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DAY 10: CARETERRA AUSTRAL – COYHAIQUE OR BALMACEDA
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. Services end in either Coyhaique or Balmaceda depending on your connection flight to Santiago.
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info@ecotours.cl
2. - INTRODUCTION
Patagonia is a vaguely defined, non – political area shared by Argentina and Chile which has its northern “frontier” somewhere between Puerto Montt and Coyhaique in Chile and a little further north in Argentina. To the south the Magallanes region, with a much longer history of human development was populated primarily by indigenous groups and later by Europeans, since the mid 1800`s Punta Arenas has been the regions principal city, port and centre of the prosperous sheep farming, gold and, more recently, tourism and gas production.
Road travel between Punta Arenas and Coyhaique, in Aysén is still a 2 day drive, most of it through Argentina.
3. - PROGRAM INCLUDES
• Meet up with guide or staff at Balmaceda airport.
• Transport to Puerto Bertrand in a 9 or 16 seat van.
• 1 nights lodging in Campo Baker Lodge / cabins.
• All your meals from lunch on the first day en route to Puerto Bertrand to Breakfast on day 10 prior to travelling to Balmaceda airport. Meals and snacks are abundant and of excellent quality. Table wine is available in sites 1, 2 and 6.
• Boat trip across Lake Bertrand and Lake Plomo to the Soler valley on day 2 of the itinerary.
• Horses to transport food and equipment to camp 2 (Palomar).
• Entry permits to both private land and National parks.
• 3 person tents based on double occupancy and individual sleeping pads in all sites.
• Full use of camp dinning areas, kitchen and bathrooms (hot showers at Sol de Mayo!).
• Use of crampons for glacier crossing.
• Boat trip across Lake Colonia.
• Pack horses for taking all luggage out of the Colonia valley.
• 4x4 transport across Valle Grande from the Baker river to Cochrane.
• 1 night lodging in the Ultimo Paraiso hotel in Cochrane.
• Full guided service from beginning to end with bi-lingual and local guides.
• Basic personal accident insurance coverage.
• Full logistical back up and emergency resources.
• Transport between Cochrane and Balmaceda airport on day 10 of the itinerary.
4. - NOT INCLUDED
• Air travel or costs related to lost luggage, delays or re-routing of flights.
• Activities or meals not specified in the itinerary.
• Gratuities for guides and porters.
• Alcoholic beverages other than table wine.
Essentially you do not need to purchase anything between arriving and leaving except for some personal souvenir shopping in Cochrane and Puerto Bertrand.
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5. – FIXED DEPARTURE DATES – OPEN GROUP DEPARTURES
Please contact us in order to send you the departure dates of the tour.
Fixed date / Open group departures are expeditions set aside for individuals or small groups of friends who want to join other people they do not know prior to the expedition.
6. - AYSEN, CHILEAN PATAGONIA
There are several theories as to the origins of the name Aysén. The most popular is that early explorers and cartographers working from ships, often commanded by British naval officers, would refer to the many tidewater glaciers or “Ice Ends” in a mix of English and Spanish which eventually became Aysén.
The Aysén region is the most recently developed and least populated area of Patagonia. Surface area is 42.519 square miles with a population density of approximately 1.2 people per square mile, 48% of the land is protected and (un-protected) lakes, glaciers, native forest and uninhabited islands account for a further 20%. Aysén is still a frontier!
Aysén is bound to the West by the Pacific and includes a multitude of un-inhabited islands in the Chonos and Katalalixar archipelagos. The border with Argentina is to the East of most of the mountains in Patagonia and the transition from verdant forest to mountains and on to the grassy plains of the pampas creates a rich biodiversity. The two continental ice fields are the worlds 3rd largest reserve of water. Remarkably, you can drink direct from rivers, streams and lakes with no water treatment being necessary. Clean, free flowing rivers and natural lakes are probably the regions biggest asset.
7. – WHAT IS THE AYSEN GLACIER TRAIL?
The Aysén Glacier Trail is a hiking route between Lake Plomo and the confluence of the Baker and Colonia rivers in Aysén, Chilean Patagonia. The trail comprises six sites that are in the process of being developed, the eventual aim being to have a refuge or hut in each location making it the regions first “Hut to Hut” trail. There are currently six 3 person tents in each site, a cooking / dining shelter and a bathroom. There are also full sized “Paco Pads” (www.jpwinc.com) at each site for all clients.
The trail is enclosed by water. On day 2 of the itinerary you cross Lake Bertrand and Lake Plomo in a motor boat. Lake Colonia is similarly crossed on day 8 of the itinerary.
These natural boundaries and the exclusive rights that ECOTOURS has to the commercial operation of the route through both private land and the Laguna San Rafael National Park mean that your wilderness experience is guaranteed. The Laguna San Rafael National Park is a UNESCO World Biosphere reserve.
