Aysén & Carretera Austral: Best-Of Private Hiking Tour

A private transfer from Balmaceda Airport (BBA) along the Carretera Austral to Cerro Castillo village, approximately two hours south. The drive offers the first views of the Aysén steppe, snow-capped peaks, and winding rivers.

~12 km round trip | ~1,000m elevation gain | 6–7 hours | Moderate–Challenging

An early start for a full-day hike to the iconic lagoon viewpoint. The trail climbs through native lenga forest before opening to exposed alpine slopes with wide mountain views. The final ascent reaches a panoramic point over the turquoise glacial lagoon, formed by meltwater at the base of the massif.

~14 km round trip | ~600m elevation gain | 5–6 hours | Moderate

Today you will explore a lesser-visited trail to Laguna Duff, a hidden gem within the Cerro Castillo area. This route offers a more remote experience, passing through wide valleys, small rivers, and sections of untouched forest. Unlike the main Laguna Cerro Castillo trail, this hike provides solitude and a deeper connection with Patagonia’s wilderness. The lagoon itself features clear, calm waters surrounded by rolling hills and mountain backdrops.

~220 km | 5–6 hours driving | 1.5–2 hours navigation | Easy

South along the Carretera Austral to Puerto Río Tranquilo on the shores of Lake General Carrera, South America's second-largest lake. In the afternoon, a motorboat or kayak excursion to the Marble Caves (Capillas de Mármol), calcium carbonate formations sculpted by wave action over thousands of years, with shifting blue and white patterns inside the caverns.

~80 km round trip by land | ~2–2.5 hours navigation each way | Full day

A pre-dawn departure west via the X-728 route through dense temperate rainforest to Bahía Exploradores, then a boat navigation through fjords and channels into Laguna San Rafael National Park. San Rafael Glacier is part of the Northern Patagonian Ice Field; calving events occur regularly and without warning.

~2–3 hours rafting | Class II–III | ~3–4 hours driving

A morning rafting session on the Baker River, Chile's largest river by volume, known for its intense turquoise color from glacial sediment. Class II–III rapids, suited to beginners with good physical condition, with a professional guide and full equipment. After rafting, a private transfer continues south to Cochrane, the main gateway to Patagonia National Park.

~23 km loop | ~1,000m elevation gain | 8–9 hours | Challenging

The park's signature long-distance trail, a loop along ridgelines with views over multiple turquoise and green lakes. Guanacos, foxes, and condors are regularly spotted in the open steppe ecosystems. The park is the result of one of the largest private-to-public land conservation transfers in South American history.

~10–12 km | ~400–600m elevation gain | 4–6 hours | Moderate

A shorter day in the Tamango sector, near Cochrane Lake, with trails through forest and open terrain. This sector is one of the most reliable areas in the world to observe the huemul deer (South Andean deer), listed as endangered with fewer than 1,500 individuals estimated to remain in the wild.

~5–6 hours driving

The return north along the Carretera Austral transitions from the arid steppe near Cochrane back through river valleys and forested terrain toward Coyhaique, the region's main town. Stops at viewpoints, rivers, and small villages along the route.

~3 km round trip | ~200m elevation gain | 2–3 hours | Easy–Moderate

A drive north to Queulat National Park through dense temperate rainforest and fjord landscapes. The main trail leads to a viewpoint of the Ventisquero Colgante (Hanging Glacier), a tongue of ice suspended between steep cliffs, with waterfalls cascading from its base into a lagoon below.

A morning transfer from Coyhaique to Balmaceda Airport (approximately one hour), with connections to Santiago for onward international flights.