Itinerary Details
MT Sobek: Chile Patagonia Cochamo Valley Hiking
Day 1 Arrive in Puerto Montt & Welcome in Puerto Varas
40-minute private van transfer
Fly into Puerto Montt, the capital of Patagonia's Los Lagos, a region known for its volcanic landscapes and many lakes. On arrival, you will be transferred to your hotel in nearby Puerto Varas, a colonial city on the shores of Lago Llanquihue where the snowcapped peaks of the Osorno and Calbuco volcanoes can be seen across the lake. This evening you will gather with your guide and fellow travelers to discuss the adventure ahead and enjoy a welcome dinner together.
Accommodation: Radisson Hotel Puerto Varas
(D)
Day 2 Journey Deep into Valle Ventisquero
4-hour private van transfer; 15-minute private motorboat
4-5 hours/9.3 miles hiking with 230' elevation gain
Begin the day with an overland adventure into the wilds of northern Patagonia. Travel along an estuary, passing fishing boats and mussel farms tended by local communities, then turn inland to glistening Lago Tagua Tagua, a finger lake that fills a beautiful valley. Cross by boat and continue by 4WD to the trailhead, where your expedition begins. Hike a historic settlers' trail along the glacier-fed Rio Ventisquero in a valley where gaucho culture still thrives. Follow the river as it winds through new-growth forest, surrounded by the majestic peaks of the Hornopiren and Pumalin National Parks. Listen for woodpeckers, chucaos, and other birdlife before reaching your wilderness lodge—accessible only by foot—on this excellent introduction to the biodiversity and culture of the Ventisquero Valley.
Accommodation: Rincon Bonito Mountain House & Cabins
(B, L, D)
Day 3 Climb to 360° Views in the Ventisquero Wilderness
6 hours/6.2 miles hiking with 2,950' elevation gain and loss
Setting out from the drier east side of Valle Ventisquero, hike a hidden jewel, following an old pack mule path that climbs steeply through ancient coigue and lenga forest, with each view better than the last. Peaks—still unnamed—rise dramatically from deep valleys carved by glaciers, their runoff rivers twisting and joining far below. Ascending above the tree line, follow a flat ridge with uninterrupted vistas of the stunning Puelo Basin and hanging glaciers in the distance. From here, look out over Universe Valley, taking in a pristine Patagonian panorama over Pumalin National Park. With luck, watch a condor circling above the Andes.
Accommodation: Rincon Bonito Mountain House & Cabins
(B, L, D)
Day 4 Hike Among Alerce Giants in the Valle del Toro
6 hours/13.7 miles hiking with 1,050' elevation gain and 1,050’ elevation loss
Hike into the untouched temperate rainforest of Valle del Toro, a narrow, emerald-green valley where rivers thread through the forest, and ancient alerce trees rise majestically at the edge of Hornopiren National Park. The endangered alerce can reach 150 feet into the sky and live as long as 4,000 years, rivaling both the world's oldest (bristlecone) and tallest (redwood) in one remarkable tree. With no bridges in this remote wilderness, cross small rivers on foot as you make your way deeper into the valley toward a rustic mountain shelter built by baqueanos (horse whisperer, tracker, and guardian of the land all rolled into one), where a spectacular view over the Valle del Toro awaits.
(B, L, D)
Day 5 Raft the Rio Ventisquero & Rio Puelo
1-hour private van transfer; 15-minute private motorboat
5-6 hours/17.4 miles rafting with Class II-II+ rapids
Today you'll be geared up and given your own packraft for a two-river rafting adventure! First, paddle down the crystal-clear waters of Ventisquero, wild and remote, toward its confluence with the Rio Puelo. Watch for kingfishers, cormorants, vultures and ashy-headed geese and navigate fun rapids. Paddle into the spectacular Puelo Basin, where the turquoise river flows along pale glacial bars and banks, winding between mountains and farmland. Drive back to Lago Tagua Tagua, and cross by boat to where the Rio Puelo flows out of the lake to the sea. Take a well-earned soak in a lakeside hot tub and check in to your boutique accommodations overlooking the river.
