Horseback Riding in the Andes: Chile's Most Cinematic Way to See the Mountains
- 4 days ago
- 5 min read
Updated: 3 days ago
There's a reason explorers crossed the Andes on horseback. Some landscapes were simply made to be seen from a saddle.
The foothills and pre-Andean valleys surrounding Santiago offer the kind of terrain that transforms completely when experienced at the pace of a horse. Roads that look ordinary from a car become access points to meadows, river crossings, and ridges with views that open up only when you've earned them slowly. The Andes are different on horseback — bigger, quieter, more intimate in their scale.
This is the Santiago experience that doesn't appear in most travel guides. Which is precisely why it tends to be the one visitors remember longest.
The Setting
The horseback riding experience takes place in the pre-Andean valleys east and south of Santiago — terrain that lies between the urban sprawl of the capital and the high mountain peaks of the cordillera. In practical terms, this means leaving the city and arriving within 45 minutes at landscapes that feel a world away: working ranches (fundos), river valleys, open hillsides, and forest tracks that wind up into the mountains.
The route changes with the season. Spring brings flowering hillsides and green valleys. Summer means longer afternoon light and perfect dry trails. Autumn colors the Andean foliage in rust and gold. Even winter, outside of the snow line, offers clear skies and a stillness in the hills that's difficult to find at other times of year.
What stays constant: the scale of the Andes rising to the east, and the particular silence that only empty mountain terrain produces.
The Experience
A full-day horseback experience with Santiago Around typically unfolds like this:
Morning: Private transport from your Santiago hotel to the fundo or starting point. Coffee and introductions with your guide — an experienced local horseman who knows these trails intimately. Horse assignment (we match horses to riders based on experience and preference) and a brief orientation for those new to riding.
On the trail: The route is set by the guide based on conditions and group pace. Beginners ride at a comfortable walk and trot on well-established paths. More experienced riders can cover varied terrain, including steeper ascents and open gallops across flatter sections. The guide narrates the landscape — the geology, the history of the land, the wildlife you pass.
Midday: Lunch. A proper Chilean lunch, typically a traditional spread of empanadas, cheeses, local bread, and wine, set up at a scenic point along the route. This is one of those meals where the setting and the chilean flavours does most of the work.
Afternoon: The return route, usually through different terrain than the morning. By this point, most riders have settled into the rhythm of the horse, and the afternoon tends to feel slower and more contemplative than the morning.
Return: Back to Santiago in the late afternoon, with enough time for a hot shower and dinner before the evening.
No Experience Required
This point is worth stating clearly: you do not need to know how to ride a horse to enjoy this experience.
A significant portion of the travelers who book this tour have never been on a horse before, or haven't been since childhood. The horses used for this experience are selected for their calm temperament and suitability for riders of all levels. The guide is beside you from the first minute, and there is absolutely no pressure to ride faster or farther than you're comfortable with.
The experience is designed to be accessible. What it offers — the landscape, the rhythm, the particular intimacy of moving through the mountains at walking pace — is available to everyone.
For experienced riders who want something more challenging, we can arrange routes with more technical terrain, longer distances, or even multi-day rides with overnight stays at mountain refugios. Contact us to discuss options.
The Most Photogenic Day in Santiago
We say this without exaggeration: of all the experiences we offer at Santiago Around, the horseback riding day tends to produce the most extraordinary photographs.
The combination of rider, horse, mountain, and light — especially in the late afternoon when the sun hits the cordillera from the west — creates images that look composed but aren't. The landscape does it naturally. Every traveler who has done this experience has come back with the kind of photographs that end up as the desktop background, or the first thing shown to friends when they ask about the trip.
For travelers who are active on Instagram or who simply want to bring back images that actually capture what Chile looks like, this is the experience.
Pairing Horseback Riding with Other Experiences
A horseback day pairs beautifully with the other landscape experiences in Santiago Around's portfolio:
Vineyard Experience: morning in the saddle in the hills, afternoon wine tasting in the valley below
Asado Experience: combine the ride with a traditional Chilean barbecue at the fundo, ending the day at the fire
High Mountain Experience: for those who want to experience the mountains in every possible way — on horseback and on foot
For a full week that includes horses, mountains, wine, and the Pacific, see our 7-Day Santiago Itinerary.
How We Organize It
Book the Horseback Riding Experience directly with us. We offer half-day (3–4 hours) and full-day (6–7 hours) options, for groups of 2 to 8 riders. Private transport from your hotel is included. The experience is available year-round.
Frequently Asked Questions
I've never ridden a horse. Is this really suitable for me? Yes. A significant number of our riders are complete beginners, and we design the experience with them in mind. The horses are calm and well-suited to first-timers.
What should I wear? Comfortable long pants (jeans work well), closed-toe shoes or boots, and a layer for the morning when temperatures in the mountains tend to be cooler. Helmets are provided. Sunscreen and sunglasses are strongly recommended.
How many people can join? Groups of 2 to 8 riders. This is always a private experience — no shared groups.
Is this available in winter? Yes — the horseback riding takes place below the snow line, so it's available year-round. Winter days in the pre-Andean valleys are often clear and beautiful. We adjust the route based on conditions.
Can children participate? Yes, children who are comfortable around animals and willing to follow the guide's instructions are welcome. We recommend a minimum age of 8–10 years. Ask us for advice based on your specific group.
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