Hacienda Life in the Andes

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Chile

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Hacienda Life in the Andes

Why not enjoy the authentic life at a hacienda located in the Norte Chico – the Little North of Chile, among the wilderness of the Andes, 92 km far from La Serena which is famous for its balmy coastal climate and great beaches. The Andean valley Rio Hurtado runs parallel to the well-known valley Pisco de Elqui. The hacienda offers 6 comfortable rooms decorated in a colonial style. All rooms have a private bath, direct access to the palm-garden, very good isolation against heat and the coldness, heatable for the chilly nights in spring and autumn. We have facilities like a Jacuzzi with a magnificent surrounding – view on the snow covered Andes, sauna, 500 acres nature-reserve with well marked nature trails, 3 km private river and a beautiful palm-garden. 310 sunny days each year and a mild climate invite to stay. We exclusively use organic products of traditional cultivation. We offer homemade juice, marmalade, wine, dry-fruits and wood-fired bread. We try to offer our guests an experience as close to nature as possible. We take care of each guest individually, from the transfer till the end of their time with us. Tours accompanied by English, German and Spanish speaking guides.

Visitors to this region will find a mixture of the old Chilean culture and the achievements of the new century. The hospitable people who can be met here are small farmers, herdsmen, workmen and cattle breeders. They live in small villages surrounded by huge and colourful mountain massifs, semi-desert landscapes, steppes, and a wide Sierra. The sky is bright blue more than 300 days a year. The crystal-clear and absolutely clean air attracted astronomers like a magnet .

Horseback Andean Wilderness

An Andean adventure tour for you who wants to explore nature. Discover the wilderness of Chile during 2 days of horseriding trip far away from civilization suiting riders and non-riders alike. We move through canyons, endless plains and over passes of the untouched Andes. We are close to Chilean mountain farmers and experience untouched nature. There is also time to relax at the Hacienda such as having a bath in the Jacuzzi or in the crystal clear water of the river. You might also like a steam bath in the sauna, hiking our nature trail, or dreaming in the hammock

Day 1 - 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.

Day 2 - At about 9:30 am, we will prepare for exploration. Our guides acquaint you with the riding horses, the riding style and any safety precautions. We set off at 10:00 am after having packed all we need for our trip into the wilderness. We pass through wild plateaus and canyons, ride the endless Sierra and enjoy a picnic lunch and an original Siesta. In the afternoon, we pass over heights of 2,000 metres. Crystal-clear air allows magical views down the valleys of the Andes. We camp in the oasis of the Andes called Maiten. In front of a camp fire, we serve dinner. (Alternatively you are welcome to change this two-day rido for two one-day rides starting at the Hacienda. Your overnight stay would be at the Hacienda in cosy beds then.)

Day 3 - We continue our trip after breakfast under dates for which we have selfmade bread and fresh goat's cheese. We ride the Maiten Sierra and discover the extreme contrasts of nature. The minerals lets the Sierra ashine in many different colours. You will be fascinated by the green Algarobo trees, cactuses as high as yourself and the calm loneliness. When riding back to the Hacienda, herdsmen with their goats might cross our way. We arrive the civilisation of the Hacienda at 3:00 pm. Now it is time for having a bath and a rest. Dinner is served in the garden.

Day 4 - 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.

DATES: -from September - April. Also from May- August though with two dayrides and overnight at the Hacienda

Price: US$684 per person double for suite, $538 for a standard room

Included: Transfer to Hacienda and back from La Serena. One overnight stay in a comfortable tent, two overnight stays at the Hacienda. Any meals (picnics during day trips). Any facilities of the Hacienda such as nature trail and river access (Sauna, jacuzzi not included in price). Explorations accompanied by English, German and Spanish speaking guides. Equipment for riding explorations: Sombrero hat, riding gaiters, comfortable Gaucho-saddle, sleeping bag and clean inlet, thermal mat, tent, personal pannier, ice box, by request safety helmet, first aid kit, saddlebags and finally one of our well trained and calm Chilean mountain horses.

Hacienda Cocktail

Enjoy unforgettable days at our colonial style estate. Conquer a unique paradise. Discover wildly romantic beaches along the river, pick exotic fruit from the fruit trees, or relax in the shade of the olive grove. Standing under a tall palm tree, you have a very special view of the valley and the mountains. The clear mountain air allows faraway views. The Hacienda cooking style assures culinary delights. Our cook Maria uses only fresh and untreated ingredients. After dinner in front of the fireplace, we will sit by the silken light of the moon in the garden enjoying a glass of Chilean red wine and end this day with interesting stories. And this wildly romantic part of the country holds a lot of exciting stories! We offer various adventue or leisure trips which you may join spontaneously and as it suits you best. The untouched mountainous landscape of the Andes can be explored on foot, by the offroad vehicle or on the back of our safe and good-natured Chilean mountain horses. Hidden villages in the Andes await exploration. Get to know the country and its people!

