Our Destinations
Letter Randocheval
Why travelling with Randocheval ?
ARGENTINA / CHILE : EXPERIENCE THE CROSSING OF THE ANDES CORDILLERA, WITH CAMPING ACCOMMODATION...
Itinerary - Extensions - Horses and required riding level
Guiding - Accommodation - Dates and rates - More infos / booking
A wild and rugged ride across the Andes
on fantastic horses. Join us on this spectacular 11 days crossing form
the wide open plains of ArgentinePatagonia to the rugges mountains, forests
and volcanoes of the Chilean Lake District. Ride through ancient larch,
beech and monkey-puzzle forests whilst learning about the area from your
guide. |
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It's a challenging ride, the first day is 7 hours in the saddle with a considerable amount of cantering. You must be capable of this to come on this ride.
Either you can cross the Andes in 11 or 8 days.
All along the year, you have the possibility to extend
your stay to the first estancia of the trip or go for a ride from estancia
to estancia in Argentina.
Special -100 € to -200 € discount depending departure dates !!
Special discount on all departures, limited spaces.
See our rates below
ITINERARY
CROSSING THE ANDES (11 days)
Day 1
You will be met at Chapelco airport, San Martin de Los Andes and driven
to the estancia (approx. 30 mins.). After a late lunch there will
be an afternoon ride. A chance to familiarize yourself with the horses,
the tack and the way we ride.
Day 2
A full day's ride on the Estancia with an "asado" lunch.
Follow the stream through its basalt canyons the water-meadows sending
the plovers and ibis screeching, before returning over the top of
Chenque Hill, where the Andes rise up behind you and hte vastness
of Patagonia stretches out before you.
Day 3 to 6
Set out the Estancia to Chile. The next 8 days will be spent crossing
from the wide open spaces of Argentine Patagonia over the Andes to
the thickly forested steep slopes of Chilean Patagonia. From the Estancia,
you'll ride for 4 days up into the Andes Steppes, you'll ford rivers,
pass through Indian reservations, ride over ridges from where you
think you can see the Atlantic and through magnificient rocky gorges,
you will gallop across water meadows and race along sandy tracks.
Nights will be spent camping by streams and rivers under the spectacular
stars of the Southern hemisphere.
Day 7
At lunchtime, at the base of Lanin Volcano in a forest of Monkey
puzzle trees you will reach the Argentine / Chilean border, where
our Chilean partners will be waiting for you. After immigration and
customs formalities you'll wave goodbye to Argentina and the horse
that has carried you to here and, after a 4km drive you'll start down
the western slopes of the Andes on your Chilean mount.
Day 8 and 9
The next 2days will be spent riding down through magnificient
Southern beech forests, with spectacular views of lakes and volcanoes.
The western slopes of the Andes are much steeper, the terrain very
different. Your hosts will be the gentle Chilean Huasos rather than
the flamboyant Argentine gauchos, the tack is different, the horses
as well. On the last evening you'll reach the Huife Hot Springs Hotel,
where comfortable beds, thermal pools, Jacuzzis and massages will
be waiting for you.
Day 10
There will be time for a final bath before transferring back to
the Estancia by road (about 4 hours). After a late lunch there will
be a ride on the estancia. By now you will be able to choose what
you would like to see most.
Day 11
A farewell ride to the Estancia before transferring to the airport.
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EXPRESS CROSSING OF THE ANDES (8 days)
Day 1
You will be met at Chapelco airport, San Martin de Los Andes and driven
to the estancia (approx. 30 mins.). After a late lunch there will
be an afternoon ride. A chance to familiarize yourself with the horses,
the tack and the way we ride
Day 2 to 5
Set out the Estancia to Chile. The next 8 days will be spent crossing
from the wide open spaces of Argentine Patagonia over the Andes to
the thickly forested steep slopes of Chilean Patagonia. From the Estancia,
you'll ride for 4 days up into the Andes Steppes, you'll ford rivers,
pass through Indian reservations, ride over ridges from where you
think you can see the Atlantic and through magnificient rocky gorges,
you will gallop across water meadows and race along sandy tracks.
Nights will be spent camping by streams and rivers under the spectacular
stars of the Southern hemisphere.
Day 6
At lunchtime, at the base of Lanin Volcano in a forest of Monkey puzzle
trees you will reach the Argentine / Chilean border, where our Chilean partners
will be waiting for you. After immigration and customs formalities you'll
wave goodbye to Argentina and the horse that has carried you to here and,
after a 4km drive you'll start down the western slopes of the Andes on your
Chilean mount.
Day 7
Continue riding down trough the magnificient Southern beech forest,
with spectacular views of lakes and volcanoes. The western slopes
of the Andes are much steeper, the terrain very different. Reaching
the final campsite at picturesque Puente Barras, were our hosts are
settled for many generations.
