Ride the pioneer trails that crisscross the rural Puelo Valley in the middle of the Andes. Opentravel offers you an exclusive journey into the Chilean Huaso (cowboy) culture. Enjoy the adventure and relaxation of an old way of life in a pristine Chilean Patagonian wilderness region.
Duration: 7 days / 6 nights
Difficulty: Intermediate.
Departure/Arrival: From Puerto Montt in Chile on the shore of the Pacific Ocean across the Andes, ending in Puerto Montt airport.
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You will share with the local people their skills in everyday life and stay in their homes during the ride. You will experience the local culture and have a trip that will be a life experience.
Enjoy the firm and secure footing of the incredible Chilean horse.
All delicious homemade meals, tea, snacks and drinks are included.
During the ride you will stay at the local farms and on our private island, Las Bandurrias.
Private transfers from/to Puerto Varas – Valle del Puelo.
Boat and ferry transport are also included.
Day 2: Full day ride towards Valle Ventisqueros – Night in Ventisqueros + More Information...
Day 3: Full day ride through Valle Ventisqueros – Night in Ventisqueros + More Information...
Day 4: Full day ride to Las Rocas Lake – Night in private island + More Information...
Day 5: Full day ride to Lake Azul – Night in private island + More Information...
Day 6: Full Day ride to Las Rosas – Night in Las Rosas + More Information...
Day 7: Ride from Las Rosas to Puerto Urrutia – Transfer from Puerto Urrutia to Puerto Varas + More Information...
Day 1 Puerto Varas / Las Rosas
Morning pick up at your hotel in Puerto Varas to drive towards the Andes. We will be able to admire the Llanquihue Lake, as well as the Calbuco and Osorno volcanoes that are part of the Vicente Perez Rosales National Park. Once arrived at the edge of the Reloncaví estuary, first fjord in the south of Chile, we will appreciate Ralún and Cochamó villages, well-known for their agricultural crops and fishing industry. On the way, we will pass through the Río Puelo valley near its river mouth in the sea before arriving to Tagua-Tagua Lake. Time for lunch before the crossing.
Once on the other side, we will be completely disconnected from the telephone network and from the Internet. After a 40-minute drive, our transfer will drop us off at Puerto Urrutia, the place of local crossings. We will meet the baquianos team and the horses. As we cross by motorboat, the horses will swim alongside, guided by a boatman. While the baquianos pack the packhorses on the other site, you will get to know your horse for the whole ride. Once ready, our ride starts passing by beaches of the Puelo River that go through farmed fields. Late in the afternoon, we will get to Tito and Olivia’s house, a place just in front of the Puelo River.
Time: 4 hours transfer from Puerto Varas to Puerto Urrutia; 2 hours on horseback
Accommodation: 1 Night at Olivia`s home at Las Rosas
Meals: breakfast, box lunch, tea, dinner
Day 2 Las Rosas / Ventisqueros
Today, we will continue our ride in the Río Ventisqueros valley. Ancient woods, open spaces and rivers, a long and great day in the middle of the mountains awaits us. We will be crossing amazing forests and self-sufficient little farms in remote areas. Just as the locals do, we will cross riding the large Ventisqueros River and its fast-flowing water. We will enjoy a nice lunch on one of the Ventisqueros beach and then we will keep going on our path to the end of the valley in front of a glacier. Here, we will be hosted for two nights by Bernardita who lives in one of the most remote areas in the region.
Time: 6 hours on horseback
Accommodation: 1 Night at Bernardita’s home at Ventisqueros
Meals: breakfast, box lunch, tea, dinner
Day 3 Ventisqueros
Today we will venture even further into the valley and encounter beautiful views of the glacier that gives the valley its name. Our route crosses the «Universo» river and the property of the very first inhabitant of the valley and his family. It is a very sparsely populated area in the middle of completely unspoilt nature, offering impressive views of a natural environment that is still preserved. The trail passes through immense forests and runs along the river. After crossing the river several times, we will cross an incredible forest of Alerce (Fitzroya Cupresoyde). Nobody lives in this virgin and isolated area and we will encounter breath-taking views and an unspoiled natural environment. We will have lunch near the Raquelita River and return to Bernardita’s house in mid-afternoon. We will have the opportunity to swim in the clear blue river and rest.
