Norte Chico Adventure in Northern Chile In the saddle through the Andes along
Inca-trails and gold diggers paths The sky is bright and blue for more than 300 days a year.
Chile Chico is situated only 300 miles north of
Santiago. Planes from the capitol land in La Serena (health and seaside
resort at the Pacific) three times every day. Explore the wild Sierra, the
huge Andes and experience a romantic and pure nature. We move through
canyons, endless plains and over passes of the untouched Andes. We are
close to Chilean mountain farmers and experience untouched nature. There
is also time to relax at the Hacienda such as having a bath in the Jacuzzi
or in the crystal clear water of the river. Enjoy a steam bath in the
sauna, hiking on nature trail, or dreaming in the hammock.
The blue Pacific with its hidden fishing villages and little villages in
the wild Andes is part of this region as well as lonely valleys, endless
mountain trails, and the peace and quiet of the Andes over which condors
fly. A well-known holiday resort is Pisco de Elqui in the valley of the
same name. The Rio Hurtado valley is situated nearby, only eight miles as
the crow flies, to the west; and that is where the our trip starts.
IT-CHRT14 All inclusive from La Serena incl. meals.
3 overnight stays in comfort tents (Hillerberg), 4 overnight stays at the
Hacienda. English speaking guides. 8
days/ 7 nights $2,245
Single +$245
.. based on €
1,140 / 155 2008 Dates:
10/15-10/22 11/05-11/12
11/18-11/25
12/24-12/31 2009 Dates:
02/15-02/22 03/15-03/22 03/27-04/03
... private tours are also available +$245 pp
availability & reservation
also: IT-CHRT15
North Chilean Getaway
4 days/3 nights : $925
Single: + 95
.. based on €
591 / 60 ... lodging in deluxe private suites
.... daily from
October to April 15 with ... overnights in beautiful suites at the
hacienda and 1 night camping
--- see short Trip Itinerary
Meeting: Rio Hurtado
Airport: La Serena(60 miles to
hacienda)
Transfer: included
Level:
Novice+
Tack:Chilean - Gaucho
saddle with sheepskin
Horses:Criollos
with a safe and calm character. Thehorsesare trained without without applying any force -no
spurs and whips are used at the Hacienda
Pace: Slow
Min/Max Riders: 2-8
Note: even though it is a slow ride, riders should be in good
physical condition
Itinerary
Day 1 Transfer (2:30 PM) from the colonial
city La Serena to the Hacienda. Time for Jacuzzi, sauna, a walk across the
1,000 acres nature reserve. Dinner. Overnight stay in a room with private
bath. Day 2 American breakfast and meeting of the team to go over
the tour itinerary. You will get to know your horse and the Chilean riding
style (similar to Western). The first ride through the valley Rio Hurtado
reaches an idyllic mountain village. Picnic in the garden of the Plaza.
Returning to the Hacienda through the Andean landscape. Dinner in front of
the fireplace. Overnight stay at the Hacienda.
Day 3 Breakfast. Packing saddle bags. Riding along the gold
diggers path through the calmness of the Sierra passing through lonely
valleys. It leads us through canyons finally reaching the Andean plateau
Oro Blanco - white gold. In the afternoon, we leave the wilderness behind
and stay overnight at a hermitage. We camp and have dinner under fig
trees. Overnight stay in comfortable Hilleberg tents with inflatable
sleeping-mat and warm sleeping bag.
Day 4 Andean breakfast: home-made bread, goats cheese, sausage
and fresh eggs. Starting from the oasis, which is at a elevation of
6,000 feet, we ride along the historic mule path of the gold diggers up
into the Andes. We are surrounded by a gigantic panorama, tremendous
overlook and untouched nature. Lunch break at a spring. The afternoon
takes us through a canyon to the Rio Hurtado. In the evening we reach the
goatherd village Las Breas where we camp beside the river and enjoy dinner
over a camp fire.
Day 5 Breakfast with a local family. After meeting the local
people we continue our tour. The track winds through the wide Andean
valley passing small, idyllic villages. Picnic in a small village inn.
Returning to the Hacienda along shepherds paths. Time for Jacuzzi, a swim
in the river or sunbathing under the palm tree. Dinner and overnight stay
at the Hacienda.
Day 6 Big breakfast. Today, we are after another adventure with
our horses: the Inca-trail. We cross two passes and visit the cave
drawings of the Molle Indians who lived with the Inca. You will have a
totally different landscape than before: Wide Andean plateaus, small
valleys, natural meadows and animals. Picnic lunch. Passing the colorful
Sierra and in the evening we are guests at a 120 years old, simple pioneer
farm. Overnight stay in tents beside the mountain stream. Camp fire,
meeting people, and stories.
