Mapuche Culture And Nahuelbuta National Park (feb 2021)

Itinerary

Day 1: Arrival - Santiago, Chile

Stop At: Santiago, Santiago, Santiago Metropolitan Region
Explore the city and its many bustling neighborhoods. Walk through the Bellavista or Lastarria neighborhoods for an intimate introduction to the eclectic and colorful city. Overnight here.
Duration: 1 day

No meals included on this day.
No accommodation included on this day.

Day 2: Explore Santiago

Stop At: Santiago, Santiago, Santiago Metropolitan Region
Enjoy a day on your own in this vibrant city. Go to one of the parks to relax, or go to the top of San Cristobal hill for amazing views, especially at sunset time. Visit the Memorial Museum of the dictatorship if you are interested in Chilean politics, or the Pre-Columbian Museum if you are interested in the first nations of this country. As you can see, there are many options to choose from.

Overnight: Santiago
Duration: 1 day

Meals included:
• Breakfast
No accommodation included on this day.

Day 3: Night Trip to Contulmo

Stop At: Contulmo, Contulmo, Biobio Region
Today after enjoying the city and relaxing you will head to the Lanalhue Lake area and the town of Contulmo.
Duration: 1 day

No meals included on this day.
No accommodation included on this day.

Day 4: Meet the Elicura Valley Community

Stop At: Contulmo, Contulmo, Biobio Region
Over the next four days you will engage in amazing adventures with a people who live in intimate relationship to the land. This is a chance to connect to something greater.

Today: Upon arrival to the town of Contulmo, Manuel head to the Mapuche valley of Elicura, only 10 mins away. The Mapuche are the traditional inhabitants of these lands, and they are thriving once more, after centuries of oppression, military and political pursuit. Once at Manuel’s house, enjoy a delicious breakfast and then check-in. Rest for a while and then prepare for your first activity. As an introduction to the Mapuche culture, you will visit several houses in the valley, learning to spin wool, weaving in the loom or prepare traditional gastronomy (which of course you will taste!). After a nice nap, head to the Contulmo Natural Monument and explore this ancient forest. Head back to for a nice dinner and talk beside the fire.
Duration: 24 minutes

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner
No accommodation included on this day.

Day 5: Continue: Meet the Elicura Valley Community

Stop At: Contulmo, Bio Bio, Chile
This morning we will visit a Ruka (traditional Mapuche house) and have a deep conversation with a traditional authority of the Mapuche culture. We will share mates (traditional infusion), bread baked on ashes and conversation around the history of the Mapuche nation in the last centuries. After another delicious lunch of traditional cuisine, we will visit the Mapuche Museum of Cañete, a historical city in relation to the conflict with the Spaniard Conquerors. With our minds full of stories, we will head back to Elicura to prepare for the next day.
Duration: 1 day

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner
No accommodation included on this day.

Day 6: Continue: Meet the Elicura Valley Community

Stop At: Contulmo, Contulmo, Biobio Region
After breakfast, we head north towards the Nahuelbuta National Park. With relict forest from ancient days, the highlight of this park is the Araucaria tree, rising high above the ground. On a clear day, we will be able to see the never-ending Pacific Ocean and the snow-peak volcanoes of the Andes. A stunning view. We will share a box lunch together and then head back to Elicura, for a grand finale to this amazing day: A hot tub bath with medicinal herbs, especially prepared to recover the energy. Then, it’s dinner, fireplace and bed time.
Duration: 1 day

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner
No accommodation included on this day.

Day 7: Continue: Meet the Elicura Valley Community

Stop At: Contulmo, Contulmo, Biobio Region
Take a nice morning off to walk around the valley, or work a bit at the orchard to shake your muscles, or help Manuel prepare traditional culinary delicacies like merken (smoked chili powder), caco (boiled and pealed wheat) or murke (toasted wheat flour). Then start packing your gear in order to start your journey to the mountains after lunch. In the afternoon, take a guided visit to the town of Contulmo, their mill and traditional German houses, learning about the history of relationship between them and the Mapuche people. Dinner is back at the Elicura valley.
Duration: 1 day

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner
No accommodation included on this day.

Day 8: The Pehuenche Community of Quinquen

Stop At: Lonquimay, Lonquimay, Araucania Region
The next five days will be spent living in close harmony and intimate connection with the people of Quinquen. These are a loving, welcoming people who depend on the land for their survival and have much to teach about their way of life. The opportunity to connect to yourself, the people, and to something bigger than yourself are present at every turn if only you will look.
Today: head toward the valley of Lonquimay near the border with Argentina, and on to Pehuenche community of Quinquen. Upon arrival, receive a warm welcome by your hosts: the people of Quinquen. The Pehuenche people are the ancient inhabitants of the high mountains in these lands. They consider the araucaria as a sacred tree, since they rely on its fruit as a main source of food. They have learned to make their living in hard winter conditions, with short summer and little space for agriculture. They are herders and forest collectors. Thus, they know the forest like no one else and they will be your guides in the following days. Enjoy a nice dinner and then go to bed in their cozy family stays.
Duration: 1 day

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner
No accommodation included on this day.

