Central Chile: Day Tours

Off the beaten tourist paths, but only three hours away from the capital Santiago, the region of Maule is awaiting you with incomparable natural beauty. In Talca -the capital of the region- you will find busy shopping streets, a beautiful square in the centre and a lot of old colonial buildings. The area that surrounds Talca is home of the Huasos, the Chilean cowboys. And there are a lot of sleepy haciendas from colonial times...

Due to the Mediterranean climate, long and warm summers from November to April are virtually guaranteed. There are lots of vineyards to visit; the Pacific Ocean coast can be reached in a slow train; virgin forests cover the majestic mountains of the Andes... all this combines to create the recreational oasis of this region. Being the transitional zone between desert and rainforest the region has an extremely varied flora and fauna: rainforest, enormous sandhills, cactus, elegant black-necked swans and cute penguins, and finally the proud king of the Andes: the condor.

DO IT YOURSELF: This program consists of a basic package to which you can add destinies and activities for the day, according to your interests.

Basic Package

Altos de Lircay National Park (Vilches). Located in the midst of Southern Beech forest, this park offers several easy hiking trails for nature lovers. You can hike through a majestic Coihue forest to the viewpoint Mirador Venado (3 h approx.), or to moor Majadilla on a mountain ridge with a nice view (2 hrs.). For mountain lovers, a side trip to the outlook Peine (2,448 m, 6-7 hrs.) is a treat. Leaded by several local arrieros (muleteer) you can enjoy the nature reserve on horseback. After a short hike you still have time to visit one of the vineyards on the way back to the Casa Chueca.

Constitucion Train. The tracks between Talca and the coastal city of Constitución are some of the last ones in Chile to still see passenger trains run. The laid-back convoy consisting of an engine and a wagon keeps following Maule River and sometimes stops in the middle of a field to let people get off and on. It reaches Constitución two times a day after 2.5 hours, where you can walk on the black lava beach with its high rock cliffs, or eat fresh fish in one of the small restaurants along the boardwalk.

The Sand Dunes of Putu. About 25 km north of Constitución, a widely unknown geographical rarity runs along the coast: the Putu dunes, a vast area of Sahara-like dunes. Five kilometers after the last intersection towards Putú town, a track turns off to the left. After few minutes, you will reach the edge of the dunes, which seem to run north and south all the way towards the horizon -a great tour.

Extra Days

Half day horseback ride. The horse continues to be an important means of transportation in rural areas of Central Chile. The rural Chilean horses are usually small, sturdy, used to daily work and easy to handle. So they are well suited to beginners. This is the most enjoyable way to discover the Chilean countryside.

Half day City tour around Talca. The city was founded in 1742. The name is derived from a Mapuche term meaning "site of thunder". The "Plaza de Armas" is shaded by exotic species like jacarandas, cedars, palms, magnolias and various conifers. Around the square are the main public buildings; the commercial street is 1 Sur. At the market you can find handicrafts and inexpensive food stalls offering the regional specialities. We are going to visit as well the O´Higginiano Museum, where the Chilean Independence Act was signed. This old colonial-style house is well preserved, with two inner courtyards housing valuable collections of art.

Wineries & Colonial Villages. Central Chile is famous for its top-notch wines. It is especially worthwhile visiting the old vineyards with their adobe cellars and landscaped parks. Many winemakers are within a couple of kilometers of "Casa Chueca". Some traditional-style vineyards lure their guests with their tasty treasures such as "Casa Donoso", "Casanova", "Balduzzi" or "Calina". Sleepy villages with cobblestone streets, tree-lined boulevards, and cheerfully painted adobe houses tell of by gone times. The reserved charm of these places, their slow beat and the inhibited friendliness of their inhabitants will often only be appreciated at second glance. Villa Alegre and Yerbas Buenas belong to the most beautiful villages in Central Chile. In Rari we are going to see local handicrafts made from horsehair.

Rafting. Descending rivers like Teno, Maule, Corel, Lircay, Lontué, Maule or Achibueno, which depending on season are grade 3+, will be a great experience, even for beginners. Please note that we need a minimum of four people.

Siete Tazas National Park. There are seven "tazas" or round basins that Claro River has carved into the black basalt rock of the Pre-Cordillera. This narrow gorge in the midst of green virgin forest is an impressive sight to behold. There are several pretty places for taking a dip in this clear, green-shimmering river. From the Conaf building, a trail leads through the awe-inspiring Southern Beech forest to Valle del Indio.

Canoe tour on Maule River. If you are looking for a less exiting way of travelling than river rafting, you can explore quieter sections of rivers or lakes in a double canoe, which could be well one of the most beautiful modes of transport in nature. Inflatable boats of sufficient structural integrity are best suited for this purpose because they are easier to transport. The lower portion of Maule River, which winds its way slowly through the plain between two mountain ranges west of the Panamericana highway, is well suited for these canoes. This is where the Chilean championship is held every year. For the way back to Casa Chueca we take the local train. If you never did this before you should ask for a 1-hour lesson the day before.