I set off at sunrise to make my way to Chile Chico today in what was supposed to be a 2-hour ferry ride from Puerto Ingeniero Ibáñez to Chile Chico.
I was well rested after a nice rest in Coyhaique and was eager to get on my way early.
Instead, I found the ferry had already left before 9 am (even though the website said 11 am departure) and the only other option was a late night ferry, which was fully booked, so I would have to go on standby.
The only choice I had was a 10-hour ride around the “General Carrera Lake” or ‘Lake Buenos Aires” shared by Argentina and Chile.
As it was early and the weather was beautiful, I decided to take the long way around General Carrera Lake. And boy was it worth it.
Ruta 7 would take me all the way to Puerto Guadal, and from there Rutas 265 would take me home’ to Chile Chico.
If there was any ride that encapsulated Patagonia by motorbike, it was this one. The road winds its way around the lakes with a backdrop of three stunning national parks, the Laguna San Rafael National Park, the Reserva Nacional Lago Gral. Carrera and the Reserva Nacional Lago Jeinemeni
With snow peaked mountains and glaciers on one side, the turquoise General Carrera Lake the other, cliff faces, slim dirt tracks, it had absolutely everything.
The days’ ride took me over 12 beautiful hours, and I traveled over 287 miles (463 km) and swept through little villages such as Valle Simpson, Villa Blanco, Villa Cerro Castillo, Bahía Murta, Puerto Río Tranquilo, Puerto Guadal and finally into Chile Chico.
I set up camp about 5 minutes out of town at sundown and had a great night sleep to get me ready for my trip to Argentina on the morrow.
Chile Chico
Chile Chico is a town in Chilean Patagonia. It sits on the southern shore of General Carrera Lake, which is ringed by glaciers and mountains. In the lake is the Capilla de Mármol Natural Sanctuary, a series of marble formations sculpted by the water. Southwest of town, Lago Jeinimeni National Reserve is home to condors and guanacos. Chile Chico is near the Río Jeinimeni border crossing with Argentina. From Wikipedia
