Descabezado Grande Volcano -
3.830 m (5 days)

Difficulty: medium

A five-day trekking through the Andes of central Chile leads you through woods, lava and desert. We have to cross rivers, can bathe in warm springs and camp near a waterfall. Climbing up the 3,830-metre-high volcano Descabezado Grande will be a highlight. The tour is technically simple, but a good condition would be helpful - if you feel you haven't got it, you will certainly have it after the climb! Our equipment will be transported as far as the last camp by horses. You will only have to carry your backpack for the day. You can also enjoy part of the tour on the back of a horse.

Day 1: Deer Valley
2-hour-transfer, beginning at the Casa Chueca in Talca, to the Altos de Lircay National Park. Slightly ascending we will hike through southern beech woods to Mirador (look-out) over the almost 1,000-metre-deep canyon of Claro river. On serpentines we will walk down the gorge on a small path. After about 7 to 8 hours of walking we will build up our tents for the night.

Day 2: High Camp
We will climb up the Deer Valley and cross the Blanquillo River several times. After about 7 hours we will set up our camp at the bottom of the volcano in the middle of a breath-taking desert.

Day 3: Summit
We will labour up the steep slope to the edge of the crater. It is several kilometers wide and full of bizarre icicles. We will enjoy the fantastic view of Andean peaks and descend to warm springs, the site of our camp that day.

Day 4: Despalmado Waterfall
A day for relax. A four-hour walk to the waterfall of Despalmado will lay us where could be the most beautiful camp on the tour.

Day 5: Vilches and National Park
A hard last day. In about 7 hours we will climb up the 1,000 metres of height in the canyon of the Claro River and return to our starting point: Vilches, the entrance to the Altos de Lircay National Park. Transfer to Talca.

Service includes: tent, food, transport of luggage on horseback, transfer, entrance fees, tour guide.