Patagonia - The Great Journey

Bright and early, we will leave for the trailhead. We begin our hike on the classic trail to Laguna Negra, which is the main entrance to the mountain and follows the left bank of the Goye Stream. The trail is well defined and you are likely to see other trekkers heading to the shelter.  Today’s hike is relatively easy along a flat trail. Towards the end of the day, we have a short ascent to the shore of the lagoon. We can either camp or use the shelter, depending on the time that we arrive.

After breakfast, we will begin to circumnavigate the lagoon, ascending at the west edge of the lake to see Mount Tronador for the first time.  We will approach the mountain slowly but surely until we reach the foot of the mountain. We will then begin the descent towards Arroyo La Chata. This stream provides an excellent spot for lunch and to refill our water bottles for the afternoon! We will continue towards the CAB Lagoon, hiking through the thick cane plantations. After around 2 hours, we will arrive at the shore of the lagoon to look for a decent camping spot for the evening. 

Today is the most challenging day of the trek. We will start early by ascending the CAB Hill along a steep trail. The spectacular views all around us will be our fuel for the trek. Arriving at the edge of the mountain, we will make our way through stone-cutters and stone slabs, till we reach the Mallin del Mate Dulce. We will then ascend to the edge of the Crystal mountain. This is the final climb of the day, which is long but rewarding as it takes us to a unique panoramic viewpoint. On arrival, we will head west, with the stunning Mount Tronador in view once more. Below us, we will be able to see the Creton Lagoon, our final resting spot for today. We will gradually descend through a field of stones and boulders beyond which, we will set up our camp for the evening at The Creton Lagoon.

After a hearty breakfast, we will begin our ascent close to a rocky edge that will take us to the Blue Lagoon. This lagoon is arguably the most beautiful of all, surrounded by granite walls, its deep blue tones give us an idea about its depth.  We will then continue to another lagoon, called Chubut Lagoon, and from there we will ascend to the “Captain's Edge”.  Heading West, we will cross a beautiful area of ​​pampas and boglands, hoping to see some “Pudú” or foxes drinking from the stream. We will continue hiking through the forests and the “Lengas” will offer their shade until we reach the shore of Laguna Ilon. This is where we will set up camp for the night.

Today we will head off through the Patagonian Andean forest. The crossing is visually stunning, which will be ingrained in our memories for a long time to come. Here we will take in the views and enjoy lunch on this naturally formed balcony. After lunch, we will continue along the ascending path to the Rocca Shelter, found at 1432 m elevation. From here we can take in the spectacular scenery and impressive views. After dinner, we will learn more about the history of this amazing place. If the sky is clear, then we will have the opportunity to stargaze and interpret the constellations of the southern hemisphere. Along with the Milky Way.

Today we will have an early breakfast, to arrive at the spectacular viewpoint of the Alerce Glacier for the sunrise. We will then say goodbye to Rocca Refuge before entering The Frías River Valley following its course to the Lake, hiking a winding trail for about 6 hours, through the lush Valdivian Forest. We will stop at The Mirador Frias to observe the waterfalls that give birth to the Frías River. We will visit the lake in the afternoon, to take the boat to Puerto Alegre and on to Puerto Blest, where we will spend the night at the impressive Puerto Blest Hotel and enjoy our farewell dinner.

After breakfast, we will return to Bariloche by boat, navigating over the Nahuel Huapi Lake to Puerto Pañuelo. We will then head to our hotel for the evening, marking the end of the tour.