New Andes Adventures in Peulla

August 5, 2019 - 9 minutes read

Joe Yogerst

If you’re taking the road and water journey through the Lake District between Chile and Argentina, be sure to build in a couple of extra days for the outdoor adventures offered by Cruce Andino in and around Peulla.

Most of the activities are offered year-round, subject to weather conditions unless otherwise noted below. Temperatures in the Lake District range between 50-70°F in spring, between 50-85°F in summer, between 40-70°F in the fall, and between 30–60°F during the region’s often-rainy winter days.

 ATV Adventure and Black River Photo Tour

Joe Yogerst

  •   Duration: 2 hours.
  •   Location: Rio Negro and Rio Peulla river valleys in the Andes between Lake Todos los Santos and the Chile-Argentina border.
  •   Level of difficulty: Easy.

Description:

The tour starts with an ATV ride along International Route 225 through the panoramic valley east of Peulla village. There’s a visit to a typical local farm — to meet some of the farm animals — before crossing the Rio Peulla and hiking up the Black River Valley. The group then boards a small catamaran and enjoys the beauty of the Andes mountains and evergreen forest from the peace of the water.

Scenic Tour to Ferns Waterfall

  • Duration: 2.5 hours.
  • Location: Villa Peulla.
  • Level of difficulty: Easy

Description:

The adventure kicks off with a ride in an off-road vehicle to Fundo Rigi farm, Cascada de las Mellizas (Triplets Waterfall) and the Valle del Río de Peulla (Peulla River Valley). Exiting the vehicle at the entrance to Los Helechos Valley, the journey continues with an 0.75-mile hike along a path surrounded by lush native flora and fauna. Reaching Los Helechos Waterfall, there’s plenty of time to take photographs, relax and enjoy the crystal-clear waters. Heading back down the Peulla River Valley, it’s time to eat and admire the incredible Andean landscape before returning to the hotel.

Zip Lining the Forest Canopy & Cascada de los Novios

  • Duration: 2 hours.
  •  Location: Villa Peulla, about 300 yards from the Hotel Natura.
  •  Level of difficulty: Medium.

Passenger/guide ratio

1-4            2
5-8            3
9-12          4
12-15        5

Description:

This excursion is for adventurous people who want to feel the thrill of zip lining among the native trees of southern Chile. Participants traverse centuries-old trees like the coigüe, pass beside the Cascada de los Novios waterfall, and fly above a stream that rises into a lagoon high in the Andes.

Rafting the Río Negro and Río Peulla

  • Duration: 2.5 hours.
  • Location: Villa Peulla boarding area about four miles from Hotel Natura.
  • Level of difficulty: Easy

Description:

Rafting the Río Negro (Black River) is a blend of outdoor adventure and incredible Andean scenery. The journey starts in the Encanto Sector, where rafters receive instructions on how to paddle a gentle mountain stream as a team. The float trip begins near the confluence of the Negro and Peulla rivers and continues downstream towards Peulla village, past multiple streams gushing down from Cerro Techado. After lunch, the group returns to the hotel.

 Kayaking the Río Negro

  • Duration: 3 hours.
  •  Location: Villa Peulla sector of the Río Negro in the Encanto Valley.
  • Level of difficulty: Medium.

Description:

This excursion takes paddlers down the Rio Negro in kayaks. Starting in the Encanto del Valle sector, the group first ventures upstream to the sandy shore where they have time to relax and enjoy a snack. From there, the journey continues to a fork in the river and then downstream the rest of the way.

Scenic Horseback Riding at Fundo Rigi

Joe Yogerst

  • Duration: 1.5 hours.
  • Location: Villa Peulla, Fundo Rigi farm.
  •  Level of difficulty: Medium.

Description:

The journey begins at Fundo Rigi farm (located around three miles from Villa Peulla) where riders receive instructions on how to safely traverse grasslands used for both livestock grazing and outdoor recreation. Farther along, the trail is flanked by the spectacular landscapes of Los Cóndores and Techado mountain ranges.

 Hiking to Las Mellizas Waterfall

  • Duration: 2.5 hours (including two hours of walking).
  • Location: Villa Peulla, Fundo Rigi farm.
  • Level of difficulty: Easy

Description:

This short hike starts at Fundo Rigi farm, with the first stretch through grazing land in an Andes valley surrounded by gigantic mountains. Farther along is a forest populated by indigenous evergreen trees like coihües, mañíos and arrayanes as well as abundant quila (a kind of bamboo that dominates the lower part of the forest). The trail eventually reaches beautiful Las Mellizas waterfall, fed by crystalline waters that descend from the highest part of the mountain range. The return is by vehicle to Fundo Rigi and onwards to the hotel.

 Hiking the Pataguas Forest

  • Duration: 1 hour (including 30 minutes of walking).
  • Location: Villa Peulla, Fundo Rigi farm.
  • Level of difficulty: Easy

Description:

A casual hike through an evergreen forest of pataguas trees (Crinodendron patagua) that are especially adapted to the humid and soft soil of Patagonian floodplains. The pataguas are covered with epiphytic plants that colonize their branches and trunks. The trail continues through an area that hundreds of years ago was covered by Lago Todos los Santos. If weather permits, hikers can enjoy panoramic views from Cerro Techado mountain.

Trekking Cerro Rigi with Views of Glaciers and Monte Tronador

  • Duration: Full day including four hours of ascent and three hours of descent.
  • Season: Spring, summer and autumn. Subject to weather conditions.
  • Weather:
    Spring – Stable weather with many sunny days. Temperatures 30-60°F.
    Summer – Mostly sunny with temperature ranging 40-75°F.
    Autumn – Variable weather. Awesome fall colors. Temperatures 30-60°F.
  • Location: Along the Chile-Argentina border.
  • Level of difficulty: High.

Description:

One of the best mountain treks in southern Chile, this magical experience takes hikers along paths where they can contemplate the beauty of ancient trees and the various colors of nature. The journey ascends through the lush Valdivian temperate rainforest along the border between Chile and Argentina, passing from a wooded area with coihües trees and quilas undergrowth, through a lengas forest and into ñires forest (a type of beech tree that belongs to the genus Nothofagus).

Hikers are rewarded for the challenging ascent with panoramic views of the high Andean prairie and Lago Frias across the border in Argentina. As it climbs higher into the Andes, the trail traverses a landscape spangled with volcanic material and different types of rock: metamorphic, igneous and sedimentary. The ascent continues along a rocky path, passing glacial lakes and ending at the summit of Cerro Rigi, which affords awesome views of the glaciers clinging to the side of Mount Tronador.

At the summit, trekkers can perch themselves on a 5,700-foot-high ledge — with their feet dangling over the edge — contemplating the immensity of the valley below and the glaciers on Mount Tronador, while watching condors and other birds fly beneath their feet.

For more information contact: contacto@cruceandino.com

 

 

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