Cerro Castillo Trek

Information

Distance

50.0 km

Duration

4–5 days

Max elevation

1,600 m

Country

Chile (CL)

Difficulty

Strenuous — steep rocky terrain, two river crossings without bridges, two mountain passes

Best Season

December–March (austral summer); the trail closes in October due to snow

Permits & Fees

No special permit required; Cerro Castillo National Park entry ticket about CLP 30,000 / US$34; campsite bookings are required in peak season through the official website

Description

The Cerro Castillo Trek is a ~50 km multi-day route through Cerro Castillo National Park in Chilean Patagonia's Aysén Region, often called "the undiscovered Torres del Paine" for its dramatic volcanic-glacial scenery without the crowds. The main route runs from Las Horquetas Grandes on the Carretera Austral to Villa Cerro Castillo in 4–5 days, crossing pristine Patagonian lenga forest, two unbridged rivers, and two mountain passes at 1,300–1,600 m, with direct views of the jagged basalt spires of Cerro Castillo (2,675 m) and its glacier. The highlight is the turquoise glacial Laguna Cerro Castillo on day three, a moraine lake perfectly reflecting the layered basalt formation that resembles a medieval castle. No special permit is required beyond the park entrance fee (approx. CLP 30,000), and the trail runs from late November through March when free of snow.

Trail Highlights

Dramatic layered basalt formations shaped like castles, the turquoise-blue Laguna Cerro Castillo on day 3, the Cerro Castillo glacier (2,675 m), primeval Patagonian lenga forest, accessible from the Carretera Austral