Previous day (not included)
You have to arrive in Mendoza a day before to departure date. It’s necessary to check the equipment. Trekking Travel offers you add one night of accommodation, they can help you with this reservation and add this cost to the total rate.
Day 1: Mendoza - Historic Manzano (horseriding starts)
Transfer from the city of Mendoza to the Historic Manzano (130 kilometers). Reception and presentation of the group of guides and baqueanos who are part of this spectacular journey on horseback. A sillero horse is designated per person and the great crossing begins. Arrival at the Portinari Refuge, (National Gendarmerie). Here the customs procedures and registration are carried out before the authorities of the National Gendarmerie. At noon, you will get a lunch box-type lunch. In the afternoon, in the Scaravelli Refuge (called Real La Mula Muerta), you will prepare the camp to spend the first night in the mountain range. Dinner and stove.
Day 2: Scravelli - Protillo Argentino - Valle Rio Tunuyan
Breakfast and enlistment of the horses to follow the route. This day you will climb El Portillo Argentine, ascending to 4380 meters to continue to the Valley Tunuyán River, where you rest after a demanding crossing. This day is the most extensive and the most demanding of the expedition (8 / 9 hours approximately). When the night comes, you will enjoy an energizing dinner that will surely be adorned by the experiences of this day of adventure.
Day 3: Tunuyan River Valley
The third day will be destined to rest. You can choose to stay in the vicinity of the camp or take a reconnaissance trek accompanied by the guide, identifying native flora and fauna. In the afternoon, riding on horseback you will visit the Laguna de Los Patos, and return to the camp. Dinner and overnight in tent.
Day 4: Tunuyan River Valley - El Caleton
After breakfast, you will start the Tunuyán river crossing. The ride continues to the viewpoint of the Tupungato volcano and then, following the Palomares river, to El Caletón or Piedras Coloradas. In this place you will set up the camp to share a dinner in the light of the stars. Night in tent.
Day 5: El Caleton - International Border - Parque Del Yeso
Departure towards the Argentinean / Chilean Border. Another big challenge lies ahead on the fifth day. Departure to Step Piuquenes to 4030 meters, boundary between Argentina and Chile. At noon you will enjoy a unique lunch at the border marker. At the border, you have to change the mules who carry loads (they are prohibited cross the border). New Chilean mules and Chilean muleteer guides will lead you going down to the river El Plomo in Chilean territory, the final leg of the expedition. After crossing the river, private vehicles are waiting for you. Transfer by minibus to the Cajon del Maipo, coasting the Yeso dam to San Gabriel Village where are customs formalities where you complete customs paperwork at the police office.
After 11 kilometers from the customs office, you will get to the accommodation in a beautiful complex of cabins and a farewell dinner at a local restaurant.
- Trek: Approximately 7-9 hours / 14-16 kilometers
- Waypoint: Piuquenes pass 4030 meters. Crossing the river Yeso. End in Parque del Yeso or Termas del Plomo 3000 meters.
- By car: Yeso / San Gabriel Cajon del Maipo 1260 meters
Day 6: Transfer Cajon Del Maipo (Chile) / Santiago De Chile
After breakfast, transfer to Santiago de Chile. Leave the group of expeditionaries in the bus terminal Alameda.
Notes
Level of riding: moderate difficulty
A specific riding skill is NOT necessary to realize the Andes crossing on horseback, you don't need any previous instruction or practice.
Horseback riding trips have been designed for all members of the public (expert or beginner). The horses are tame and calm and they are used to mountainous paths.
The difficulty is given to the conditions that the mountain shows. The path is irregular and narrow in some sections. The activity is hard for geographical and weather difficulties. It’s possible to find high temperatures, winds, snow, sun, rain, and other inclement weather. You must be strong to cross all these situations and the lack of everyday conveniences.
Physical conditions
It doesn't matter how athletic you are, you need to be in good health condition, so that you can enjoy a 10 days expedition in direct contact with nature, far away from daily comfort or commodities (For example It is necessary to mount and get off a horse many times a day, sleep in tents, etc.).
Difficulty
The land, you will cross shows permanent irregularities for example crossing of rivers, ascents and descents through narrow and steep paths, these conditions raise the difficulty to a "difficult level", but this is not a difficulty for the horses, as these same horses are mountain horses who are used to the mountains climbs.
The days vary between 6 and 8 hours on horseback. The maximum altitude above sea level reached 4500 meters. This Andes crossing is in the category "moderate difficulty".