Travel guide "Reise Know How – Pferdetrekking" ("Travel Know How – Horse Trekking")
An excerpt from the guide mentioned above, in which author Dagmar Elsen reports about the Lodge Los Andes. (First edition in 2002, published by Reise Know How Verlag, Germany, ISBN 3-8317-1091-0)
"The Lodge Los Andes is situated amidst a magnificent oasis at an altitude of 1000m / 3300ft in the desert-cordillera of the Andes, near the small village of Hurtado. Clark Stede from Germany and Manuela Paradeiser from Austria have revived a charming, 100 year old Colonial-style hacienda-estate and bathhouse which had been a wasteland for 30 years. Apart from excursions on horseback, they offer trips with four-wheel-drive and have built a trekking path for non-riders starting at the doorstep. Treks on horseback of one to eight days are available – on the tracks of the Incas or the gold miners. However, the tour of eight days is so complicated that two nights are spent on the hacienda. Other than that, one sleeps in outcamps beneath the most beautiful starry sky which one can imagine.
The landscape of this mountainous, desert-like region is coined by romantic feelings of the Wild West, with its cactuses and the typical algarobo trees. One comes to fertile oases here again and again. There, trees are swaying in the wind, the pink panicles of the pepper trees rustle, heavy pomegranates dance on the branches and parrots fly shrieking above the river. The canyons are steep and spectacular, the views across the Andes breathtaking, especially when the sun is sinking and covers the rocks with a fantastic world of colours."
Jeff Davis
The Lonely Planet author for northern Chile Jeff Davis has critically visited our hacienda. He, a non-rider, traveled on horseback in order to get to know our 500ha large national park.
His comment:
"A nice place for a few days ... peaceful and beautiful"
Moon Handbooks
Published by Wayne Bernhardson, 1st edition 2002, Acvalon Travel Publishing / USA
"In the valley of the Río Hurtado, an area in the mountains where the cactuses partly remind one of southern California and northern Baja California, Clark Stede from Germany has created an institution for riding tours ... Situated near the village of Morrillos, Lodge Los Andes is a highly professional business, which offers access to extensive areas of steep and rugged surface, hardly touched by tourists and on horses reliable in their treads. Besides, there is ample opportunity to swim in the river and to relax in the evenings."
Tim Burford
"As the author of two editions of the Bradt travel-guide for trekking in Chile and Argentina, I have visited Clark's previous company in the south of Chile, which I have gladly recommended. The Lodge Los Andes is in my opinion even better, with more affable accomodation and a larger range of activities. I will gladly recommend it personally, also in my books. In addition to the trekking guide, I am currently writing a general travel guide about Chile for Bradt Travel Guides"
Tim Burford, Cambridge, UK
Teresa Toyos und Carla Pinilla
A journalist and a photographer for Chile's most popular daily newspaper ?Mercurio? and the magazine ?En Viaje?, who have recently visited the hacienda Los Andes:
I, who had never been on a horse, had to travel so far in order to get to know the beauty of our own country and to enjoy it – and was also taken by the hand by these kind people who do not even come from Chile. How glad am I to have come here and I am happy to know that Clark and Manuela are taking care of this gorgeous place. Hopefully they will continue to do so forever. Thank you very much for your hospitality, Tersa Toyos, journalist for ?Mercurio?
This is only a small excerpt from enthusiastic visitors and reports about our Lodge.
An excerpt from the guide mentioned above, in which author Dagmar Elsen reports about the Lodge Los Andes. (First edition in 2002, published by Reise Know How Verlag, Germany, ISBN 3-8317-1091-0)
"The Lodge Los Andes is situated amidst a magnificent oasis at an altitude of 1000m / 3300ft in the desert-cordillera of the Andes, near the small village of Hurtado. Clark Stede from Germany and Manuela Paradeiser from Austria have revived a charming, 100 year old Colonial-style hacienda-estate and bathhouse which had been a wasteland for 30 years. Apart from excursions on horseback, they offer trips with four-wheel-drive and have built a trekking path for non-riders starting at the doorstep. Treks on horseback of one to eight days are available – on the tracks of the Incas or the gold miners. However, the tour of eight days is so complicated that two nights are spent on the hacienda. Other than that, one sleeps in outcamps beneath the most beautiful starry sky which one can imagine.
The landscape of this mountainous, desert-like region is coined by romantic feelings of the Wild West, with its cactuses and the typical algarobo trees. One comes to fertile oases here again and again. There, trees are swaying in the wind, the pink panicles of the pepper trees rustle, heavy pomegranates dance on the branches and parrots fly shrieking above the river. The canyons are steep and spectacular, the views across the Andes breathtaking, especially when the sun is sinking and covers the rocks with a fantastic world of colours."
Jeff Davis
"As the author of two editions of the Bradt travel-guide for trekking in Chile and Argentina, I have visited Clark's previous company in the south of Chile, which I have gladly recommended. 
A journalist and a photographer for Chile's most popular daily newspaper ?Mercurio? and the magazine ?En Viaje?, who have recently visited the hacienda Los Andes:
