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Huella Andina Expeditions
Huella Andina Expeditions
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An idea conceived by a childhood surrounded by lakes, woods and volcanoes. A goal being encouraged by seeing our parents and grandparents to work hard for what we love. Huella Andina is the result of over 15 years of Andean exploration. A family business offering a professional service for adventure travel. Jose Miguel, Sandra and Matias operate several trips in national parks and wilderness areas, specializing in guided mountain expeditions to the major volcanoes in southern Chile: Osorno, Calbuco, Puyehue and Casa Blanca.
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Extreme Sports
6+ hours
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
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5.0
85 reviews
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Amy B
Scottsdale, AZ9 contributions
Jan 2023 • Couples
My husband and I summited Volcano Osorno with Huella Andina Expeditions on Thursday, January 12, 2023 and we have nothing but positive things to say about our experience!!! Neither of us (both age 31) are climbers/mountaineers, just regular hikers from the desert in Phoenix, Arizona, USA, but our guides Juan and Falco made us feel safe and comfortable the entire 10 hour climb, including 4 hours on a glacier with crampons and an ice axe - which we’ve never done before (they let you rent all the technical equipment including campons, ice axe, helmet, and harness). And Jose was super easy and helpful to book all the accommodations. He was quick to respond via email and answered all the questions we had, and he spoke great English, and so did both our guides, which made things easier for us. We spent the night before our climb in Teski Lodge with the guides and another couple. The sleeping accommodations were good and so was the food for dinner and breakfast. We woke up at 4AM, breakfast at 4:30AM, and we started our climb at 5AM. It took us 5 hours to reach the summit, then we spent about 1 hour on the summit enjoying the view while eating lunch, and then the hike down took us about 4 hours. So, in total it was a 10 hour climb from 5AM to 3PM. The climb was pretty challenging since it’s 10 hours on your feet, hiking about 10 miles, and climbing 5,000 ft. elevation, but if you’re in good physical shape it’s totally manageable, even if you’ve never climbed before! And the views and experience was TOTALLY worth it! We were the only people on the volcano for the entire 10 hours, so it made summiting feel extra special and rewarding. To be above the clouds on top of a glacier volcano made you feel like you were on top of the world, which is a feeling very few people ever get to experience. Only about 400 climbers reach the summit every year, and a lot of them do it through Huella Andina Expeditions, so you’re in good hands, and once you reach the top you can be super proud of your rare accomplishment! It was a once in a lifetime experience for me and my husband, and one we will never forget/remember forever! Thank you Jose, Juan, and Falco for making this happen!!! :)
Written January 16, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Oliver
1 contribution
Jan 2022 • Solo
The service provided by Huella Andina Expeditions was absolutely incredible. Since I travelled without my gear I had to rent everything which is necessary for the ascension but all was available from Huella Andina or the guide which lent me some of his personal gear. The communication via Email was so fast that in general I had a reply within 10mins and the owner of the agency even let my wife via email know when we reached the summit and how much time it took us. The guide did pick me up and dropped right at the place where we stayed and surprise with a rich homemade sandwiches which I enjoyed a lot. He very much adjusted to my rhythm and took care for enough breaks a lovely locations. The day we will be back in the region I really look forward to another trip with Huella Andina Expeditions.
Written January 9, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Steven B
4 contributions
Jul 2019
Jose Miguel, Matias and family run an absolutely wonderful, safe, and experienced operation at Huella Andina. I met Jose and Matias in 2011 while climbing Osorno by myself. Someone had reported an illegal camper high on the mountain and Matias and I ran into each other while descending from the upper glacier. Matias convinced me to check in with the local ranger and meet his brother, Jose, the following morning to climb the peak. Jose and I climbed successfully, then broke camp and spent a few days relaxing in town.
What ensued was a long friendship and climbing partnership between Jose Miguel and me. We climbed and scouted Ojos del Salado for the Tour de Volcanes trip in 2012 and later worked together in 2015. Working for Nat Geo Student Expeditions, I contracted with Huella Andina for 6 days of a 20 day expedition in Argentina and Chile for 18 high school students from the US. Huella Andina organized kayaking, hiking, and accommodations at the Teski Refuge. The trip was a massive success.
