THE ADVENTURE ANDES CROSSING FROM CHILE TO ARGENTINA
Relax in the remote heart of the Patagonian Andes. The journey takes you across southern beech forests and gemstone-colored lakes to this exclusive island retreat. In the middle of nowhere enjoy warm local hospitality and exquisite cuisine in a comfortable cottage while you leave the rest of the world behind. In the next day you will follow the Andes crossing to the town of Bariloche.

Day 1: Puerto Varas to Bandurrias Island.

The trip starts when a private transfer will pick you up from your hotel in Puerto Varas. The transfer will take you to east direction where you will see beautiful views of the Reloncavi estuary, the traditional litlle town of Cochamo with it’s wood church for finally get inside the Andes and sail the Tagua -Tagua Lake. We will take some time before crossing with the ferry the lake, for exquisite pic nic lunch at the shore of the lake. The road will slow down inside the Puelo Valley, certain to amaze and delight. Once you arrive to La Colina Farm, a local guide, or baqueano, will be waiting for you with pack - horses to continue the trip making a short walk to Las Rocas Lake where we will take a motorboat to reach the Island of Las Bandurrias. There you will be served with a welcome tea and a fantastic dinner by our host. The time has come to enjoy life...

Timing: 4hs by private transfer with several stops. 40’ walk; 10 minutes motorboat to Bandurrias Island.

Day 2: Las Bandurrias Island to Bariloche.

After a home made breakfast we will take the motorboat and head to the East side of the Las Rocas Lake. You will see the stunning beauty of Lake Interior and the source of the Rio Puelo, a major river that flows into the Pacific Ocean. We arrive at the customs and immigration posts for Chile from where it is a short walk to reach Lake Puelo Inferior. Here a motor-jet boat will take us across the lake and then down the river through a short rapid, the natural border between both countries. Before Argentine border formalities we will arrive at Lago Puelo National Park. We will take a private transfer to El Bolsón where we will enjoy a nice lunc and time to see the market and the town. It is posible if the day matches , make a quick overview of the traditional handy craft market. In the afternoon we will arrive to the town of Bariloche.

Timing: 30-minute motor\boat; 30 minute walk; 1 hrs motorboat crossing international lakes; 3 hrs private transfer from Lago Puelo to Bariloche.

How many days: The crossing lasts 2 days / 1night.

Capacity: Min 2 / Max 8 Persons.

Route: From Puerto Varas, in Chile, across the Andes, ending in Bariloche Argentina.

What´ s included: In/out private transfers, full-broad accommodation & meals including 1 night at a fabulous retreat on Bandurrias Island, Pic nic lunch on day 1 and lunch at a restautrant in day 2. Pack horses, jet motorboat, local guides, huasos and tour leader, VHF radio & communication equipment.

Food and Accommodation: The highlight is our private island. Island Las Bandurrias has a woodland path circumnavigating the shore, small private beaches and two charming cabañas. Guests stay in a cosy and well-equipped 2-story cottage heated by firewood; the same system heats water for showers. The bathroom offers a splendid view of a southern beech forest. The living and dining areas and great sundeck overlook the small beach next to the quay. Here you find stunning views of Lago Las Rocas and the surrounding peaks.

The cabaña offers accommodation for up to 6 people and the main house features two further guest rooms with original French country decor. It is a very cosy and warm place where we'll share meals and pre-dinner drinks with Francoise Dutheil, our island host.

Francoise’s prides flower garden which includes butterfly bushes, fuschia and camellia is adjacent to the main house.

Season: The crossing runs anytime from October to late April. Consult for any date after these.

Guides: Opentravel believes that tour leaders are the key to a successful and memorable trip; we use only experienced guides with great knowledge of the area. They are all friendly, great fun and highly passionate about the Puelo Valley. Guides are trained to stay a step ahead and offer all the help and assistance to ensure the trip runs smoothly.

Local huaso (cowboy) guides or baqueanos" will always be there to help and look after you, they are a great support for the whole group and, well attuned to the regional climate, have an uncanny sense of pending weather!

Visa: A valid passport document with visa for both Argentina and Chile is required. Check the current advice for nationals of your country. For more information about visas, please go to: www.fco.gov.uk or www.travcour.com

Safety: We use qualified staff provided with safety equipment including a portable radio with available connections to radio networks; in case of emergencies we have access to direct telephone lines through this 2-way radio. Life jackets are provided for river and Lake Crossings and while sailing. We use international adventure tourism insurance but clients are obliged to have their own travel insurance that covers them for the activities on the tour such as riding.

Health and Vaccinations: No special vaccinations are required for this area of South America. Clients with special medication should bring enough for the trip. It is advisable to get your own first aid kit. No pharmacies after day 1.

