TRIPS
Only since 2011 is it possible to reach the famous Laguna San Rafael on the shortest route directly from the Exploradore valley. There are different operators, you can choose between the simple day boat tour with long-term photo stop, the 2-day tour with hike to the viewpoint of the San Rafael glacier, to the adventure excursion to the Gulf of Ofqui (Istmo de Ofqui) and the Gulf of San Esteban. All tours include full board and the obligatory whiskey with glacier ice, overnight stays are also included in multi-day tours. Advance booking required 24 hours minimum to allow the organizers to register all tour participants with the Coast Guard and also due to the capacity of the boats (12-14 pax) or catamaran (45 pax). The tour starts from the pier at the Bahia Exploradores, called Pto. Grosse, after the surveyor August Grosse, who first explored our valley. From there, the impressive boat trip begins along the Rio Tempano, a strait, until the Laguna San Rafael presents itself to you in all its glory with its floating icebergs and the glacier of the same name. We are happy to take over the advice and mediation of the organizer for our house guests.
8 km away from the guest house you can visit the Exploradores Glacier, one of the many glacier tongues of the San Valentin, which with its 4000 m is the highest mountain of the Patagonian Andes. It also forms the northernmost and most easily accessible extension of the second largest continental ice mass in the world, the Northern and Southern Patagonian Ice Field - "Campo de Hielos Norte y Sur de Patagonia". For self-guided excursions (paying the entrance fee), we can recommend 3 options for hikes to viewpoints of the Exploradores Glacier : CONAF (km 52), El Puesto (km 52) and Sendero Los Cipreses (km 53) - duration between 1 - 4 Hours including ascent and descent. For the 6-hour ice trekking on the Exploradores Glacier you need to register the evening before! The guided hike is registered by the organizer with CONAF and equipped with crampons, safety helmet and lunch box. We would be happy to take care of the registration formalities for you.
Would you like to experience and get to know the evergreen rainforest up close? We have created a nature trail. Thomas or Daniela will be happy to show and explain the local flora and, if you are lucky, the fauna in this fantastic piece of natural primary forest. (The tour takes about 1 hour.) You are also welcome to explore the nature trail yourself, everything is well marked. We will give you a description of the flora.
Day trip to Pto. Rio Tranquilo to visit the marble caves, a bizarre rock formation in Lago General Carrera, only accessible by boat. There are many providers in the village, we recommend : SURNOMADE +56 9 62491384 (duration : 1 hour) . The adventure can also be carried out by kayak, we recommend: BELLAVISTA + 56 9 7619 5125 or + 56 9 5654 7876 (duration 2-3 hours). For those who are not stressed, we recommend the tour of both marble caves: Tranquilo + Sanchez!!!, includes crossing the Lago General Carrera and two rock formations, each bizarre in its own way.
We traditionally fish here with a tin can, only when we want to eat fish. But: there are many options available for passionate anglers. In the Rio Norte / Exploradores and in Lago Bayo (2 km away from the hostel) you can find brown and rainbow trout (up to approx. 40 cm). In Lago General Carrera there are so-called salmon trout, which are larger (up to 6 kg). Guided fishing trips are offered in Puerto RioTranquilo. The big king salmon from the Pacific swim up the Rio Exploradores in February to the Rio Huemula (km 59) to spawn (only sport fishing allowed). If you want to enjoy a trout for dinner, as a house guest in the Laguna Katrin you can provide supplies and Katrin will prepare them for you. For fishing vacationers in the Aysen region, it is advisable to acquire the appropriate fishing license in the administrative capital of Coyhaique.