In short, if you're looking for experienced, trustworthy climbing and adventure guides there is no one better than the Huella Andina team. Having accidentally met Huella Andina on the mountain, climbing "off the clock", and then working together in a professional sense, I hold them in the highest regard for quality, attentiveness, and just being downright "buena gente".
When in Puerto Varas, call Huella Andina for an unforgettable experience.
What ensued was a long friendship and climbing partnership between Jose Miguel and me. We climbed and scouted Ojos del Salado for the Tour de Volcanes trip in 2012 and later worked together in 2015. Working for Nat Geo Student Expeditions, I contracted with Huella Andina for 6 days of a 20 day expedition in Argentina and Chile for 18 high school students from the US. Huella Andina organized kayaking, hiking, and accommodations at the Teski Refuge. The trip was a massive success.
In short, if you're looking for experienced, trustworthy climbing and adventure guides there is no one better than the Huella Andina team. Having accidentally met Huella Andina on the mountain, climbing "off the clock", and then working together in a professional sense, I hold them in the highest regard for quality, attentiveness, and just being downright "buena gente".
When in Puerto Varas, call Huella Andina for an unforgettable experience.
Written June 15, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
ViJ
1 contribution
Feb 2022
My partner and I decided to take a last minute trip to Puerto Varas in February. February is prime tourist season, so many trips were already fully booked. Jose Miguel was attentive to our inquiries and trying to make a trip work.
We had Miguel V as our guide for Cerro La Picada and he was fantastic! Professional, knowledgeable, and fun to talk with. Cerro La Picada is beautiful and offers great views of Osorno, Tronador, Calbuco, and Puntiagudo.
We could have not asked for a better guide experience. Next time we are in the Puerto Varas area we plan on booking with Huella Andina Expeditions again!
We had Miguel V as our guide for Cerro La Picada and he was fantastic! Professional, knowledgeable, and fun to talk with. Cerro La Picada is beautiful and offers great views of Osorno, Tronador, Calbuco, and Puntiagudo.
We could have not asked for a better guide experience. Next time we are in the Puerto Varas area we plan on booking with Huella Andina Expeditions again!
Written February 23, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
susihent
Puerto Varas, Chile4 contributions
Oct 2022
I took a 2-day workshop with Huella Andina in order to work on my mountaineering experiences and techniques (beginners level). The planification process with José Miguel was very smooth, he was very patient and specific while explaining and presenting me different options. We finally chose Osorno Volcano, where I spent 2 days with my guide Falco. During the workshop I learned a lot about progressing in snow and ice, self-arrest, anchors in ice and snow, as well as had plenty of opportunities to practice. Falco was just great, he is ‘ a crack’!! Huge thanks to him and Huella Andina! I had a great time and learned sooo much!!
Written November 9, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
BrianVMcCarthy
Melbourne, Australia57 contributions
Feb 2015 • Couples
What an experience! Hindsight is 20:20 as they say and we'll look back on this as being one of our favourite days in our round the world trip. In our minds, we'll filter out how tough it was, how many times we wanted to just sit and enjoy the view from where we were, the thoughts of how uncomfortable crampons are or why in the world do they think we'll need an ice axe?!?
All of these will be filtered out and we'll be left with the memories of one of the most amazing views I've ever seen, 360 degrees around seeing mountains, lakes, glaciers, volcanos. Phenomenal.
And to avail of such a phenomenal view, I'd highly recommend using Huella Andina- we corresponded with Jose who was hugely professional and our guide Matias, his brother was equally so. It was to his credit that he got us up (and down) so uneventfully. There were many times I thought we might have bit off more then we could chew (we are physically fit but have never done anything like this- ice axes, crampons for 6 hours!) but no issues were encountered and if they were I am fully confident Matias would have had them well under control.
The tour is expensive but it is for a reason, you're paying for the company of experts and I can tell you that these novices thought these experts were worth every penny.
All of these will be filtered out and we'll be left with the memories of one of the most amazing views I've ever seen, 360 degrees around seeing mountains, lakes, glaciers, volcanos. Phenomenal.
