CROSSING THE ANDES

10 Nights| From €4,785 per person sharing | Pucon, Chile

RIDE FROM CHILE TO ARGENTINA IN NORTHERN PATAGONIA

OVERVIEW

Combining the three main landscapes of the northern Patagonia: lush virgin rainforests, the glacier world of Sollipulli Volcano and the open wide high planes of Argentina.

From the snow-capped volcanoes of the Chilean Andes and the majestic crater of the dormant Sollipulli through a pass in Icalma, to the open valleys of the Argentinean pampas, we'll explore and witness the landscape transition as we ride.

Encounter smoking volcanoes, a deep blue glacier, snowy peaks, deep blue mountain lakes, and dense, towering rainforests during this once in a lifetime experience.

LET’S RIDE

TRIP HIGHLIGHTS

Incredible adventurous riding
Visit two countries
Blend of comfort and camping
Pack-horse supported in Chile
Ride epic glaciers
Ride around the crater of Sollipulli volcano
Swap horses at the border
Swim in glacial lakes and hot tubs some nights
Traditional Argentine Asado (barbeque)

OVERVIEW

RIDE GUIDE

Duration: 11 days / 10 nights / 10 days riding

Cost: €4,785 per person sharing. No single supp available.

Operator: Antilco

Languages: You must speak fluent english to join our rides

Max Riders: 6

Min Riders: 6

Departing: Pucon Airport, Chile

Riding Level: Experienced. Many years riding with a natural seat. Comfortable riding at height over uneven ground in open spaces. You should be generally fit and able to lead your horse on steep ground where necessary.

Weight Limit: Maximum of 90kg / 198 pounds in your riding clothes and boots.

Time in the saddle: 2 - 8 hours a day. You will need to walk for extended periods on the mountain where the terrain is very steep.

HORSES

The ranch has 20 horses, all of them Criollo Chilenos and crossbreds. While some of them are registered, most are "ordinary" working horses. The Criollo Chileno are perfectly adapted to the landscape. Short with a low center of balance they are ideal for climbing the mountains of the Chilean Andes. They are extremely sure stepping and not nervous at all, no reaction to thunder, dogs or whirring cameras. They have a tendency to search for closeness to their riders.

The horses roam and graze freely throughout two large paddocks (a 12-acre pasture on the riverside and a vast, 70-acre field in the mountains) and several smaller 2-acre paddocks beside the house. They range free as a herd all year round and have an open stable available to them where they can seek shelter during the winter. During the summer months, rich pasture and plentiful grass form the staple of their diets, though they are supplemented with corn and oats when they work.

ACCOMMODATION

Night 1: Twin room cabin at the ranch (shower and loos)

Night 2, 4, 7, 8: Simple tents

Night 3: Twin rooms in a cabin at Rio Blanco (shower and loos, and hot springs)

Nights 5 + 6: Twin dome cabin at “Nevados de Sollipulli” (shower, loos, hot tub)

Night 7: Twin room cabin on Lake Icalma (shower and loos, lake swims)

Night 9: Twin room cabin (shower and loos)

WHAT'S INCLUDED

All meals, shared accommodation, horses, guides, wine with meals.

WHAT’S EXCLUDED

The price does not include airport transfers, international or domestic flights, mandatory travel insurance, or staff tips (which are optional but appreciated).

TRANSFERS

Private Transfer from Temuco airport at set time of 3pm are €200 for a car of up to 6 guests.

RIDING

You will be an experienced rider with good horse sense, good with heights, comfortable riding rough terrain.

We ride up to 8 hours a day. In difficult passages, we may lead our horses walking on foot.

Some canters and short gallops are possible in flatter parts, especially in Argentina portion, in the mountainous areas the pace is mostly at a walk or trot.

We are using all local Chilean saddles and gear. Most of this equipment is made by our local saddle maker from Villarrica.

We use typical Chilean "Avio" working saddles, designed for a long days on horseback. Those saddles are very comfortable for both rider and horse. The base is a wooden frame held together by pieces of metal in the front and back. The seat is formed by a broad band of rawhide tied in between the frame. It is covered by a wool-filled pad, followed by 2 - 6 layers of sheep fleece and a leather cover. All parts are strapped together by the "cincha" which holds the saddle on the horse's back.

The original Chilean stirrups are made of wood and are beautifully carved. Unfortunately, it is hard to fit your foot securely inside unless you're wearing the traditional pointed boots of the Chilean Huaso. Our saddler makes extra wide leather-covered "capacho" stirrups, so that wider shoes, like hiking boots, can easily fit. They offer good protection while riding through bushes and prevent branches and vines from tangling about your foot. We can also provide classical open stirrups for those who desire them.

You can find bridles and reins made of many different materials across the Chilean countryside, including leather, PVC, and ropes. We use the traditional hand-plaited reins, inox bits, and simple rawhide headstalls. Some of our horses are trained to be ridden without a bit; just slip on a halter or a rope and jump on. You can try out this method in the pasture if you like!

