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7-day Andes crossing: Vuriloche Pass

7-day Andes crossing: Vuriloche Pass
7-day Andes crossing: Vuriloche Pass
7-day Andes crossing: Vuriloche Pass
7-day Andes crossing: Vuriloche Pass
7-day Andes crossing: Vuriloche Pass

A 7-day historical hike across the Vuriloche Pass, connecting Argentina and Chile. Landscapes made you surprise in each step: mallines, green forests and lakes. Do it with the local AAGM guide Juan Carlos!

Private

Andes

7 Days

Jan, Feb, Oct - Dec

Intermediate

Intermediate


Description

Let's cross from Argentina to Chile in this hiking trip in the Andes!

This 7-day trek in the Patagonia purposes a border crossing from Argentina to Chile. We will go from Bariloche to Puerto Varas through the amazing Vuriloche Pass. It is located at 1390 meters in the south of the Cerro Tronador.

Walking from a country to another via the Vuriloche Pass is an amazing expedition in any way you can consider it. It is an experience full of seasonings. On the way you will find a mixture of nature, calm, history and the challenge of reaching to the neighboring country.

As for the itinerary, we'll start in Pampa Linda, near San Carlos de Bariloche. After crossing the Andes by the Vuriloche Pass we will get to the Seno de Reloncaví, finding the Pacific Ocean. This gulf is in the Region de los Lagos, in the south of Chile. Furthermore, it is considered the starting point of the Chilean Patagonia.

We will then start the hike admiring the most stunning mountains. Among them, the Cerro Tronador and the Puntiagudo summits. This Andean landscape allows us to enjoy memorable viewpoints, valley, pampas, streams, lakes and meet kind local people.

You can find the complete itinerary at the bottom of this page. Get in touch with me so we can talk about the details of the program and fulfill the challenge together!

Price includes

  • Accommodation included
  • Guiding fee
  • Breakfast
  • Lunch
  • Dinner
  • Transport during the trip
  • Personal insurance
  • Permit and entrance fees

Price details

  • Transport included is on day 1 from Bariloche to Pampa Linda, and on day 7 from the end of the trek to Puerto Varas, in Chile.

Itinerary

Day 1: Bariloche City – Police Post (6 Hs. aprox)

We will meet in Bariloche (the day before we will have a meeting and the equipment check) and we will take the transfer to Pampa Linda, where we’ll start to walk. It is an amazing place to admire the Cerro Tronador and its imposing glaciers, while we are approaching the Vuriloche Pass.

We will do the paperwork in the Custom House of Gendarmery so we can cross to Chile and start the real hike. We will pass the Rio Manso and after a while we can appreciate a waterfall known as El Saltillo De Las Nalcas. The trail continues going up by The Rio Cauquenes, which we will cross many times during the way.

We will get to a detour that allows us to visit the boundary landmark of Argentina and Chile. Once in this last country we will border the Mallin Chileno and we’ll get to the first camp next to the Police Post so we can rest after such an intensive day.

Day 2: Police Post - Oyarso Post (6 Hs. aprox)

After breakfast we’ll start the hike, walking among the Lengas Forest and bordering many mallines. The further we advance, the lusher forest we will find. Then, we’ll reach an open field area (product of a fire) where we can admire one of the best sights of the Cerro Tronador and its “ventisquero blanco”.

On the way we can also see old post as signs of the first settlements of the place. Then, we will cross the Rio Blanco and there we will divert towards the natural hot springs where we will take a rest. After that, we will return to our trail, crossing a gangway until we are in the Oyarso Post.

Day 3: Oyarso Post - Leticia’s Ranch (5 Hs. aprox)

We will wake up with the amazing view of the Cerro Tronador. We will leave the Andean Forest behind to enter into the Valdiviana Jungle, a denser one with an attractive and varied flora. We will keep crossing posts and ranches that remind us to the history of the place. The valley turns into a encased one so we can hear the roar of the Rio Blanco strongly.

We will continue downstream until we will get to La Junta. Its name comes from the confluence of the Blanco and the Esperanza Rivers. Here we are in the Leticia’s and Enrique’s Ranch, very kind people with whom we can talk, learn and taste tortas fritas. We will rest there and enjoy the hot springs again.