And to avail of such a phenomenal view, I'd highly recommend using Huella Andina- we corresponded with Jose who was hugely professional and our guide Matias, his brother was equally so. It was to his credit that he got us up (and down) so uneventfully. There were many times I thought we might have bit off more then we could chew (we are physically fit but have never done anything like this- ice axes, crampons for 6 hours!) but no issues were encountered and if they were I am fully confident Matias would have had them well under control.
The tour is expensive but it is for a reason, you're paying for the company of experts and I can tell you that these novices thought these experts were worth every penny.
Written March 1, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Chile_TAS
Launceston, Australia3 contributions
Feb 2015 • Solo
On one of my previous trips to Chile (in 2010) I had the opportunity to climb the Villarrica Volcano. It was a good hike, but somehow I got the feeling that I wasn’t doing something special. Don’t get me wrong: the Villarrica is a beautiful mountain with stunning views, but I was part of one of four 30-50 person groups climbing the Volcano that day. Furthermore, I got the feeling that the climb did not challenge me at all. Don’t get me wrong I am not the fittest bloke in the world nor am I an extreme outdoorsman (the Villarica was my first snow-capped mountain climb), but I do enjoy physical and mental challenges.
Nevertheless, that climb up the slopes of the Villarrica in 2010 opened my appetite for the Chilean mountains. So, for my next trip, I decided to look for something different. Trawling the net I came across the Osorno Volcano climbs organized by Huella Andina Expeditions (HAE). By reading other reviews on trip advisor I quickly realized that this adventure better suited my expectations, i.e. very small groups as wells as more physically and mentally challenging climb.
I got in touch with HAE by email. The communication with the company was clear and prompt. All the information was provided via google docs and I was able to arrange all the necessary payments on-line via webpay.cl (a Chilean version of Paypal). I found the price to be more than adequate for what the activity entailed, i.e. accommodation, meals, good quality gear and a very experienced guide.
The night before the climb I met my guide Jose Miguel at the “Refugio Teski” lodge located on the lower slopes of the Osorno volcano. At the lodge we first did a thorough equipment check and then discussed the details of the climb over dinner (included). The climb is a 12 km long round trip with an altitude gain of approximately 1500 m. Jose explained to me that only about 300 people attempt to climb the Osorno every year (about 120-200 people climb the Villarrica every day in summer) and I was delighted to find out that Jose and I were going to be the only people on the Volcano the next day. Jose also took me to the Park Ranger hut where we signed in for our adventure (Jose was in constant VHF radio communication with the Ranger during our trip).
The next day we wake up early and started walking at 0445. The first section of the walk (done in the dark) took Jose and I up a rather loose and steep sandy track to the lower edges of the Osorno volcano glacier. It took us a little more than two hours to get there at a good pace. Once at the glacier we put on all the necessary climbing gear: i.e. crampons, harness, helmet and piolet. Jose gave me a very good introduction to the basic techniques for walking safely on an icy slope. The second section was an increasingly steeper path up the glacier to a little icy ledge called “la roca”. Jose’s knowledge of the Glacier allowed us to safely navigate the crevasses and to gain altitude quickly (We reached “la roca” at 0845). At this point the steepness of the icy slope (45 degrees) and the view of the crevasses below started to test my nerves. Nevertheless, Jose’s calmed and collected attitude allowed me to progress further.
The third section was for me the hardest part of the whole climb, as it involved ascending 20 m high and 60 degrees sloped wall. First Jose fixed several anchoring points to the icy surface of the “la roca” ledge. This anchoring point allowed to temporarily secure ourself and the base of the climbing rope to the mountain. Then Jose proceeded to explain to me the climbing plan: First he would climb up to secure the rope at the summit edge. Next, with the rope secured to the top, I would have to connect my harness to the rope and then commence my ascent supported by the piolet on my left hand, a climbing device called ascender on my right hand and the frontal spikes of the crampons on my feet.
I am aware that climbing attached to a safety rope may not sound difficult to someone with climbing experience but I can assure you that it was definitely challenging to me. First I had to overcome the mental challenge created by the views of the glacier hundreds of meters below my feet and then was the physical challenge of hauling my body up the icy slope. Nevertheless, with the help and support of Jose (and a large dose of adrenalin) I was able to get to the top at about 0940.
