Overland Coyhaique through Carretera Austral

Departure:
- February 09, 2013.
Departure from: Coyhaique.
Arrival to: Puerto Montt.
Day 1: COYHAIQUE – CERRO CASTILLO VILLAGE – GENERAL CARRERA LAKE -PUERTO RIO TRANQUILO.
Departure from Coyhaique, capital of the Aysen Region and then continue towards the General Carrera Lake. We will pass through Cerro Castillo National Reserve, Vista Hermosa, Piedra del Conde and the Ibañez River valley, with and marvellous view to the Hudson Volcano and to the 2,675 mt/8,774 feet high Cerro Castillo sharp peaks, covered with fine rocky threads. Picnic Lunch on the way. Continuing to Puerto Murta, we border the General Carrera Lake and arrive in Puerto Rio Tranquilo. Sail through the General Carrera Lake, with a deep blue colour that contrasts with the emerald green of some bays, a visit to the Marble Chapel, Nature Sanctuary where you will see caves with brilliant marble walls polished by the sea effect. Accommodation in hostelry. Dinner.
Day 2: PUERTO TRANQUILO RIVER –BAKER RIVER – COCHRANE – CALETA TORTEL
Breakfast at the hostelry. We will continue our trip along the banks of the General Carrera Lake, to arrive at Puerto Bertrand, where the Baker River begins. We continue bordering this impressive turquoise colour water river to finally arrive in the city of Cochrane, province capital. Picnic Lunch. Southwards, we found an outstanding spectacle, which are the Northern Ice fields and then arrive at Caleta Tortel in the evening, located at the Baker River delta, estuary of fiords and waterways between the Northern and Southern Ice fields. Accommodation in cabins. Dinner.
Day 3: CALETA TORTEL.
Breakfast Activities in Caleta Tortel all day long. This town is located on the sea shore, being all its structures supported on the rock, with Guaitecas Cypress trunks. There are no streets, but 7.5 km/12 miles of gateways and stairways. It is an exciting experience to walk across them and you should do it. Picnic Lunch. Sailing to the Muertos Island (MN), located at the Baker River delta. Optional you could sail to the Steffens Icefield in a full day tour. Dinner
Day 4: CALETA TORTEL – O´’HIGGINS VILLAGE.
Breakfast. Our Austral trip continues towards Puerto Yungay, where we cross the Mitchell Fiord by ferry up to the Bravo River slope, in a narrow valley, with sharp rocks and where we often see some Huemuls. From here, a continuous succession of lakes and lagoons begins and also, a beautiful view to the Cordon Nevado with Hanging Glaciers and several waterfalls. Picnic Lunch. Afterwards, we arrive at the Villa O’Higgins frontier town, located in the mouth of the Mayer River, one of the scarce flat places in the area, surrounded by marshlands and steep mountains. Accommodation in lodge. Dinner.
Day 5: CALETA TORTEL – O´’HIGGINS VILLAGE.
Breakfast Activities in O’Higgins Village all day long. Tour around the village, founded in 1966, visit to the Padre Roncci Museum and Cerro Santiago sightseeing with beatifull view of the viilage, to the south is the lake O’Higgins, where the Austral Highway ends in Bahamondez Bay. Trekking to the patrimonial route Sendero Rio Mosco. Box lunch for trekking. Optional you could sail in full day tour to the O’Higgins Glacier or Big Icefield. Dinner.
Day 6: O´’HIGGINS VILLAGE – COCHRANE.
Breakfast We will begin our trip back, passing through the Colonel Van Schouwen hanging bridge, 83 mt/134 miles long. We will continue among the valleys, marshlands and mosses, through Paso Colgado, close to a 150 mt/492 feet cliff over the Bravo River. Cross by ferry to Puerto Yungay.Picnic Lunch. We continue our way to Cochrane to arrive in the afternoon. Accommodation in cabins. Dinner.
Day 7: O´’HIGGINS VILLAGE – COCHRANE.
Breakfast. Departure from Cochrane to the North, passing through the Tamango National Park and the Chacabuco Valley to arrive at the banks of the beautiful Bertrand Lake. In El Maiten, bordering the General Carrera Lake, we visit Puerto Guadal, founded in 1934 by Lucas Bridges, port used to take the production to Argentina across the General Carrera Lake. Picnic Lunch. We will cross the Paso of the Keys, open recently in 1991, and finally arrive in Chile Chico in the afternoon. Accommodation in Hotel. Dinner.
