Explorations in
Patagonia National Park

We leave by boat along the Cochrane river and lake basin, considered among the most crystalline waters in the world, until reaching the Correntadas sector, where we will hike along the southern slopes of the park through forests full of wildlife.

We leave by boat along the Cochrane River and lake basin, considered among the most crystalline waters in the world, observing the valley walls that make up part of the park. Different nothofagus species and livestock can be observed in the Tamango sector.

We will bike across much of the Chacabuco Valley and the Patagonian steppe, observing how it has been recovering its original nature little by little. We will then continue up to the great walkway donated by Mr. Butler and get to know its interesting construction.

We will cycle along a trail with ascents and descents, from which we will see lagoons, ranches and nothofagus forests, until reaching Laguna La Pepa, which we will flank before returning along the same route.

We leave the lodge by van and head to the Laguna Edita sector, where we will begin our hike with a fairly steep hike up the steppe slopes of the Chacabuco Valley. After reaching the highest point, we will descend through a nothofagus forest where the silence is only interrupted by birdsong. In the end we reach Laguna Pepa, which surprises us with its deep blue color and views of the mountain ranges around it.

We leave by boat along the Cochrane River and lake basin, considered among the most crystalline waters in the world. We continue by land along the southern slopes of the park, one of the main huemul habitats. We cross a forest accompanied by birdsong the entire way.

We will walk through one of the less crowded sectors of the park across a lenga forest where you can hear and see woodpeckers. An old shepherding post can be spotted hidden in the woods.

We will visit a rancher's post to learn about part of the Chacabuco Valley's history. We will view its remains and get to now more about the lifestyle of its residents. We take a sloping path among ancient lenga forests, passing lagoons and diverse views. We will pass through transit areas used by huemuls and other species in the Patagonia National Park.

We will cross a thick forest of ñirres and lengas. We will hike along a ridge with a view of the Chacabuco Valley and the Lake Cochrane basin. The marked summit offers a broad view as far as the northern ice field. It is named after Carlos Oportus, who in 1928 studied the situation and the possibilities for residents of the area. This hill reveals a spectacular part of the amazing Patagonia National Park from the heights.

We ascend through a region with varied ecosystems, where valleys, forests and plateaus contrast. The desert of the heights presents us with a scenery characteristic of the Patagonian mountains. The intense wind and the changing climate gave this exploration its name.

We will pedal through the scenographic diversit8y Chacabuco Valley and its history. We hike to the meeting point between the Baker and Chacabuco Rivers, the lead actor in this story of exploration. The birds will accompany us and we will have the chance to spot other species of Patagonian fauna.

We will leave by van and take our bikes with us. We reach the outskirts of the town of Cochrane, our starting point, after a 40-minute ride. The bike ride will begin in a sector of fields with crops and livestock, the main economic activities in the area. We will approach from the North, flanking the Cochrane River to appreciate its transparent waters and the trees introduced in the days of the pioneers. As we continue our way, we will come across rolling hills that we will tour with calm so we can take advantage of the views the landscape offers. We end at the bridge over the El Salto River, whose waters come from the very ice of Calluqueo.