San Pedro Circuit

Volcano Trekking and Summit Tours

Trekking, medium • 4 days
Summit, alpine • 1-2 days

The whole purpose of travelling is to become acquainted with the country and its people, however most visitors limit themselves by only visiting natural settings. Only on rare occasions one has the possibility to experience the Chilean culture from within. The San Pedro Circuit does not only lead its way through serene landscapes, but also allows us to get an insight in the authentic lifestyle of the local farmers. The region is very sparsely populated, at the foot of the snow-covered volcano San Pedro, shattered across several thousand square kilometres, about 60 families live in very simple huts. In the summer months they usually drive their goats, cattle, sheep, horses and mulas up to mountain planes and set up their summer camps there. Due to their isolated lifestyle they are more than happy to share their "Yerba Mate" tea with interested and respectful trekkers from all over the world. The circuit is not marked, however, except for a few key positions, easy to find. Depending on the time of year (Sep. / Dec.) it is almost impossible to traverse the rivers; due to the snowmelt the water level is way too high. On location one can hire a local farmer and a pack-animal for only a little amount of money, one could also use the pack-animal to cross the torrential rivers. An additional trip across the Rio Pellando leads its way to a beautifully located pasture surrounded by three volcanoes. With climbing irons the volcano Pellado can be easily climbed on a day tour. On the Ascent route to the volcano San Pedro several crevasses can be found, on one location there even is risk of rock slide. The volcano San Pablo should only be climbed by mountaineers.

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Starting point

The capital of the seventh region is Talca, 250 Km south of Santiago. It can easily be reached by bus or rail, or alternatively by car via the Pan American (3 hours).

Arrival

Private vehicle
From Talca take the international road to Argentina (in direction of Paso Pehuenche) via the town of San Clemente and along the water supply dam Colbún. After about 90 Km you will cross the bridge Curilinque over the Río Maule. Shortly afterwards it diverges a gravel road indicating "Melado". This road crosses a pass, most of the time it is in a rather bad shape, therefore it is advisable to travel only with Pick-ups. After about 16 Km you will reach the mountain hut "Lamalodge", shortly afterwards the Rio Melado and after another 16 Km on a road in very bad condition you will reach the hut of Sra. Margarita Basoalto. In case you will arrive with your own car (4 x 4), you will not only find an ideal campground here but also an excellent opportunity to park your car safely.

Private transfer
The arrival by taxi from Talca to the Mountain hut "Lamalodge" will cost about USD 50 for three people. The arrival by an all-terrain vehicle to the camp ground of Sra. Margarita Basoalto will cost about USD 70.

Public transport
If you depart from Talca by public bus you will get as far as the bridge Curilinque. From here you can hike the longest hiking trail of Chile, the "Sendero de Chile". It will take about 5 hours before you reach the mountain hut "Lamalodge". It is possible to be picked up from the bus station La Suiza or Curilinque by the owners of the "Lamalodge", this transfer will cost about USD 20. On a second leg, lasting for about 4-5 hours, you will reach the camp ground of Sra. Margarita Basoalto.

Day 1 (595 m 145 m 5 h)

We hike away from Sra Margaritas’ camp ground, follow the road and after approximately 2 hours we reach the stone bridge "Puente Piedra" leading its way across the torrential river "Rio de la Puente". The trail serpentines up to the police station "Carrizales". In midsummer it is advisable to attempt this first leg early in the morning, by reason of the heat. Your names, planned route and passport number will be registered at the police station. Just below the building originates a spring out of the meadow. After another 45 minute long hike through some sandy terrain we will be astonished to see the waterfall "Salto San Pedro" - a vision of delight. From here we do already spot the lush green pastures of "Mallin Alto", here we will set up our camp. In doing so we pass the first yard to our right and after about 45 minutes we reach a hut made of stone to our left. Below the shady trees you will find a fireplace and fresh drinking water.

