Puerto Tranquilo – The heart of Aysen, Chilean Patagonia
Puerto Tranquilo is a sleepy, lakeside town in the heart of Aysen, Patagonia; home to the Northern and Southern Patagonian Ice-fields, as well as the largest lake in Chile, Lago General Carrera.
Perfect blue and turquoise rivers and lakes flow between snow-capped mountains and through deep valleys as the many glaciers gradually melt away, providing us with amazing ice caves to explore in the process – A beautiful, but a sad reminder that one day, they will disappear completely.
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This quirky little town and its friendly people are often missed by visitors to Patagonia, who either travel to Torres del Paine for the famous O Trek, or head straight for Villa O’Higgins for Argentina crossing to climb Mount Fitzroy.
To help make sure you don’t make the same mistake, here are 5 reasons not to skip Puerto Tranquilo!
1. Capillas de Marmol
These stunning marble caves, carved by the wind and the water over thousands of years are like stepping into another world. The variety of patterns and colors in the naturally smoothed marble seem to dance in the light reflected from the crystal blue-turquoise water. In the winter, when the lake drops, you can walk around inside the caves. One couple loved them so much, they had their wedding inside the caves themselves!
1 ½ hour boat trip – 8,000 Pesos p/p (Call Anselmo Soto – Carrera Tours)
2. Glacier Trekking
The town itself is less than an hour’s drive away from the Exploradores Glaciers in the Northern Patagonian Ice-fields. The true scale and beauty of a glacier is impossible to comprehend until you’ve walked, hiked and climbed for three hours to stand face to face with the giant itself – A wall of ice towering above your head, peppered with the melting holes and caves which mark its constant retreat and inevitable disappearance. The trek lasts a whole day including the round trip in a van and it is suitable for beginners, but they may find the rocky sections a bit tricky. Have a drink from a small river or pool while you’re up there, there’s no other water like it!
Contact Expediciones Explorasur([email protected]) for a 1 day glacier trek – 40,000 Pesos p/p (approx) inc. lunch, transport and equipment.
3. Incredible Scenery
These pictures speak for themselves; it’s simply impossible to take a bad photo here! There is stunning natural beauty in every direction and try to catch at least one cloudy sunset, the colors are magnificent!
4 Ridiculously blue water
The water from the melting glaciers flows directly into the regions many lakes and rivers and it’s so clean, pure and unpolluted that it keeps its perfect blue color that you just can’t stop staring at it. It’s hard to believe water can be that color at all and it’s so clean you can drink it!
5. It’s en-route to everywhere
A journey along the length of Patagonia’s Carretera Austral is a pilgrimage made by many travelers who are looking for something more than a fly-in-fly-out trek and some photo opportunities. Buses are not very frequent on this old dirt road, so instead, you’ll find cyclists, hikers, motorcyclists and hitchhikers making their way along the 1,240km route, sleeping in tents and family guesthouses on the way. Whether you’re heading north or south, the Carretera Austral leads you to Puerto Tranquilo.
Useful Info
How to get there: You can start your journey from Puerto Montt in the very south of mainland Chile, or you can take a Navimag ferry from Puerto Montt to Chacabuco, in the heart of the Aysen region, from where you can travel to Coyhaique, a small beautiful city, from where you can join the Carretera Austral. Simply head south whichever way you can. If you’re coming from the South having crossed from Argentina, you have no choice – Take the Carretera Austral North!
Where to stay: There are quite a few options, from one mid-range hotel to private cabañas, but we found that the best accommodation is in one the alojiementos familials, small family-run hostels that are relatively cheap, have real log fires and great home-cooked food! We chose Residential La Paz and were really happy there, they even have a little grocery store with fruit, vegetables and loads of snacks.
Price – Approx. 10,000 p/p per night.
Where to Eat: If you don’t want home-cooked food in your family hostel, then head to Donde Kike. It’s really easy to find, right next to the lakeside road and they serve great, tasty, simple dishes that’ll fill you up and leave you feeling satisfied!
Price per dish – Approx. 5,000 Pesos
Where Next: Head south to Cochrane, then on to Tortel and Villa O’Higgins. If you’re going north, your next stop is Coyhaique, the small city surrounded by stunning farmland in every direction!
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Love the serenity of the place and the wonderful landscapes of purto tranquilo.
