5-Day Trekking Expedition: Cóndor Circuit

DAY 1: RADAL 7 TAZAS NATIONAL RESERVE - ÁNIMAS LAGOON

At 4:00am in the morning we will pick you up at your hotel in Santiago to then head south to Radal 7 Tazas National Reserve (5 hours car ride). This protected area is located in the Maule Region. Its main attraction is Claro River, with waterfalls and peculiar natural pools. At the administracion we will be received by porters and their horses from where we distribute the equipment and start the journey by a fairly friendly path through the Claro Valley. Here the group can enjoy the landscape with the "Devil´s Fang mount" as a postcard of the place. There are 6 miles to this point and about 3 more miles along a demanding slope with an average height of 1,640ft to finish the day at the Ánimas Lagoon, from where we will be received with tents set up on the shore.

DAY 2: ÁNIMAS LAGOON - EL VOLCAN RAVINE

On this day hikers should pack their towels and swimsuits for the hot springs of “El Volcán”. The first section consist to hike on a steep slope of 1,7 miles before get to the “Las Cruces” hill pass (8.202f of altitude). After a short break we continue by a path of pumice rock along a hillside before entering into the Volcán Ravine and arrive to the hot springs. On that place we will take a bath, relax the muscles and recharge energies before hike the last section of the day.

DAY 3: EL VOLCÁN HILL PATH - EL BLANQUILLO

This day is almost only downhill. The first stage consists of a hike through a corridor called “La Calle”. A beautiful natural corredor highlighting the Manantial Pelado mount. After a steady decline and having hiked about 8 miles we will arrive to the camp site near the hot springs of “El Blanquillo”.

DAY 4: EL BLANQUILLO - THE BEACH

On this day we will take south direction following the course of the Blanquillo River, which will lead us to “Altos de Lircay National Reserve”. Having left behind the Blanquillo valley and after passing the last important downhill, we will enter to an old nothofagus forest. After walking 8,8 miles final we will arrive to “La Playa” camp site, a nice spot on the banks of a river course (suitable for swiming).

DAY 5: THE BEACH - ENTRANCE ALTOS DE LIRCAY NATIONAL RESERVE

On the morning we will make the toughest section of the five days. It consist of hike uphill of about 1.800 feets to reach the lookout of “El Venado”. There are about 2.5 hours with significant slope before reach this place. From here we will continue hiking on a more friendly trail to the entrance of the reserve. As we descend, we will be delving deeper into a forest that converges sclerophyllous species and nothofagus trees represented by Coigüe and Lenga. On the administration the driver will be waiting for us with a “surprise lunch” and afterwards the returning to Santiago at 20:00 approx.