find at the travel quest homepage, showing quality horse ranches from all over the world. Trail riding vacations, trekking with pack animals and more.

Volunteering options If you do not want to work with us or there is no more vacancy, you can find possibilities for free volunteering all around Southern America here .

Discoving Chile and Argentina in a motorhome Holiday Rent rents motorhomes and campers to discover even the most remote and astonishing courners of Chile in a independend way close to nature.