Trekking in Northern Patagonia, AYSEN GLACIER TRAIL (10D/9N)

Day 1 Santiago – Balmaceda / Coyhaique – Puerto Bertrand
Meet guides and the rest of the group in either Coyhaique or Balmaceda airport. Transfer to Puerto Bertrand in a van, along the breathtaking Southern Highway. Arrive in Puerto Bertrand, situated in a spectacular location at the headwaters of Chile’s most voluminous river, the Rio Baker. Welcome dinner with guide team, orientation meeting, final instructions and packing for the start of the trek.
(5 hours by private transfer) (L-D) (Night at Green Baker Lodge)

Day 2 Bertrand Lake – Camp 1
Final packing and preparation of luggage after breakfast and then a boat trip across the emerald blue Lago Bertrand and Lago Plomo. We meet up with the horse team here to off load some of the luggage before a 3 hour hike, traversing the flanks of the Cordon Soler above the river and then down to camp.
(1 hour by boat, 3 hours hike, 200 meters ascent and 100 meters descent, 10 km.) (B-BL-D) (Night at Rock Garden camp)

Day 3 Soler Valley – Camp 2
Continue towards the back of the Soler Valley, maintaining elevation along the 250 meter contour line. Pass by the Concordia of 3 major glacial valleys and walk up into the old growth beech forest to the Palomar ranch. Our campsite is the original ranch still with the old wood shelter and a storage wood construction.
(6 hour hike, 200 meters ascent and 150 meters descent, 18 km.) (B-BL-D) (Night at the Palomar Ranch)

Day 4 Palomar Ranch – Neff Glacier – Mirrored Lake – Camp 3
Climb up 200 meters to the northern margin of the Neff Glacier, cross the 6 kilometer wide glacier. Descend the south side of the glacier and climb up to the mirrored lakes.
(7 to 10 hours hiking, 300 meters ascent, 100 meters descent, 10 - 12 km. total, 6 - 8 km on the glacier) (B-BL-D) (Night at Mirrored Lake Camp)

Day 5 Camp 3
This day can either be spent exploring the area and climbing to the Mirador summit for expansive views of the 3 glaciers which fill the valleys in this corner of the northern ice cap. Alternatively the day sometimes has to be used to allow for non ideal weather for the glacier crossing.
(Free day to explore the area or for eventual bad weather) (B-BL-D) (Night at Mirrored Lake Camp)

Day 6 Mirrored Lake – Cachet Lake 2 – Camp 4
Hike down the Buena Cueva Valley among old growth beech forests, Cypress filled wetlands, and huge boulders. We lunch with the view of three major glaciers. Continue along the shore of Lake Cachet 2 and the challenging Talus slope. The Cachet camp is 100 meters above the lake and facing the Colonia Glacier that carves off with unannounced regularity.
(6 hours hiking, 200m descent, 100 ascents, 8 km. total.) (B-BL-D) (Night at Cachet Camp)

Day 7 Cachet Camp – Camp 5
The day begins amongst glacial kettles and drumlins with constant views of icebergs and the 50 meter ice wall of the glacier. The trail continues into the old growth beech forest above a 200 meter deep canyon with a booming river. The night is spent overlooking the 4 km wide terminus of the Colonia Glacier with Lago Colonia beyond.
(8 hours hike, 300m ascent / descent, 10 km. total) (B-BL-D) (Night at Colonia Camp)

Day 8 Colonia Camp – Camp 6
After hiking down to the moss covered beach between glacier and lake the trail follows tracks of the Huemul deer to the northern shore of Lago Colonia. A boat ride across the lake below 50m + waterfalls to the south shore is followed by a 40 minute walk to Camp at the Sol de Mayo Ranch.
(250 meters descent, 6 kilometers, 2 hours walking, 30 minute by boat) (B-BL-BBQ) (Sol de Mayo Ranch camp)

Day 9 Sol de Mayo Ranch - Cochrane
A horse assisted hike down the Colonia valley to the Rio Baker. Horses carry all our gear and can carry people if requested. The hike passes through other properties where we have the chance to meet up with the local farmers and their families. At the traditional cableway raft we cross the Baker River and meet up with 4x4 vehicles for the ride across the Valle Grande into Cochrane and a well deserved celebratory dinner.
(6 hours hiking, one hour by transfer) (B-BL-D) (Night at Hotel Ultimo Paraiso)

Day 10 Cochrane – Balmaceda / Coyhaique
The return journey takes about 6 hours along the Southern Highway either to Balmaceda for return flights or to Coyhaique for a final night in Patagonia. We can provide optional charter flights from Cochrane for anyone wishing to over-fly the route you have hiked or visit Laguna San Rafael Glacier on the coast. The service end in either Coyhaique or Balmaceda unless you have arranged further services with us.
(6 hours by private transfer) (B)

REGARDING THE SCHEDULE
The schedules indicated above are subject to change due to weather conditions or unexpected circumstances beyond our control, but we will try our best to keep them unaltered

Ice to Ocean

I guess that my best way to express my satisfaction is the fact that this was my third Chile Nativo experience and will not be the last for sure. Besides all professional service offered what I really enjoy is consider the Chile Nativo staff our friends.

Flavio Haddad

April, 2008

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