The Millenary Alerces ride & trek tour - Patagonia

A 02:30 hrs transfer from Puerto Montt or Puerto Varas takes you along Lake Llanquihue via the village of Ensenada to Cochamo and the close by Riverside Lodge.

You will enjoy wonderful views of several volcanoes and the Andes mountain range on the way. Arriving at the lodge, there is time to hike to a small hilltop farm overlooking the nearby Reloncavi fiord. Dinner and overnight in cabin with private bath. ( D )

After a little riding school, we start our expedition up the Cochamo Valley. For five hours we will follow the trail of the gauchos into the Andes. Enjoy the silence in one of the most beautiful forests you can imagine, passing by waterfalls and pretty valley meadows.

 

Arriving at La Junta we will have an "asado", a typical Chilean barbecue, over the open fire. Dinner and overnight at the mountain lodge (shared bathroom ) ( B, BL, D )

The exploration of one of the oldest Alerce forests, El Arco, will be our activity today. El Arco features an arc of natural rock that crosses a small waterfall with a single Alerce on top. In the forest around El Arco you will encounter examples of giant Alerces, some 4,000 years old and so enormous that it takes five people to make a circle around them. Dinner under the starry sky and accommodation in tents. ( B, BL, D )

After breakfast we ride back to La Junta Valley. You should focus on the bird life - hummingbirds and condors are often seen. Dinner and overnight at the mountain lodge in La Junta ( shared bathroom ) ( B, BL, D )

Today we descend through the rainforest back to the Riverside Lodge. We will make our way slowly out of the Andes and into the valley. Picnic lunch on the way. We will be back for teatime with homemade cake. Farewell dinner at the Riverside Lodge. ( B, BL, D )