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Laguna San Rafael: The Trip
Setting out from Puerto Montt, Navimag’s ferry heads south across the gulfs of Ancud and Corcovado. After sailing though the Moraleda channel it calls at Puerto Chacabuco, an important point on the Austral Road. At a speed of 12 knots, the “Puerto Edén” resumes its journey, sailing out of the Aysén fjord and through to the end of the Elefantes fjord until it reaches the Témpano river, the doorway into Laguna San Rafael.
Situated southwest of Puerto Chacabuco, at the foot of the Northern Ice Fields, the San Rafael lagoon has as its backdrop the imposing wall of the glacier that carries its name: the San Rafael glacier. The setting is captivating because of the huge blocks of bluish ice that continually break off from the glacier and fall into the lagoon, giving rise to new shapes.
The lagoon is part of the Laguna San Rafael National Park, which was designated as a Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO in 1979. It displays the wonders of a pristine ecosystem, where black-necked swans, caiquenes and a variety of ducks and cormorants, along with coipos, pudús, foxes and seals, are part of the beauty of an unexplored area.
There is nothing like the majestic daybreak that welcomes travellers as they sail into the lagoon or like the deafening noise of the blocks of ice breaking off the glacier to feed the multicoloured waters. In the midst of this setting, Navimag passengers will be able to venture closer to the glacier on boats, weaving their way across the white mantle of floating ice while enjoying the traditional whisky with age-old ice.
Laguna San Rafael: Attracctions and Activities
Situated at the foot of the slopes of the Melimoyu mountain chain, on the western shores of the Ventisquero estuary, are the Chilconed, Maca and Puyuhuapi thermal baths, whose spring waters reach temperatures as high as 50°C. Surrounded by abundant vegetation, the thermal baths in the area offer their visitors a variety of activities enabling them to enjoy the attractions of this favoured spot.
Most of the rivers in Patagonia are large and torrential. The combination of volume and declivity makes them the ones most sought after for practising rafting. Prominent rivers in this region are the Baker, Chile’s highest-volume river with numerous rapids suitable for rafting, and the Futaleufú, which offers excellent conditions for activities of this type.
For those who enjoy this activity the different rivers and lakes in Region XI, such as the Simpson, Palena and Baker rivers and the Cochrane and General Carrera lakes, are well known not only for the species found there, like brown and rainbow trout, but also for the beauty of their surroundings and for the hospitable lodges situated in the area.
After arriving at Puerto Chacabuco on board the Navimag ferry, travellers can take a trip of unique attractiveness along the Austral Road. Over its entire length of 1,100 kilometres they will not only be able to pass through areas of incredible beauty, such as the cold forests, glaciers, lakes and rivers, but they will also have the possibility of visiting Chile’s southernmost towns and villages by means of four-wheel drive vehicles, motor cycles, bicycles or trekking.
Situated 170 kilometres north of Coyhaique, this park is remarkable for its attractions such as the Queulat hanging glacier, which can be reached along a number of trekking paths that have been established through the exuberant native vegetation, the prominent species being coigüe, tepa and nalca, among others. This is also a good spot for bird-watching, climbing, boat and horseback excursions and camping, among other activities.
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