Day 9: Continue: The Pehuenche Community of Quinquen

Stop At: Lonquimay, Lonquimay, Araucania Region
You will go into mountains and ancient forests of the community, listening to stories of how Pehuenche people have lived in these lands for so many years. On your way back, you will refill energies with a typical Pehuenche lunch, and our spirits with an unforgettable conversation with one of the Elders of the community. During the night, you will stay at local family accommodation.
Duration: 1 day

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner
No accommodation included on this day.

Day 10: Continue: The Pehuenche Community of Quinquen

Stop At: Lonquimay, Lonquimay, Araucania Region
We will wake up early to do farm work: feed animals, collect chicken eggs and walk around, learning about the typical Pehuenche livelihood. Later, we will go to experience the Condores Trail. Watching the landscape conformed by Galletué Lake and Batea Mahuida Volcano is a real spectacle. Explore this light trail and enjoy the wonderful views and stories about the area. In the afternoon, we can enjoy Quinquen surrounded by the peaceful environment, walk at our own pace.
Duration: 24 minutes

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner
No accommodation included on this day.

Day 11: Continue: The Pehuenche Community of Quinquen

Stop At: Lonquimay, Lonquimay, Araucania Region
In the morning, after a proper breakfast, you will head to the Ad Mahuida Trail, which has been specially prepared to see the forest and feel the spiritual beings that dwell in these mountains. Araucaria, Lenga and Ñirre trees will be your partners through this beautiful hike. In the afternoon, you will participate in wool spinning and weaving workshop, guided by a woman of the community. The wool here is completely natural and they try to use only natural fibers for dyeing.
Duration: 1 day

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner
No accommodation included on this day.

Day 12: Continue: The Pehuenche Community of Quinquen

Stop At: Lonquimay, Araucania, Chile
As a grand finale, you will traverse through the Lifkan Mahuida Trail that will take you through Lenga tree forests and you will get a unique view of the Quinquen valley. On our way back, you will enjoy the last lunch, sharing with the family that has been your host these last days. In the afternoon, you will be transferred back to Lonquimay to walk around town. During the evening, head back to Santiago.
Duration: 1 day

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner
No accommodation included on this day.

Day 13: Return to Santiago

Stop At: Santiago, Santiago, Santiago Metropolitan Region
Arrive to Santiago in the morning. Spend the day at your leisure exploring the city, resting in one of the many beautiful parks, or just catching up on sleep and relaxation.
Duration: 1 day

No meals included on this day.
No accommodation included on this day.

Day 14: Vista Valparaiso

Stop At: Valparaiso, Valparaiso, Valparaiso Region
Today we will go to Valparaiso, the UNESCO World Heritage Site, a cliff-clinging seaside town. Early morning after breakfast, head to Valparaiso. Once there, visit the oldest neighbourhood of the city with a local poet, interesting characters and beautiful views towards the colourful hills.

You will begin the journey from the atrium of the Church of La Matriz, in the foundational sector of Valparaíso to visit the oldest temple in the city. Then we will visit the social dining room 421, where we will get to know the social work carried out by neighbours and volunteers in aid of the homeless brothers. Afterwards, we will go up the stairs of the Santo Domingo hill, that keeps countless secrets of architecture and heritage and is the first one inhabited in the city.

You will arrive at the house of 'La Chinita', who will receive you in her home to enjoy lunch with a pleasant conversation about life in Buenos Aires neighbourhood. After a nice meal, you will return to the city centre through the patrimonial zone of the hill and walk around town, visiting those hidden-away places where the local communities meet and make their living in one of the most famous ports in the world.

Finally, you will visit La Sebastiana Museum*, house of Pablo Neruda, and then back to Santiago.

*Entrance fee to La Sebastiana is not included, bring $7,000 CLP.
Duration: 1 day

No meals included on this day.
No accommodation included on this day.

Day 15: The Hero Returns Home

Stop At: Santiago, Santiago, Santiago Metropolitan Region
For true transformation to take place our journey does not end once we return from the adventure, it is only the beginning. Make your way back to Santiago via Punta Arenas and enjoy a couple days in the city to explore and reflect.

As you begin to look around you and see the world in a new way it is important to take time to process and make meaning from what you have experienced. Here are some steps to take in your return:

-Remain in contact with us for your post-trip process and support in coming home
-Take time to truly reflect and take stock of the experience, don't rush too quickly back into "normal life"
-Follow up with contacts you have made and keep in touch with those you met on the way
-Be patient with yourself and with those around you, it is possible you are not the same person who left home at the beginning.

Duration: 1 day

No meals included on this day.
No accommodation included on this day.