Chile : Tours : Hiking and Relaxation in the Patagonia

In southern Chile, close to where the world “comes to an end” you will find an area of incredible beauty. Visit the Pumalin Park, in the Chilean Patagonia, and enjoy a deserving break in the hot springs of Amarillo before admiring the amazing Yelcho Glacier. Connecting with the Austral Highway, and bordering Lake Yelcho, you will find the Yelcho Tourist Complex in the middle of the Natural Reserve by the same name. An exclusive hotel with few rooms and a view of Lake Yelcho. A beautiful place in the middle of the solitude of the Patagonia.

Day 1. Chaiten – Yelcho
Transfer from Chaiten to Yelcho in the Patagonia. Reception at the Hotel, welcome cocktail and lunch. In the afternoon we will go 6 km south to begin our excursion to the Yelcho Glacier along a trail that goes through a temperate rain forest where we’ll see many nalcas (a rhubard type plant), and birds crossing our path. After 1 hour we will get to the outlook point from where we will have a beautiful view of the numerous waterfalls around us and the impressive glacier in the background. Return the hotel. Dinner and accommodations.

Day 2. Yelcho – Pumalin
Breakfast. Leave the hotel towards Caleta Gonzalo. An hour and a half later from our hotel we will get to the Pumalin Park, where we will visit the Sendero Alerces Milenarios (Thousand Year Old Alerces Trail), Cascadas Escondidas (Hidden Falls) and different agro tourism projects. At noon we will enjoy a box lunch. During the visit we will be able to see the Michinmahuida Volcano from different angles. In the late afternoon we’ll return to the hotel, have dinner and go to our rooms.

Day 3. Yelcho – El Amarillo Glacier – Hot Springs
Breakfast. Today we will go to El Amarillo area, the southern access of the Pumalin Park, where we will take a trail to the Michinmahuida Volcano, that will take us into a forest where we may be able to see different birds, such as the Black Woodpecker, the Chucao Tapaculo, Guet-Guet, Ringed Kingfisher, and animals such as the Pudu (Chilean Mountain Goat), and the Otter. We will continue along the Amarillo River, crossing at two places to finally get to the base of the snow cap that falls from the peak of the volcano. On the return trip we will take a detour to El Amarillo Hot Springs to relax in the wonderful 55º C mineral waters, and ideal end to the day. Return to the hotel, dinner and accommodations.

Day 4. Yelcho – Chaiten
Breakfast and return to Chaiten. End of the program.

Included Excursions

Pumalin Park
In 1991, North American Douglas Tompkins, initiated this project with the idea of protecting the temperate rainforest from eventual exploitation. To this day, the project, through the Land Trust Conservation Foundation, protects more than 720,000 acres (300,000 hectares) that are destined to become a Natural Sanctuary. The native forest reserve and ancient larch trees are located between Chaiten and Gonzalo Cove only 2 hours away from the Hotel. Our guides will introduce you to this project by leading you along trails that are under strict preservation guidelines to ensure the safety of the forest.

El Amarillo Galcier
30 km north of Yelcho in the Patagonia, 26 km south of Chaiten along the Austral Highway, you find the trail to the glacier. From here we begin a walk of approximately 10 km to the base of El Amarillo Glacier. During the walk it’s possible to see different birds such as the Black Woodpecker, the Chucao Tapaculo, the Guet-guet, and Ringed Kingfisher, among others. We will go to the base of the glacier, to its moraine (sediment left by the receding ice), where you will be able to see the marvelous glacier coming down from the Michinmahuida Volcano. This excursion takes about 6 hours walking.

Del Amarillo Hot Springs
After a tiring day of traveling there is nothing better to rejuvenate the body and spirit than enjoy a hot bath in the Amarillo Hot Springs. They are waters rich in minerals that spring from the Michimahuida Volcano.

The Program Includes

• Transfer from Chaiten and back.
• Full room and board.
• All excursions mentioned.

The Program does NOT Include

• Does not include Wines and Liquors.

Notes

• Minimum 2 participants.
• Prices in american dollars. No including tax.
• Fishing season is from October, 2007 to May, 2008.
• Program may suffer modifications according to climate conditions.