Sights in Northern Patagonia
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Reserva Nacional Cerro Castillo
Cerro Castillo’s basalt spires are the crowning centerpiece of Reserva Nacional Cerro Castillo, a sprawling 1800-sq-km mountain reserve of southern beech forest, 75km south of Coyhaique. The park boasts fine fishing and hiking, along with little foot traffic. Its namesake, the 2700m triple-tier Cerro Castillo, is flanked by three major glaciers on its southern slopes. Hikers can complete a segment of Sendero de Chile with the 16km trail to Campamento Neozelandés. Another recommended four-day trek leaves from Km75, at the north end of the reserve, and goes to Villa Cerro Castillo at the south end via a high route passing glaciers, rivers and lakes.
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Monumento Natural Dos Lagunas
On the road to Paso Alto Coyhaique on the Argentine border, this 181-hectare wetland reserve hosts diverse bird life, including black neck swans, coots and grebes; the area is an ecological transition zone from southern beech forest to semiarid steppe. Orchids abound. A short hiking trail goes to Laguna El Toro while a longer loop flanks the northern edge of Laguna Escondida. Near the reserve’s entrance, Conaf maintains a self-guided nature trail (1km), a campground (per tent CH$3500) and a picnic area. While the park lacks regular public transportation, Coyhaique’s branch of Conaf may be able to offer suggestions for getting there.
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Reserva Nacional Tamango
Boasting Chile’s largest population of endangered huemul deer, Reserva Nacional Tamango protects a 70 sq km transition zone to the Patagonian steppe. Huemul are notoriously shy, but chances of sighting one are better here than anywhere. At the entrance, trails (1.5km to 7km in length) lead to Laguna Elefantina, Laguna Tamanguito and 1722m Cerro Tamango. The reserve is 6km northeast of Cochrane; there is no public transportation to the entrance. At the corner of Colonia and San Valentín, hikers can take Pasaje No 1 north and then east to access trails to the entrance. Cochrane’s Conaf may have trail maps.
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Parque Nacional Hornopirén
Relatively unknown and not often accessed, Parque Nacional Hornopirén protects a lush wilderness of alpine terrain. It remains obscure mainly because there’s no public transportation to it and you can’t drive right up to any park entrance. Trails to and in the park are marked but at times hard to follow. Still, it offers great scenery and backcountry escapes. If planning on making an overnight hike, check in with Conaf before departing town.
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Reserva Nacional Jeinemeni
Turquoise lakes and the rusted hues of the steppe mark the rarely visited Reserva Nacional Jeinemeni 52km southwest of Chile Chico. Its unusual wonders range from cave paintings to foxes and flamingos. In the transition zone to the Patagonian steppe, it covers 1610 sq km. Through-hikers can link to Valle Chacabuco via a two-day mountain traverse on Sendero La Leona; for information contact Estancia Valle Chacabuco.
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Museo Regional de la Patagonia
In town, Museo Regional de la Patagonia catalogues pioneer artifacts and Jesuit regalia. It also houses a fine collection of labeled photographs on regional history, including the construction of part of the Carretera Austral.
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