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The Andes crossing by El Portillo Pass

Portillo Pass 7
Portillo Pass 9
Portillo Pass 1
Portillo Pass 2
Portillo Pass 3

For those who like challenges, here's the best option: a hiking expedition in The Andes across the Portillo Pass that takes you from Argentina to Chile.

Not specified

Andes

7 Days

Jan, Feb, Mar, Nov, Dec


Description

I invite you to a hike, crossing from Mendoza (Argentina) to Chile through the stunning Portillo Pass.

Those vast high valleys interrupted by a lonely mountain hut in the middle of nowhere. The towering rocky walls. The jagged peaks interspersed by the white robes of glaciers. All is still, like in a picture. And we are the main characters of that painting.

The idea is to enter in the middle of the mountain range, ascending by a valley and crossing the Andes through the same place that was walked by General San Martin 200 years ago: The Portillo Pass. A really unforgettable experience.

Here you have a program with the itinerary of this amazing hiking trip in The Andes Mountain Range. I can give you some details about the trail and starting point but the exact route will depend on different factors such as weather conditions and any other group features evaluated by the guide. Please note that this trek can only be done during the months of November, December, January, February and March.

DAY 1: meeting in the morning in Tunuyán, where we will prepare the backpacks and we’ll be transferred to Portinari Hut of National Gendarmerie. We will be registered in migrations book (please don’t forget your identity card. If you do not present it you cannot go out of the country. It is really important!). After that, we walk towards the hut Scaravelli, where we will spend the night and dinner. Hiking time of approx. 4 hours.

DAY 2: Relax day and acclimatization with short hikes. We will be taken to the next camp 3 hours far, ascending gradually in the mountain range up towards Portillo Pass.

DAY 3: We will have breakfast early in the morning so that we can seize the day. It will be a very hard one, with an ascent up to 4.300m and a crossing in Portillo Pass, from where we can admire such a viewpoint: many hills and up-to-6000m-glaciers. Once in there we descend to a new valley already as part of Argentina side. In the afternoon, we will finally reach to La Ollada Camp. Walking time of the day: 10 hours.

DAY 4: A new ascent day among the wardstones that once were witnesses of legendary armies and troops. Today, they are also silent witnesses of our hike, looking how we set up our camp nearby, in the Real Corral de Alambre. Hiking time 5 hours in total.

DAY 5: We get up early again to take advantage of the daylight. Our objective will be approaching to the International Pass. So that, we will hike up to a perfect valley, step by step, until we reach to Las Ovejas Pass, where we will spend the nightcamp. Waking time of today: 7 hours.

DAY 6: Key day, finally we will cross to Chile. As every day of the expedition, we start as earlier as possible. We’ll keep ascending for a couple of hours up to the border pillar of Piuquenes Pass. Pictures, hugs and some snacks to celebrate and recover energies. We will need them to start the descent, this time, among Chilean fields. We will get to the hot springs of Posas del Yeso. From there, we will transfer to the city of Santiago de Chile. Night in a hostel. Total hiking time of this day: 8 hours.

DAY 7: Breakfast and end of our services. Once in Santiago you can visit some places and go shopping. You are also free for going back home. Ask for return options to Argentina or extra accommodation nights in Chile.

These seven day will be undoubtedly unforgettable. You cannot miss this trekking opportunity of crossing the Andes like the emblematic people in the past. Contact me and let’s do it together. 

Price includes

- Guiding fee

- Accommodation included

- Transport during the trip

- Group porters

- Personal insurance

- Tips

- Breakfast

- Lunch

- Dinner


About the guide

Adventure tourism agency formed by ISAS, EPGAMT and adventure tourism guides.

Head guide is Leandro Scheurle, rock and ice climbing instructor, wild areas lifeguard (WFR), and ISAS trekking and adventure tourism guide. He is also Instructor and lecturer at the ‘Instituto Superior Andes del Sur’ (school of professional guides).

He made technical ascents in Argentina and South America, including solo new routes in Domuyo Volcano (Neuquén), and Cerro Bonete (Tierra del Fuego).

He also write articles for magazines, blogs and websites specialized in outdoors and mountain activities.

The lead guide for AEX expeditions to Aconcagua is Daniel Adrián Cangiani, better known as "Roger". He is an EPGAMT mountain guide, WFR, rock climbing and mountaineering instructor, and professional photographer.

Languages

English

Certificates

EPGAMT | ISAS


What people are saying about Explore-Share

Kumari Selvakumar

5.00

Sept 14, 2022

I’m extremely happy with the ease with which I could book via your site reliable and experienced guide. Thank you so very much, and I’ve started to recommend your site to my friends. Dimitris is not only an awesome guide, but a wonderful person who was always looking out to give me the best experience I can have when he found out how much I love climbing! He is the Best!

Niklas Warren

5.00

Sept 6, 2022

I am very pleased with Explore-Share! This was my first international climb, and the communication and response time were great. Herbie is a very skilled guide and very efficient. The entire booking process & payment was smooth. I will definitely use Explore-Share again. Thank you.

Greg

5.00

Aug 23, 2022

I was looking for a local guide for a hike I was planning and came across Explore-Share. They seemed to have good reviews and so decided to give them a try. The experience was very positive and completely happy with their service. I will be using them again for next trip.

Colin Finnegan

5.00

Aug 17, 2022

Easy to set up and find the perfect trip. Informative site that is easy to use. Guides are all great to work with and communicate all arrangements needed. As simple as can be!

Lesley Weber

4.00

July 16th, 2022

Thank you explore-share for a wonderful via feratta experience. We have been wanting to learn for a long time but don't have the facilities in Scotland. The guide Mitja was extremely helpful and knowledgeable, answering all my many questions and providing advice. On the day head to take another group but he quickly arranged another guide Borut, who was brilliant. We had a fantastic morning learning via ferrata at Hvadnik in the gorge. It gave us the confidence to later hire our own equipment and go out in Mojstrana. Altogether a five star + experience. Thank you.

Richard Scrivener

5.00

July 20, 2022

Hello! I have been thoroughly impressed by the service and assistance that explore-share have provided the past couple years in helping to plan my trip to the High Tatras in Poland. I really appreciated the flexibility that they provided in allowing me to rearrange my trip twice owing to covid. They were responsive and communicative throughout. This trip was part of my Stag weekend celebrations and explore-share connected me with an outstanding guide in the form of Marcel - he was an excellent recommendation and we really enjoyed our guided hike in the High Tatras with him. Marcel was an outstanding professional, placed a high focus on preparing well and staying safe, and was also a great guy! Highly recommend. Many thanks and best wishes - Richard

Yvonne Morrison

4.00

May 8, 2022

Our first time with Explore-Share. An absolutely fantastic experience from start to finish. Extremely good value, very well organised with attention to detail. We travel widely and this has by far been the best of experiences. Well done to all concerned. We are already looking at booking another trip!

Mark Stone

5.00

April 14, 2022

Great service by explore share. Our guide, Fred, gave us a fantastic day. Totally wild adventure that would be impossible on our own. I’m really impressed. Thank you very much.

James Dempster

5.00

March 9, 2022

I can’t recommend this enough. Great service, great price and the on the ground team was top notch. Top marks all round.

Leonardo Rodriguez

5.00

March 4, 2022

Everything went very well! Above our expectations! Thanks Explore-Share and Thanks Kiliholidays! Great support from all you! Thanks for the hard work and excellent level of commitment.

Daniel Martinez

5.00

Feb 2, 2022

Excellent job making your platform available to all mountain lovers. Our guide Gabrielle was an excellent companion

 

 

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