The views from the mountain top were breathtaking. There was not a single cloud in the sky and you could see all the mountains, lakes and rivers that surround the volcano… Magic! To top it off, Jose showed me a glacial cave at the top of the mountain: really something special.
We did not spend too much time at the top as it was rather windy. The decent process involved a combination of rappelling and belaying. Again, the quality of Jose’s mountaineering skills allowed me to descend with confidence. Once our feet were back on the shallower slopes of the glacier we only had to retrace our steps back to the lodge. The whole trip took about seven hours.
At the end I got what I paid for and MUCH more: I got the physical challenge as well as the mental challenge; I got the real wilderness experience; I got a one-on-one mountaineering tutoring session. In summary, the whole trip was a blast. I can’t wait to arrange another climbing expedition with HAE!!!
Nevertheless, that climb up the slopes of the Villarrica in 2010 opened my appetite for the Chilean mountains. So, for my next trip, I decided to look for something different. Trawling the net I came across the Osorno Volcano climbs organized by Huella Andina Expeditions (HAE). By reading other reviews on trip advisor I quickly realized that this adventure better suited my expectations, i.e. very small groups as wells as more physically and mentally challenging climb.
I got in touch with HAE by email. The communication with the company was clear and prompt. All the information was provided via google docs and I was able to arrange all the necessary payments on-line via webpay.cl (a Chilean version of Paypal). I found the price to be more than adequate for what the activity entailed, i.e. accommodation, meals, good quality gear and a very experienced guide.
The night before the climb I met my guide Jose Miguel at the “Refugio Teski” lodge located on the lower slopes of the Osorno volcano. At the lodge we first did a thorough equipment check and then discussed the details of the climb over dinner (included). The climb is a 12 km long round trip with an altitude gain of approximately 1500 m. Jose explained to me that only about 300 people attempt to climb the Osorno every year (about 120-200 people climb the Villarrica every day in summer) and I was delighted to find out that Jose and I were going to be the only people on the Volcano the next day. Jose also took me to the Park Ranger hut where we signed in for our adventure (Jose was in constant VHF radio communication with the Ranger during our trip).
The next day we wake up early and started walking at 0445. The first section of the walk (done in the dark) took Jose and I up a rather loose and steep sandy track to the lower edges of the Osorno volcano glacier. It took us a little more than two hours to get there at a good pace. Once at the glacier we put on all the necessary climbing gear: i.e. crampons, harness, helmet and piolet. Jose gave me a very good introduction to the basic techniques for walking safely on an icy slope. The second section was an increasingly steeper path up the glacier to a little icy ledge called “la roca”. Jose’s knowledge of the Glacier allowed us to safely navigate the crevasses and to gain altitude quickly (We reached “la roca” at 0845). At this point the steepness of the icy slope (45 degrees) and the view of the crevasses below started to test my nerves. Nevertheless, Jose’s calmed and collected attitude allowed me to progress further.
The third section was for me the hardest part of the whole climb, as it involved ascending 20 m high and 60 degrees sloped wall. First Jose fixed several anchoring points to the icy surface of the “la roca” ledge. This anchoring point allowed to temporarily secure ourself and the base of the climbing rope to the mountain. Then Jose proceeded to explain to me the climbing plan: First he would climb up to secure the rope at the summit edge. Next, with the rope secured to the top, I would have to connect my harness to the rope and then commence my ascent supported by the piolet on my left hand, a climbing device called ascender on my right hand and the frontal spikes of the crampons on my feet.
I am aware that climbing attached to a safety rope may not sound difficult to someone with climbing experience but I can assure you that it was definitely challenging to me. First I had to overcome the mental challenge created by the views of the glacier hundreds of meters below my feet and then was the physical challenge of hauling my body up the icy slope. Nevertheless, with the help and support of Jose (and a large dose of adrenalin) I was able to get to the top at about 0940.
The views from the mountain top were breathtaking. There was not a single cloud in the sky and you could see all the mountains, lakes and rivers that surround the volcano… Magic! To top it off, Jose showed me a glacial cave at the top of the mountain: really something special.
We did not spend too much time at the top as it was rather windy. The decent process involved a combination of rappelling and belaying. Again, the quality of Jose’s mountaineering skills allowed me to descend with confidence. Once our feet were back on the shallower slopes of the glacier we only had to retrace our steps back to the lodge. The whole trip took about seven hours.
