Forests and Hot Springs Ride

Chile's Lake District, a fascinating land of blue and emerald lakes, hot springs, wild rivers, moist temperate jungles and perfectly coned volcanoes, extends from Villarica to Puerto Montt. Within this unique landscape, we find a large temperate rainforest ecosystem, home of rare giant tree species (Alerce, Araucaria, Cypres, Coihue, Canelo, Palo Santo etc), divers birds (Chucao, Cachana, Traro etc) and elusive mammals.

DAY 1:
From Temuco's airport, we drive to Pucon and enjoy a get-together lunch, discussing the itinerary for the following day. In the afternoon, you are free to walk around town, enjoy a siesta, a swim in the lake or may be an optional adventure such as rafting or biking. Overnight at the hotel (L).

DAY 2:
After a hearty breakfast, we drive to Huepil stables, nestled amongst 300 years old Coihues at the foot of Cordillera El Cani. A delicious lunch, short briefing and a warm up at the Picadero and we start riding over the Puhuenche Trail that crawls the slopes of the Cordillera del Cani. The path is an important link between the many houses and small communities spread over the hills. Local farmers still transport their produce on ox-carts, as their ancestors did, hundred years ago. By evening, we arrive at the Llancalil Lagoon, with open fields, suitable for galloping. After a refreshing swim in the lagoon, we ride down to Huife Hot Spring, a beautifully conditioned spa. Here we enjoy dinner, a thermal bath and optional massage before retreating for the night to our comfortable beautiful wooden cabins on the banks of the Liucura River ( B L D).

DAY 3:
A 3 hour ride along old logging trails brings us into the primeval domain of ancient Coihue and Araucaria trees in the heart of the Cordillera del Cani. The horses advance silently through this cathedral-like atmosphere towards the pristine Alicia Lagoon, an ancient volcanic crater, covered by deep green waters and surrounded by impassable thick forests. After lunch, we descent the mountain ridge to Panqui Hot Springs. Enthroned within green temperate rainforest, we find 10 Native American Sioux tipis, open air thermal pools, mud baths as well as a traditional indigenous sauna, Watsu massage and a medicine wheel. After getting in tone with Mother Nature, we retreat for the night in the tipis equipped with comfortable beds (B L D).

DAY 4:
After relaxing around Panqui's pristine surroundings and stretching the legs on its attractive trails, we start riding back over de Cordillera del Cani to Llancalil. A refreshing bath in the lagoon and we drive back to the hotel in Pucon (B L).

DAY 5:
After lunch, we drive back to Temuco airport in time for the flight back to Santiago, or onwards to Patagonia (B).

Read our customers' feedback about this journey.

Rated: Easy/Moderate
This mountain ride is quite slow because of the rugged terrain. The chances for cantering or galloping are few and exclusively practical over flat terrain. No previous riding experience is required. We do not offer any more this journey but we can customise similar ones depending on your main interests. Contact us !

Included: Accommodation and meals as specified, transport, horses and complete horse customs and gear, experienced guides, all park entrance fees.

Not included: Other meals, flight from/to Temuco airport