Parque Patagonia Discovery Trek

On this Patagonia hiking tour, Wildland will pick you up from the domestic Balmaceda (BBA) airport in Chile, the main airport for the remote, wild Aysén Region. (You will connect through Santiago to reach Balmaceda.) We will leave the airport at 4pm and transfer everyone to Coyhaique. (NOTE: Make sure you arrive before 3pm!) We will have dinner, an introductory briefing and overnight at our elegant accommodation on the outskirts of town, the Patagonia House (see accommodations.) Be sure to drink copious amounts of water in route, as flying and traveling will certainly dehydrate you. Self-care begins immediately.

This morning after a hearty Patagonian breakfast, we will pack our bags and depart Coyhaique. We drive roughly 2 hours to Puerto Ibanez, traveling out of the temperate rainforest and into the Patagonian steppe, where we will board a ferry and cross the brilliant-blue Lago General Carrera, South America’s second largest lake. Upon arrival on the other side of the lake, we drive another 1.5 hours to the Jeinimeni trailhead of Patagonia National Park, on the shores of the spectacular clear Lago Jeinimeni. After lunch, we will jump into classes on how to set up camp, backcountry cooking and meal preparation, and sleeping warm in chilly Patagonian evenings. We will also hike to a dramatic lookout over Lago Jeinimeni before returning to camp, cooking dinner gathering to share our goals for the trip and discuss plans for the days to come. Finally, we’ll turn in for a great night’s sleep beneath the stars.

• Hiking Mileage: 5 miles
• Elevation Gain: 150 feet

After sharing breakfast, we’ll dive into the finer points of pack-packing and pack-fitting, and then move onto boot fitting and hiking techniques to make sure we’re set up for successful hiking. Our traverse of Patagonia National Park starts winding along the shores of Lago Jeinimeni, on a track formerly used by gauchos who used this route to bring livestock to market. The lake sits in a spectacular valley between brightly colored red and green mountains, evidence of the rich geological past of this region. Toward the end of our day, we’ll reach our first substantial river crossing: glacial river crossings are one of the elements that make this trek an adventure. Our professional Instructors will show you how it’s done! We will discuss risk management and proper techniques associated with crossing rivers, before arriving at the spectacular Camp Raleigh, tucked on the shores of aptly-named Lago Verde.

• Hiking Mileage: 6 miles
• Elevation Gain: 1200 feet

We’ll start this morning and settle into and observe this spectacular landscape, our home for the next week. As we set off for the day, we’ll learn about the native plants of the southern beech forest we travel through, before leaving the forest and entering a dramatic glacial valley that leads to the day’s major challenge: the pass to the far shore of Lago Verde. From the top of the pass, we’ll enjoy dazzling views of Lago Verde and Valle Hermos stretching out behind us, a remarkable sight! After a well-deserved break, we’ll take our time navigating a steep descent, then make our way across Valle Hermoso, crossing several rivers, to our camp: the Refugio Valle Hermoso, tucked into the trees on the bank of the river.

• Hiking Mileage: 10 miles
• Elevation Gain: 800 feet

Time for a day hike! We leave the full backpacks behind for a day exploration of the remote Valle Ventisquero, making our way toward the hanging glaciers for which the valley is named. Great opportunity for a polar plunge, for the brave! As we hike, we’ll focus on navigation and route finding. You will learn how to use a map and compass while understanding how they relate to route finding. Back at camp, we’ll have a conversation about the history and creation of Patagonia National Park.

• Hiking Mileage: 10 miles
• Elevation Gain: 1100 feet

This morning we wake up and bid farewell to our cozy campsite, traveling west up Valle Hermoso toward its dramatic glaciers, crossing the braided river numerous times. After several miles, we cut into the pristine southern beech forest, making our way gradually up a low pass into the Aviles Valley, one of the north-south valleys that leads into the park’s main Chacabuco Valley. From here, we amble downhill to a midway point in the valley, where we set up camp beneath colorful peaks and waterfalls. We’ll relax in the grasslands and share conversations after dinner.

• Hiking Mileage: 10 miles
• Elevation Gain: 700 feet

This morning we set off down the Aviles Valley, through dramatically changing scenery. The forested upper valley gives way to rugged canyons and unusual topography. We cross a high hanging footbridge over the canyon and continue our hike into the main Chacabuco Valley. We eventually arrive at our front-country campground at Casa Piedra and complete the Jeinimeni-Aviles route. Good news! We get hot showers and fresh vegetables! Our guides will debrief the day before heading off to sleep.

• Hiking Mileage: 9 miles
• Elevation Gain: 2000 feet

After a fresh breakfast, we set off from Casa Piedra with our backpacks re-filled with food supplies, ready to take on the second part of our traverse of Patagonia National Park. We soon arrive to the tropical-colored (not in temperature, though!) waters of Lago Gutierrez, and climb high above the lake for dramatic views. Our challenge continues as we make our way over a pass in the Cordón Chacabuco, which on a clear day provides views of Cerro San Valentin and Cerro San Lorenzo, Patagonia’s two highest peaks. We camp on the shores of Lago La Guagua, a remote lake that few have visited. Upon arrival at camp, we set up our tents, cook dinner and our guides will provide the plan for the next day.

• Hiking Mileage: 8 miles
• Elevation Gain: 1800 feet

This morning, we’ll set off after breakfast through wild southern beach forest before encountering yet another remote alpine lake. We wind our way around several lakes, crossing through prime habitat of the endangered huemul deer, one of the species this park was created to protect. We’ll set up camp near our final lake, enjoying rich bird life.

• Hiking Mileage: 8 miles
• Elevation Gain: 1200 feet

Our final hiking day begins as we take off from the lake shore, making our way toward the park headquarters. We continue the Siete Lagunas hike until it merges with the classic Lagunas Altas trail, the first trail established in the park with sweeping views across the Chacabuco Valley. We continue hiking until we reach our accomodation for the night, Valle Chacabuco Lodge. Upon arrival, we will have showers, visit the new park museum and enjoy a celebratory dinner at the Rincon del Gaucho park restaurant.

This morning we will wake up early and board our transportation back to Balamaceda, driving north along the Carretera Austral (“Southern Highway”), often called one of the world’s great road trips. We’ll drive along the turquoise Baker River, and then near the eastern border of the Northern Patagonian Ice Field. The total drive is approximately 6 hours. We can either drop you at the airport or in town depending on your flight departure time. We hope you have learned a lot and enjoyed your adventure. Thanks for choosing Wildland Trekking.