At the end I got what I paid for and MUCH more: I got the physical challenge as well as the mental challenge; I got the real wilderness experience; I got a one-on-one mountaineering tutoring session. In summary, the whole trip was a blast. I can’t wait to arrange another climbing expedition with HAE!!!
Written February 18, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dane N
Brisbane, Australia51 contributions
Oct 2017 • Couples
We were in Puerto Varas for 3 days in October and we previously disappointed by not being able to climb Villarica in Pucon due to weather. The weather was looking good for a climb of Osorno or Calbulco so emailed Jose Miguel the day prior and he was more than happy to help. He came by our hotel in Puerto Varas when we arrived to discuss the climbing options of the following day and we decided on Osorno. We didn't have all of our own equipment and Jose Miguel was happy to help out for both my wife and I. On the climb he was extremely helpful. Highly recommended if you are in Puerto Varas for a few days and can wait around until the weather gets good for climbing. Climbing was not cheap but you definitely get what you pay for in this instance!
Written October 13, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
riomicke
Rio de Janeiro, RJ20 contributions
Dec 2015 • Friends
We did this expedition on New Years Eve I liked it very much nicely done very professional quiet hard ascent actualy alot of hours but worth it.
Written January 23, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
veg-warriors
Santiago, Chile7 contributions
Nov 2014 • Couples
A colleague of ours recommended Huella Andina to us and we had an awesome time with them climbing Osorno! Great level of communication from the first email contact and you never have to wait long for a response. Very organised, professional and friendly. They provided a check-list and answered all the questions we had prior to embarking on this expedition. Pick-up from Puerto Varas was on time. Since we are both vegans we requested "special meals" and they did an excellent job of that, too! On the slightly more tricky bits just before the top of Osorno José took good care of us and we felt very safe at all times. We can definitely recommend Huella Andina!
Written November 16, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hola, quisieramos realizar el ascenso al Volcan Osorno con su empresa en la primera quincena de enero. ¿Son buenas las condiciones de ascenso en esa época?
Written September 7, 2019
Hola; gracias por contactarnos y tu interés en escalar el volcán Osorno con nosotros.
Por lo general en Enero hay buenas conficiones meteorológicas y en la montaña. Pero es importante considerar que aún en verano es posible que precipite o exista nubosidad que no permita internar una actividad de montaña.
Atentos a tus comentarios,
José Miguel
Written September 7, 2019
Hello, We will be traveling in Chile during Christmas and New Years.
We would like to do a Glacial Volcano hike during this trip.
Our group has a 4 adults and 4 children. Children are ages 10 to 14.
Is it possible to take kids on this trip?
Written September 27, 2018
Hola!
We do the hike up to the glacier of Osorno volcano, it can be suitable for children, but they need to be active and use to walk: the way up is +- 3km / +- 2 miles but with around 1.000 / 300 feet of elevation to gain, thus it will be constantly going up in a scree or snow terrain, so it can be challenging.
Saludos,
José Miguel
Written September 28, 2018
Hi Dane and all, could you share how much did you pay for the Osorno climb tour ?
Did anybody attempted the climb in May ?
Regards,
MGN
Written December 31, 2017
Hola Mohamed; you can pay it with credit card or cash (CLP; USD; EUR)!
May is normally not the best time to attempt Osornos summit. Because of the summer, the glacier loses to much snow and there are parts just with rocks, and when the sun hits the slope they start to run down hill. For this reason is possible that the park rangers do not allow to climb in late summer and autumn (South hemisphere).
The best time to climb starts from September, with the spring snow on the top of most of the mountains!
Written January 1, 2018
Hola Ximena; los programas que realizamos van desde medio hasta 21 días. Por ejemplo el ascenso al volcán Osorno es un programa de una noche y un día. Puedes ver los itinerarios y detalles de los programas en nuestra web!
Written July 13, 2017
Hola Lucas; depende del programa a realizar. Puedes ver todos los programas disponibles, con sus valores y detalles en la página web de nuestro perfil !
Atentos a tus comentarios,
José Miguel
Written November 22, 2016
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