adventure tours horseback riding trekking lodging in Chile
The Colonial Style Outdoor Lodge
--- Río Hurtado - Hurtado - Chile - Phone/Fax +56-53-691822 - info@haciendalosandes.com ---

 
horse pictures


indean art















Our Hacienda


hacienda andes

clark stede
1500 acres of untouched nature, divided by an enchanting riverbed, and willows with grazing Criollos ­ since October 2008 this haven found new owners with Anna Maria and Ludwig Bierwirth.

What are their expectations for you? Joy of life, the feeling to return to nature for a couple of relaxed days and an unforgettable experience to get to know Chile from its very personal side.

At the Hacienda, Gunther Magura, one of the familyıs closest friends, and his team are looking forward to welcoming you. Under his management the growing philosophy of the house is to keep tradition and long established values while inspiring to complete them with innovations such as the wellness area or the restaurant, whose culinary specialties reflect the quality, variety and freshness of Chiles products. In Bavaria (Germany), home to all three of them, hospitality is the key in everyday life. Guests of the Hacienda los Andes are welcome to feel like home, just like Gunther Magura, Anna Maria and Ludwig Bierwirth felt on their first trip to Chile, when they fell in love with this wonderful country and itıs kind and open hearted people.
The team of the Hacienda los Andes is looking forward to welcoming you.

Haciendas are a type of organisation for country farms of several hundred acres and were introduced by the Spaniards in South America in the 16th century. A lot of workers were needed to tend the livestock, till the ground and bring in the harvest. In the past, the Hacienda was centre of life for the people.

Also for us is the Hacienda Los Andes the centre of life surrounded by a marvellous nature. The 1000 acres Hacienda Los Andes reaches from our river to the top of the Cerro Gigante mountain.

parrot

Only a few acres are being cultivated. The remaining are nature reserves which can be discovered on foot or on horseback.

Two hiking trails (4 and 7 kilometres) lead through the original countryside passing cactuses, riverbanks, canyons and lush meadows. Surrounded by trees and gardens stand the buildings of the Hacienda: stables, barns, houses and guest house.


 
The Rio Hurtado river rushes through the valley for ages and takes its way through our Hacienda along three kilometres. Its water is the elixir of life for nature and people. There are growing balm, laurel and mint; fruit, vegetables and green grass; and the knotty, magnificent Algarobo which are the ancient trees of the Sierra.
river crossing on horse

indean art

The Indians
used its seeds to bake their flat bread. Their peaceful life was disturbed by the Inca who conquered the country for the gold and silver mines. They travelled to Argentina on the old cattle trail which still winds its way through the valley.

The Inca introduced the irrigation technology which is the digging of irrigation channels down the valley. Today, the people still profit from this antique irrigation system; as we do at the Hacienda.




beautiful horses

cowboy and horse Criollos the Chilean horses are called. They have a safe and calm character because there never was overbreeding.
Our horses are trained without applying any force - No spurs and whips are used at the Hacienda - We ride the same Andean trails like the men in the saddles. Those are the Huasos in Chile and the Gauchos in Argentina.

The people here live in harmony with nature. They prepare gardens and small fields in winter. Train horses and do handicrafts. In the mild spring, magnificent seas of blossoms change the valley into a bright scenery surrounded by the snow covered Andes.

Summer is awaited with anticipation because its fruit, whether it is apricots or vine, the green grass, the well fed herd, determine the earnings of a family. In the mild autumn, they repair channels and work around houses and trails.

The Andes, nearly invincible, seem to have welded together the people. Hospitality, unity, working together in the fields and traditional celebrations are part of everyday life. And unlocked doors testify to honesty and frankness.

Little has changed to date. There may lead an earthy road through the lush valley of the Sierra of Rio Hurtado, but herds are still moving along trails into the Andes.

"Tranquilo!"
, the Caballeros (men in the saddles) still shout, and this word has some more meanings than just: slow.
Tranquilo actually means:
calm, coolness, freedom and peace.
 

 

 

 


experience the andes

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