Difficulty:
medium (suitable for beginners)
This adventurous
horseback ride not only takes you through an amazing countryside but
also allows you to share the experience of the "Huaso" lifesyle.
At night, whilst sitting around a campfire you drink Mate tea and share
dried meat with the Huasos (the Chilean cowboy). The contact with the
rural population, who only use horses for transportation, is a unique
experience and makes this trip far into the breath-taking scenery of
the Chilean mountains quite unforgettable.
There are also opportunities to undertake other optional and rewarding
daytrips from the huts.
Day
1: Departure to Refugio Rabones
Meet at Casa Chueca. After a 1-hour drive we arrive at the beautifully
located Refugio Rabones. There is a delicious "arriero" style
barbecue.
Day
2: Rabones Valley
Our adventure starts. (You don't need any previous horseback riding
experience for this trip. We choose your horse according to your horseback
riding abilities!) We start the morning with an introduction on dealing
with horses. Since in Chile horses are such an important element of
daily life they are quite used to relating to people, and you won't
have difficulty controlling them. A short ride in the surrounding area
will help you get used to your horse (and vice versa!) After lunch we
ride through the green Rabones Valley to the simple Ancoa hut.
Day
3: Ancoa Valley
Having prepared everything the day before we are now able to start the
"real" tour. Our first full day trip leads through virgin
forests along the Ancoa River to the Refugio Melado. A wild landscape
with native forests, crystal clear rivers and rough mountains surrounds
the ice-covered Lastima mountain range. Rare species of trees, cactus
and parrots are waiting in an almost untouched National Park. Our cabin
is located right in the middle of this fascinating beauty spot. Overnight
stay in dormitories.
Day
4: Melado Valley
On day 4 we cross the pass to the Refugio Lamalodge. This stage leads
us through an amazing Southern Beech Tree forest (an indigenous species),
up a 2000m high pass and along a spectacular trail further down to the
Melado River valley. This area of 2,450 km is very sparsely inhabited
area and contains different kinds of landscape. Hot Springs, snow-covered
mountains, forests, torrential rivers and small farms with hospitable
people far away from civilization are waiting for us at the end of our
trip. Overnight stay in a small wooden hut.
Day
5: Maule Valley
The last day takes us over a 1000m high pass to the northern valley
of the Maule River. Our driver is waiting for us and takes us back to
Casa Chueca.
