Excursions from Mallin Colorado Ecolodge

This excursion requires you to leave Mallin Colorado by 6am and drive north to Bahía Exploradores. From there you'll take a boat for around 60km along the fjord to the secluded San Rafael Lagoon. Once here you'll have plenty of time to soak up the fantastic views of the San Rafael Glacier and enjoy a picnic lunch before returning via the same route to Bahía Exploradores.

This trip includes the boat ticket and picnic lunch. You'll be given a voucher to present at Bahía Exploradores.

Full-day | Difficulty: Easy

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The Exploradores Glacier is a tongue of ice descending from Mount San Valentin, the highest peak in Patagonia (4,064m/13,333ft), and is one of the most accessible glaciers in the region. It's located an hour west of Puerto Tranquilo and two hours from Mallin Colorado.

The hike follows a trail to reach a viewpoint from which there are fantastic views of the glacier. It's only takes about 15 minutes and includes traversing a short moraine, but the path is easy and well constructed.

If you choose the ice hiking option, you'll be given the the necessary equipment and a briefing before starting. A guide will accompany you at all times on this six-hour hike, two hours of which will be on the ice.

Full-day | Difficulty: Easy

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You'll drive about an hour to the north to Bahia Mansa from where you'll take a boat to visit the marble caves. This one-hour boat tour cruises around the caves which have been carved out of the calcium carbonate by the movement of water over thousands of years. You'll have the chance to take some fantastic photos from the boat, both inside and outside the caves.

There's also the option of kayaking at the caves. A guide will accompany you from Bahia Mansa, from where it takes around 30 mins to kayak to the caves. You'll be able to paddle through the caves and tunnels before returning to Bahia Mansa.

This excursion can be combined with a visit to Glacier Exploradores in the afternoon, or you can simply return back to Mallin Colorado to spend a free afternoon around the lodge.

Full-day | Difficulty: Easy

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After a short drive to Puerto Guadal, you'll take the jet boat with other tourists across Lake General Carrera towards the Leones Glacier, in middle of the Northern Ice Fields. The boat will navigate up the Leones River for about an hour to reach a lagoon, from where you will be able to get closer to the stunning ice walls of the Leones Glacier. The landscape along the whole trip is spectacular.

You'll return to Puerto Guadal along the same route.

Full-day | Difficulty: Easy

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From Mallin Colorado, with a gaucho guide, you'll ride through a native forest of ñirres, lenga and coigues at a slow pace. You'll have amazing views to Lake General Carrera and the Cordón Contreras mountain range on the ride to Lake Bertrand. Here there is amazing birdwatching and photography.

This excursion is perfect for those who have experience of horses and riding, though no previous experience is needed.

Half-day | Difficulty: Medium | Duration: 4 hours | Total ascent: +370 metres

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This four-hour round-trip hike starts close to the main house of the lodge. Along the route you'll enjoy superb views from several viewpoints over Lake General Carrera as you hike thorugh native coigue, lenga and ñirres forests. You'll also be able to see Mallin Colorado Lagoon, famous for the reddish flowers on its surface.

The destination of the hike is a fabulous viewpoint of the Cordón Contreras mountain range, Lake Bertrand and Lake Plomo.

During the hike there's the possibility to watch exotic birds and take amazing some great photos. As this is a private trail, you won't be disturbed by other hikers.

Half-day | Difficulty: Medium | Duration: 4 hours | Total ascent: +370 metres

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Enjoy this relaxed excursion to Puerto Guadal, a small town close to Mallin Colorado with less than a thousand inhabitants. It's located on the shore of Lake General Carrera and is surrounded by views of stunning mountains.

If you take this excursion on a Saturday, you can visit the Guadal Market and try some of the local food prepared by stall holders.

You'll also visit Taller Chelenko, a handcrafts shop in the town and the old cemetery on the shore of the lake. Next up is the old gold mine from where you'll have spectacular views, follwed by the El Maqui waterfall. If there is time, you'll be able to enjoy the amazing sunset colours from Lito Beach. 

Full-day | Difficulty: Easy

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You'll drive to Puerto Betrand where the rafting company is located by the lake. They have trips three times a day with at least four people on each trip. You'll have a safety briefing and be provided with a neoprene suit, lifejacket, a hat and boots.

You'll be rafting on the Class 2 rapids of one of the less visited rivers on earth. It's an easy trip and not dangerous, but it's definitely fun.

A snack and coffee is included at the end.

Half-day | Difficulty: Easy

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You'll drive 35km south of Mallin Colorado, passing the town of Puerto Bertrand, to the entrance and car park for visitors to the

confluence of the Baker Nef rivers. This is an amazing location from which to appreciate the power of the water; you can see how the colour of the Baker River changes to a greenish-grey colour as it mixes into the Nef River.

You can then return to Mallin Colorado for lunch, or continue south for an hour to reach Cochrane.

Half-day | Difficulty: Easy

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You'll drive south in the direction of Cochrane to reach Patagonia Park National Park. As you enter the park, you will notice immediately how the landscape changes to become much drier, with lower vegetation compared to the rest of the region. There is an abundance of wildlife to be spotted here: guanacos, foxes, condors and, on occasion, huemul and pumas.

This new national park was donated by the Tompkins Foundation to the Chilean government. It's possible to visit the tomb of Douglas Tompkins who died 2015.

Full-day | Difficulty: Easy

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