Packing and Clothing: We suggest bringing a day-pack, where you will put a few personal belongings plus a lunch box and water bottle. Please have in mind that we do not accept any type of rigid cases; a good quality duffel bag with strong zips will do. We provide strong outer storage bags just to protect your own one and make things easier. Comfortable trousers, waterproof pants, fleece, jacket, hat, some warm pairs of socks, sun block, insect repellent, personal medicines, personal knife, flashlight and good trekking shoes. Using plastic bags as waterproof storage for your clothes is the cheapest way of keeping things dry in case of rain! Camera depending on your photographic stamina.

Flight Connections: Daily flights depart either from Santiago international airport to Puerto Montt (Chile) and from Buenos Aires Jorge Newbery local airport into San Carlos de Bariloche (Argentina).

Important Notes:You can review with us any points that will affect your travel plans – where the trip starts, or whether it includes a Pre-Trip Option or Post-Trip Extension.

Delicatessen: The food on the trip will be a mix of a special blend of flavors and ingredients consisting of an ethnic variety but mostly Creole-Chilean cuisine. A traditional wood stove gives a special flavor to the dishes.

Depending on the season, it is possible to taste delicious rainbow trout, fontinalis, or The vegetables and fruits are superb and the variety of the region's berries is impressive.>

Vegetarian dishes are also a great delicious option but we do need to know if you prefer vegetarian options at the time of making a booking.

The drinking water is crystal clear, safe to drink and tastes delicious. The island also has a personal collection of good variety of wines.

Rates per person

PTV - BRC TEMPORADA 2010-2011

BOOKING CONDITIONS

Deposit to our US$ account in Chile.

Provide your bank with the following instructions:

Banco Corpbanca,

Oficina Puerto Montt,

Calle Urmeneta 541 Puerto Montt

Name: Marie Françoise Dutheil Berard

Cuenta Corriente en dólares Nº 36-028551-0

SWIFT: CONBCLRM

A copy of the deposit slip should be e-mailed or faxed to: (56-65) 260524 as soon as possible. If you have any questions please contact us.

Reservation: Prepayment upon confirmation 20%.

Terms and conditions: We stipulate that the 80% balance must be sent at least 21 days before trip starts.

OPEN TRAVEL cannot be held responsible for any extra cost in the event of cancellation or extension due to weather circumstances or safety considerations. In case of "last minute" cancellation  the payment is not refundable but may apply to another departure during the same or the next season.

Cancellation Conditions: 60 days: prepayment will be refunded. 59 - 21 days: 80 % of total will be refunded. 20 - 14 days: 50 % of total will be refunded. 13 - 0 days 0% of total will be refunded

This morning we propose you to take a short motor boat ride to one side of the lake and get our horses there.Once we will be comfortable and save in our saddles we will start our ride forward to the Rio Puelo. The path crosses along self sufficient farms surrounded by big mountains. We will have the possibilities of seeing different sceneries, from the clean agriculture farms to the trails insight the deep Andes forest with ancient trees, fast rivers, waterfalls and wilderness.

Three hours late we will arrive to the amazing Rio Puelo bridge. This bridge permit locals that are living in very isolated valleys  to cross the Puelo river. The river have an  unique  turquoise color and draws incredible canyons and open beaches in its way down to the Pacific Ocean.We will make a stop here and enjoy our lunch. Possibility of fishing and swimming here. In the afternoon we will go back to Bandurrias Island.

Timing: 10’ motor boat going and the same coming back. 3hs horse back riding to go and 3 to come back.

Included: bilingual guide, local guide, saddle horses, box lunch, motor boat transfers in out, one more night at bandurrias full board.

Rate per person

EXTRA DAY SEASON 2008-2009

Nu. de persons                 2                 3                4 to 8

Price in USD                   520             435                400

BOOKING CONDITIONS

To pay your trip send us a money deposit to our US$ account. Please contact us if you have any questions or doubts, to confirm the payment process.

For making a bank deposit please provide your bank with the following instructions:

Banco Corpbanca,

Oficina Puerto Montt,

Calle Urmeneta 541 Puerto Montt

Name: Françoise Dutheil Berard

Cuenta Corriente en dólares Nº 36-028551-0

SWIFT: CONBCLRM

A copy of the deposit slip should be e-mailed or faxed to: (56-65) 260524

Reservation: Prepayment upon confirmation 20%.

Terms and conditions: We stipulate that the 80% balance must be sent at least 21 days before trip starts.

OPEN TRAVEL cannot be held responsible for any extra cost in the event of cancellation or extension due to weather circumstances or safety considerations.

Cancellation Conditions: 60 days: prepayment will be refunded. 59 - 21 days: 80 % of total will be refunded. 20 - 14 days: 50 % of total will be refunded. 13 - 0 days 0% of total will be refunded

In case of "last minute" cancellation due to weather circumstances the payment is not refundable but may apply to another departure during the same or the next season.