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Enjoy the views on this Andes Crossing from Mendoza to Chile
Crossing the Andes Mendoza to Chile
Andes Crossing on Horseback expedition
Andes Crossing on horseback
Andes Crossing on Horseback

6-Day Andes Crossing from Mendoza to Chile by Horse

By Andes Vertical
Free cancellation available
Price is AU$2,766 per adult
See tickets
Features
  • Free cancellation available
  • 6d
  • Mobile voucher
  • Instant confirmation
  • Selective hotel pickup
  • Multiple languages
Overview

This 6-day tour will allow you to cross the Andes on a horse. It is a unique experience and one of the best horseback adventure expeditions in the Andes. You will discover the wild side of the Central Andes on this amazing traverse from Mendoza to Chile. This tour includes a professional guide, transport, and accommodation.

Activity location

  • Mendoza
    • Mendoza, Argentina, Argentina

Meeting/Redemption Point

  • Mendoza
    • Mendoza, Argentina, Argentina

Check availability

Andes Crossing Mendoza-Chile
  • Activity duration is 6 days6d6d
  • English

Ride across the Andes through a forgotten Gaucho´s trail, in the footsteps of travellers such as Charles Darwin and Argentina´s Independence hero José de San Martín.
Pickup included

Starting time: 8:30 am
Price details
AU$2,766.06 x 1 AdultAU$2,766.06
Total
Price is AU$2,766.06

What's included, what's not

  • What's includedWhat's includedSatellite phone
  • What's includedWhat's includedStrong riding horses and saddles
  • What's includedWhat's includedPack horse support during the expedition
  • What's includedWhat's includedMeals (breakfast, box lunch and dinner)
  • What's includedWhat's includedTransfers in Mendoza and Santiago
  • What's includedWhat's includedMountain tents
  • What's includedWhat's includedDining tent (table, chairs and dinnerware service)
  • What's includedWhat's includedProfessional bilingual guide
  • What's includedWhat's includedOne-night hotel accommodation in Mendoza
  • What's includedWhat's includedFirst Aid kit
  • What's includedWhat's includedWelcome dinner
  • What's includedWhat's includedExpert local "arrieros" (gauchos)
  • What's includedWhat's includedOne-night accommodation in Cajón del Maipo (Chile)
  • What's excludedWhat's excludedTravel insurance
  • What's excludedWhat's excludedInternational transport
  • What's excludedWhat's excludedRescue cost or hospitalisation or medical cost

Know before you book

  • Not recommended for travellers with poor cardiovascular health
  • Not recommended for pregnant travellers
  • Public transport options are available nearby
  • Travellers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
  • Minimum age is 18 years
  • A current valid passport is required on the day of travel
  • Vegetarian option is available, please advise at time of booking if required
  • All participants will be required to complete a health questionnaire prior to the tour
  • Passport name, number, expiry and country is required at time of booking for all participants
  • What to bring:
  • Clothes:
  • Top and bottom underwear (Polypropylene or capeline), long sleeve shirts, fleece and windproof jackets (with a hood), down jacket, wool gloves, liner gloves, hat or cap, fleece hat, trekking pants, windproof Gore-Tex pants, lightweight and thick socks
  • Shoes:
  • Trekking boots ( Gore-Tex models recommended) and gaiters
  • Others:
  • Pair of glacier glasses with side cobres (100% UV), headlamp, sleeping bag, hiking poles, mattress, utensils, sun cream, lip balm, water bottles, large backpack, camera, batteries, personal hygiene kit, personal first-aid kit

