Toro Trail

Trekking, medium • 4 days

In the hidden lateral valleys of the Melado valley you will find hundreds of Petroglyphs. One can only speculate about their origin, their meaning is relatively unknown as well. The melted water of the Lastima Mountains has been deeply carved into the "Toro" valley. The mountainsides are covered with serene natural woods composed of mountain cypress and southern beeches. Water from the crystal clear mountain streams can be used as drinking water. The concept of tourism is hardly known in this area, which is inhabited only by cowboys and shepherds. The trail can be found easily, however in places it disappears, one should be unafraid of heights. The last meters to the Petroglyphs can almost be defined as climbing. In case you decide to do this trail on a horse back be aware that it is not an easy ride, streams have to be crossed, steep hills have to be clambered and extraordinary difficult terrain has to be dealt with on foot.

Point of Departure

The capital of the 7th region is Talca, 250 Km south of Santiago. It can be easily reached by bus or train, 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 90 Km you will cross the bridge Curilinque over the Río Maule. Shortly afterwards diverges a gravel road indicating "Melado". This road crosses a pass and is most of the time 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".

Private transfer
The arrival by taxi from Talca to the Mountain hut "Lamalodge" will cost about USD 50 for three people.

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.

Day 1 (610 m 405 m 6 h)

We leave the Lamalodge and follow the all-terrain road upstream. After about 1 hour we cross the bridge Latigo over the Rio Melado and follow the western shore, 45 minutes later we reach the "Syphon Toro". It is here where we leave the Melado valley and follow the trail upstream, north of Estero Toro. The trail is rather steep and traverses a small ridge and reverts after about 30 minutes back to the shore of the stream. We cross this stream, depending on the season the water level can be up to the hips. The trail is going up a steep hill in the direction of Cordillera Lastima, however in places it disappears. After 4 hours we will reach the campground of the Arrieros at 1024 m, due to the simplicity of the hut it is also know as "Casa Lata".

Day 2
(485 m 40 m WZ 3 h, just ascent)

Opposite our campground the valley "Vaca Muerta" abuts to the Valley Toro. We hike for about 30 minutes along the brook side of the Toro and traverse it. On the other side of the brook we hike up the western part of the valley "Vaca Muerte". In the first 200 m the difference in altitude rises quite steeply through the serpentines. Afterwards the trail left of the brook ascends slowly. Approximately 1.5 hours later we cross the brook "Vaca Muerte" and follow it uphill to Corral at 1289 m. Here the two small brooks flow together, we cross the brook once more and hike up to the little cascade. The way is hardly visible, so be careful. At the right side to the cascade you will find rock slabs, polished by glaciers, at 1485 m. On these rock slabs you will find a wide variety of Petroglyphs, partly in very good condition. In order to descend follow the same trail down. You should avoid doing this tour in January, as there are many gadflies, especially in the lower regions. On all accounts the camp should be set up at Corral at 1289m and not in the valley of Toro.

Day 3

Do the countermarch the same way as the ascent. From the camp "Casa Lata" it is possible to set out on a couple of rewarding hikes. A rather challenging trail runs along the brook Toro up to the lake "Gloria" at the foot of the glaciated mountain "El Toro" belonging to the Lastima mountains. The ascents last for about 5 hours, in places the trail disappears to a large extend. Another option would be the ascent at the right side of the valley "Vaca Muerta" up to the pass "Brisca", the descent happens via the valley Ancoa to the Refugio Melado. This leg is composed of old paths used by smugglers and should not be executed without a local guide.

Maps for this tour