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Self Drive in Aysén

WHY WE LOVE THIS TRIP!

From the moment you arrive, you will be captivated by the stunning landscapes of Patagonia with its vast old-growth forests, granite formations, massive glaciers, fjords, wild rivers, clear lakes and waterfalls. It is the epitome of natural beauty. An extremely sensorial experience that comes from the taste of glacial water, the impressive force of the wind, and the subtle color palette of the scenery, Patagonia will capture your heart. On this trip, you will spend over a week hiking, rafting, and cruising through the wilderness of Northern Patagonia and enjoying its incredible beauty by land and by water. Winding its way through the region of Aysén, the Carretera Austral is the “last frontier” that remains very sparsely populated, so this trip attracts both adventurous travelers and those in search of solitude.

Of note: Weather is extremely variable and it is not uncommon to have clear blue skies, rain, snow, wind and more blue skies all in the same day.

WHERE: Puerto Tranquilo, General Carrera Jeinimeni.

STARTS & ENDS: Balmaceda

WHEN: October-April

PRICE: To be quoted

Marble Chapel Navigation

Choose Your Adventures!

  • Glacier Treks
  • Sea kayaking
  • Rafting
  • Mountain Biking
  • Trekking

TRIP DESCRIPTION

Day

01

From Balmaceda, a small airport that serves the region capital of Coyhaique, we’ll drive along this paved section of the famous Carretera Austral, past lenga forests and towering, raw Cerro Castillo, so named because it looks like a castle) and through wild Patagonian landscape. In a few hours we arrive to Puerto Tranquilo, a small town on the Carretera Austral, and most importantly, on the vast azure Lago General Carrera.

From here we will visit the Capillas de Mármol (known as the Marble Caves in English), striated limestone “caves” which are in fact, large rocky outcroppings that have been worn away underneath by thousands of years of water lapping at them. We will meet at the office and walk to the pier located a few meters along the edge of the Tranquilo River. We will start with a technical safety talk and start sailing for about 20 minutes until the first marble formations. We will navigate the caves by small boat in what is our first (official) photography session. Sunset comes long and late in this part of Patagonia, and we’ll have lakeside opportunities to catch it.

Acommodation: BordeBaker or Mallin Colorado

Day

02

Today we will drive to visit Parque Patagonia which is the product of 20 years of conservation work by the late Doug Tompkins and his wife Kris to protect 2.2 million acres they purchased as part of their Conservación Patagónica project. Located in the Chacabuco Valley, the park is home to the highest levels of biodiversity in the Aysén region – you’ll likely spot huemul deer, pumas, condors, and many endemic plants. The Park not only has a focus on environmental sustainability, but also on community engagement; many of the park rangers and conservation workers are former gauchos who have taken specialized training to develop these new skills. We will learn more about this straight from the source, in Parque Patagonia, from the rangers themselves.

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: BordeBaker or Mallin Colorado

Day

03

We’ll continue taking the road south-east from Cochrane, is located Calluqueo glacier, whose extraordinary beauty and imposing waterfalls, glaciers, lakes and mighty rivers, accompany the path to see the highest summit of Patagonia, the majestic San Lorenzo mountain, which marks the border with Argentina. Once arrived at kilometer fifty, the excursion will begin, located in the terminal moraine of the glacier. Equipped with the necessary implements we move towards the pier through small rocks dragged by glacial action until reaching the first formations of the terminal moraine left by the glacier. We will visit caves, cracks and formations made by the erosion of ice and water, which they shape the Calluqueo glacier day by day. It will be a 5 hour round trip hike, with arrests, time for photographs and to enjoy a wonderful experience on ice.

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: BordeBaker or Mallin Colorado

Day

04

Rafting in Baker River. Rafting consists of descending through waters called white on inflatable rafts where rapids of different graduations are found depending on the difficulty.

Our service consists of rafting down the Baker River in class 2 and 3+ rapids mainly. This activity is carried out in the first 6 kilometers of the Baker River, starting from Lake Bertrand where the equipment that makes the descent is tuned.

According to our experience, this activity is suitable for people who like adventure, including family. The difficulty depends largely on the preparation of the team that makes the descent.

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Outpost or El Engaño

Day

05

Full Day Hike Reserva Jeinimeni. This morning we’ll make our way to the Jeinimeni National Reserve, made up of 160,000-hectares and named after the Jeinimeni Lake, which is known for its bright turquoise color. The scenic landscapes include the area’s four ecosystems: deciduous forests, evergreen forests, steppe, and high peaks.

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Outpost or El Engaño

Day

06

Full Day Hike Cueva de las Manos. The highlight of the Jeinimeni National reserve is the Cave of the Hands which we’re going to be exploring today.

Once inside the cave, which is situated on the northern slope of the hill, you will find outlines of human hands in both positive, made my direct print, and negative, made using the stencil technique. These hands prints are said to be 10,000 years old and left by the Tehuelche Indians, who were the indigenous people of Patagonia.

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Outpost or El Engaño

Day

07

Drive to Balmaceda airport with ferry crossing.

Meals: Breakfast

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ACCOMMODATIONS

Borde Baker Lodge

Located eight kilometers south of Puerto Bertland, in the heart of the Chilean Patagonia, Borde Baker Lodge sits on the banks of the Baker River, the widest in Chile and one of the best fishing spots. Among fishing, guests can also enjoy trekking, rafting, horseback riding and birdwatching. The Lodge itself is surrounded by native forest full of a number of different species of animals and birds such as huemel (Andean deer), guanaco (Andean camelid), grey fox, puma, hare, condors, eagles, woodpeckers and more. Borde Baker has many activities for guests to choose from, such as trekking, sport fishing, rafting, horseback riding and birdwatching. With this in mind, the Lodge was designed to ensure sustainable development and encourage  cotourism. Even the kitchen supply of fruits and vegetables is organically grown by locals and dishes are drawn from authentic, Patagonian cuisine using traditional techniques, allowing guests to truly experience every aspect the Chilean Patagonia has to offer.

*Alternative Accommodation: Mallín Colorado

OUTPOST

Enjoy the comfort of a deluxe sleeping pod, exclusive living area and “front porch” perfect for watching the world go by.

Outpost Colico will be our camp , a set of 400 sq. ft. fully equipped tents with separate sleeping and living spaces. Hotel-quality bedding, bath towels and a private bath make for deluxe camping comfort. Hot water shower facilities are shared in the camp.

DELUXE ADVENTURE CAMP

  • Insulated tents with separate sleeping and living space
  • Heated lounge and dining dome
  • Private bathroom with each tent
  • Shared showers for the camp
  • Off grid with limited power for device charging

*Alternative Accommodation: El Engaño

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