The mighty Andes can be crossed by mountain bike, cable car, 4x4 and plane, but there is another way to tackle these extraordinarily beautiful, snow-capped giants: by mule.

The Andes hold many wonderful secrets that, by travelling slowly and quietly, can be appreciated all the more: the ancient Inca Empire is waiting to be explored; its glorious temples to the sun, its government and infrastructure, ahead of their time, and their singular agricultural techniques. Even some of its languages still survive in remote villages.

Today’s Andean cultures are as much of a draw as the ancient ones, as they are largely cut off from urban civilisation. Each village offers a new cultural gem, whether it is food, music, stories or beautiful local produce.

The Andean flora and fauna, too, are worth the slower journey. The incredible, mysterious, rainforest scenery hides wild llamas, cougars, chinchillas, alpacas and condors amongst other unique wildlife species.

Crossing the Andes by mule is a spiritual journey and a physical challenge. It not only enables you to experience the environment in great detail at a personal level, but also allows you to feel that you are part of a traditional, ecological way of life. People have travelled by mule here for centuries, because it is the best and sometimes the only way to tackle narrow tracks and rough ground, particularly on long trips, so perhaps it is fitting to make your own epic journey in the same way.

Written by  larapiegeler.

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