Puerto Tranquilo is a pefect place of relaxation and adventzre, Rea. Better go here to see its amazing landscapes.
The glaciers and the cave look magnificent. You also have great tips here. wish to see Puerto Tranquilo too.
Thank you, Richard. Soon, you can visit Puerto Tranquilo as well. Let us know when it would be and if you need more tips.
How amazing is Puerto Tranquilo even the name screams tranquility and beauty. Amazing pictures, thanks for sharing
Certainly; Anosa! No doubt Puerto Tranquilo is the heart of Aysen Patagonia. Hope you can visit this stunning place soon. 🙂
Those photos are just simply stunning! What an interesting and amazing looking place!
Simply incredible, Tanya. .) Puerto Tranquilo can give you a complete serene vibe.
Oh wow! What an amazing adventure. The colours in that glacier are amazing.
Thank you Helen. Every color in Puerto Tranquilo gives a total adventure of wonderful views.
I am feeling slightly depressed reading this. There is so much out there to explore yet somehow feels out of reach. I need to travel more!! Thanks for the inspiration
Don’t feel depressive, Working Mum; be inspireed instead. Puerto Tranquilo is one of the best inspiring places that can make your wanderlust flows.
My daydream adventurer spirit longs to visit places like this. Alas, I can only visit through photos! Beautiful places!
Haha. That’s the power of amazing landscapes like what Puerto Tranquilo can give – virtual tour! 🙂
It just makes me more excited to get on my holiday. We’re going to try for a last min booking and get a bargain. Those pictures are stunning!!
Awesome, Amy! Hope these stunning photos of Puerto Tranquilo convince you to visit the place.
The marble caves look magnificent, how lovely that a couple got married in the caves. That must have been stunning.
It’s romantic, Ana. Well, Puerto Tranquilo is a perfect place for couple travelers. 🙂
How amazing does everywhere look? The marble caves look so amazing, definitely somewhere I would love to explore!
Go and explore Puerto Tranquilo, Charli. You will love every corner of the place. 🙂
Wow what an incredible place to explore. That blue water is amazing!!
Incredibly clear water, Laura. You should visit Puerto Tranquilo and see its amazing wonders.
This looks like such a great place to travel to on an adventure! xxx
Wow what fabulous photos, it looks like there is so much natural beauty there. The marble caves look amazing.
Puerto Tranquilo is naturally gorgeous, Ali. 🙂
This sounds like an incredible place to have an adventure! I would definitely want to see the ice fields!
You should see the ice fileds, Liz. Come and visit Puerto Tranquilo soon! 🙂
Oh wow,. They look just amazing! Great photos
Puerto Tranquilo is beyond amazing in real,. You should see it someday with your kids, Life as Mum. 🙂
This would be a great place to go on vacation. Nice x
Exactly, Fashion and Stlye Poilice. A vacation for a week or two in Puerto Tranquilo would be perfect!
Wow everywhere looks beautiful, the marble caves and glacier looks amazing x
Indeed, Rhian, Puerto Tranquilo has lots of wonders to discover! 🙂
The Marble caves of Capillas de Marmol look just amazing!
One of the spots in Puerto Tranquilo. You will be more amazed with the Marble Caves once you see it personally, Rachel.
Oh wow how beautiful is that – the sky and sea just look amazing, the perfect getaway. x
Puerto Tranquilo is really a perfect getway, Sarah! The clear shades around Puerto Tranquilo makes it stunning. 🙂
Your right there’s not one bad picture- it looks stunning. I’ve never considered it previously and I’m wondering why now!
Every spot in Puerto Tranquilo is worth capturing. You should start to plan now you trip in Puerto Tranquilo, The London Mum. 🙂
Oh wow what a place of adventure. And look how blue that sea is 😀 Would love to go.
You should go, Cassandra! 🙂 Puerto Tranquilo is full of adventures and charms.
Are there any groups offering ice climbing lessons on the glacier for beginners?
never heard of that.
Great post, guys! I’ve always wanted to visit Patagonia because of the caves and glaciers! Would love to combine it with a visit to Argentina as well!
Thanks Miriam! Yeah, Argentina Patagonia would be ace! I didnt applied for my visa that’s why we were only in Chile! but it’s worth it, cant wait to go back there!