Cambios

From Los Andes, you should take the international road to Mendoza CH-60. Continue up this road, past Rio Blanco and Guardia Vieja, and 3 snow "tunnels", for a total of approximately 50 km and exit to the right, immediately before the start of a series of steep curves that leads to Portillo. Once off the main road, take a turn left and then right again around a goat herders house and up and along a dirt road. You will always have the rio río Juncal to your right and the remnants of the Transandine Railway that linked Los Andes to Mendoza until the '70s. After 3 kms you will reach a old rather decrepit stone "pirca" or wall, the entrance to the Parque Andino Juncal, a private protected area that belongs to the Kenrick Lyon family. The Parque was recently designated a Ramsar site, because of the international importance of its wetlands. It is Chile's 12th Ramsar site. The state of the dirt road will depend on the time of the year, the rain and snowfall. After 6 kms you will reach Los Hornitos where vehicles can be left. There are two old mining constructions, one of which houses the Park Ranger and a mining processing plant ruin, the Hotel Mil Estrellas, where we suggest you camp, protected from the wind and close to a simple but functional public bathroom. You must register with the Park Ranger before starting your trek.