Day 8
Transfer back to Chapelco Airport or continue your tavel.
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EXTEND YOUR TRIP
Buenos Aires (3 days / 2 nights)
Rate : Cf. dates and prices section below
Included : 2 nights in a four stars hotel in Buenos Aires + breakfasts
To add : Transfers, meals, visits, personnal expenses.
Iguazu falls (3 days / 2 nights)
Between Argentina and Brazil, the Iguazu falls are 4 km long and 70 meter
high creating a spectacular scenery.
Rate :Cf. dates and prices section below
Included : flights from Buenos Aires to Iguazu and back (without
tax) + 2 nights in a four stars hotel in Buenos Aires + breakfasts
To add : Transfers, meals, visits, personnal expenses.
HORSES AND REQUIRED RIDING LEVEL
Horses
The horses from the Estancia are criollo crosses, part anglo-normando,
of about 15.5 hh. They are bred and trained on the Estancia, are sure
footed and generally well behaved.
At the border with Chile, you'll meet Chilian horses, issued from Criollo
crosses, as well behaved and sure footed.
Tack
The horses are neck reined and the riding is similar to western style.
The saddles used are "montura de monte" which are similar to
old english army saddles with sheepskin on top.
Required riding experience
On our ride across the Andes, you need to be advanced rider. The riding
is fast, the distances long, the rivers large, the views are vast and
days can be adventurous as they were in the early 1900's. And at the end
of the day remember you sleep under tent...
YOUR GUIDES
Guiding
You will be accompanied by gauchoes of the estancia until the border
between the Argentina and Chile. Once in Chile, our Chilean guides
Rodolfo and Carolina, native of the region, will relieve. It is
so the assurance to benefit from the best possible experience, with
Argentine guides in Argentina, and Chilean once the border past.
The frame of this ride is made in Spanish and in English. The owner
of the estancia where you will spend your first nights has some
rudimentary notions of French.
All along the ride, a telephone satellite allows to stay in touch
with the outside world in case of emergency.
Logistic
Each evening, a vehicle will wait for you at the campsite with
your luggages. However we ask rider to take with them the minimum
luggage as possible.
On day 9, the logistic vehicle cannot join us, and we shall have
to carry the equipment on our horses. This night there, we cannot
transport mattresses, and you can sleep as the gauchoes, on the
sheepskin!
We will provide you a smaller bag, to bring the necessary minimum
equipment :
- clothes for oneday
- light shoes for evening
- raincoat (remeber the climate is semi desertical on the argentine
side and tropical on the Chilian side)
- toilets needs
- swimming suit
- towel
- flashlight
- plastic bag for dirty clothes
You find again your luggage on day 10 to Huife.
ACCOMMODATION
Accomodation
The 2 first nights and 2 last nights will be spent to the Estancia in very comfortable rooms
and in Hotel on day 10. Each room has its own private bathroom.
During the ride, you'll be accomodate under double bedded tents. Sleeping
bags and mastresses are provided by our organization. You can bring you
own if you prefer.
Food
Lunch will be served as picnic or "asado". During the ride,
dinner will be "asado" (Chilian barbeque)
DATES AND RATES
| Express crossing of the Andes : 8 days / 7 nights | ||
| November 28 to December 5, 2008 |
|
available |
| December 13 to 20, 2008 |
|
available |
| December 27, 2008 to January 3, 2009 |
|
available |
Special discount on all deparres, limited spaces.
Only for riders who ask for a single room. Those who are willing to share, will not pay the supplement even if they are finally in a single room. Sometime required during the high season.
RATE INCLUDING
- the horse trekking as described with full board basis (drinks included),- transfers from and to Chapelco airport,
- english and spanish speaking guide,
- financial deposit guaranteed to Randocheval.
RATE NOT INCLUDING
- flights to Chapelco- supplementary nights
- any other services not mentioned in the program.
- The tips and personal expenses
- Optional insurance: more information .
BOOKING - INFORMATION
Contact Claire, the specialist for this destination
PRATICAL INFORMATIONS
COUNTRY
Argentina / Chile
LENGTH
Crossing the Andes:11 days / 10 nights
Express Crossing of the Andes:
8 days / 7 nights
LANGUAGE
English, Spanish.
GROUP SIZE
Minimum 4, maximum 12 riders.
ACCESS
Chapelco, connected with Buenos Aires.
CLIMATE
The southern winter is rigorous, faithful in it just like Patagonia, but the summer is rather sweet, in spite of altitude.
It is raining very rarely on that side of the Andes, you are thus almost insured to benefit from a dry weather from November till April.
Formalities
Check with your local Embassy according to your nationality.
Vaccins - Health
It is necessary to be up to date concerning your usual vaccinations, in
particular for the tetanus vaccine.
Remember that a repatriation travel insurrance is compulsory.
REFERENCE :CH106-Argentina-Andes-crossing
