Cabalgata Cordillerana Horseback Trek Along the Senda de los Arrieros Mendocinos

Riding gradually through a bewildering, endless, rich and imposing mountain range is an experience that usually stays etched in the deepest corners of our memory for a long time. The great valleys covered in intense green overflowing the meadows, the border passes covered in sand and sturdy patches of snow, the powerful waterfalls tumbling down from steep, hidden canyons…A long list of reasons that come together into an adventure for everyone. Days of climbing and descending, longer days, days that bring us to high mountain passes almost on the border with Chile. Rest days by a lagoon or inside hot springs unique in the world. The trip starts and ends in the city of Malargue. The ride itself begins and ends in the small village of Las Loicas, deep in the mountains of southern Mendoza, a corner filled with indescribable magic. 

Specified format

A multi-day horseback expedition. Mules, muleteers and local guides throughout. Overnight stays are in tents.   

Getting there: You need to travel to Malargue. Options are by bus with a connection in San Rafael, or by private vehicle. Flights go to Mendoza city (about 6 hours by bus to Malargue) or to San Rafael (not every day has flights, check with AR, Aerolineas Argentinas).

Day 1: Meeting in Malargue at midday. Lunch, preparations, briefing and introduction at the base of operations. Transfer by charter van along Route 40 heading south. Along this stretch we'll get to know the landscape typical of the adventure about to begin. We'll pass through Manqui-Malal, Bardas Blancas and enter the Río Grande valley up to Las Loicas, our starting point for the big adventure. Afternoon snack and saddling up + technical briefing. First leg of horseback riding, approx. 3 hs, to our first campsite. Set up camp, dinner and overnight.  
   
 

Day 2: We'll ride 6 to 7 hours, passing along the edges of the area known as the Lost City, a spot overflowing with geological formations of all sorts of shapes. Lunch at Cajón de Pichi Trolón. We then continue to the Castronero Cave and the Arroyo El Callao, where we camp and spend the night, deep in the mountains. 

Day 3: We begin the big descent toward the Río Chico valley, a winding way down with great views, which brings us to a large summer-pasture meadow, where we'll set up our last campsite and settle in to enjoy a night with roast goat. 

Day 4: We continue with the final stretch to Las Loicas, including a river ford. Lunch and celebrations for the trek. Return by minibus to Malargue. End of the program and our services. 

Note 1: All the horses are properly trained and prepared for riding in mountainous terrain, and our local guides have the best local knowledge and skills. No prior riding experience is necessary.

Note 2: An active program of medium difficulty, suitable for everyone. This program does not depend on weather conditions. Changes to it may be made along the way depending on various circumstances and factors. Decisions will be made exclusively by the guides, local guides and coordinators.

 

• Private charter transfer from Malargue.  
• Full board in the mountains (from lunch on Day 1, through lunch  on Day 4)
• 3 nights of wilderness camping, deep in the mountains. 
• Guides, coordinators and local guides. 
• Horses equipped and properly prepared for this type of mountain expedition.
• Tents.
• General mountain equipment: full first-aid kit, VHF
• General camp logistics (pots, stoves, safety equipment, navigation, etc.)
• Personal accident insurance
• Prior briefing with photos, maps and the necessary materials
• Ongoing assistance.

• Travel to Malargüe (we include issuing the bus tickets). 
• Personal gear (we rent suitable sleeping bags)
• Tips
• Expenses caused by dropping out of the program
   

• in wilderness campsites in the mountains

Full Board: 

Our mountain menus are varied. From pasta with delicious sauces to stews or grilled meats (Argentine kid goat). Picadas, salads and easily digestible foods are common at midday. The personal/medical form must be filled out to note if anyone doesn't eat a particular type of food.

• 2 pairs of long pants (gaucho-style field pants, or trekking pants with no zip-off legs, NO JEANS!!)
• 2 collared shirts or long-sleeve t-shirts (for riding and sun protection)
• 2 short-sleeve t-shirts
• 1 swimsuit and/or shorts
• 2 warm layers (recommended: 1 light fleece + 1 heavy fleece)
• 1 pair of warm gloves
• 1 silk scarf for sun protection, or a tube-style neck gaiter (Buff type), to protect your neck
• 1 fleece or wool hat
• 1 pair of espadrilles or flip-flops/sandals to rest your feet.
• 1 pair of riding shoes - trekking shoes (high-top recommended) or riding boots.
• 1 windbreaker jacket with hood, waterproof
• 1 rain poncho 
• 1 sun hat or cap (ideally with a chin strap and ties so you can tie it around your neck and it won't blow off in the wind)
• 1 small towel
• Various pairs of socks (some tall ones)
• Personal hygiene items (just a few)
• UV-protective sunglasses, with a retaining strap (don't forget)
• Sunscreen (factor 40 or higher)
• Water bottle or container of up to 1 liter, for drinking
• Headlamp or small flashlight w/ spare batteries
• Sleeping bag, -10 degrees comfort rating.
• ID card or passport

1. Wet wipes for hygiene.
2. Riding gaiters

1. Personal gear during the ride is all carried in the saddlebags. Do not bring a small backpack.

Personal bags, with the rest of the luggage, can be left (safely) at the farm where we set off from. To be picked up on return.

2 - Do not bring:  Insulating sleeping mat.

3 - First-aid kits (only bring your own personal medication)

Yes, some minimal experience is necessary.  We ask that you've done at least one 4-hour ride in the last year. The horses are prepared to carry people with little experience, and the adjustment process is remarkably fast. The style is “at a walk”, expedition-style, one horse behind the other, to move through the rolling terrain so characteristic of the Cuyo mountains.

The pace is easygoing. On the first day you only ride for two hours, to gradually get into the rhythm, and on the following days the pace is roughly 2/3 hours in the morning and about the same in the afternoon.

We suggest from 11 years old and up to 60. It's not an exact rule. Very young children don't fully enjoy the experience, but there are 10-year-olds who are already physically ready for it. People over 60 must provide us with a corresponding medical fitness certificate. 

Not being sedentary, or if you are, training up until the departure date. Training, in any form, works very well.

Knowing you'll be sleeping in a tent, in the mountains. Up there, anything can happen, from a snowstorm to strong wind.

Not weighing more than 115 kg.

Our mountain menus are varied. From pasta with delicious sauces to stews or grilled meats (Argentine kid goat). Picadas, salads and easily digestible foods are common at midday. The personal/medical form must be filled out to note if anyone doesn't eat a particular type of food.

Everyone should bring their personal luggage in a duffel bag or large backpack. There, things get sorted out: personal gear is carried in 2 (two) saddlebags of about 30 liters each (a small bag to hang on the horse's saddle). All personal gear is carried in the saddlebags. 

Almost all the campsites have escape routes through other valleys, allowing us to reach a road within a few hours. Our local guides and guides are trained to handle first-aid matters and/or evacuations, which, by the way, are very rare.  We also have a satellite tracking system, which lets us send a satellite message requesting assistance in case of an emergency.