Time: 5 to 6 hours on horseback
Accommodation: 1 Night at Bernardita’s home at Ventisqueros
Meals: breakfast, box lunch, tea, dinner
Day 4 Ventisqueros / Isla Las Bandurrias
This morning we will set off on a full-day ride with forests, river crossings, mountains and waterfalls towards the Puelo River. We will have a relaxing time for lunch near the Ventisquero River. After leaving the valley in the afternoon, we will cross the Puelo River by an important local hanging bridge. This place is particularly spectacular due to its huge waterfalls and rapids. Then we will take trails alongside the mountains until reaching the lake Las Rocas. At the end of the longest day of this exp edition, a well-deserved rest will await us at our private island Las Bandurrias. A remote place surrounded by the cordillera where you will be able to contemplate the landscape and enjoy the lake. A haven of peace in the heart of the cordillera.
Time: 7 hours on horseback
Accommodation: 1 Night at Bandurrias Island
Meals: breakfast, box lunch, tea, dinner
Day 5 Isla Las Bandurrias / Lake Azul / Isla Las Bandurrias
Today we will leave the island to meet the horses and the baqueanos down by the lake. A quick stop at the farm La Colina, a first glimpse of the Chilean countryside in the heart of the cordillera. The journey continues to the Azul (blue) Lake through the cordillera where you will enjoy various views. We will stop to have lunch on a beach. After the picnic, we will follow our pathway on horseback towards Las Rocas Lake. We will pass through an ancient temperate rainforest, with its very diverse vegetation, which is found in very few Chilean regions and in the world. Wet and steep grounds, very ancient trees as well as majestic mountains will be part of the scenery.
Short boat trip to Las Bandurrias Island. Accommodation on the island in the guest house.
Time: 4 to 5 hours on horseback
Accommodation: 1 Night at Bandurrias Island
Meals: breakfast, box lunch, tea, dinner
Day 6 Isla Las Bandurrias / Las Rosas
Our journey continues, riding through the forests until we reach the source of the Puelo River. We cross the Puelo River by boat, with the horses swimming alongside, and it is surprising to see how well the horses take to the water. Reaching the other side, we continue riding until we arrive at the remote mountain settlement of Segundo Corral.
After further ascending another mountain range, we will have lunch in front of the incredibly blue Las Mellizas lagoons, surrounded by mountains. In the afternoon we will descend to the valley of the Ventisqueros River which we will ford on horseback. At last we will arrive at Las Rosas, where we will share again the warm hospitality of Tito and Olivia.
Time: 5 to 6 hour on horseback, 20 minutes boat navigation.
Accommodation: 1 Night at Olivia’s home at Las Rosas
Meals: breakfast, lunch, tea, aperitif and dinner
Day 7 Las Rosas / Puerto Varas
Today we will have an unhurried awakening and will be able to enjoy the morning at Las Rosas. On this last day, our ride will reach Puerto Urrutia, which we will cross by boat while the horses swim alongside. Time to say goodbye to our baqueanos and we will have a last lunch in the valley.
Our transfer will take us to Lake Tagua-Tagua, where we will take the ferry for 45 minutes until we reach the other side of the lake to continue our long but beautiful journey. We will border the Reloncaví Fjörd until we meet again with the Calbuco and Osorno volcanoes. By late afternoon we will arrive at our final destination, Puerto Varas.
Time: 1 hour on horseback, 4 hours drive to Puerto Varas; 45 minutes ferry crossing
Meals: breakfast, lunch
HORSES IN PATAGONIA
ACCOMMODATION
