Explorations in
Patagonia National Park

This walking route recreates the ancient pathways of the Aonikenk, hunter-gatherers of Patagonia who roamed the pampas of the Chacabuco Valley thousands of years ago. Their traces endure in the petroglyphs of the Cueva de los Niños, located near the trail. The route culminates at Lago Gutiérrez, the largest in the Chacabuco Valley, which served as a resting site for the long journeys of nomadic Patagonian communities.

This trail offers stunning views of the Pampa Guanaco sector, with its iconic mountain formations that define the valley. Along the route, you'll encounter glaciolacustrine terraces that, thousands of years ago, provided refuge for hunter-gatherer societies that inhabited the eastern Patagonian region of Aysén.

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 will leave the lodge on foot on a hike through large expanses of steppe, connecting with nature and wildlife. We will share amid the sound of birds and perhaps we will be able to glimpse the interaction between a puma and guanacos, part of this Patagonian territory.

We will cross the Chacabuco Valley's natural corridors and as we move up we will see the different perspectives of contrasting landscapes around us. We can drink pure water from natural streams and get our feet wet crossing one of them. The silence of the landscape stands out in autumn and winter, contrasting with the birdsong that can be heard as background music for the rest of the year

We will hike around the edge of Lago Chico, where forests, lagoons and ravines intertwine. We will have great views of Lake Cochrane and Cerro Oportus. Along the way different birds, part of the Patagonian fauna, can be seen.

We will leave the lodge on foot and walk upward to view the valley from another perspective. The height reveals the mountains and plateaus that are interspersed with lagoons and forests. This is a very good option for birdwatching in the region as condors, eagles and other species can be seen.

We will leave the lodge on foot and hike through a vast steppe region bordering the Chacabuco River. This is one of the areas most populated by pumas and guanacos. Here we will learn more about these species and how to protect them.

We will hike through the river valley to Lake Cochrane, which has one of the most crystalline waters in the world. We will contemplate the southern slopes of the Patagonia National Park, one of the main huemul habitats. We will visit the Huemul Post, the base for protecting and monitoring the huemules that transit through these areas. We will move through a forest full of birdsong and marked wildlife.

We will hike through the steppe before arriving at a lagoon with one of the greatest variety of birds. There we can get to know the Patagonian fauna and observe the multitude of species that inhabit the area.

We leave the lodge on foot and take an introductory hike in Patagonia National Park on this exploration. We will begin in sectors where there are streams and low forests with significant presence of chacya (riparian shrub). As we enter the Park, we will begin to hear the songs of a variety of birds, such as churrin and bandurria tapaculo and black-faced ibis). Guanacos can be spotted grazing in this area.