Best Season | Shoulder Season | Low Season | Not Available
The horseback riding Los Andes across Tunuyán Valley up to the border with Chile is an incredible program that will allow you to live an incredible experience in the magnificence of nature. Valleys, rivers, and mountains will surprise you in each step during the track.
Our mountain guides are qualified professionals of the AAGM (Argentinean Association of Mountain Guides) and the EPGAMT (School of High Mountain and Trekking Guides).
The last qualification is the result of 3 years of study. We believe that to succeed in our expeditions, professionals with experience and the ability to offer security should guide our teams.
Their equipment includes VHF radio, a first-aid kit, complete with the appropriate medicine for altitude sickness, ropes, an altimeter, and professional clothing and equipment. All these will
provide security and comfort.
Pick up from the airprot and transfer to your hotel. Lodging in Mendoza in a beautiful hotel.
Checking of the equipment with the assistance of the guides. (Food is not included)
Breakfast and transfer to Manzano Histórico (140 km). Paper work at Refugio Portinari. Arrangement of horses and mules to begin the horse riding up to Scarabelli. Here the group will set up the first campsite. (B, PL, D)
Breakfast. The group will continue the horse riding to Real de la Cruz Refugee. This day they will cross the famous Argentinean Paso del Portillo at 4.000 m height. Then the group starts a long descent up to Tunuyán River, where we set up our campsite. (B, PL, D)
After breakfast, we will ride along the Palomares Valley until to reach the Caletones Camp. Located on the foot of the Marmolejo Mountain. Will be a nice day of horseback riding, crossing rivers and doing shorts gallops in the areas that we can. (B,L,D)
Early in the morning and before breakfast the group will enjoy the day with the most incredible landscapes on their way to the border between Argentina and Chile in the heart of Los Andes. After this, the group will return to Real de la Cruz refugee. (B, L, D)
Resting day. (B, L, D)
Breakfast and return to Scarabelli. Private transfer to Mendoza and lodging at the hotel. (B, L)
Breakfast, check out and end of our services (B)
EQUIPMENT AND CLOTHING
FEET
– 2 Pairs of comfortable hiking boots
– 4 Pairs of outer socks (thick wool or polypropylene)
– 1 Pair of inner socks (thin silk or polypropylene)
LEGS
– 1 Thin synthetic pants (polypropylene or nylon)
– 1 Fleece pants (full length side zippers recommended)
– 1 Waterproof and breathable over-pants (such as Gore-Tex, full length side zippers recommended)
– Comfortable trekking pants
UPPER BODY
– 1 Thermal baselayer shirts (polypropylene or capilene)
– 1 Fleece pullover (like soft polartec 100 or 200, or similar)
– 1 Fleece jacket or alike
– 1 Warm jacket for -20°C / -4°F (down recommended)
– 1 Rainproof or windproof jacket with hood (such as Gore-Tex)
– Cotton T-shirts or shirts
– 1 Turtleneck or multifunctional headwear of synthetic material (Buff or similar)
HEAD
– Sun cap or hat
– Ski hat (wool or fleece)
– Light balaclava
– A good pair of sunglasses (with UV filter and side protection)
HANDS
– 1 Pair of inner thermal gloves (polypropylene or capilene)
– 1 Pair of insulated finger gloves
– 1 Pair of hard gloves (like working type)
PACKS
– Comfortable backpack (30 liters / 1.850 cubic inches as minimum)
– One extra large strong duffel bag (to be carried by mules and stored in base camp, 4.000 cubic inches
as minimum. Large enough to fit in all your equipment)
SLEEPING GEAR
– Sleeping bag for -20°C / -4°F (down or polar guard)
– Sleeping mat (Thermarest or similar, full length recommended)
– Foam pad (only if you bring a Thermarest, to avoid a burst)
OTHERS
– Head lamp with extra batteries and bulb
– Block for lips and sun screen (not less than 35 solar protection factor)
– Personal crockery (bowl, cup, fork and spoon)
– Two water bottles (32 fl.oz /1 liter Nalgene recommended. Water bottle insulator needed)
– Personal care elements (small towel and soap, baby wipes recommended)
– A change of clothes (for the return to Mendoza City)
OPTIONAL ITEMS
– Camera, memory cards and extra batteries
– Swimsuit (for the hotel pool)
– Pocket-knife
Meals
Throughout the expeditions, you will enjoy all meals (B: breakfast / L: lunch / D: dinner),
carefully planned by professionals to have a balanced diet during those horse riding days. Our
guides will be in charge of cooking. The meals mentioned in the itinerary are included.
If you are vegetarian or celiac, or if you need a special diet, please let us know in your
Booking Form. It will be a pleasure for us to prepare a special menu for you. This service has
an extra cost.
Drinks
During the horseback riding, the drinks (water, juice, wine) are included, in lunches as well as
in dinners.
Complete Mountain Gear
In our program Horseback Riding Los Andes, we include crockery, tables, chairs and sleeping tents. Usually, two people will sleep in each tent, but if our guide considers it
necessary, a maximum of three clients may sleep in one tent. Remember that each passenger will have to set up his/her tent with the partner´s help, and the guide will assist if necessary.
Mules
We owns more than 100 mules that carry people or belongings. The difference between the mules that carry people and the mules that carry gear is that the ones for people are tamer. These animals pasture during autumn, winter and spring, that is to say from mid-March to mid-November. Before the beginning of the summer, these animals are tested and given medicine by veterinarians. They are treated with caution. We have to take into account that each mule has its own health book as they are strictly controlled. During the season, they are treated with a lot of care and attention. It is very common to observe that some mules present injuries in their chest and behind their forward legs, caused by the girths. They are immediately cured with special medicaments and they rest enough time to get better.
Horses with their saddles are included in this program. In horseback riding, “arrieros” (muleteers) come with you, since they really know the horses and how to manage them.
Communication. The guide will have a satellite phone that will be used just for emergencies.