Day 2 (845 m 220 m 7 h)

The trail is leading its way up and down, alongside beautiful lagoons, with a view to the snow covered Andes to the river "Rio las Yeguas". We will look for a suited spot to traverse the river. After another 500 m we have to traverse another river "Rio Botalcura", now we follow the river downstream and circle the grass slope to Puesto Pellado. This leg takes about 1.5 hours of our time, due to the rather time-consuming river traverses. The shepherd family living up here is more than happy to share a cup of tea with you, chat about their lives and give you some very useful tips for your planned route. These tips prove to be very useful, as their camp is in the middle of a swampy meadow and we have to cross it in order to join up with the trail again. Then we follow the "Estero Pellado" upstream, this stream flows from a rather narrow valley and floods the meadow. To the right of where the valley exits we will find a small trail leading the way up the slope. The trail is quite steep, 50 m above the stream it leads up the valley. After about 1.5 hours we have to descend to the stream, traverse it and walk on the sand of volcanic origin up again. The sandy ground ends at a rock face. 200 m before the end, the trail leads its way up to the right to a small round end and further to a small waterfall. Here we traverse the Estero Pellado, follow it for only a few hundred meters and have to traverse it again. The trail guides through stone and rubble up to a serene located meadow "Vegas del Volcan", directly positioned at the foot of three volcanoes. After 2 hours we reach this camp at 1995 m.

Day 3 Volcano Pellado
(1150 m 1150 m 7-8 h)

For mountaineers eager to climb the peak the adventure of two very strenuous day treks start here. Directly from our camp we ascend the grass slope north of us. Numerous trails used by goats lead the way up to another meadow. Slightly above sulphur gases fume up, this malodour testifies the volcanic activity. We traverse a tiny stream and hike up the clearly visible path to the ridge. We follow this one uphill till we come up against the foot of the crater of Cerro Pellado. We circle the volcano easterly on a constant level and mount the summit at 3313 m via the eastern-facing slope. In parts we have to cross snowfields, the very last part leads across rocks and rubble. Depending on the time of year climbing irons are essential. The way back does not necessarily has to happen via the rocky crest, alternatively, in case you are a proficient trekker, you might as well slide down the snow slope.

Day 4 Volcano San Pedro
(2020 m 2020 m 8-10 h)

We hike our way up out of the valley, always in direction of the volcano. Our camp is located at the foot of the mountain side. We are urged to search our way across the field of lava, it is recommendable to stay as close as possible to the mountain side. During spring time this area is normally covered under thick snow. Today we only have to cross one stream, depending on the time of year, you will either have to wade through it or cross it via a snow bridge; even in summer you will still find snow bridges leading its way across the river. In case you are not planning to ascend the mountain you should nonetheless go this far as the landscape is stunningly beautiful. Just before us are two large gullies, covered with ice and snow that flow downhill. The right one is larger and the ascent less steep. But be careful, as half-way through the ascent, rockfall can occur from the wall to the right side. Don’t forget that right below the snow cover are several crevasses. We now hike the gully shaped like a valley uphill, once we are up there we traverse a stone ridge to the next gully. We hike this one up to the next mighty snow wall, which should be conquered very carefully in order to reach the cone-shaped crater. Now we have to climb on volcanic rubble; it is only a short, but very strenuous, distance till we reach the peak and can finally enjoy the breathtaking panoramic view of the summits surrounding us. The way down to the camp through the snow covered slopes can be conquered in just a few hours.

Day 5

We need approximately 2 hours down on the same leg till we reach Puesto Pellado. Once we arrived at the swampy meadow we cross it to the right and follow the path alongside the mountain slope. From now on the trail will be easily visible, we need 2.5 hours to reach Quebrada Honda. As most of the slope has been glided off, the trail is now leading its way down to the stream. We have to traverse the stream and have to ascend again on the other side. After approximately 2.5 hours we reach the beautifully located valley "Estero San Pedro", it is here where we can catch a last glimpse of the volcano. During the summer months we can cross the stream on an improvised bridge. A hike through romantic southern beech woods takes us, after about 25 till 30 minutes, to a beautiful and shady camp ground, just above a tiny stream.

Day 6

The trail leads further along through the forest, after about 1.5 hours we reach the rather large meadow Saavedra. We circle this one and keep to the dry side of the meadow. A down hill hike for about 45 minutes leads to the road on which we will reach the starting point of our tour. On the way we pass the governmental control point of the SAG for the flocks.

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