For centuries, the beginning of Autumn has marked the time when Gauchos ride 700,000 hectares across summer pastures in the High Andes to round up and drive the cattle back to the winter grazing. This annual tradition is still alive in Chile and is the perfect opportunity for riders looking to experience the authentic, essential and unspoilt life of the gaucho and cattle drives in the High Andes.
This is a horse riding holiday for experienced riders up for adventure. The riding is off track in steep mountain terrain on sure footed and manoeverable criollo horses with an instict for cattle work. We camp en route and enjoy very good fresh food to sustain us for long hours of riding.
We leave early in the morning and up into the High Andes through the Chalaco Pass. We split in groups to round up cattle in an assigned area. At the end of the day, the whole group gathers the cattle at Los Llanos camp where we spend the night, share the stories of the day and perhaps fish some trouts.
Day 3 – Cattle drive (cont.).
Breakfast. Early in the morning we start rounding up cattle and branding calves. Each group screens its area and, when the job is done, sends the message to the others through smoke signals. Las Vegas del Negro, Yaretal, Cruzada de la Vaca Blanca, la Vega Redonda, Quebrada de la Zanja take us deep into the Andes mountains, very close to the Argentinean border. Pure adrenaline. Night at camp at Los Llanos.
Day 4 – Cattle drive (cont.).
Breakfast. The roundup goes on at 3000 to 3500 meters altitude. Everywhere we can see herds of wild lamas and the condor in the blue sky. Camp at Vega Rajada at 2570 meters altitude and ancient Indian settlement.
Day 5 – Cattle drive (end) and corral work.
Cattle gathered in the past 3 days is driven along the Chalaco river to the ancient corrals at Los Patos. They were built in stone over 200 years ago and ever since used by the local community. Lunch and get ready to start sort, brand, doctor, etc. each of the 2000 cows. A lot of work and adrenaline while the local Food and Drug Administration officers check the health of the herd. It is now when gaucho and horse blend together in a reining exhibition that made them world famous. You can just decide to relax and watch or get you and your horse into the corral and join the gauchos! Night in camp at Los Patos.
Day 6 – Corral work (end).
The task goes on. Little by little the corrals are getting empty as cattle is shipped by its owners. When the work is over, it is time to celebrate a job well done with a big barbecue. So big, it will probably be the largest you have ever seen in your entire life! Transfer to Los Andes. Night at hotel. Dinner not included.
Day 7 – Los Andes.
Breakfast. We will visit a famous traditional Chilean tack shop. Your Chilean experience would not be complete without a visit to a local winery. During this private visit, we will have the chance to taste some of their best wines. Transfer to Santiago de Chile. End of the program.
Please note: This itinerary is given for your guidance only and it may be altered in accordance with the prevailing conditions by the organising team.
NOTES - HIGH ANDES CATTLE DRIVE
The single supplement is only applicable for the hotel accommodation before and after the trail. During the trail you should be prepared to share a tent.
Extensions
The perfect way to round this trip off is to take a short direct flight to Codoba in Argentina and relax at Estancia Los Potreros for a few days. Contact us to check availability or for more suggestions.
The weight limit for this ride is 15 st/209 lb/95 kg, please enquire if you are an experienced rider exceeding this weight.
FURTHER DETAILS
As we are specialists in our field we have extensive knowledge of all our products from details of accommodation and meals to number/size/type of horses to pace of riding ... and much more.
Should you wish to receive further details of this ride please click here.
WHAT IS INCLUDED
Accommodations (1 night hotel at Los Andes, Chile – shared rooms, 3 nights camping in the mountains, 2 nights camping in Los Patos (with bathroom). Transfers, all meals and beverages except for dinner on day 7. English speaking guide, gauchos, horses, pack mules, camping equipment. Cooking equipment and table ware. First aid kits for people and horses. Oxygen bottle. Iridium satellite phone for emergency calls.
For price details click here
WHAT IS NOT INCLUDED
Flights, dinner on day 7, items of a personal nature.
Riders who booked this ride also considered:
Ecuador - Cotopaxi Cattle Roundup Non-tourist cattle round up in the Avenue of Volcanoes, Ecuador. Join in with the local chagras (cowboys) for long days riding. Fantastic experience.
Tuli Safari Trail - Botswana This is a fast and exciting mobile tented safari in the "Land of the Giants". Here large herds of elephant roam and the "great, green, grey, greasy Limpopo" (in the words of Rudyard Kipling) meanders, where the mighty baobab stands tall and lions and hyena serenade you under the starry African night sky.
Santa Caterina Trail - Brazil Experience the backcountry of Brazil with all its rich cattle farming customs and hospitality. Superb riding, at all paces, at 3.000 to 5.500 ft elevations - surrounded by outstanding ever-changing scenery.
Reading List We're avid readers here at Unicorn Trails and have selected several books connected to this ride. If you're interested in reading more about the area before you travel, or want to get into the cultural background, here are some suggestions that may inspire you. Click on the links for more information.
What you see on our web site is exactly how much your invoice will come to and this will not change once booked. Unlike some other companies the prices on our web site are fully inclusive of often hidden extras such as: VAT, Sales Tax, state taxes, city taxes, service charges, non-optional tips, fuel surcharges which can add 20% or more to the advertised cost. Prices are available in £ sterling, Euros and US$. Once invoiced, prices are guaranteed against adverse currency fluctuations. Contact us for package prices which include flights from the UK and see each ride for exact details of all items in individual itineraries.
21, The Acorn Centre, Chestnut Avenue, Biggleswade, Bedfordshire, SG18 ORA, England
Tel: +44 (0)1767 600606 Fax: +44 (0)1767 312555
Office hours 9am - 5.30pm Monday to Friday and 9am to 1pm Saturday
Email: enquiries@unicorntrails.com http://www.unicorntrails.com
This Website and all of its contents are copyright of Unicorn Trails.
Under no circumstances is any part of this site to be copied or used without written permission.
- 2nd Edition - Danny Aeberhard 
- Polly Evans 
