DESTINATIONS
KNOW THE BEST DESTINATIONS OF OUR PATAGONIA
GENERAL CARRERA LAKE / CHELENKO LAKE
General Carrera Lake “Chelenko”, the great lake of Patagonia.
South of Cerro Castillo, approximately 3.5 hours away, you find this huge binational lake named Lago General Carrera or Lake “Chelenko” (For the Tehuelches). This lake is the second largest in South America, with a total area of 978.12 km2, a length of more than 200 km. long and a maximum depth of 590 mt. Its waters flow into Lake Bertrand and then into the Baker River, places that one can contemplate.
From the road and bordering its waters, you can see the summit of Monte San Valentín and San Lorenzo. Both, covered with glaciers and snowdrifts, are a postcard that only Patagonia gives you.
Close to Puerto Río Tranquilo (First urban center that surrounds the Lake), is the Capillas de Mármol Nature Sanctuary. This place, of incomparable beauty and thanks to the erosion of water and wind, presents a series of iconic caves and grottos in the area.
A recommended activity is to visit the Exploradores Glacier, located 53 kms. west of Puerto Río Tranquilo. This glacier, which emerges from Campos de Hielo Norte, can be seen through a 500-meter trail. which reaches a great viewpoint. Now, if your spirit is more adventurous, you can dive into the glacier and enjoy trekking through its cracks and unique formations.
Visit the “Pearl of the Lake”.
Another recommended activity in this magical General Carrera Lake is in the vicinity of Puerto Guadal. Known as the “Pearl of the lake”, here you can enjoy its majestic beaches and the history of the place.
Continuing along the route, towards Chile Chico, the landscape begins to transform. Here you will have the best views of the lake and enjoy the Patagonian steppe so characteristic of the southern tip of Argentina. This place, with an excellent climate for much of the year, is the gateway to Jeinimeni Park.
A majestic park.
The Jeinimeni Park is located 60 kms. south of chile chico, by the international route. The place has a camping site and is an excellent place to practice trekking and kayaking. Depending on the season and the flood of the river, you should be careful to cross a wading when entering the park. Caution in the attempt, perhaps you should avoid crossing it to avoid damaging anything.
In the final section of this journey and after crossing by ferry from Chile Chico, is Puerto Ibañez. Distant 2 hours of navigation from Chile Chico and already close to Cerro Castillo, it surprises with its attractions. The Salto del Río Ibañez is one of the main natural attractions and its crafts are a cultural rescue. The famous earthenware “Cacharritos” made of clay, hide the Techuelche goldsmith in clay.
ROUTE CONDITIONS
Currently the road is paved / paved to Villa Cerro Castillo. From there, to Villa O’Higgins or Chile Chico, the road is gravel / gravel. The recommended average speed is not more than 40 kms. per hour. Be aware of how winding and narrow the road is, so drive defensively. Do not make foolishness along the route, take your time and enjoy the attractive features.
There are sectors with Calamine (small jumps that form in series on dirt or gravel roads. These can be dangerous and the driver can easily lose control of the Motorhome.
REST AREAS
Along the Carretera Austral, virtually any location can potentially be suitable for stopping. We recommend that if you choose those places furthest from the road. Stay away from the stones and the suspended dust left by the vehicles that transit the route. He also considers that it is always better to look for places near the water courses.
CATEGORIES
SERVICE
Only cellular signal in populated centers (Puerto Tranquilo, Puerto Guadal, Mallín Grande, Chile Chico and Puerto Ibáñez).
There is a vulcanization / rubber service in all the towns.
There are supply markets in all towns.
There is only an ATM in Chile-Chico (Banco Estado).
There is a service station in Puerto Tranquilo, Guadal and Chile-Chico.
There is a pharmacy in Chile-Chico.
There are primary care services in all towns (Posta and basic hospital in Chile-Chico).
TRAVEL TIPS
TRAVEL TIPS
When touring the General Carrera or Chelenko Lake, Austral South Highway, from Balmaceda or Coyhaique, you will find Puerto Ibáñez, Bahía Murta, Puerto Tranquilo, Puerto Guadal, Mallín Grande and Chile Chico (On the Chilean side, on Argentina you continue through Los Antiguos and Perito Moreno). In the months of January and February the anniversaries of these towns are celebrated and therefore, the traditional festivities based on the Chilean gaucho Patagón are held. These places are ideal to enjoy the customs and the Patagonian cuisine. Check the information available at www.recorreaysen.com to find out about the calendar of activities.
Hire Local Guides ..
In the vast majority of towns, there are information offices, if you visit the area, hire local guides to complement your experience from the perspective of the homeowner. If you require particular information, contact us!
Divert and live the experience of Campos de Hielo Norte - Puerto Tranquilo.
From Puerto Tranquilo, at least 53 kilometers along route X-728, you have to walk along the Exploradores Glacier. You can from the town, contact the service providers both for a trekking to a viewpoint where you can appreciate the entire valley that forms and the tongue of ice that falls from the Northern Ice Fields or you can simply walk on the Glacier !. Visit the local tourist information office.
Visit the "Marble Chapels" - Puerto Tranquilo.
In Puerto Tranquilo, there are around 7 service providers that take you by boat to the sector of the chapels. For the most intrepid there is the Snorkel or kayak service to the marble chapels. The values start from $ 7,000.- per person for boat trips. The approximate duration of the walk is one and a half hours.
Visit the "Hidden Mine" - Puerto Guadal.
Puerto Guadal is known as "The Pearl of the Lake", here are the main Lodges with beach access. A particular activity that we recommend is to visit the hidden mine, an old vestige of the first mining operations in the sector. In Puerto Guadal there are local guides that can take you to this cultural attraction.
Los Ficas Beach - Puerto Guadal.
If you travel in summer and you get those beach days, this is a place that you have to visit. Crystal clear, shallow waters and an incomparable environment, this place is the ideal place to enjoy the waters of Lake General Carrera / Chelenko. The sector is distant about 7 kilometers from Puerto Guadal (Towards Chile-Chico) and is freely accessible. The only difficulty is parking. Since there are no large parking areas on-site, all ingenuity must be applied to be able to park. This is a place you must visit!
Chile Chico - Puerto Ibañez Navigation
If your intention is not to do the same way back, this option is the most recommended. Every day, there is a single departure from Chile Chico to Puerto Ibañez, it is a trip of about 2 hours where one makes the crossing of Lake General Carrera / Chelenko. For more information visit the website www.barcazas.cl where the itineraries and service values appear. NOTE, you must book in advance since in summer this route is in high demand.
