Difficulty:
medium
Our goal on this four-day hike is to experience one of the most unknown
landscapes in Chile. It is as beautiful as any tourist sight between
Arica and Tierra de Fuego, however, untouched. On our trip we hike through
green meadows, pass between high mountain ranges, and see majestic condors
soaring above snow capped volcanoes. We encounter local families carrying
out their daily lives and taking care of their animals; it is possible
to watch them and take part in some of their activities. As an alternative,
eager cowboys can enjoy this excursion on horseback. Our camp is situated
next to the hot spring of Socorro, which is ideal for a relaxing afternoon.
It is a hikers' paradise!
Day
1
We travel 115 km on gravel road to arrive in the hidden valley of Melado
at our Lamalodge. A short hike shows us the rich diversity of the native
Maulean forest.
Day
2
By 4WD we go to the southern end of the Melado valley. After 6 h of
hiking over grassy hills with superb views of the Andes, we arrive at
the natural hot springs of Socorro, where we set up our Camp. Here we
are often joined by local arrieros, who share with us stories about
their daily life.
Day
3
To avoid the heat we leave early in the morning. After a short hike
to the north we enter the green valley of Río de los Puentes.
The ancient Puelche Indians used to trade the volcanic obsidian stones
to their sacred Calabozo valley. There are still hundreds of stone carvings
and paintings to be seen. We pass by the beautiful San Pedro Waterfall
and set up our tents next to the snow-covered volcano.
Day
4
We hike back to our four-wheel-drive vehicle and travel all the way
back to Talca.