Day 1 - At about 3:30 pm, we pick you up from Vicuña or Ovalle, but you may tell us a different time. Before dinner in front of the fireplace, there will be time for having an extensive sauna, a bath in the Jacuzzi, or a glass of wine in the palm garden.

Days 2 & 3 - Every day, you can choose one of the following trips.

Fossilized woods of Pichasca - Day trip to the fossilized woods of Pichasca. Visiting a village, vineyards, pure nature and people.

Trip to Maiten in the Andes - Day trip into the high Andes with the all-wheel drive vehicle. Visiting mountain villages, weavers and hermitages. Passing wild mountain landscapes, across plateaus to remote places.

Canyon hiking - A manifold Sierra hiking leads you through the canyon Quebrada Vina up to a little oasis. After only another 30 minutes we will reach an antique Indian place of ceremony and get to know something about the culture of the Diaguita Indians and its way of living.

Riding - Ride with us into the wild mountain landscape of the Andes. We visit a hermitage in the mountains. During this adventurous trip, non-riders and riders get to know the untouched mountain landscape of the Andes. Conquer the Sierra of the Andes during four hours in a comfortable Gaucho-saddle. The clear mountain air allows views of more than 250 kilometres.

Day 4 - After breakfast, you have the opportunity to hike on the trails of the Hacienda. The nature trail explains flora and fauna. Romantic places along the river envite to swim. Jacuzzi and sauna are also available. In the afternoon, we take you back to Ovalle or Vicuña.
This really is adventure and nature for everyone!

DATES: Daily all year around

Price: $538 per person double for standard room. $684 for a standard room.

Included: Transfer to Hacienda and back from La Serena. Three overnight stays in the rooms of the Hacienda, any meals (picnics during day trips). Any facilities of the Hacienda such as nature trail and river access (Sauna, jacuzzi not included in price). Explorations accompanied by English, German and Spanish speaking guides. Equipment for riding explorations: Sombrero head, riding gaiters, comfortable Gaucho-saddle, ice box, safety helmet, first aid kit, saddlebags and finally one of our well trained Chilean mountain horses.

Great Adventure

Riding the paths of the Inca and gold diggers. Right through the Andes off civilization. This horseback adventure offers three trips in seven days. You will explore the wild Sierra, the huge Andes and experience a romantic and pure nature. You are guaranteed a hundred percent Nature & Adventure in the sun.

Day 1 - 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.

Day 2 - American breakfast and meeting of the team. Briefing of the tour. You will get to know your horse and the Chilean riding style (similar to Western style). Riding tour through the valley Rio Hurtado finally reaching an idyllic mountain village. Picnic in the garden of the Plaza. Returning to the Hacienda through the Andean landscape. Dinner in front of the fireplace. Overnight stay at the Hacienda.

Day 3 - 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.

Day 4 - Andean breakfast: selfmade bread, goats cheese, sausage and fresh eggs. Starting from the oasis which is at a hight of 2000 metres, 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. Lunchbreak 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.

Day 5 - 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.

Day 6 - 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 colourful 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.

Day 7 - 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.

Day 8 - 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.

GREAT ADVENTURE DATES:
2006: November 05 - November 12, November 18 - November 25, December 24 - December 31
2007: February 15 - February 22, March 15 - March 22, March 27- April 03

Private Tour (other dates) on inquiry

CAPACITY: Minimum 2, Maximum 8

PRICES:
Tour dates as given = per person in double room / tent US$ 1784. Single person = US$1970
Private tour (special dates) per person in double room / tent US$ 1970.

INCLUDED: Transfer, in and out Hacienda from / to La Serena-Airport, Ovalle and Vicuña. 3 overnight stays in comfortable tents (Hillerberg), 4 overnight stays at the Hacienda. All meals. Equipment for riding explorations: comfortable Gaucho-saddle with sheep-fur padding, sleeping bag and clean inlet, thermal mat, tent, personal pannier (cup etc.), ice-box, thermo bottle, by request safety helmet, sombrero hat and riding gaiters, first aid kit, saddle bags and finally one of our well trained and calm Chilean mountain horses. Any facilities of the Hacienda such as nature trail and river access (Sauna, jacuzzi not included in price). Explorations accompanied by English, German and Spanish speaking guides.

Working at close hands with our horses, we do not use force or any other common strong – arm tactics. In all situations we never use whips or spores. First come trust and love. Communication with the horses, our partners, is a primary step. Similar to humans, personal and body contact, a lot of caresses and strokes are important. It takes a lot of time to get the trust, but it is the most important part in establishing the relationship between horse and human. The criollos horses are great partners. We ride the same Andean trails like the men in the saddles. Those are the Huasos in Chile and the Gauchos in Argentina.