While trekking, all gear is packed in saddlebags we make ourselves (sewed on our 1936 Singer) out of sturdy leather. Tents and sleeping bags are stored inside waterproof bags to protect against rain and horse sweat, and then placed within canvas sacks and attached behind the saddle across the horse's rump.

MEALS

All food and soft drinks from dinner on the first day to breakfast on the last day. On the trail you have breakfast, a snack at midday and dinner at the cabins/ lodge. You are served wonderful Chilean and Argentinean wines for dinner.

Not included: spirits at the bar at Sollipulli lodge.

In Chile and Argentina, meals in general are heavily meat based but they frequently cater for vegetarians and vegans.

Please let us know in advance of any restrictions or allergies.

WHAT TO PACK

You are provided all gear from spoon to tent. We use Robens lodge 2 tents for single occupation and Robens lodge 3 tents for double occupation.the mats are Decathlon Quechua self inflating

The bags are from Chilean brand Doite model “Alpine”.

Luggage is carried by packhorse in Chile and accompanying truck in Argentina.

The weight/volume limit for personal luggage is 6 kg/13 lbs/10 liters. You pack two bags, 6 kg/13 lbs/10 liters each, one for the Chilean leg, one for Argentina. You are provided with waterproof bags that fit in our leather saddlebags.

We carry the luggage in saddlebags and on packhorse. Your personal luggage you will be packed into a waterproofed bag that fits into the saddlebag. You will pack one bag for the Chilean leg of the ride and another for the Argentinean part. On the last day in Chile we will meet a supply truck which will bring the second bag.
The weight limit per bag is 5 kilos/10 liters - 11 lbs/610 cubic inches, not including tent, mat and sleeping bag.
You can make the Argentinean bag a little bigger as we will have a accompanying car moving the luggage in Argentina.

All the luggage you cannot take with you on the ride stays safely stored away at the home ranch and we bring it with us on the last day in Argentina.

Packing list suggestions for trail rides
The luggage you bring on the ride should fit our waterproof packroll of 20x12x12 inches.

• Sun block
• Torch (flashlight), water bottle (we can provide if you let us know).
• Hat or cap, best with wide rim.
• Sun glasses (compulsory on the Chile - Argentina ride)
•Swimming suit, towel.
• Rain gear: we suggest you bring waterproof trousers and jacket, we provide additional rain ponchos which are great on horseback, but may not be suitable for the time you're not riding.
• Riding trousers: jeans or trekking trousers are perfect for the kind of riding we do.
• Shoes: Light trekking boots, best if they are high enough to protect your ankles.
• Fleece clothes to keep you warm during the cool nights in the Andes. Bringing several layers is the best option so that you can easily adjust to the temperature.
• For rides outside in the main season (which is January, February, March) and in the high Andes we strongly recommend that you bring warm underwear.
• We provide half chaps, though if you prefer your own gear, you are welcome to bring it.
• We do not provide riding helmets. If you are used to wearing one please bring your own, as they are not common in Chile and it will be hard to find one in a shop.

Weight and volume limit for personal items:

2 x 5 kilo/11 lbs (not including tent, mat and sleeping bag), one package for the Chilean leg, one for the Argentinean leg of the ride. Before the ride each rider packs 2 bags, one for the Chilean part, a second for the Argentinean part of the trip. On the last night in Chile, the supply truck brings the second bag and returns the first bag to the farm.

If you prefer to bring your own sleeping bag, tent or mattress, the size/weight should not exceed:
Bag: 40 x 20cm( 16x8 inches) and 2kg ( 4.4 lbs )
Mattress 30 x 15 (12x6 inches) / 1kg ( 2.2 lbs )
Tent 60x15 (24x6 inches) / 3.3kg (7.3 lbs )

INTERNET

Download an e-sim from Airalo and install before you arrive to be connected..

Use our code BLACKS3976 to receive $3 off your e-sim credit.

CELL RECEPTION

Both Movistar and ENTEL work on:

Day 1 At the ranch

Day 3 Evening at the camp

Day 4 Evening at the camp

Day 7 Evening at the camp in Chile, no reception during the days and even at the camps not guaranteed, as sometimes the antennas don’t work.

Same with electricity. On days 3,4,5 electricity is “homemade”. Sometimes turbine/generator does not work. Bring a battery bank.

Days 8-10 sometimes.

In Argentina there is reception in some places during the ride and at the ranch on Day 10.

DEPARTURE DATES

Each ride is €4,785 per person

2025 DATES

26 Jan - 05 Feb 2025 Black Saddle Exclusive Pioneer Ride with photographer

February 9 to 19, and

March 16 to 26

Fill in an obligation-free Rider Profile with your preferred dates and we will get back to you with availability.

