Itinerary

DAY 01: You'll start your journey at the International Airport of Bariloche, where you'll meet your personal guide. A transfer will take us on a 3-hour trip, 120Km southwards, along a route surrounded by lakes and mountains, situated in the heart of the Patagonian Andes, until we'll arrive in El Bolsón. Depending of your flight arrival you will have enough time to visit the town. We'll lodge in a cozy and traditional hostel own by a pioneer family in Patagonia. Home made dinner (D)

Timing: 3hs minibus transfer.

DAY 02: After breakfast, we'll be taken to the dock of Lake Puelo, where we'll start our adventurous trip. A turbo Jet boat will take us across two lakes, thereby passing the custom control. After having complied with the custom procedures, we'll cross the rapids that unite the two countries of Argentina and Chile. A local guide will be waiting for us and will take care of our luggage. After the custom control in the Chilean side we will begin our walk in direction to Bandurrias Island. Three hours enjoying the paths across the forest. In our walk, some incredible views of the Las Rocas Lake will be able to be seen with the peaks in the surroundings. A warm welcome and a nice rest will be waiting for you in your exclusive cabaña on the Island (B; B; D)

Timing: 30’ From El Bolsón to the Lago Puelo Pier; Motor Boat: 2,30hs.Hours Walking: 4hs

DAY 03: Cottage breakfast. Hike following the trails of the local pioneers, into the Puelo Valley. Amazing view of the Puelo River. This area is particularly spectacular for its huge waterfalls and rapids. We’ll take a break to enjoy our box lunch. Afternoon hike. Arrive to family home. Stay in a cottage that is just “hanging” in the Puelo River. Night and dinner at the cottage (B; LB; D)

Timing: Hours Walking: 3 / 4hs.

DAY 04: After breakfast we will travel on a motorboat up the river to the hanging bridge. This is "La Pasarela del Río Puelo", a crucial local bridge, for the communication between the local inhabitants and the outside world. Time to enjoy the place while the Baqueanos pack the horses. The walk will take us along different terrains. At the last part if the river is high we will cross it with our local guide horse. At the end of the day we will arrive at a local cattle farm. Here will get the possibility to share with our host the day by day activities she is doing at her place. (B, BL, D)

Timing: Hours Walking 4/ 5hs

DAY 05: Home made breakfast. Start our trek along these fantastic area where we will be able to encounter locals on their daily life, looking after the cattle and making a living through family agriculture. Is amazing to see how fertile these mountains can be!! The vegetation gets dense in some parts of the trail. Enjoy our lunch box at the Puelo River shore and this fantastic landscape. Cross the river just as the locals do: on a wooden public rowing boat but horses will do it swimming. Another farm house where to stay this last night. (B, BL, D)

Timing: Hours Walking 4 hs.

DAY 06: Home made breakfast. The path will take us through the forest and along the Puelo River to the hamlet of LLanada Grande. At the end of our trail the minibus will be waiting for us. A short drive will take us to Blanca’s B&B for a delicious meal. Walk to visit the huge waterfall of LLanada Grande. After lunch, transfer to the ferry boat that cross the Tagua Tagua Lake. Then, the transfer will take us up to Puerto Montt. The road goes at the side of the Reloncaví Estuary. You will enjoy this beautiful sight of the river's mouth flowing into the sea .On our way to Puerto Montt, we will be able to contemplate the colours of the sensational virgin nature of the National Park of Vicente Perez Rosales, skirting Lake Llanquihue and the volcanoes of Osorno and Calbuco, all around the beautiful Puerto Varas city. The transfer finishes at Puerto Montt or Puerto Varas City (B, L)

Timing: Hours Walking: 3/4hs. Transfer LLanada Grande- Puerto Montt 4hs.

Option B: To reach Bariloche we first walk for four hours alongside Lake Las Rocas to the Mountain Border Police station close to the Puelo Lower Lake. A little further and we reach a small natural harbor from where we take a jet boat across the lake and up the river through small rapids that form a natural border between both countries. After crossing the Argentinean border we arrive at Lago Puelo National Park (Arg) from where we take a minibus via El Bolson to Bariloche. 

Timing: 4 hours walking

Note:

We can organize an exclusive extended stay at Bandurrias Island. Please ask for more information

* we can offer you a four hour trek to the airstrip at Llanada Grande where small aircraft (Cessna) will fly you back to Puerto Montt

How many days: The expedition lasts 6 days /5 nights.

Capacity: Min 2 / Max 10 Persons.

Route from/to: From Puerto Montt in Chile on the shore of the Pacific Ocean across the Andes, ending in Bariloche Argentina or return to Puerto Montt.

What’s included: In/Out private transfers, full board meals, pack horses, transportation by private minibus, motor jet boats, ferry crossing, 5 nights accommodation, including 3 nights at a fabulous retreat on Bandurrias island, local guides, “Huasos” and tour leader. VHF radio communication equipment.

