Santaigo Chile is nearest international airport, 500 kilometers north of riding area and from there you would fly to La Serena’s ‘Las Flores’ Airport, next to  the Pacific Ocean. Transfers from La Serena are included in package in both 8 day packages to Rio Hurtado Valley and Hacienda Los Andes,  your destination is 99 kilometers from Serena. There are three flights a day into Serena.

Hacienda uses organic products from the region. Fresh fish and freehold beef are the staples, supplemented by green salads, homemade juice and products from hacienda like vegetables, fruits and nuts. After the evening meal we often sit in front of the fireplace at the Hacienda, where we enjoy a glass of Chilean red wine and camaraderie of the group. Hacienda has six bedrooms all with garden fronts, and en suite bathrooms. There is a Jacuzzi and sauna on property, as well as nature reserve with hiking trails. On overnight camping comfortable quality tents are used with comfortable air mattresses and warm sleeping bags with hygienic inner covers provided by outfitter.

There are 310 sunny days a year. The ranch is situated in the typical dry Andean climate of South America at heights of 1000 meters. As a rule, temperatures at night are around 50°F (10°C) colder than temperatures by day.  Spring: September, October, November: average temperature by day 68°F (20°C)  Summer: December, January, February, March: average temperature by day 77°F (25°C), may become even warmer until 86°F (30°C) Autumn: April, May: average temperature by day 68°F (20°C). Please note consult us about weather conditions at higher altitudes.

Transfer (14:30) from the colonial city La Serena to the Hacienda. Time for Jacuzzi, sauna, a walk across the 1000 acres nature reserve. Dinner. Overnight stay / room with private bath.

Breakfast. Packing saddle bags. Riding along the gold diggers path through the calmness of the Sierra and 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.

Andean breakfast: home baked bread, goat’s cheese, sausage and fresh eggs. Starting from the oasis which is at a height of 2000 meters( 6,000 feet +), we ride along the historic mule trail of the gold diggers up to the Andes. We are surrounded by a gigantic panorama, tremendous overlook and untouched nature. Lunch break at a spring. In the afternoon it 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 have a camp fire.

Breakfast with a 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.

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, plain pioneer farm. Overnight stay in tents beside the mountain stream. Camp fire, meeting people, and stories.

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.

8.00 am transfer to the airport in La Serena. Certainly, you may stay some more days at the Hacienda and join other adventure activities

Transfer from La Serena airport to the Hacienda in Río Hurtado. You will stay in comfortable colonial style rooms with private bathroom, dine at candle light and enjoy the crystal-clear sky at night with hundreds of stars.

After breakfast we get in touch with the sure-footed Chilean Criollo horses and I will introduce you to the riding style (similar to the Western style). In the late morning we leave the Hacienda and take you out through the spectacular sierras and mountains to the oasis Maiten. Overnight in tents, dinner at the campfire.

After breakfast with home-made bread and local goat’s cheese we leave the sierra Maiten and climb on horseback up to 9000 feet into the remoteness of civilization. We continue through the colorful Andes to reach the Valley Sicco and an isolated pioneer style farm, where we will meet the last family before we continue into the outback the next day. While enjoying dinner together with the hospitable goat herd family you will be exposed to a fantastic mountain landscape impression.

Early in the morning, because on this day we will have a long lunch break, we are riding into the world of the famous condors. When we reach the pass Laguna, you will see an incredible panorama, sitting 10000 feet high in the saddle, and in front of you countless mountains and no human beings. Here we have a 3 hour lunch break and our sure-footed horses deserve this break, too. This spectacular scenery will continue when we reach the green valley with the crystal-clear river of San Augustin, a view that will exceed your expectations. We ride down to 7500 feet (2500 meters) and camp at the Andean river Río Hurtado.

Today riders and horses have a day to rest. Not because the days behind us have been very hard, but it would be a pity to leave this wonderful valley in the middle of the Andes that early. You have time for easy hikes to watch the wildlife and treasure the beautiful mountain scenery; you can take a sun bath or have a swim in the river which is in front of our campsite.

This day, if you haven’t experienced it by yourself, is an unbelievable excursion. First we ride through a colorful canyon and then we climb up with our horses to an altitude at 11500 feet (3500 meters). But this is not the end of the story. Here the untouched nature designs for us horseback riders an outstanding situation. The whole day we will continue our ride on top of the tremendous Andean mountain range. To your left and right, hundreds of kilometers of endless mountains and valleys. Most of the time the condors will fly below you. In the evening we camp at a fig tree garden in Maiten, a small sierra oasis with a nature pool.

In the morning we leave this outpost Maiten and we ride into the sierra of Cerro Gigante. We pass beautiful planes, great canyons and valleys which are surrounded by the gigantic Andes. After five hours we reach the evergreen valley of Río Hurtado. The Hacienda is our host for a comfortable overnight stay and delicious local food. You can pamper yourself in the sauna or Jacuzzi, have a swim in the river or just relax in the palm tree garden.

After breakfast or lunch, whatever suits best your itinerary, we drive you to La Serena airport with our private vehicle. Of course you are welcome to enjoy some additional days in the Hacienda which offers more day tours on horseback, 4x4 excursions into the Andes, 1000 acres nature reserve with hiking trails and the very quiet atmosphere with international hospitality service (English spoken).

At about 3:30 pm, we pick you up from Vicuña or Ovalle, but you may tell us a different time. It takes us two hours to the Hacienda passing the wild mountainous landscape. At our outdoor lodge, discover the surroundings such as wildly romantic places to swim, pick exotic fruit, or enjoy the view into the valley in the shade of a palm tree. Our Hacienda-cooking style uses only fresh and untreated ingredients. After dinner, we enjoy the rest of the day in the garden under a starlit night sky and have a glass of Chilean red wine.

There is a lot of time today to continue your exploration of our little paradise. Swimming, sunbathing and hiking suits the idler. But if you want more you can get for an extra charge an adventurous day in the offroad vehicle or again in the saddle. At 4:00 in the afternoon, you will leave the Hacienda with the transfer vehicle to join your next programme, or to Vicuña or Ovalle.