Best Season | Shoulder Season | Low Season | Not Available
The trekking 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 magnitude 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.
Arrival to Mendoza and transfer to our hotel. Lodging in Mendoza in a beautiful hotel. Checking of the equipment with the assistance of the guides. (Food is not included). Overnight.
Breakfast and transfer to Manzano Histórico (140 km).
Paper work at Refugio Portinari. Arrangement mules to begin the trekking up to Scarabelli. Here the group will set up the first campsite. (B, PL, D)
Breakfast. The group will continue the trekking to Real de la Cruz Refugee. This day they will cross the famous Argentinean Paso del Portillo at 4.000 m height. We will approach the pass for a few kilometers with the help of a 4×4.
Then the group starts a long descent up to Tunuyán River, where we set up our campsite. (B, PL, D)
After breakfast, we will walk along the Palomares Valley until to reach the Caletones Camp. Located on the foot of the Marmolejo Mountain. Will be a nice day of trekking, crossing rivers, and doing shorts rest 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 back to the Base Camp (B, L, D)
We are going to back for the same path we did. However, that does not mean the landscapes will continue to surprise us.
Half Resting day. (B, L, D)
Breakfast and return to Scarabelli.
Private transfer to Mendoza and lodging at the hotel. (B, L)
After breakfast, free time until check out and end of our services.
Goodbye Mendoza and incredible Andes chain!
Transfer Mendoza / Manzano Histórico / Portinari Refugee/ Mendoza
On the second day, you will be driven to Manzano Histórico, in Tunuyán and then to Portinari Refugee. After the horse riding, we will be waiting for you at Scarabelli to take you back to Mendoza.
Hotel in Mendoza
It will be a comfortable hotel where you will stay during two nights in Mendoza (one at the beginning and one at the end of the program). The rooms included in our programs are double rooms, and you will have to share your room with any of your partners. In case you prefer a single room (only for you), please let us know in your Booking Form. This service has an extra cost. Breakfast and taxes are included.
Our guides
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 firstaid kit, complete with the appropriate medicine for altitude sickness, ropes, an altimeter, and professional clothing and equipment. All these will provide security and comfort.
Working Papers
You only have to have your personal documentation (Passport).
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 trekking, the drinks (water, juice, wine) are included, in lunches as well as in dinners.
Complete Mountain Gear
In our program trekking 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 which 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 the enough time to get better. The negative aspect of these animals is their untamed character. That is why we have selected a professional team of muleteers, called “arrieros”, who have dedicated their lives to the country animals. They know how to deal with these animals, because of their experience.
Each mule can carry up to a limit of 180 kg, but our mules only carry 60 kg to move comfortably on the mountain. Every client may transport on the mules a maximum of 30 kg on each stage of the approach. We strongly recommend you to bring a strong duffel bag.
Horses, saddles and caretakers
Horses with their saddles are included in this program. In the 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.