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NORTHERN PATAGONIA

WEATHER + CLIMATE

Generally speaking the Andes in southern Chile are not as high as further north. The highest peaks around are Volcano Villarrica with 2,860 m (9,380 ft) 14 km/8,6 miles away and Lanin with 3,776 m (12,388 ft) 70 km/44 miles away.

Temperature in Chile varies a lot with the hight and whether we have sunshine or clouds. As a general rule they have high temperatures only with direct sunshine, as soon as the sun disappears, at night or because it's cloudy, temperatures drop immediately.

In Pucón and on the ranch from January to March you can count on 25 degrees Celsius up in the day. At night temperatures go down to 10-15 degrees.

January is the driest month with 94 mm of precipitation.
February has an average maximum temperature of 23°C and is the warmest month of the year.

Pucon is situated on the entrance of a huge valley that reaches right into the center of the Andes at a height of 200meters/660 feet above sea level.

The main house is at 350 meters/1150 feet. Behind the paddocks the mountain within 1.5 kilometers/ 0.9 miles rises to 1200 meters/4000 feet.

On the trails we cross passes at about 2000 meters/6600 feet but ride into lower regions for the night camps.

ITINERARY

This itinerary is intended as a guide only. Your hosts may change the itinerary to take advantage of weather conditions.

Pick up in Pucon at 1.00 pm or Temuco airport at 3.00pm , welcome to the farm. Time to get to know the horses, tack and equipment, and to get settled.
We enjoy dinner at the ranch house.
No riding today. One hour driving.
Overnight at the ranch with cell reception.
We take an initial ride through the Quelhue mountains and along Liucura River to evaluate your riding experience, get familiar with the saddle and tack and determine which horses to take on our great adventure.
Lunch back at the ranch with time to pack the saddlebags.
In the evening we ride to our first camp at Renahue.
Overnight at tent camp overlooking Lake Caburgua with no cell reception
We cross the first of three mountain ranges on our trail towards Argentina.
At night we camp beside the natural hot springs in Rio Blanco Valley.
Overnight in a simple camp. Some cell reception in the evening.
We ride through virgin rainforests and dense stands of Coighue trees and bamboo crossing the 2nd range.
The night we spent in a tent camp at a mountain farm at the Mapuche Indian community “Flor de Valle”
Overnight in a simple camp with some cell reception in the evening
We ride along the slopes of Sollipulli volcano, overnight in the mountain lodge “Nevados de Sollipulli”.
Overnight in stunning dome mountain huts with hot tubs and cell reception
On rocky slopes we ride to the top of Sollipulli volcano, reaching its 2.5 miles wide crater filled with a 660 feet deep glacier.
We return to “Nevados de Sollipulli” lodge for another night and a relaxing bath in the hot tubs.
Overnight in stunning dome mountain huts with hot tubs and cell reception
We cross the last range in Chile, return to civilization riding through the small Mapuche settlement of Icalma where we stay overnight at a beautiful cabin on the lake-shore.
Here we meet the supply truck that brings our luggage bag for the next days in Argentina.
Overnight in twin cabins with some cell reception.
We arrange custom formalities with the Chilean border control and ride into the the last mountain that separates us from Argentina.
Here, right on the continental watershed that defines the border with Argentina we say goodby to our Chilean horses and the guides that led us to this magnificent place.
We walk 20 meters on foot and meet Hernan and his wonderful Argentinean horses that will carry us through the unique world of the Argentinean Andes for the next three days.
Overnight in simple camps with some cell reception
We ride the valleys and cliffs of Argentina, watch condors pass us by and enjoy amazing views over the endless wide-open spaces of this uninhabited part of the world.
Overnight in tent camp with some cell reception
Today we ride a high plane with chances for extended canters. in the evening we reach the outpost were Hernan lives with his horses and which marks the end of our journey.
We celebrate the end of the trek with a typical Argentinean BBQ.
Overnight at Hernan's ranch in cabins with cell reception.
After breakfast we transfer back to Chile.
We can bring you to Temuco city (1.00 pm) or Temuco airport (1.30 pm) or Pucon (3.30 pm).
No riding today. Two hours driving.

PRICES & AVAILABILITY

Each ride is €4,785 per person

2025 DATES

26 Jan - 05 Feb 2025 Black Saddle Exclusive Pioneer Ride with photographer

February 9 to 19, and

March 16 to 26

Fill in an obligation-free Rider Profile with your preferred dates and we will get back to you with availability.

HOW TO BOOK

Saddles are reserved with a 20% deposit. The balance is due 90 days before the ride.

Cancellation Terms

More than 90 days in advance the full deposit is returned net of bank charges and a €250 cancellation fee per rider to cover our time spent organising your holiday.

90 - 61 days in advance the deposit or 20% of the full amount is forfeited.

60 – 0 days in advance 100% of the full amount is forfeited.

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