Nido de Aguila - Week Without Walls
Trek Cochamó Valley & Kayak North Patagonia
Trek in Cochamó Valley and Kayak on the Reloncaví fjord
8 days/ 7 nights
We invite you to discover the best of Cochamó Valley and of Reloncaví fjord the in the Patagonian Andes of Chile. We begin with a 3 days expedition walking in the famous Valley world known for its vertical granit walls, crystal clear rivers and native forests of Alercesmilenar trees. Coming back from the Andes cordillera mountains, we will leave our backpack and start sea kayaking for a 3 days navigation, first on Reloncavi fjord and then on Llanquihue Lake nearby Puerto Varas town.
ITINERARY
SATURDAY, Nov 03: SANTIAGO / PUERTO VARAS
Flight from Santiago to Puerto Montt and land transfer to Puerto Varas. Upon arrivalat your hostel, you will get a briefing of your next days in the region and prepare the equipment for the trip with your guide’s assistance. Dinner at a local restaurant.
*Educational Component: Reviewing the itinerary, you will have a map that will keep you aware of where we are going and the geography that we will discover on the following days.
SUNDAY, Nov 04: Trek COCHAMÓ VALLEY to LA JUNTA
We will drive down the scenic coastal road that will take us to the town of Cochamó located by the Reloncaví fjord. There we will meet our ¨arriero¨, who will load up the horses with all our gear so we will walk up the valley only with daypack. After 9 kms of walk we will reach La Junta and our mountain refuge where we will sleep for two nights.
*Educational Component: We will talk about the Leave No Trace principles when traveling in nature.
MONDAY, Nov 05: LA JUNTA to ANFITEATRO view point
With sunny days, you will realize we are surrounded by granite mountains. We will climb up and into the native forest having a close loof of mañios, coigües, alerces and lenga trees. After a 3 hours of walk we will be in the highlands of the valley, place of condors and climbers. After a nice lunch we will walk back to la Junta passing on the side of tremendous waterfalls.
*Educational Component: We will talk about the importance of our native rain forest and the protections on alerces, ulmos and araucarias trees.
TUESDAY, Nov 06: LA JUNTA to Cochamó riverside
After visiting La junta river famous toboggans and waterfalls we will begin our way back to reach the main road, where a small transfer of 5 minutes will take us to our camping spot for the next 2 days.
*Educational Component: Learning about the geological formation of the region due to glacier path and tectonic movement.
WEDNESDAY, Nov 07: KAYAK RIO COCHAMO and Reloncaví fjord
On Cochamo’sriver, a calm and pristine river coming from the Andes snow melting, we will increase our skills and kayaking techniques during the morning. In the afternoon, we will continue our navigation toward Puelo village and will be able to observe the Yates volcano and snow-covered mountains before coming back to our camping on the river side.
*Educational Component: Students will learn about the fundamentals sea kayaking skills: Parts of the kayak, the best way to paddle efficiently. Learning about the economy of the local relying on the salmon and mussel industries, but also their self-sufficiency and trades in the neighborhood.
THURSDAY, Nov 08: Kayak COCHAMÓ to RALÚN
We will paddle on the fjord between the villages of Cochamó and Ralún for 18 km. It is likely that we will see dolphins and sea lions, main residents of the fjord, and we will certainly have the opportunity to see several pelagic birds in migration such as penguins, terns, pelicans, and petrels.During lunch time, we will stop at a farm where the owners, a friendly local family, will share the magic of their sustainable lifestyle. Transfer of an hour to reach a new camping spot.
Educational Component: We will learn about the authentic way of living of the first settlers of this remote area.
FRIDAY, Nov 09: Kayak LAKE LLANQUIHUE to LAGUNA la POZA
Paddeling now on fresh water, from a nice sandy beach, navigate facing Osorno and Calbuco Volcano until reaching a small close lagoon where we will paddle surrounded by weeping willows and local birds. In The afternoon practice some rescue techniques.
