Trekking to the Patagonia National Park: Jeinimeni to Aviles

Day 1: Transfer from Balmaceda Airport to Chile Chico; La Hosteria de Patagonia

Meet at Balmaceda Airport and get started on your adventure in Aysen. You'll head south, along the Carretera Austral, through the beautiful Cerro Castillo National Reserve, with a stop for lunch overlooking the beautiful Ibanez river valley. From there, you'll head to Puerto Ingenerio Ibanez, where you take the local ferry across Lake General Carrera to the town of Chile Chico.

Relax at a beautiful bed and breakfast, La Hosteria de Patagonia, where you can enjoy their secret gardens and appreciate the amazing collection of antiques.

Meals: Picnic lunch, dinner

Accommodation: La Hosteria de Patagonia, Chile Chico

Day 2: Trek in Lake Jeinimeni National Park; Camp at Lake Verde

Load up on the hosteria's amazing breakfast buffet and head out towards Argentina as you enter the Lake Jeinemeni National Park. Take a short side-hike from a trailhead off the road to see the incredible rock formations of the Lunar Valley, Piedra Clavada and ancient wall paintings from the Tehuelche Native Americans.

After a picnic lunch on the trail, you'll jump back in the car and take the gravel road to the entrance of Jeinemeni, at the river crossing near Lake Jeinimeni. From there you have a short hike of approximately 4kms to the campsite alongside the beautiful Lake Verde.

Length of hike: 4km

Meals: Breakfast, picnic lunch, dinner

Accommodation: Camping at Lake Verde

Day 3: Trek over the Gloria Pass; Camp at Lake Verde

After breakfast in a small shelter made by volunteers, you'll begin your journey to Valley Chacabuco and the Patagonia National Park through the Gloria Mountains.

You'll begin your day walking along the river bed of the Jeinimeni, before ascending over the Gloria Pass to breathtaking views of Lake Verde. This is the hardest day, with a steep but short incline as you reach the pass.

From there, descend to the shores of Lake Verde and a hike to the campsite – approximately 8km. If feeling motivated, head out on an afternoon side-hike to check out one of Jeinimeni's famous hanging glaciers.

Length of hike: 8km

Meals: Breakfast, picnic lunch, dinner

Accommodation: Camping at Lake Verde

Day 4: Trek through the Hermosa valley; Camp at Aviles River

Break camp in the late morning and head out through the Hermosa Valley and it's weaving streams. This is one spot where you will appreciate the towering mountains all around you as you hike through this remarkable valley towards Mount Jeinemeni. There will be many streams to cross, so keep your water shoes handy and be prepared to get wet!

Once finally reaching the lenga forest, there'll be a short lunch break before continuing through the beautiful emerald forests to the last campsite in the backcountry. You'll pass many run down shelters, used by gauchos when the park was one of the largest sheep ranches in Aysén and you'll camp at one of them near the Aviles River. You'll also have opportunities to see the Magellanic woodpecker tapping on the trees and, if quiet, have a chance to see the ever-increasing mountain lion population.

Length of hike: 17km

Meals: Breakfast, picnic lunch, dinner

Accommodation: Camping at Aviles River

Day 5: Trek in the Patagonia National Park; Stone House campground

This is the final, but most exciting day hiking through the Aviles Valley. You'll have entered the Chacabuco Valley and will start the hike along the Aviles River. The Patagonia National Park has done an amazing job with trail maintenance, adding two suspended bridges over the Aviles gorge, making this day the easiest of them all. Great views of Mt. Pinturas and Mt. Kristine are a pleasant surprise, with native guanacos (wild llamas) peeking around every bend.

As you head into the valley, the expanse of the Patagonian grasslands are truly splendid and humbling as we make our way to the Stone House campground. You can camp at the recently built Stone House campground, or there is the option to stay at the luxurious national park lodge.

Length of hike: 19km

Meals: Breakfast, picnic lunch, dinner

Accommodation: Stone House Campground or Patagonia National Park Lodge

Day 6: Choice of activity and accommodation

Today's activity is up to you. If you haven't had enough magnificent views of the Chacabuco Valley, head out with your guide along the Lagunas Altas trail, for a 21km hike. The intensity of this trail is medium to difficult and it offers tremendous views of the northern icefield, the Jeinemeni mountains and the entire valley. Enjoy a dip in the cold, mountain lakes, or just take in the fresh air on your last day in the wilderness of Patagonia.

If you are looking for a day to just hang out, you can take a drive through the park and enjoy the pampas as you hunt for guanacos, flamingoes and soaring condors. The night's accommodation for these two options is either at the Patagonia National Park Lodge, or a bed and breakfast in the nearby town of Cochrane.

Alternatively, you could choose to drive north to the town of Puerto Río Tranquilo and stay overnight at the eco lodge, El Puesto. You could then enjoy a leisurely 2hr morning kayak trip on Day 7, to the famous marble caves on Lago General Carrera.

Meals: Breakfast, picnic lunch

Accommodation: Various, your choice

Day 7: Trip to the marble caves; Transfer to Balmaceda Airport

On your last day in Patagonia, head back north along the Southern Highway on an exciting road trip. You'll pass the quaint towns of Puerto Tranquilo and Cerro Castillo, with a quick stop at the marble caves on the glass-bottom jet boat, Karut.

After a quick lunch, get back on the road to make your late afternoon flight out of Balmaceda Airport.

Meals: Breakfast