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Las Horquetas Traverse

Cerro Castillo National Park, Chile

 

This is a page with tips for those who want to do the Cerro Castillo Traverse, being a complement to the book The Most Beautiful Trails of Patagonia. In this page you can see some photos and the list of trails that are part of the book. To purchase your book, send your zip code and country to livros@ricardoferes.com or WhatsApp +55 11 99314-3211 and I will send you the total cost, including shipping.

Days: 4
Distance: 60 km / 37 mi
Total ascent: 2,881 m / 9,452 ft
Download tracklog at Wikiloc

Best season
From mid-December to mid-March it is no so rainy.

How to get there
For those traveling by car through Carretera Austral, Villa Cerro Castillo is the nearest overnight stop, however the food supply for the traverse is very limited, it is better to buy in some city to the north or south, depending on your route.

For those traveling by plane, the destination city is Coyhaique, which is 72 km (45 mi) to the north. From Balmaceda airport to Las Horquetas entrance (north of the park), it is only 43 km (27 mi).

In the section “Useful links”, at the end of this page, you will find the websites with information about buses timetables and, also, the time limit to enter the national park.

Costs
National park entrance: Ch $ 29,000 for foreigners.

Free campsites.

Where to eat, sleep and trail marking
The trail is well marked, no need for map or GPS.

It is necessary to bring food and all equipment for wild camping, there are no supply points or shelters.

Day by day
Las Horquetas Traverse is usually made starting at Las Horquetas and ending at Villa Cerro Castillo, to facilitate logistics. However, if the weather forecast is good for the first two days and bad after that, I recommend that you reverse the direction, as the most beautiful spots are on the third and fourth days, if you do it in the traditional way.

Some people say that it is more tiring to do in the opposite direction but I didn’t see much difference, maybe just going up Morro Negro is a little more difficult in the opposite direction, but it doesn’t scare anyone who is used to hike.

If you do it in the opposite direction, when you arrive at Carretera Austral you can take a ride, which is usually easy, or a bus, the timetable you can check at the Information Center of Villa Cerro Castillo.

As it is a short hike, try to organize your trip to also visit Patagonia National Park and spend another 3 or 4 days doing the Jeinimeni-Avilés Traverse.

Day 1
Carretera Austral (Acceso Las Horquetas) – Campamento El Turbio
Distance: 15.6 km / 9.7 mi
Total ascent: 376 m / 1,233 ft

The first day is very easy, almost always walking in the valley and without any mountain crossing. The path is beautiful but not striking and, in the first kilometers, you will pass by private properties with cattle.

When you arrive at Campamento El Turbio, pitch your tent and, if you have free time, do the side trip to Laguna El Turbio. If you don’t want to walk more, don’t worry about no going to this lagoon, as it is not a very beautiful one.

Day 2
Campamento El Turbio – Campamento El Bosque
Distance: 11.6 km / 7.2 mi
Total ascent: 1,088 m / 3,569 ft

On the second day the landscape is much more beautiful, with Paso Peñón crossing, glaciers, waterfalls and the beautiful Laguna Témpanos, reached by a side trail starting at Campamento El Bosque. Unlike Laguna El Turbio, this one I strongly recommend you visit, as the walk is short and the view is very beautiful.

Day 3
Campamento El Bosque – Campamento Neozelandés
Distance: 12.8 km / 8 mi
Total ascent: 940 m / 3,084 ft

The third day is the most beautiful, as it is when we face Cerro Castillo mountain and lagoon, with its glacier and waterfall.

Then comes the Morro Negro climb, the highest point of the crossing. You will always have a view to Cerro Castillo and, from the summit, you can also see Villa Cerro Castillo and, on clear days, you can even see Lago General Carrera / Lago Buenos Aires, 50 km (31 mi) away.

Upon arriving at Campamento Neozelandés, if you still have time and endurance, go up to Laguna Duff to see the sunset giving the Cordillera Castillo an orange hue.

Day 4
Campamento Neozelandés – Villa Cerro Castillo
Distance: 19.8 km / 12.3 mi
Total ascent: 477 m / 1,565 ft

If you did not go to Laguna Duff the day before, be sure to go early today, as it is one of the most beautiful points of the traverse. If you have been and is not tired, go again to see the lagoon and mountains with a different light. From Campamento Neozelandés to Villa Cerro Castillo, the path is mostly downhill or flat, so this little uphill at the beginning of the day will not tire you for the rest of the hike.

From Neozelandés down, the views are not very interesting and the dirt road that leads to the village is boring, so don’t be shy about asking for a ride to anyone passing by.

Useful links