8. – GRADE OF DIFICULTY
The trekking is over rough trail and includes all types of terrain. As all sites are equipped you need only carry a spare set of clothing and a sleeping bag. Backpack weight should not exceed 15 kilos. We can provide additional porters if requested.
The following descriptions are of the most difficult stretches as experienced by previous clients.
I. The Rock Step in the Soler valley on day 3.
A few awkward steps are required to cross a rocky bluff over the river. The sensation of exposure rather than actual risk of slipping make the step memorable. The step is equipped with a hand rail and rustic ladder.
II. The Neff Glacier.
Rather than the ice itself which, with crampons on is simple and straightforward, it is the moraines that are considered challenging. The mix of gravel, sand and rock on top of the ice means that care and caution are required. As the route changes your guide will slowly lead a route and may even backtrack to secure the safest and most comfortable line. This is a long day, often between 8 and 10 hours although distance is only 12 km. It is also a day to marvel at the frozen world of glaciers.
III. The Lake Cachet Talus slope.
This slope of rocks and boulders can be intimidating as it slopes into the lake. Most of it is on an angle with little risk of slipping but there are two stretches of 20 to 50 m where your guide will lend a hand or rig a hand line to help confidence. The route we use has been stabilised by use and work but there are lose blocks and scree.
There is little continuous ascent or descent of more than an hour at a time on the trail so it is easy on the knees and lungs.
9. - LODGING
Ecotours typically uses the following lodging, listed by location. Our choice is based on criteria of service, comfort and practical considerations (there aren’t any choices in some areas). Our guides will assure you get all you need and sort out any reasonable requests you may have in relation to the hotels and lodges that we use.
Coyhaique – El Reloj, Belisario Jara.
Puerto Bertrand – Campo Baker.
Cochrane – Ultimo Paraíso, Hotel Wellman.
10. - FOOD
All food on the trail is prepared by the guide team who are experienced and creative backcountry cooks. We can cater for vegetarians.
Breakfasts will include real coffee, tea, chocolate, juices, cereals, fresh fruit, bread, jellies and either pancakes, eggs or omelettes.
Lunches will be lighter including juices, cheeses, cold meats, salads, bread, crackers, fruits, dried fruit and juices.
Evening meals will begin with a light starter of cold meats, chips, cheeses or dips, followed by a main course of either meatballs and rice, pasta, stir fry or similar. There will also be at least one night of steaks or fish for the meat eaters and avocado or tortillas for the vegetarians. Evening meals are accompanied in sites 1, 2 and 6 with table wine.
11. - GUIDES
Each group will have a lead guide – someone with years of experience who is bi-lingual, able to solve problems, adapt programs to your needs and well practiced in the art of group management and attending to the details which make the difference between a hiking trip and a truly memorable experience.
Lead guides are supported by a second guide and porters according to the number of group members. Typically there is 1 guide to every 5 clients.
12. - WHAT TO BRING AND ADVICE ON GEAR
This equipment list is intended to be used as a guide and not in any way the last word on gear or packing. We suggest you use this as a general list to cover the wide variety of climatic realities you could encounter here in Patagonia. The central concept behind our equipment list is to have many layers that allow you to regulate your temperature throughout the day and with the changes it will typically bring. We do ask you to label your clothing, wear it before coming on the trip, and know how to use it as this will raise you comfort level.
On the Aysen Glacier Trail, as a minimum you essentially need one complete set of trekking clothing for during the days and a change of warm comfortable clothing for the evenings. Another complete change of clothing is suggested for travelling and down time. Any travel clothing or other equipment can be safely left in our offices in Puerto Bertrand until your return or delivered to the hotel in Cochrane ready for your arrival.
Please contact us for an extended list on things to bring.
We recommend that you hand carry all your important documents, medicines, camera, film, boots, and other irreplaceable items. All other clothing and personal equipment should be packed into backpacks. Make sure that the bag is packed solidly with no loose items.
We will provide all camping equipment including tents, mats and kitchen ware. We will provide completely waterproof dry bags for packing your personal equipment when horse journeys with river crossings are necessary.
We can arrange for extra luggage to be left safely in our offices or hotels whilst you are participating in the wilderness section of your program.
13. - ENVIROMENTAL IMPACTS
We fully understand that you are not really coming to Patagonia to see us! Much more important is the place, the forests, mountains, rivers and glaciers. Our Nº 1 priority after your safety has always been, and will continue to be the care of and the reduction of our impact on the environment. The Aysén Glacier Trail is monitored by ourselves, the National Parks authority and the National Environmental Commission to assure that we are not only abiding by the rules and the conditions of the concessions we hold but fulfilling our goal of surpassing them by creating a model system which is non-intrusive, low impact and environmentally sustainable.
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