Horse rides in the Chilean Andes, out from Bano Morales

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The rides:

Combine them to make:
one day, two day, three day,
four day, five day, six day,
seven day
or
long rides - 7+days

The guides

The horses

The saddles

The camp site

or, the hotel

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About Us

Terms and conditions

We are not a company, with offices and insurance policies. We are working men living in the Cajon del Maipo near Santiago. Our life has been spent working with horses and mules in the mountains and we are expert at what we do. We know the mountains like the backs of our hands, we respect them and we love them. All mountains have their dangerous aspects and the Andes are no different. The paths are steep and rocky, the rivers though not large can be turbulent, there are loose stones and rocks everywhere. It is essential to take great care and to go with people who know how to take that care, and where, and who have good strong sure-footed horses to carry you.

We are confident that we can guide you safely in these mountains and that you can have an enchanting, exciting riding holiday. But you will be renting horses, mules and guides to look after the horses and show the way from us, and also food and tents, not buying a comprehensive holiday with insurance against all risks. We are not a big business offering a packaged tour, although we can arrange for you to be fetched from the airport, or to give you hotel accommodation before and after the ride.

You will need to have your own comprehensive insurance, covering adventure travel. You need to understand that you are renting the services of a guide, horses and equipment, but making the trip on your own responsibility.

The cost of these rides is, per person in a group of 4 or more, $75.000 Chilean pesos per day. This breaks down as hire of a horse per person, a mule per person and a share of a guide (approximately one per two people), a tent and food and firewood for the number of days spent in the campsite, or just lunch if it is a one day trip.

Currently that is $US 150, £75, and 111 euros. For fewer people we would have to quote you specially. For a large group we could possibly negotiate. A night spent in the hotel would carry an additional charge of 16.000 Chilean pesos, $32. Transport to and from the starting point would also be charged, the cost depending upon your point of origin.

What to bring
The main thing is don't bring too much. Non- ride clothes can be left safe keeping below. For the ride itself, it is easy to wash clothes and they dry in half an hour. So Travel Wash rather than items of clothing. Try and organise that one brings shampoo and one Travel wash etc. Don't all bring everything. It all has to be carried on mules and an extra mule is expensive!

Having said that, it is good to have 1 full change, including trousers.

For riding:
Hat with wide brim and chin strap - it is windy. We can lend a few, but those who have them, please bring.
Wrap around sunglasses
Penknife is useful if you have one, but not essential
Long sleeved shirt over tshirt for riding
Jodhpurs are the most comfortable but jeans will do. Second pair of trousers/skirt for evenings (not to dress up! Just to get out of sweaty clothes)
Chaps, not essential but add to comfort
On long rides we always use padded bicycling pants but these rides are quite gentle - up to you
Gloves. Your hands get dry and cracked otherwise
Scarf for neck and dust
Water bottle
Highest block factor suncream that you can buy. Also lip stuff
Footwear: trainers or walking boots are ok. It is a slight problem as they stick on the stirrups, and for serious riding the arrieros wear smooth-soled boots with heels, (as in England) but they are no good when you get off the horse so people usually just wear whatever is comfortable.

We will provide saddle bags for water bottle, camera and jersey or fleece

For the evening and night
TORCH - the head torches are excellent
Thermal underwear incl longjohns
A good jersey
A thick fleece and/or a down-type jacket
A woolly hat and scarf
(I feel the cold a lot and usually wear at night a vest and longjohns, a thick shirt, a cashmere jersey, a fleece and a down jacket, hat and scarf. But in fact it often isn't that cold. I think it is best to be prepared)
A top grade sleeping bag and even a liner if you can borrow one. We canrent sleeping bags to you and one or 2 liners for those who feel the cold, also a spare blanket to each
A thermarest type mattress.
It is ok to bring a hot water bottle
A towel - camping style if poss

General
*The bathing is magnificent but icy. Bring bathing togs and flipflops or jelly shoes.
We will provide beer, wine and pisco sour but it's ok to bring some whiskey or whatever you fancy, to boost the alchohol levels.
Soft bag for loading on mules if poss - not a hardbacked wheelie or anything. 2 small bags better than one large, but either is ok.
**A little ready cash to pay the hotel but they also take credit cards. And for a tip for the guides at the end. Otherwise no opportunities for shopping therapy.

*This is the Bano Morales ride, but we always try to find a place to bathe if possible

**The hotel doesn't apply to short rides