Parque Nacional Patagonia

Introduction

Access: Valle Chacabuco (north of Cochrane)

Vast valleys sculpted by the Chacabuco River form a natural corridor that, since ancient times, has been used for travel both by nomadic peoples and a large diversity of fauna. Once the site of big cattle ranches, today the grasslands have begun to recover after a century of overgrazing and are now home to one of the highest levels of biodiversity in the Aysén region.

This is Patagonian steppe in all its splendour––mountain ranges, Lenga and Ñirre forests that burst with red in fall, active wildlife, and dozens of spectacular lagoons and lakes, such as Cochrane and Jeinimeni, which nourish these landscapes of overwhelming beauty. All this helps to tell the story of one of the most important ecosystem restoration projects in the country.

Suggested Places of Interest and / or Activities

Drive the scenic Route X-83 toward Roballos Pass.
Hike the Lagunas Altas Trail in the Chacabuco Valley.
Take in the vastness of Lake Cochrane from the Douglas Tompkins Lookout Point or from one of the Tamango trails.
Visit the confluence of the Baker River––the river with the largest water volume in Chile––and the Chacabuco River.
Cross the 330-foot-long footbridge over the Chacabuco River and the footbridge found in the Avilés Valley.
Birdwatch at the various lagoons in the Chacabuco Valley.
Walk through the Lenga forests in fall.
Take a boat along the Cochrane River.
Apreciar la belleza del Lago Jeinimeni (Km. 65, Ruta X-753)
Visit the “Piedra Clavada”- a 130-foot-tall volcanic rock formation, and the Moon Valley in Jeinimeni (Route X-753, mile 15 / kilometer 25).