South American Adventures - 48 hours of horseback riding in the mountains, off grid wild camping, cooking over the fire & star gazing. A birthday dream

Ok, so this blog isn't my usual informative guide, but I just couldn't resist sharing this amazing experience with you, as horseback riding through the mountains of South America is a memory that I will never forget.

This was completely organised by someone Tom knows who lives over there, so I wouldn't even know where to begin to plan this yourself. What a unique and special way to spend my 35th birthday.

Day 1

We arrived into Santiago in the morning, but our luggage decided it was much happier back in London, causing us some panic as all of out kit for the O Trek was packed in it, and we would urgently need it in the next few days. The airline assured us it would be on the way on the next flight, so we decided to just carry on with our plans and hope it arrived. Fortunately, we were staying with Tom's friend in Puerto Montt, so after a quick flight there, we borrowed some of their clothes & went to a supermarket to prepare us for the next few days.

Upon arriving at Dionisio's wonderful home, we were treated to a large home-cooked lunch of delicious seafood and meat and then quickly sorted out our saddles and horse bags ready for the next part of our adventures. Our guide for the next few days had already taken the horses to the meeting point ready for the next morning. Off to the mountains we went and after dinner and some drinks we settled down in the Refugio to spend the night.

Saddling Up

Cowboy hats

Cowboy couple

Rifugio hut

Day 2

It's my birthday!!! And I can't imagine a better way to wake up than in a cabin in the mountains!! We experienced a minor delay as one of the horses had been kicked by another, so our guide had to return it to the ranch and bring a suitable replacement. Once we eventually mounted our horses, we started our trek into the mountains. There was so much to take in and we were only just getting started - the views around us were insane. My horse, Peppa, was a bit of a madam and insisted on being ahead of Tom’s horse at all times & nowhere near Dionisio's or she would lash out. The first half of the day involved riding up the steep hills, and then we stopped for lunch next to a small lake. The horse flies around here were no joke, and I got bitten so many times, it was so painful. As we continued the trek, we had to tackle several river crossings, which the horses handled brilliantly but the wee dog looked like he might get swept away at one point. Eventually, we reached our camping spot for the night and set up our tent in the middle of the mountains. The horses were allowed to roam around the area where we camped (I was somewhat worried they might run off and we would have to walk back, but they didn't). We gathered twigs and firewood from nearby trees, constructed a spit and a frame for cooking the meat we brought and set it over a blazing fire. We sat around sharing stories and laughing, and it honestly felt like we had all known each other for ages - isn't it amazing how spending time in nature can bring that out in people? As dusk fell we were treated to a chorus of frogs croaking by the river. It was so constant that it became soothing and we slept like babies through the night.

Day 3

We woke up in the mountains and kicked off the day with a tasty breakfast of eggs cooked on the hot stone alongside some fresh avocado. Luckily for us, our horses didn't run off during the night, so we saddled them up and got ready for the trek back. It felt a lot smoother today as we had settled in and our confidence had grown - I even managed to get off to a wee canter. After spending eight hours on horseback yesterday, things were taking their toll and we were starting to walk like John Wayne. My horse and Tom's horse were much closer today - so close that my horse let out the biggest fart right on Tom's horses head. Naturally, this set me off and I couldn't stop laughing. On our way back, we had to avoid and duck under branches (Tom nearly lost his head at one point) and squeeze through rather tight gorges - it seemed like it should be rather challenging for the horses but they took it all in their stride. At one point, we went down an incredibly steep slope, and the trip leader gave us the option to get off and walk alongside the horses, we braved it and made it down safely. The day was filled with laughter and giggling, really bringing out our inner kids.

When we got back, we said goodbye to the horses, thanked you to the leaders and returned to Dionisio's house for a good wash and the biggest slap up family dinner I've ever seen. The hospitality in this country is so warm and welcoming, and I would definitely spend much longer here if I was given the opportunity.