7-Day Andes Crossing from Mendoza to Chile by Horse

Your 7-day horseback ride adventure is an wonderful opportunity to cross the entire Andes mountain range all the way to Chile. You will enjoy a totally unique experience which has been a favorite for all those who enjoy special and challenging journeys and want to make unforgettable memories. You'll set out from the beautiful mountain area of Tunuyan in Mendoza. This pristine area is protected by two ranges reaching 6,000 meters in altitude. Explore this area, surrounded by huge walls, glaciers and mountains andis home to condors and guanacos (a native relative of the llama). See itinerary below:

Day 1:
Your first day starts with hotel pickup at your hotel in Mendoza. You will meet your guide and have dinner (not included).

Day 2:
Early in the morning, you will leave Mendoza and head to Manzano Histórico (in the Uco Valley). During the 30-minute ride, you can appreciate the vineyards and good views. Get some rest and get ready for your horseback riding adventure the following day.

Day 3:
With your guide and all equipment ready, the ride starts. It will be a 4-hour ride going up a hill to reach the highest pass (14,370 feet). Once there, enjoy the amazing views of the Andes as a reward. Then, we will continue through the trail, going down to the valley of the Tunuyan River. It will take about 5 hours to get to the refuge, where you will rest, eat and spend the night.

Day 4:
This is a rest day in which you can simply relax and enjoy the surroundings.

Day 5:
This day will involve 8 hours of horseback riding in which we will cross the Tunuyan River, and ride up the canyon of Palomares river. Then, we will reach a viewpoint where you'll be able to see the snow-capped Tupungato volcano (6,570 meters above sea level). After a delicious lunch, we will continue our journey to a secret spot where we will set up our camp. It will be the perfect place to sleep under the stars, "Gaucho style" or in the comfort of the tent.

Day 6:
We will depart towards the Argentinean-Chilean border in the morning. After an uphill walk to the international border, you'll enjoy lunch at an isolated landmark standing 4,000 meters in altitude. As we cross the border, we will do a horse exchange (for sanitary regulations, the horses can´t cross from one country to another) and then descent to Plomo river, in Chilean territory. With the help of our horses, we will cross a river and then meet a vehicle, say farewell to the gauchos and head to San Gabriel. Here,we will complete custom paperwork at the customs office. Afterwards, we will ride for 15 minutes to a nice and quiet lodge in San Alfonso where hot showers and big beds await. To top-off this adventure, we will have a celebration dinner (not included) at a restaurant at the lodge.

Day 7:
You will have breakfast in the morning and then be transferred to Santiago International airport or hotel, marking the end of the tour.