Day 8: CHILE CHICO – FERRY – PORT IBAÑEZ – COYHAIQUE.
Breakfast. Departure from Chile Chico by Ferry, in the morning, and in 03 hours we cross the General Carrera Lake to arrive to Port Ingeniero Ibañez, founded in 1921, in 1952 was open the route to Coihaique, and Port Ibañez is main important because communicated all the people that lives at the border of General Carrera Lake. Picnic Lunch. Departure from Puerto Ibañez and we will cross the del Diablo Slope, passing through Portezuelo Ibañez, Simpson Village and finally arrive in Coyhaique in the afternoon. Accommodation in cabins. Dinner.
Day 9: COYHAIQUE – PUERTO CISNES – CISNES RIVER.
Breakfast. Departure from Coyhaique through the Simpson River to arrive to the Mañihuales Village, founded back in 1953 by settlers, by means of axes and knives, through the deep Mañio forests. This area belongs to Mañihuales National Reserve, where forestation studies are being carried out and also, this is a Huemul protection area. Picnic Lunch. Visit to Amengual Village passing through Piedra del Gato, with a beautiful view to the Cisnes River. Arrival at Puerto Cisnes. Accommodation in Cabins. Dinner.
Day 10: CISNES RIVER – “LA TRAPANANDA”.
Breakfast. A day for sailing activities along the Cisnes River, trekking through the different trails in the place, fishing activities and Patagonia barbecue, amongst other activities. We will enjoy a night Fire, to be shared with settlers from the zone. Dinner.
Day 11: PUERTO CISNES – QUEULAT NATIONAL PARK - PUYUHUAPI.
Breakfast. Early in the morning, departure towards the North, between rocky cliffs, skirting the Cisnes River to arrive at the Queulat National Park. We will continue our trip through the Queulat slope, offering outstanding views to the Icefield River Valley, the glaciers wall and the native jungle. Trekking to the Cascada River path and Encantado Forest and finally arrive at the Icefield Lagoon. We reach the Park Camping. Picnic Lunch. Trekking to the Hanging Icefield. Bordering the Icefield Bay and the Puyuhuapi Canal we arrive to Puerto Puyuhuapi, with unrestrained design, wooden houses of several stories and gardens, faithful legacy of the German settlers. Visit to the famous Carpet Factory, completely handicraft. Accommodation in cabins. Dinner.
Day 12: PUYUHUAPI – LA JUNTA - FUTALEUFU.
Breakfast Departure from Puyuhuapi following the banks of the Risopatrón River, where its hills abruptly fall, leaving no space for shore. We continue our trip through the jungle and mountain ranges, travelling through the Rodado Falls, with huge waterfalls and finally arrive at La Junta town, colonized in 1950. Picnic Lunch. Going through the Austral Highway, we will visit Vanguardia Village and skirt the Palena River to finally arrive at Futaleufu. Accommodation in cabins. Dinner.
Day 13: PUYUHUAPI – LA JUNTA - FUTALEUFU.
Breakfast. Early in the morning, there will be enough time to go to the Futaleufú River, most renowned for kayak and rafting specialists around the world. Picnic Lunch Time will come to return to the Austral Highway, to continue to the North of the Yelcho Lake. Trekking by the Patrimonial Route Icefield River, 6 km/9 miles path, by the mild and rainy forest, whose vegetation ends in a Belvedere that faces the Yelcho Icefield. We will continue our way to Puerto Cardenas, a beautiful village at the banks of the Yelcho Lake, whose emerald colour water come from glaciers, surrounded by hills. We will reach Chaitén and Accommodation in cabins. Dinner.
Day 14: PUYUHUAPI – LA JUNTA - FUTALEUFU.
Breakfast. Tour around Chaitén where will be able to realize the effects caused by the eruption of the Chaitén volcano in May 2008. Visit to the Pumalín Park facilities at Caleta Gonzalo, ecologic project of the entrepreneur Douglas Tompkins, whose aim is to preserve vast mild, rain forest areas with so endemic sorts. Picnic Lunch. At the park we will visit the wonderful Larch Path, which allows envisioning these trees, the oldest existing in Chile, declared National Monuments. Ferry sail at afternoon from Caleta Gonzalo to Hornopiren. Accommodation in hostelry. Dinner.
Day 15: PUYUHUAPI – LA JUNTA - FUTALEUFU.
Breakfast. We will leave Hornopiren in the morning with final destiny Puerto Montt. Picnic Lunch on the route. Arrive in Puerto Montt at afternoon.
End of our services.