Day 4: Leticia’s Ranch – Tito Velázquez Post (6 Hs. aprox)

We will enjoy a homemade breakfast that can include pancakes made with farm eggs and more tortas fritas, accompanied by a hot drink. We will start then a new hike, enjoying the Valdiviana Jungle. After bordering the Rio Alerces, we can distinguish different rock formations eroded by glaciers and the passage of the rivers. We will pass across a gangway above the crispy Rio Blanco until we reach to the Tito Velazquez Post.

Day 5: Tito Velázquez Post – Río Conchas (6 Hs. aprox)

We will walk towards the south, leaving behind the Rio Blanco and starting to walk on an flatter terrain, under an open air. We will cross more “pampitas” and abandoned posts, ideal places to take some rustic pictures. We will get to Laguna de los Palos and continue to the riverbed of Rio Quitacalzones, which joins a stream called Hueñu Hueñu. Both form the Rio Conchas, placed next to the Cayutué Lake, which ends in another arm of the Lago Todos Los Santos.

Day 6: Río Conchas – Cayutué Lake (6 Hs. aprox)

We will leave the pampas and the Valdiviana Jungle in order to walk around the Rio Conchas until we get to Lago Cayuté. It will be a perfect day to enjoy the forest, remember the experiences of our trekking days and take advantage of the silence of nature before we return to the city. We can also rest next to the lake, admire the viewpoint of the Puntiagudo Volcano and talk and laugh around a fire.

Day 7: Lago Cayutué – Puerto Varas (2 Hs. aprox)

After a complete breakfast, we will climb to the Portezuelo Cabeza de Vaca. Then, we will walk towards the vehicle that will take us to Puerto Varas, where this great program ends.

 

About the guide

Guide profile image

-Juan Carlos

5.0

(5)

Mountain Leader

AAGM mountain guide from Argentina.

I was raised in Buenos Aires where I used to go sailing and fishing with my family during weekend and holidays. As a teenager I began traveling to Patagonia with friends to fish, hike and camp. Years later I became a rock climber and mountaineer since I wanted to asses more summits and amazing views.

At the age of 23 and after gathering a good amount of fun ascents and traverses along Patagonia, I decided to fully commit to a life in the outdoors. As a result I started my carrier at N.O.L.S. – National Outdoors Leadership School in the U.S.A. and Chile. I lead rock climbing and mountaineering trips in Wyoming, Utah, Idaho, Alaska and in Aysen (Chilean Patagonia) for nine years.

In 2009 finally settled permanently in Bariloche and focused my guiding work on the Lake District Region. Here I discovered new styles of guiding and service which were good to experience and helped me grow in this profession. Now I am able to mix my background on outdoor education with the guiding world and create unique experiences for active travelers.

I take advantage of every season of the year, going mountain biking and sea-kayaking in the summer, ice-skating on alpine lakes during the Fall, back-country skiing during the Winter, rock climbing and mountaineering as soon as the Spring makes it way through the snow.

Outdoor Certifications:

• N.O.L.S. Senior Instructor • A.A.G.M. Mountain Guide • W.F.R. First Aid Certified • L.N.T. Leave No Trace Master Educator • AV 1 Level Avalanche Awareness • Nahuel Huapi National Park Mountain & Kayaking Guide • A.C.A American Canoe Association Level 3, Coastal Kayaking

Languages

Portuguese | English

Certificates

AAGM | UIMLA

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What people are saying about -Juan Carlos

Rachel

Juan was an amazing guide! We had the best experience treking with him and would highly recommened this trip!

We went snowshoeing in Bariloche last July. The trip was great and Juan Carlos was fantastic!

ruth

Juan was a great guide. We went in mid November and there’s no way we could have done the Frey to Jacob traverse without him. He’s very relaxed but you feel very safe and unhurried, good fun to be around. He looked after us really well and even let us take a shower at his place before we headed off to the airport.

Rachel

Juan was an amazing guide! We had the best experience treking with him and would highly recommened this trip!

Juan was very informative and offered a well-rounded trip; would definitely do it again!


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