Chile Horse Riding Trips in the High Andes

Andean Horseback Adventure

Day by day itinerary: 8 d/ 7 n

Price: US$1784 -1970 p/p
(double occupancy)

minimum 2, max. 8

Lovely Setting of the Hacienda

Riding the High Andes

Comfortable Accommodation

Description: Ride the paths of the Inca and gold diggers, right through the Andes and away from civilization. This horseback adventure offers three trips in seven days. You will explore the wild Sierra, the huge Andes and experience a romantic and pure nature. Hacienda Los Andes, which is under German and Austrian management, guarantees you a hundred percent Nature & Adventure in the sun.

INCLUDES: 3 nights camping in comfortable tents, 4 nights at Hacienda. All Meals & equipment experienced guides in English, German, Spanish, safety helmet, sleeping bag (with hygienic inner liner), Transport from La Serena to Hacienda Los Andes round trip

NOT INCLUDED: beverages & tips

DEGREE OF DIFFICULTY AND PHYSICAL CONDITIONING: Medium. Although this trip is for non-experienced riders as well, it will obviously be a bit more challenging for those new to the saddle. You have to be able to handle 5-6 hours in the saddle.

DAY 1 To the Hacienda

Transfer (14:30) from the colonial city La Serena to the Hacienda. Time for Jacuzzi, sauna, or a walk across the 1000 acre nature reserve. Dinner. Overnight stay / room with private bath.

DAY 2 The High Central Andes

American breakfast and meeting of the team. Briefing of the tour. You will get to know your horse and the Chilean riding style (similar to Western style). Riding tour through the valley Rio Hurtado finally reaching an idyllic mountain village. Picnic in the garden of the Plaza. Returning to the Hacienda through the Andean landscape. Dinner in front of the fireplace. Overnight stay at the Hacienda.

DAY 3

Breakfast. Packing saddle bags. Riding along the gold digger's path through the calmness of the Sierra and passing through lonely valleys. It leads us through canyons finally reaching the Andean plateau Oro Blanco, - white gold. In the afternoon, we leave the wilderness behind and stay overnight. We camp and have dinner under fig trees. Overnight stay in comfortable Hilleberg tents with inflatable sleeping-mat and warm sleeping bag.

Day 4-

Andean breakfast: homemade bread, goat cheese, sausage and fresh eggs. Starting from the oasis which is at a height of 2000 meters, we ride along the historic mule trail of the gold diggers up to the Andes. We are surrounded by a gigantic panorama, tremendous overlook and untouched nature. Lunch break at a spring. In the afternoon it takes us through a canyon to the Rio Hurtado. In the evening we reach the goatherd village Las Breas where we camp beside the river and have a camp fire.

Day 5- Breakfast with a family. After meeting the local people we continue our tour. The track winds through the wide Andean valley passing small, idyllic villages. Picnic in a small village inn. Returning to the Hacienda along shepherds paths. Time for Jacuzzi, a swim in the river or sunbathing under the palm tree. Dinner and overnight stay at the Hacienda.

Day 6- Big breakfast. Today, we are after another adventure with our horses: the Inca-trail. We cross two passes and visit the cave drawings of the Molle Indians who lived with the Inca. You will have a totally different landscape than before: Wide Andean plateaus, small valleys, natural meadows and animals. Picnic lunch. Passing the colorful Sierra and in the evening we are guests at a 120 years old, plain pioneer farm. Overnight stay in tents beside the mountain stream. Camp fire, meeting people, and stories.

Day 7- We experience the romantic and lonely Andes in the saddle. Along the Inca-trail we cross a pass and come through lonely valleys to the ceremony place Laguna. Glaciers and peaks are the features of this panorama. Picnic. We follow an ancient trading track which still leads to Argentina. Riding across a romantic Western style landscape for hours. Back at the Hacienda it is time for relaxing: sunbathing, swimming in the river, relaxing in the hammock. Dinner and overnight stay at the Hacienda.

Day 8- 8.00 am transfer to the airport in La Serena.