Refugio Plantal ride: Plantal refuge hut 3100m, Volcan San Jose, Chile

Refugio Plantal Ride

Refugio Plantal ride: refuge at base of Volcan san Jose

Refugio Plantal ride up to 3000 metres, base camp for Volcan San Jose

Some of our visitors have voted this the best ride of all.

THe Refugio Plantal ride starts from the Valle Engorda and goes up steeply through what is known as the funnel, or funnelled, (embudado) – a narrow steep gorge. The ride emerges at a plateau with a ‘vega’ or meadow with cattle and goats and often baby animals of various kinds. Once we actually saw a kid being born.

Then more climbing to a second vega with mares and foals and amazing views of all the high cordillera roundabout with Volcan San Jose and distant glaciers. Sometimes you can see a ‘plumarola’ or smoke plume coming out of the volcano.

The refugio itself is also fascinating. It is a stage for the climbers attempting Volcan San Jose. It was built by a family called Plantal and is always open, because once a climber was descending in a snowstorm, could not get into the refugio and died of exposure.

The custom is always to leave a little food or something on the Refugio Plantal ride, for future users.

More details of Volcan San Jose

Where we are:

We are based on a small parcela - small-holding - just over an hour's drive out of central Santiago, in the Cajon del Maipo. The administration is English, while the ride is operated by local Chilean 'arrieros de la zona'. We ride up into the Fundo El Toyo, a mountain estate of 20,000 hectares, with permission of its owner, Don Pedro Guillon.

How to get here:

There are several options. The best way is if we pick you up and take you back using a local chauffeur from the Cajon del Maipo. It is also possible and slightly cheaper to come half way by metro and we can meet you at the station. If you have your own transport we will send directions how to find us.