Challenging trekking routes

Chile has been a haven for outdoor enthusiasts for years, but with the majority of trips heading to Patagonia, there are vast tracts of beautiful, dramatic scenery which remain rarely, if ever, visited.

Secret Compass are taking this a step (or few thousand) further by taking the highlights of several Andean trails and linking them together through the best of local scenery with challenging ascents thrown in for good measure.

Land of condors and gauchos

With wingspans of over three metres which puts them among the largest birds in the world, Andean condors use the strong wind currents from the Andes for their soaring flights. Listed as ‘near-threatened’ with populations steadily declining, the black birds and their distinctive white collar can be found coasting above the high mountains or stooping down to feast on deer or cattle carcasses up and down the Chile-Argentina border.

In the mountains, the team will likely pass by gaucho communities of local horsemen, who, as they’re not used to many travellers passing through the region, will likely be very friendly. From these communities and individuals, the team will have opportunity to buy meat and share a traditional BBQ style dinner with them, known locally as asado.

We will see Gaucho  culture in the mountains. Very Likely be able to buy a goat from them and they would Asado it for us and we would all eat together a share mate ( pronounced ma-tay) the local tea with them. Learning the proper mate etiquette as we go. They don’t see many people so are usually very friendly.

Secret Compass runs expeditions with framework itineraries, rather than guided tours with set daily plans. Read more about Our Approach here. The following is the outline plan for this classic Chile expedition – the ‘substance’ rather than the specifics. A fuller itinerary is provided in the Chile Expedition Handbook which is available on request or upon application to join the team.

Teammates arrive

The expedition starts in Chile’s capital, Santiago, which is well-served by international flights. The team will meet at the group hotel for an expedition briefing at 1700 before heading into town for a meal. The next morning, after shopping for final supplies, the team will drive out of Santiago and south on the famous Pan-American Highway before diverting towards the Argentina border. Where the road ends, the trekking begins.

On expedition

Shouldering full packs, the team will start acclimatising en route to the foot of the Planchon Peteroa volcano system. This is a complex system with barren pumice fields – a reminder of previous eruptions – smoking vents and high glaciers. With shorter trekking days to optimise acclimatisation, the progress on this pioneering route will be steady with difficult terrain as the altitude increases. Continuing the trek through the volcano complex and past mountain lagoons, the team will meet our muleteers to replenish food and fuel stores for the second half of the expedition. The team will then be rewarded with a widened valley offering up the first views of Descabezado Grande, the headless volcano with its curiously flat top. Ascending Descabezado and Cerro Azul sees the team on the home-stretch as they descend to the south.

Secret Compass expeditions are achievable by anyone with a healthy lifestyle and a good level of general fitness. Team members should be willing to work as part of a team to achieve the expedition goals. The biggest challenges on this expedition will be its uneven volcanic terrain mixed with high altitude.

Teammates who arrive without meeting the agreed minimum fitness requirements can jeopardise themselves and the expedition’s goal so do take training seriously, prepare as appropriate and arrive fit and ready to go. Teammates must be comfortable with the following.

Included

• Experienced Secret Compass expedition leader with full medical and communication kits.
• Local guide/translator and mule support team.
• All accommodation throughout including technical mountain tents.
• All food (snacks and meals) and soft drinks.
• All transport as outlined in itinerary.
• Special permits and permissions if required.
• 24 hour Operations Room.

On application to join this classic expedition to Chile, potential teammates will receive a detailed Expedition Handbook. Here are some expedition-specific questions and our general FAQ will answer many other questions. Get in touch if your question remains unanswered.

What if a volcano erupts?

Secret Compass have robust contingency plans and alternative routes for each aspect of the expedition should they prove necessary. The most recent eruption along this route was in 2011 and the volcanoes are monitored by several agencies of volcanologists as well as by our local partners.

Can someone else carry my kit?

For this expedition we expect team members to carry their personal equipment along with a share of the group kit (tents, cooking equipment, comprehensive med kit, communications pack) and food. Depending on the weight of your personal kit this should not exceed 20kg and will get lighter as you eat food and burn fuel until your resupply. If you have concerns about this aspect of the expedition, please contact Secret Compass for a copy of our expedition training guide and to discuss equipment options.

Do we need Argentinian visas?

Although the expedition follows part of the Chile-Argentinian border, the route remains within Chile so Argentinian visas are not needed although there will be document checks on the road to the trailhead.