Activity itinerary

Day 1: MENDOZA – MANZANO HISTÓRICO – SCARAVELLI
  • 1 stop
  • Meals: lunch, snacks
  • Accommodation: Accommodation on tents
Mendoza
  • 30m
Previous day You have to arrive in Mendoza a day before the departure date since we will need to check your equipment. We can offer you an additional night of accommodation if you have not arranged anything independently; we will help you to arrange the booking and add the cost to the total rate. The expedition begins with a meeting in which you will get to know the members of the trip. Then we will drive in a private vehicle (2 hrs) to the “Manzano Histórico”, located in the Uco Valley, in the southwest of Mendoza City. It is widely considered one of the top wine regions in Mendoza and all Argentina. In the Manzano Histórico, you will be able to visit the museum in memory of the Liberator San Martín. We will then go by car to the Refugio Portinari (National Gendarmerie), where you will meet the other guides and local muleteers that will be part of this spectacular expedition. There we will perform customs clearance and registration with the authorities of the National Gendarmerie. Dinner and bonfire at the refuge.
Day 2: ESCARAVELLI – PORTILLO ARGENTINO – REAL DE LA CRUZ
  • 1 stop
  • Meals: breakfast, lunch, snacks
  • Accommodation: Camping on tents
Valle de Uco
  • 6h
  • Admission ticket included
Breakfast and preparation of the horses to follow our route. This day we will climb the “Portillo Argentino”, rising up to 4380 m. There will be about two hours of uphill riding, with the reward of an astonishing view of the Andes and the border with Chile, then, after another 5 hours riding (mostly on a downhill trail), we will reach the valley of the Tunuyan River, where is the mountain shelter named “Refugio Real de la Cruz”. This shelter belongs to the Argentine Army and it is used by adventurers, porters, and mountaineers. We will spend the night there and enjoy an energising dinner. During the night, you may get to enjoy some songs and stories with the muleteers and travellers you meet in the refuge. This will be the longest day on a horse (8 hours approx.).
Day 3: Real de la Cruz
  • 1 stop
  • Meals: breakfast, lunch, snacks
  • Accommodation: Camping on tents
Tupungato
  • 6m
The third day will be an active rest day. You can decide whether to stay near the shelter or go on a short hike, accompanied by your guide, who will show you the local flora and fauna. After lunch there will be a demonstration of the gauchos’ cowboy skills (with ‘lazo’ and ‘boleadoras’). Dinner and overnight at “Refugio Real de la Cruz”.
Day 4: REAL DE LA CRUZ – EL CALETÓN
  • 1 stop
  • Meals: breakfast, lunch, snacks
  • Accommodation: Camping on tents
Valle de Uco
After breakfast, we will prepare the horses and mules for embarking the Tunuyán river crossing. The ride continues via an excellent viewpoint of Mount Tupungato (6800 metres) and then follows upriver the beautiful Palomares stream to the last of our campsites in Argentinean territory: The Caletón. If the weather allows, we can have a relaxing bath and “beauty treatment” in a stream with mineralized waters. Tonight is a good opportunity to sleep by the campfire and under the stars. Rest, night in tents.
Day 5: EL CALETÓN – INTERNATIONAL BORDER – TERMAS DEL PLOMO (Chile)
  • 1 stop
  • Meals: breakfast, lunch, snacks
  • Accommodation: Accommodation on bungalow
Cajon del Maipo
  • 6h
Departure towards the Argentinean – Chilean Border, this day presents another exciting challenge for our expedition. We will ride up to the Piuquenes step, at 4030 m, the boundary between Argentina and Chile. Due to customs regulations, the horses can’t cross from one country to the other, and so we will change horses at the international boundary. New Chilean horses and Chilean muleteers guides will lead us down to the El Plomo river in Chilean territory. After crossing the river, private vehicles will be waiting for us. We will drive to the Cajón del Maipo, the Embalse del Yeso (Yeso Reservoir) in San Gabriel where we will complete the customs paperwork at the Police office. Accommodation in a beautiful complex of cabins and farewell dinner at local restaurant.
Day 6: TRANSFER CAJÓN DEL MAIPO (Chile) / SANTIAGO DE CHILE
  • 1 stop
  • Meals: breakfast, lunch
  • Accommodation: Not included
Santiago
  • 3h
Transfer to Santiago and end of the programme. Optional transfer to Mendoza (please contact us to discuss).

Location

Activity location

  • LOB_ACTIVITIESLOB_ACTIVITIESMendoza
    • Mendoza, Argentina, Argentina

Meeting/Redemption Point

  • PEOPLEPEOPLEMendoza
    • Mendoza, Argentina, Argentina

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