Day 7 We experience the romantic and lonely Andes in the saddle.
Along the Inca-trail we cross a pass and come through lonely valleys to
the ceremony place Laguna. Glaciers and peaks are the features of this
panorama. Picnic. We follow an ancient trading track which still leads to
Argentina. Riding across a romantic Western style landscape for hours.
Back at the Hacienda it is time for relaxing: sunbathing, swimming in the
river, relaxing in the hammock. Dinner and overnight stay at the Hacienda.
Day 8 After breakfasttransfer to the airport in La
Serena. Certainly, you may stay some more days at the Hacienda and join
other activities.
Extreme contrasts of nature:
Discover the Maiten Sierra
Herdsman with their goats pass our
way
Discover Flora and Fauna on the
Hacienda hiking trails
General Information
The "Norte Chico" of Chile - The Region between the Pacific and the Andes
Chile Chico is situated only 500 kilometres north of
Santiago. Planes from Santiago land in La Serena (health and seaside
resort at the Pacific) three times every day. Visitors from distant
countries hardly know this region. Nevertheless, well known is the term
"Pisco" which is a colourless and natural brandy extracted from the
grapes of the local sunny vineyards. When autumn and winter starts on
the northern hemisphere, holiday season, which is from October to April,
begins here in this mild and dry climate. The blue Pacific with its
hidden fishing villages and little villages in the wild Andes is part of
this region as well as lonely valleys, endless mountain trails, and the
peace and quiet of the Andes over which condors fly. A well-known
holiday resort is Pisco de Elqui in the valley of the same name. The Rio
Hurtado valley is situated nearby, only 15 kilometres as the crow flies,
to the west; and that is where the Hacienda is. One of northern Chile's
Indian ceremony places in the best condition is situated in this green
valley only 120 minutes ride from the Hacienda Los Andes.
More
than fourty rock paintings are the last traces of the ancient Indian
culture of the Diaguitas. They owned gold mines which attracted the Inca
to the Hurtado valley some time later. They introduced the irrigation
system which is a labyrinth of channels and which was used by the
Spaniards too from the 16th century on, and still the farmers today
profit from it. The Spaniards followed the old trade trail of the Inca,
known as Inca trail, upstream the Rio Hurtado and further over the
Andes.
They
gave this pass its name "Linia Santa Rosa" and still today thousands
of animals with their herdsmen follow this trail from Chile to the
summer pastures in Argentina like some hundreds years ago. The Hurtado
district has only about 250 kilometres roads which can be travelled by
car, and thousands kilometres of cattle trails which are travelled by
the people (and by our guests) on horseback. Naturally, there have
been changes besides the original life as well and that is good: small
hospitals, schools, parish halls, restored villages and democratic
developments reflect a new Chile.
Visitors to this region will find a mixture of the old Chilean culture
and the achievements of the new century. The hospitable people who can
be met here are small farmers, herdsmen, workmen and cattle breeders. They
live in small villages surrounded by huge and colourful mountain
massifs, semi-desert landscapes, steppes, and a wide Sierra.
The sky is bright blue more than 300 days a year. The crystal-clear
and absolutely clean air attracted like a magnet astronomers.
The well-known observatories of the European Union, U.S.A. and Canada
are situated here. This fascinating starlit night sky is pure Andean
nature and is worth exploring during your holiday!
More
than fourty rock paintings are the last traces of the ancient Indian
culture of the Diaguitas. They owned gold mines which attracted the Inca
to the Hurtado valley some time later. They introduced the irrigation
system which is a labyrinth of channels and which was used by the
Spaniards too from the 16th century on, and still the farmers today
profit from it. The Spaniards followed the old trade trail of the Inca,
known as Inca trail, upstream the Rio Hurtado and further over the
Andes. 
They
gave this pass its name "Linia Santa Rosa" and still today thousands
of animals with their herdsmen follow this trail from Chile to the
summer pastures in Argentina like some hundreds years ago. The Hurtado
district has only about 250 kilometres roads which can be travelled by
car, and thousands kilometres of cattle trails which are travelled by
the people (and by our guests) on horseback. Naturally, there have
been changes besides the original life as well and that is good: small
hospitals, schools, parish halls, restored villages and democratic
developments reflect a new Chile.
They
live in small villages surrounded by huge and colourful mountain
massifs, semi-desert landscapes, steppes, and a wide Sierra.