DEL DIAL LAGOON

South of the Maule River and just a few hours from Santiago, lies the Melado Valley, a paradise for trekking and horseback riding. This precordilleran area has until now not been discovered by the tourists; there are countless natural wonders waiting to be explored, such as hot springs below snow-capped volcanoes, glaciers, caves and hidden lakes. 

The highlight of this area is Laguna del Dial, located in Cordillera de Los Andes. It is a destination popular among sport fishing lovers, but you can only get there on horseback, by trekking or helicopter. The lake is a uniquely beautiful spot near to the Argentinian border (near Linares and Parral), located between large geological formations about 2000 meters above sea level. The predominating fish in the lake are the brown and rainbow trout. A normal catch is between 5 and 7 pounds; individual specimens have been up to 55 pounds.

Day 1

Evening meeting at Antemavida lodge (Quinamavida, Linares) with typical homemade Chilean food and briefing.

Departure with 4x4 vehicles, entering into the mountains through Cajón Melado; at the end of the road we rest and have lunch (roasted lamb). We then get acquainted with the horses and guides (briefing, security measures, roles and teams) and continue towards the Laguna del Dial (approx 3 hours). We will spend our first night on the banks of the Palaleo river in the middle of the Andes, under a beautiful starry sky.

Day 3

After an early breakfast at dawn we start riding and soon enter the high mountain range. We enter the Cajón de los Bagres and follow the Palaleo River to our left. We will cross the river twice, passing wonderful landscapes, and reach Laguna del Dial , which is the source of Palaleo River. Here, a part of the team will embark on a Zodiac boat to continue towards the camp while fishing; the rest of the team will continue on horseback for approximately 2 hours. The horse track rises up on the left side of the lake with impresive views. Total time on horseback: 4 to 5 hours.

This day is fully dedicated to fishing, rest and barbecue. In the afternoon we will eat grilled trout and listen to the incredible stories of Laguna del Dial shared by the experienced local guides.

Fishing day and optional trip to visit volcano Barros Negros and the international border between Argentina and Chile. It is possible swim at the lake at noon, ideally without wind.

After a hearty breakfast we start the trek back in two teams. By the afternoon we will arrive at the 4x4 vehicles, say goodbye to the horses and locals and have lunch at around 15:00.