*Educational Component: Learning a little more about sea kayaking skills: procedure in case of a capsizing and how to benefit the water currents during navigations.
SATURDAY, Nov 10: TRF COLONIA TRES PUENTES to PUERTO MONTT Apt.
After breakfast, we will drive back to Puerto Montt Airport to catch your flight to Santiago.
*Educational Component: Debriefing of their experiences, what they have learn and what they will remember from that trip.
PRICE per student: $900.000CLP
DETAILS
Trekking Total Distance: 25 Km
Sea kayak Total Distance:45 km
Duration:8 Days / 7 Nights
Night in Hostel, Cabins and Refuge:3 Nights
Nights camping:4 Nights
Level of difficulty:Moderate 4 to 6 hours of daily physical activity
Pack weight:5k/ 11lb (day pack)
Luggage capacity: 70 liter max.+ Daypack
Location:Northern Patagonia, Lake District, and Cochamó Valley
Meeting point:Puerto Montt Airport
End of the trip:Puerto Montt Airport
Departure: Saturday, November 03th
Group size:Minimum 4 students, Maximum 11 students.
CANCELLATION POLICY:
For cancellations, the total amount of the reservation is refunded except for the value of the plane ticket if it has already been purchased when it is made 20 days before the starting date of the trip.
Between 20 days and 7 days before the start date of the trip, 60% of the total value of the trip is refunded.
After that date, there is no refund.
INCLUDES:
Air tickets, emission cost and airport taxes From Santiago to Puerto Montt round trip.
All transport (land and boats)
All meals through the 8 days of activities (breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks)
All Lodging fees(1 x hostel, 4 x camping, 2 x refuge)
Camping equipment: Tents for three people, kitchen equipment, and tarp.
Kayaking equipment: Sea kayak wilderness system with rudder, life jacket, spray skirt, paddle, neoprene wetsuit and booties, all safety equipment and 1 dry bag x 20L /pers.
Professional First aid kit, VHF radio, maps, repair kit and satellite phone.
Bilingual guides, with Wilderness First Response accreditation and many years of experiences in long expeditions in remote areas.
Guide rate: 1 Guide per 6 participants.
Horse to carry our sleeping and kitchen equipment.
NOT INCLUDED:
Personal equipment for camping such as:
Sleeping bag (0° C to -5°C)
Sleeping mats
Head light or hand light
Warm clothing
Waterproof Jacket
GUIDES:
Marcela Ibieta:
Chilean naturalist guide with 17 years of experience.
Advanced knowledge in botany, geology, fauna and flora, ornithology and magnifying glass tourism (lichens, mushrooms and vegetable cover observation) in Chile.Fluent in Spanishand English.
Wilderness First Responder- Renovelled in 2017 and Sea Kayaking 2 days’ course- Safety and Rescues 2012
Niccolo Caruso:
Trekking and kayaking guide for more than 15 years in the Lake District of Chile
Teacher in San Sebastian University in outdoor tourism mountain skills.
SpeaksEnglish and Spanish fluently.
Wilderness First Responder- Renovelled in 2016- Sea kayaking instructor
TRANSPORTATION INFORMATION:
Flight: From Santiago to Puerto Montt airport
Land transport: By a mini-bus
Marine transport with sea kayak- Single and double kayaks Wilderness System with a rudder system. All safety gear will be provide: life jacket, spray skirt, neoprene botties, rope, pump, paddle float, etc.
HOTELS AND CAMPING INFORMATION:
Nov 03rd:
Hostal Hellen Haus
San Pedro 325, Puerto Varas
+65 233577
Nov 04th Nov 05th:
Campo Aventura Mountain Lodge- La Junta
Contacto: Mike +56 9 92894318
Nov 06th & Nov 7th
Camping Campo Aventura- Riverside Cochamo
Cochamo km5
Contacto: Mike +56 9 92894318
Nov 08th & Nov 09th
Camping Fundo La Poza Alta SN
Colonia Tres Puentes, Puerto Varas
Contacto Jass Puerto Varas +56 9 65906458