Food and Accommodation:

Night 1/2: We are invited into the homes of local pioneers for a unique opportunity to experience their way of life. The extremely charming but often rustic homes offer basic accommodation mostly in twin, triple or dorm rooms with shared hot showers. Scope for single rooms with small groups. Food will be organically grown and sourced from local gardens, while the meat will be cooked on a delicious Chilean asado (bbq)..

The highlight is the 3rd, 4th and 5th nights, spent on our private island. Island Las Bandurrias has a woodland path following the shore, small private beaches and two charming cabañas. Guests stay in a cozy and well-equipped 2-story cottage heated by firewood. The same system heats water for showers. The bathroom offers a splendid view of a coigues forest. The living and dinning areas and fantastic sundeck overlook the small beach next to the quay with 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 rooms with original French country decor. Both are delightfully cozy and warm places and we'll share meals and pre-dinner drinks with Francoise Dutheil, our island host. The house is surrounded by a garden covered by a variety of flowers where birds come to nest, one of Francoise’s prides.

Hours Walking: The daily walks are not more than three hours during the morning and three more in the afternoon.

Distance: 230 Km between Puerto Montt to "Los Hitos", the natural frontier of rapids at Lake Puelo Inferior.

130 Km between Bariloche to Lake Puelo and 20Km between Lake Puelo port navigating Lake Puelo to "Los Hitos".

Season: The expedition runs any time between Septembers to late April.

Walking difficulty: The trip is an exciting one but not demanding. We will have some days longer than others where we will have to cover a particular distance. Some steep up hills and undulating terrain could turn just a bit more demanding if the weather is not good.

Guides: Opentravel believes that tour leaders are the key for a successful and memorable trip; we use experienced guides with a great knowledge of the area. They are friendly, all of them are great fun and highly passionate about the Puelo Valley area. Your guide would be able to be a step ahead and give all the help and assistance on any unpredictable situation and make the trip run smoothly.

Local Huasos guides, "Baqueanos" – these will always be there to help and look after you, they are a great support for the whole group and they even have an amazing ability to predict the weather! They also enjoy making wooden handcrafts.

Visa: A valid passport document with visas 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.travcour.com

Safety: We use qualified staff provided with safety equipment including a portable radio 2-way with connections to radiotelephone networks. 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 and must check that they are covered for all the activities undertaken on the trip.

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 chemists after day 1.

Packing and Clothing: We suggest bringing a day pack, where you will put your own personal belongings plus a lunch box and water bottle. Please bear 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 quality 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, flash lamp and good trekking shoes. Using plastic bags as a waterproof for your clothes is the cheapest way of keeping things dry in case of rain! Camera depending on your photographic stamina.

Most of our clients realise after doing the trek, how much extra luggage they brought. It is important not to bring unnecessary stuff. The pack horses will especially appreciate your consideration. Our ethic is to protect our horses and not to cause them unnecessary strain. Two complete changes of clothing is plenty. Try to bring less than 15kg. Per person.

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: During January horse flies proliferate in the whole southern part of Chile and Argentina! They do not harm but are a nuisance and are attracted to dark clothing. Take this into account when selecting your clothing.

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

Delicatessen: The cuisine on the trip will be a mix of a special blend of flavours and ingredients. It consists of an ethnic variety of gastronomic Creole-Chilean style. A traditional wood stove gives its special flavour to the dishes. Depending on the season, it is possible to taste the delicious rainbow trout, fontinalis, or salmon trout. The Creole barbecue “Asado al palo” or “Asado al Asador” is served during several meals. It consists of delicious lamb cooked with plenty of embers and fire wood. As the main local dish, people cook it in different ways usually accompanied with salad, potatoes and, of course, Chilean red wine.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 it if you prefer is 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 a good variety of wines.

Typical Lunch Box: 2 sandwiches, small juice, fruit, chocolate-bar, yoghurt, and cereal bar.

Rates per Person

TREKKING TOUR - ANDEAN PATAGONIAN EXPEDITION, 2009-2010

Opentravel motto is to love what we do and improve our trips and products and at the same time face the financial worldwide crisis. For this we have decided not to change any prices as long as the price of the dollar /Chilean peso remains within a 10 % fluctuation of the actual price.

http://www.economiaynegocios.cl/calculadora_vf/index.asp

In case this occurs  we will be forced to update the prices accordingly and you will be notified  as soon as we can.

6 Days 5 Nights

SERVICIOS: Tour leader, local guide, Transfers in /out, full board meals and drinks, pack horses, A cessna chartered plane in PMC/PMC option. 

All prices correct as of March 2009 but may vary with exchange rate fluctuations, fuel surcharges, or changes in the general economic situation. A 20% deposit will secure reservation at current quoted price.

BOOKING CONDITIONS

Send us a money deposit to our US$ account.

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

Please contact us if you have any questions or doubts, to confirm the payment process.

Reservation: Prepayment upon confirmation 20%.

Terms and conditions: We stipulate that the 80% balance must be sent at least 21 days before trip starts. OPENTRAVEL cannot be held responsible for any extra cost in the event of cancellation or extension due to 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.

OPENTRAVEL cannot be held responsible for extra costs in the event the trip is prolonged by weather circumstances.