A 14-day horseback trek includes:
9 days of trekking with 5 nights in the "Casa Azul" (double room), all meals (breakfast & dinner) and all activities beside the trek. The costs: 1'350 € exl. flight fare and transfer from Santiago de Chile to Rari.

The package is available to a min. of two / max. of six participants.

If you prefer typical Chilenean accommodations with a swimming pool, you can stay at the "La Casona", a little hostel right next door. This slightly more comfortable option costs -1500 € for a double room with breakfast & dinner.

Day-by-day itinerary

Day 1
Arrival from Santiago de Chile with transfer to Rari (4-5 hours). We welcome you with a fine Chilenean dinner, followed by a relaxing evening and a good night's sleep.

Day 2
After breakfast we brief you on the most important things you need to know about the country & its inhabitants. We evaluate your riding skills and assess your individual needs before assigning your a horse and equipping you with the necessary gear. On a first outing you become acquainted with your horse while getting an impression of the surroundings and the native way of life in the valley. You return late in the afternoon.

Day 3
The day begins with a 3-4 hour horseback trip to nearby destinations. In the afternoon you have the option of visiting Linares (the provincial capitol) to see a saddlemaker and hat maker at work at the local produce market or livestock market. After that we assist each other with the final trek preparations.

Day 4 / 1st trek day
We start off from the Rari Valley, cross the first mountain ridge and descend into the Rabones Valley. We ride upstream, passing countless little farms and hamlets, until we reach Robleria, a small pueblo village high on the valley shoulder, where we replenish our water supplies. We follow the river further up and set up our camp on the river banks. Then we take care of the horses, pitch the tents, build a fire and cook a tasty dinner. After about 9 hours in the saddle, we end the day with campfire stories under the stars.

Day 5 / 2nd trek day
We rise between 7 and 8 o'clock in the morning, with coffee and tea already steaming over the coals. After breakfast we saddle up and head off towards the Melado, an approx. 950 m high mountain range. Calm yet concentrated, we attack the steep and rugged ascent, but after a 3 hour climb we are rewarded with a breathtaking panorama of snow-tipped peaks and lush, green valleys. The following descent into the Melado River Valley is equally challenging. Upon reaching the floor of this wild, parrot inhabited place, we move upstream until we get to a customs office, not far from the Argentinean border. Livestock smuggeling is a thriving business in these parts, so after being registered by the customs officials, we continue upstream until we reach our siesta spot. There, in the shade, we have lunch and wait for the afternoon heat to pass, giving us and our animals a well deserved break. After a 2-3 hour rest, we saddle up again and head for Canales, a village named after its native shepherd family. When heading for the Andes, these friendly people are always well informed about what's happening in the mountains. We set up camp there and stay the night, enjoying the simple lifestyle of rural Chile. Again, we have spent 7-9 hours in the saddle.

Day 6 / 3rd trek day
After breakfast we begin with the actual ascent into the Andes. As we ride to Magin Alto via the Valle Grande, the landscape changes abruptly from fertile green pastures to a dry prairie like vegetation. The next 5 hours bring a constant change of gushing streams, juicy pastures and dusty prairie like scenery. We set up camp in Magin Alto, an idyllic green "island" in the mountains. Our horses need fresh food, and for the rest of the day we let them graze the pastures around there. Using this as a base camp, we will venture out to explore the region in star shaped day excursions.

Days 7-10 / 4th - 7th trek days
Over the next few days, the trek leader and local guide will decide on the exact routes of the daily trips. Depending on the weather, the depth of the rivers to be crossed, the physical shape and needs of the group, they will choose one of many destinations.
The hot springs of Socorro - for instance - are mineral rich waters of 34,5° C, originating from the cliffs of a small side valley. Two bathtub sized pools contain the spring waters, right next to a gushing, ice cold mountain stream. The warm pools are a delight, whereas the icy stream with its waterfall showers is a real heart stopper. After a siesta we ride back to Magin Alto over a nearby ridge, both ways taking a total of about 5 hours. If you like, you could explore the mountain world on your own. Or swim in the nearby river. Or go fishing. Or enhance our menue with the catch of a rabbit hunt.
Another possibility would be to continue ascending from Magin Alto to the Monte Negro, an extinct volcano, or to ride the challenging distance to the Rio Moula, or to move up one of the side valleys in search of a condor... Whatever it may be, by European standards the Andes range is seemingly boundless.

Day 11 / 8th trek day
After breakfast we saddle the horses and begin our decent. We ride via Canales into the parrot valley till we reach the foot of the Melados. Although we basically take the same way back, we try to ride it at different altitudes whenever possible for the greatest variety of impressions and encounters. After about 8 hours of riding and a hearty lunch break, we set up camp for the night.

Day 12 / 9th trek day
We cross the now familiar Melado range on a route that ist also used for livestock treks and head for the Rari Valley via Robleria and Rabones. We then have two route options, and depending on our mood and energy level we'll decide which one we'll take. Once we get back we remove the saddles, see to the horses, shower and discuss our trekking experiences over a nice civilized dinner.

Day 13
Sleep in, brunch, relax around the pool. If you haven't had enough yet, you can saddle a horse and ride out on your own. In the afternoon you have the option of joining a small excursion - to Hierbas Buenas, for example, a nearby Spanisch-colonial pueblo village, where you can enjoy the authentic Chilenean cuisine.

Day 14
Transfer to the airport or departure according to individual itinerary

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