Child's play crossing rivers

Ride on top of the world

Rocks and waterfalls in high Andes

1. Day trips or longer rides - The high Andes, from Jan to March

Ride with us on horseback along trails in the high Andes near Santiago in Chile for the perfect holiday - to relax and refresh.

Our horse rides start near Bano Morales in the Cajon del Maipo, around 2000 metres and go on up. The views are always unimaginably spectacular and you will also find myriad exotic wild flowers and birds, and always water to bathe and refresh after the day's riding.

Guides, and Fair trade

Our rides and tours are led by local arrieros who have worked in this area all their lives and are, to use a Chilean word, 'autentico'. All the money apart from costs goes to local working men.

Small groups, tailor-made rides

We are happy to take small groups and even individuals. We do not offer package tours - each ride is individually tailored to you or your group's preferences.

Horses

Our horses are wonderfully cared for. We have a mix of thoroughbred corralero (rodeo) horses which provide a better ride for experienced riders and some mountain-bred extremely quiet horses for beginners and less experienced.

Time of year

Rides in the high Andes are in January, February or early March, so make your plans early to avoid disappointment. For a quotation or to book now email us: ridingsantiago@gmail.com

The trails and levels of difficulty

The paths are often steep and rocky, but our horses are bred in the mountains and are sure-footed and strong. The skill of the horses, and the unimaginable beauty of the landscape, is such that the rides are fascinating and entertaining for advanced and less experienced riders alike.

Accommodation

We offer camping or hotel alternatives, or a mixture of the two, .

The horse rides:

Rides can be for anything from one to eight days, or even up to two weeks if required. We have a heavenly campsite in a 'vega' (green meadow) by a little river, with flowers, birds and the occasional fox and condor to accompany you. We have cooks who will provide a delicious evening meal, around the camp fire, after a pleasant day followed perhaps by a bathe in the small nearby lake. Most of the rides can go out from this one place with no need to keep changing campsites. This makes every day more relaxed, although for longer rides we might need to change occasionally.

Families with children

The camp site is so delightful, and the daily rides can so easily be tailored to individual needs - longer or shorter, more or less difficult - that this place would be suitable for a family with children. Parents need to be aware that the cordillera de Los Andes is not a country club park, and there are dangers, but our guides are experienced and careful so that the pleasure of a campsite, barbecues, lassooing and managing horses and mules and so forth, could give enormous pleasure to children or teenagers.

Contact us now at ridingsantiago@gmail.com. Be sure to read About Us and Terms and Conditions before booking a trip

2. Day trips or rides for 2 or 3 days- all year round - expeditions nearer Santiago

These rides go out from a place slightly nearer to Santiago and very possible for a one day trip as part of a more general holiday or at the end of a business trip to Chile. Snow in winter can be seen on the surrounding peaks, but the mountains where we ride are much greener and in spring there are wonderful flowers.

OR Several days with camping

In the depths of winter we can do one-day rides, or combinations with overnight in a hostal, but don't recommend camping. But in April, October and mild periods in winter, it is possible and not too cold. (In summer we work up above Bano Morales, at a higher altitude) Days are often warm and sunny in winter but nights are cold. Usually you will lunch or camp near a place where you can take a dip in a nearby stream.

Guides, and Fair trade

Our rides and tours are led by local arrieros who have worked in this area all their lives and are, to use a Chilean word, 'autentico'. All the money apart from costs goes to local working men.

Small groups, tailor-made rides

We are happy to take small groups and even individuals. We do not offer package tours - each ride is individually tailored to you or your group's preferences.

Horses

Our horses are wonderfully cared for. We have a mix of thoroughbred corralero (rodeo) horses which provide a better ride for experienced riders and some mountain-bred extremely quiet horses for beginners and less experienced.

The trails and levels of difficulty

The paths are often steep and rocky, but our horses are bred in the mountains and are sure-footed and strong. They are well looked after and well fed and have no difficulty with the steepness, even with a heavy load on board. The skill of the horses, and the unimaginable beauty of the landscape, is such that the rides are fascinating and entertaining for advanced and less experienced riders alike.

For a quotation, to answer your questions or to book now, email us: ridingsantiago@gmail.com

What makes us so special?

1. Tailor made rides for you and your companions, or even just 1 person, not a motley group

2. Authenticity. Your guides come from among the arrieros who live and work in the Cajon del Maipo. Chilean arrieros raised in these mountains and working all their lives here. They enjoy showing you their country.

3. Good quality horses, some of whom are corraleros, others quiet but sturdy mountain horses.

4. Efficient administration by an English family living in Chile. Many years of experience with horses in England followed by ten years in the Andes. We know how to care for you.

5. "Fair trade". After costs all money goes to local poor Chilean workers.

6. Ecology. Apart from the use of firewood we do nothing to damage the ecology. A camp fire is so integral to the experience that it is difficult to do without.

see our Facebook pages (facebook.com/riding.santiago) for photographs of individual rides

Send us, or upload to Facebook, photos of your rides when you get home.

Blog (just started. There's more to come)- for what to wear, what to bring, what it's like, who can enjoy. Please add a comment. http://ridingsantiago.wordpress.com/

Videos: we are preparing some videos to give you a better view of what you get. It takes time - watch this spot.

For a quotation, to answer your questions or to book now, email us: ridingsantiago@gmail.com

Riding up near the snow level

Riding down from El Avion

Flowers and snow