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South America : Adventures out of Santiago

From Santiago, the Maipo Valley runs deep into the Andes for some 120km until it reaches impassable gorges and rushing rivers where the terrain is only negotiable on horse or on foot. It is in the middle of this rugged scenery that one feels at the heart of the Andes, the geographic feature which all of Chile. The valley is broad where it meets Santiago and here you will find many of the vineyards whose products have made Chile famous worldwide. As one goes up the valley, mountains get higher and the valley narrower. At an elevation of 1.000m, 60km away from Santiago, the typical mountain village of San Alfonso nestles in the Cordillera. Here, overlooking the wild Maipo river, facing the steep striped sedimentary mountains and under the shade of tall waving pinetrees lies Cascada de las Animas (Spirit´s Waterfall) Outdoor Centre, declared Nature Sanctuary in 1995.

At this point the only way to get into the mountains is on foot, on horseback or down the river in a raft. However, if you do not want any further physical activity, there are good facilities for relaxing at Cascada de las Animas and enjoying a peaceful day away from the city. Experienced, skilled and good-natured guides will assist you when you arrive at Cascada de Las Animas. Their amiability and willingness to help will make your visit a safe and memorable experience.

 

 

  

Detailed Itinerary

Scouting the flight of the Condor

09:00 hrs: Pick up from the hotel in Santiago;

10:30 hrs: Arrive in Cascada de Las Animas and start trekking through the 10.000 acre private Nature Sanctuary. The trek follows narrow and steep trails used by the arrieros (Andean cowboys) to take cattle and herds to higher grazing lands during summer. Depending on the season, there are many waterfalls, streams and pools where cold-refreshing bathes can be taken. On springtime the giant Condors fly down in search of food to a lower altitude where we might have the chance to scout them. The route will vary depending on the interests and physical condition of the participants; this tour is led by our experienced guides who are happy to point out the many spectacular views, as well as the native flora & fauna along the trail.

13:30 hrs: Come down to the restaurant for lunch. The evening is free for relaxing at the swimming pool (summer) or for taking a sauna (winter).

17:00 hrs: Start driving back to Santiago. Arrive at the Hotel around 18:30hrs. Easy Day at the Mountains

09:00 hrs: Pick up from the hotel in Santiago;

10:30 hrs: Arrive in Cascada de Las Animas and start an easy walk to the 7m. long waterfall crossing over the river Maipo hanging bridge; in summer, you can have a refreshing bath in the waterfall's natural pool. Noon, Back at the restaurant there is time to take a sauna or go swimming;

13.30 hrs: Enjoy a typical Chilean lunch, plentiful and delicious, at the restaurant overlooking the river. The rest of the evening is free to rest, walk or just relax admiring the beautiful mountain landscape.

17:00 hrs: Start driving back to Santiago. Arrive at the Hotel around 18:30 hrs.

Horseback Riding the Andes

09:00 hrs: Pick up from the hotel in Santiago;

10:30 hrs: Arrive in Cascada de Las Animas. Meet the horses and guides at the corrals nearby in the Nature Sanctuary. After receiving some basic riding instructions we start riding one of a variety of trails leading up to the high 250 acre "meseta" (plateau). Those trails are used by the arrieros (Andean cowboys) to take cattle and herds to higher grazing lands during summer. Depending on the season there are many waterfalls, streams and pools were cold refreshing bathes can be taken. On springtime, the giant Condors fly down in search of food to lower ground where they can easily be seen.

13:30 hrs: Come down to the restaurant for lunch. The evening is free for relaxing at the swimming pool (summer) or for taking a sauna (winter).

17:30 hrs: Start driving back to Santiago. Arrive at the Hotel around 18:30hrs.

Rafting the Maipo River

09:00 hrs: Pick up from the hotel in Santiago;

10:30 hrs: Arrive in Cascada de Las Animas. Meet our experienced and skilled guides and put on the rafting gear we provide: wetsuit, helmet, paddle jacket and life jacket. The leader guide will speach the group with technical and safety instructions. The Maipo River is rated as a class 4 from November to February (snow melting season) and as a class 3 the rest of the year; in both cases "first timers" are welcomed (no experience required), as well as the experienced rafters. The put-in-point is Cascada de Las Animas, so we do not need extra transportation to get to the river. From November to February, this fun and exciting trip runs some 16km passing beautiful gorges and agricultural terrain typical of the Chilean countryside. The take-out point is the town of San Jose de Maipo, from where we drive back to Cascada de Las Animas. From March to September the take-out point is at El Melocoton, 9 kms downstream from the put in . In both cases, the time in the water is around 1 hour.

13:30 hrs: Come back to Cascada de Las Animas, have a hot shower and go to the restaurant for lunch. The evening is free for relaxing at the swimming pool (summer) or for taking a sauna (winter).

17:30 hrs: Start driving back to Santiago. Arrive at the Hotel around 18:30hrs.

Hot Springs at Moonlight

During the evening a beautiful extension up to Colina hot springs can be taken to recover from the morning's activities. Although the hot springs are remote (1hr and 30min over dirt dusty road) their situation at the foot of the giant San José volcano, overlooking the vast silent Andes, brings a marvelous wild experience while soaking on the hot open air pools. Time permitting, we wait until dusk and eventually until the stars fill the clear Southern Hemisphere sky. Have a box-dinner with aperitif just before 7-9PM when we start coming down to Santiago arriving at the hotel between 9-11hrs.

Hot springs are available, weather permitting, from March-May and Oct-Dec.
 

Synopsis

Grading:Good Rhythm

Length: 1 day extensions

Begins/Ends in Santiago

Price: $185 USD per day

Extensions Include: Transfer: Htl Santiago/San Alfonso/Htl Santiago. Lunch at Cascada de las Animas restaurant. All excursions as indicated on the itinerary. One bilingual guide on excursions. Swimming pool in summer or sauna on winter. All entrances and parks fees

Seat In Bus Restrictions: Available only Saturday & Sunday. Transfer to and from Santiago with Spanish speaking driver.

What you need to bring:

Rafting
Sandals or tennis shoes (and wool socks in winter), swimming bath, sunscreen lotion & lip balm, towel. The equipment supplied will be: wetsuit, life jacket, paddle jacket & helmet.
Horseback riding
Long pants, tennis or trekking shoes, sunscreen lotion & lip balm, sun glasses, hat and rain coat (winter).
Trekking
Long pants (winter) or short (summer), trekking shoes, sunscreen lotion & lip balm, sun glasses, hat and rain coat (winter).
 

Climate: Central Chile enjoys an ideal Mediterranean climate, mild temperate, being the warmest months November to February when temperatures reach 32°C. June to August are the coolest with temperatures as low as 0°C.

CANADIAN HIMALAYAN EXPEDITIONS reserves the right to modify or change any program itinerary to ensure client safety. The company does not accept any responsibility for maltreatment (damage) of equipment, loss, accident, unforeseen costs, unavoidable delays, services provide by intermediaries, nor direct or indirect acts which are out the company’s control.

You can also contact Canadian Himalayan Expeditions directly for more information.