Accommodation: Tawa Refugio del Puelo
(B, L, D)
Day 6 Travel to Cochamo Valley & Hike Into La Junta
1-hour private van transfer
4-5 hours/8 miles hiking with 1,230' elevation gain
Transfer to Cochamo Valley, "the Yosemite of South America," where granite walls tower above idyllic glacial valleys and temperate rainforest. Set out on foot, taking the only trail into spectacular La Junta, a remote valley framed by soaring peaks and dense forest, and your base for the next four nights. With your luggage carried by pack horses, follow a historic cattle route used to drive herds from Argentinian estancias (ranches) to the Pacific coast docks. The path reveals rushing rivers, waterfalls, lush forest, and possible sightings of the Magellanic woodpecker. Arrive at camp and take time to settle into one of Patagonia's most breathtaking wilderness settings. A private refugio with hot showers and dining room is just over the river.
Accommodation: MT Sobek Camp & Refugio - La Junta
(B, L, D)
Day 7 Hike to Spectacular Cochamo Amphitheater
5-7 hours/6.2 miles hiking with 2,625' elevation gain and 2,625' elevation loss
A name whispered by climbers with reverence, Cochamo Valley has world-class climbing walls, but is more often talked about than seen due to its remoteness. The Amphitheater is one place you may spot climbers high on the rock face. Ascend a trail through temperate rainforest full of coigue, mañio, tepa, laurel, and arrayanes trees. Climb beneath the dense canopy, amid ferns and tangled mossy roots, crossing glacial streams and passing dazzling waterfalls, getting glimpses of the valley's dramatic scale. As you reach higher elevations, pass mighty alerce trees, then the forest opens to a breathtaking glacial cirque with a panorama of 3,000-foot granite walls and domes towering above and the stunning valley spread out below with frosty peaks in the distance. After marveling at the Cochamo Amphitheater scenery, return by the same trail to camp.
Accommodation: MT Sobek Camp & Refugio - La Junta
(B, L, D)
Day 8 Summit Trinidad Sur Pass
8-9 hours/7.5 miles hiking with 3,940' elevation gain & 3,940' elevation loss
Head out on a challenging and rewarding hike up into higher alpine terrain and panoramic mountain vistas in the Trinidad Valley. As you climb, watch the ecosystem shift around you, from temperate rainforest to lenga trees, which mark the tree line. The views widen as you reach the base of the main peak, where ancient alerces rise from the canopy and sheer granite walls tower overhead. Continue deeper into the valley where Trinidad Sur, La Gorila, and the Río Trinidad come into view, and on to Laguna de Trinidad. Make the final climb to the saddle for a spellbinding panorama: lush Trinidad Valley stretching behind you to the west and Bestia Valley opening to the east with the granite faces of Monstruo—a climber favorite—rising beyond. Condors are sometimes spotted gliding overhead at this incredible vantage point.
(B, L, D)
Day 9 Explore the Base of Cochamo Valley
3-5 hours/4-6 miles hiking with 500' elevation gain and loss
Enjoy an easy day in the valley with a morning waterfall hike. Follow a path through the forest to Toboggan Falls, named after the natural—but very dangerous—slides the water has carved into the rock on its route to the turquoise pool below. Further in the valley there is a beautiful mañio forest with tree trunks covered in emerald moss and dusty grey lichens. The trail ends at a pretty waterfall where Capicua peak sails 3,000 feet above. Get a chance to explore valley culture this afternoon, meeting up with gauchos to learn how they work with horses in this remote landscape.
(B, L, D)
Day 10 Hike Out of Cochamo Valley
2-hour private van transfer
3-4 hours/8 miles hiking with 1,230' elevation loss
Pack up and say farewell to the wild beauty of Cochamo Valley, retracing the historic trail that brought you into this remote Patagonian gem. Hike beneath the lush canopy of Valdivian rainforest, crossing the river corridor as granite walls slowly recede behind you. The return journey offers a final chance to listen for birdsong, admire the dense native forest, and reflect on the valleys, waterfalls, and high viewpoints explored over the past days. At the trailhead, continue by road to Puerto Varas, where a celebration dinner marks the final night of your adventure.
Accommodation: Radisson Hotel Puerto Varas
(B, L, D)
Day 11 Depart from Puerto Montt
40-minute private van transfer
After breakfast, transfer to the Puerto Montt airport for your onward flight home. Board your flight carrying memories of glacier-fed rivers, ancient forests, granite valleys, remote trails, and the camaraderie of a true wilderness expedition.
Accommodation: Radisson Hotel Puerto Varas
(B)
