Sail across 5 Andean lakes / Enjoy Native rainforest / Meet local People / Sail Lago Puelo N.P.
This trip takes you from Puerto Varas in Chile to El Bolsón in Argentina and is a good chance to know a region of North Patagonia which is still remote and untamed. We drive to the first stretch of the Austral Road which stretches between the Andes Mountains and the Pacific Ocean. We cross 5 different lakes to get to El Bolsón and on our way we take a ferry to cross Tagua Tagua Lake, board a zodiac, sleep in the house of a local family and walk in an ancient forest while all your luggage is carried by horses or carts pulled by oxen. A good opportunity to meet local people and their way they move in this remote landscape.
Include:
All meals from days 1 and 2, including breakfast, walk snack, lunch box, dinner, wine, appetizers, board cheese and other delicious food.
All land transportation (private van the entire trip) and horses to carry the luggage
All water transportation: ferry Tagua Tagua Lake, zodiac Azul and las Rocas Lakes and ferry Puelo Lake
1 night Isla Bandurria lodge
Professional first aid kit, UHF Radios, maps and repair kits.
Bilingual Guide (Spanish-English) accredited by Wilderness First Response; widely experienced in trekking and long trips to remote places.
Pack horses
No Include:
Flights, lodging in the cities, accident or rescue insurance, personal equipment, tips and any other service not mentioned in this program.
Day by Day
Day 1 Puerto Varas / Las Rocas Lake
The trip starts when a private transfer will pick you up from your hotel in Puerto Varas. The transfer will take you to east direction where you will see beautiful views of the Reloncavi estuary, the traditional litlle town of Cochamo with it’s wood church for finally get inside the Andes and sail the Tagua -Tagua Lake. We will take some time before crossing with the ferry the lake, for exquisite pic nic lunch at the shore of the lake. The road will slow down inside the Puelo Valley, certain to amaze and delight. Once you arrive to La Colina Farm, a local guide, or baqueano, will be waiting for you with pack - horses to continue the trip making a short walk to Las Rocas Lake where we will take a motorboat to reach the Island of Las Bandurrias. There you will be served with a welcome tea and a fantastic dinner by our host. (3 hours driving, 1 hour hiking and 20 boat trip) (Night Isla Bandurria lodge) BL-D
Day 2 Las Rocas / El Bariloche
After a home made breakfast we will take the motorboat and head to the East side of the Las Rocas Lake. You will see the stunning beauty of Lake Interior and the source of the Rio Puelo, a major river that flows into the Pacific Ocean. We arrive at the customs and immigration posts for Chile from where it is a short walk to reach Lake Puelo Inferior. Here a motor-jet boat will take us across the lake and then down the river through a short rapid, the natural border between both countries. Before Argentine border formalities we will arrive at Lago Puelo National Park. We will take a private transfer to El Bolsón where we will enjoy a nice lunc and time to see the market and the town. It is posible if the day matches , make a quick overview of the traditional handy craft market. In the afternoon we will arrive to the town of Bariloche. (30 minute motor \ boat, 30 minute walk, 1 hrs motorboat crossing international lakes, 3 hrs private transfer from Lago Puelo to Bariloche) B-BL
B-BL-D: Breakfast-Box Lunch- Dinner
Times: From Puerto Varas leaving at 9am the first day, arriving to Bariloche at 7pm on the next day:
A different way of crossing between borders of Chile and Argentina
