Explore Aysen’s culture on this 8-day tour visiting the Chelenko community around Lake General Carrera. Kayak to the Marble Caves, hike in Patagonia National Park, and navigate to San Rafael Glacier. Engage with locals, explore wild forests and greenhouses, and observe fossils at Puerto Guadal. Learn sustainable living in Aysen.
From Balmaceda, travel five hours to Puerto Tranquilo. Paddle Marble Caves and hike Exploradores Valley. Cruise to San Rafael Glacier for iceberg views. At Mallin Colorado, choose horseback riding or hiking, then visit an organic farm. In Puerto Guadal, tour an old gold mine and meet artisans. Continue to the Baker River’s Nef confluence and see Patagonia National Park’s museum. Bike Bahia Murta and enjoy a farm-to-table lunch in Puerto Murta. Transfer to Coyhaique and Balmaceda Airport.
Highlights
Kayak the famous Marble Caves and Cathedrals of Lake General Carrera
Hike to San Rafael Glacier, an impressive ice mass in Patagonia
Visit Puerto Guadal, also known as Pearl of the Lake
Explore the many trails to see many lakes and mountain viewpoints.
Marvel at the Patagonian forest's stunning natural scenery
Visit the mountains and pristine landscapes of Patgonia National Park
Involves minimal physical effort and is typically associated with leisurely activities. Activities are low-intensity or last less than a few hours each day.
Arrive at Balmaceda airport and set out on the 5-hour drive south along the Carretera Austral to your accommodation in Puerto Tranquilo. Along the way, you will see the signature glaciated lakes, towering mountain peaks, and dramatic valleys for which this remote region of Chile is known. You will arrive at your comfortable room in the enchanting village of Puerto Tranquilo on the shores of Lake General Carrera, the second largest in South America after Lake Titicaca
After breakfast, meet your kayak guides close to the lodge and take your kayak to visit the marble caves with a small group for about three hours. Learn the geological theories about the formation of these unique cliffside architectural caves and see how the stone has been eroded by the movement of water and strong winds throughout the years as you kayak the calypso-blue waters along the shores of Lake General Carrera.
Once back on shore, head back to the lodge for a well-earned lunch. During the afternoon, your guide will bring you to the east on a less traveled, stunning road inside Exploradores Valley, up to a private park to see the humid forests and their incredible details with a magnifying glass. Frogs, insects, leaves, fungus, and an impressive variety of habitats from the local ecosystem will be your tiny world this afternoon. After your activity, return to Puerto Tranquilo for dinner and rest.
Today your excursion starts at 7 a.m. in Puerto Tranquilo and will include a 5-hour navigation through the Chilean fjords to get to San Rafael Lagoon and its huge wall of ice. This will take a couple of hours of observing and hearing the behavior of the ice. While onboard, enjoy your leisurely lunch. After navigating the lagoon and arriving in Puerto Tranquilo, your guide will bring you to Mallin Colorado, where you will stay to rest and enjoy dinner and lodging.
After breakfast, go horseback riding or local hiking on Mallin's property, which has stunning views of several lakes and the Cordón Contreras mountain range. After 4 hours of a privileged private hike, lunch awaits you back at the lodge. In the afternoon, you will visit a neighbor's small agrotourism initiative on the shore of the lake. An organic vegetable garden and awesome, cute sheep and hens will show you how locals live in these latitudes. Dinner and accommodation in Mallin Colorado
After leaving Mallin, Colorado, it's time to head to Puerto Guadal, a small, vibrant village of 900 people on the shores of Lake General Carrera. Called La Perla del Lago, Puerto Guadal is situated in a privileged place with a fantastic microclimate and spectacular views of the Northern Icefields through the emerald-colored lake. Explore the village and the old gold mine with its antique machines and tunnels, then continue visiting the cemetery with the most beautiful view in the world and the faro of the town, where you can take a nice photo under the name of Puerto Guadal on the shores of the lake. By midday, lunch will be provided at a local restaurant. Continue with a visit to the artisan women's association to buy local souvenirs and get in touch with a group of happy women. Finally, the day tour includes a visit to Cascada El Maqui and a relaxing time up the waterfall with an incredible view. After that, the sunset will be appreciated with some appetizers from a surprising place. Lodging in Mirador de Guadal
After breakfast, you will begin a scenic drive to Puerto Bertrand, stopping along the way to see the confluence of the rivers Baker and Nef, a mystical point where different colors of water meet, and you can feel the power of nature in this extraordinary waterfall. The day continues further south to visit Patagonia Park, a completely different ecosystem combining the Patagonia steppe with mountains and forests, full of guanacos roaming freely inside the park. A visit to the Conservation Museum awaits you in the park headquarters, and then a short trail to the river Chacabuco and its hanging bridge will complete the day. An outdoor picnic lunch will be provided after the activities.
After breakfast and an early check-out, your guide will drive you to Bahia Murta for a morning bike tour led by a local bike company, which will take you to less traveled paths with stunning views of Lake General Carrera's various corners. Come back for lunch in a small, cute restaurant in Puerto Murta where the owner works with all kinds of local materials, like wild berry jams, lamb's wool sweaters, and wood furniture. In the afternoon, continue enjoying the Carretera Austral to Coyhaique for one night and enjoy your farewell dinner.
Day 8: Balmaceda | Return Home
1 Breakfast
After breakfast, you will travel back to the Balmaceda airport to connect with your flight.
Apologies for the inconvenience. Prices for Jun 1, 2025 not yet published. Below per person rate based on previous season. Contact us to confirm upcoming season pricing.
Prices for Jun 1, 2025 are estimated based on inflation. Contact us to confirm pricing and availability for your desired departure date.
$4,830
Notes
$3,381 Single Supplement Additional Cost for Private Room when traveling with others. Traveling Solo? Contact us for a custom quote.
Initial deposit is 30%, and most travelers will call our office and pay the deposit with a credit card.
Final payment is due 70 days (10 weeks) prior to departure by bank transfer, check or credit card. All final payments by credit card may be subject to a surcharge and maximum of $20,000 charge
This was our first trip to South America and we were a little nervous. But Adventure Life made things so easy! All our questions were answered before we left, and our guide, Vidal, was amazing! He gave us enough space to explore without rushing us along. He also knew where the best picture taking opportunities were, which was great.
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