Offering a remote location amidst lush greenery on the banks of General Carrera Lake, Mallin Colorado Ecolodge is located along Carretera Austral, Chile. The lodge features rooms and cabins with private bathrooms and heating. Select units also feature hot tubs and minibars. The on-site restaurant serves regional and international dishes. Additional amenities include a picnic area, a sun terrace, a private beach area and barbeque facilities. Area activities include biking and walking tours, horseriding, hiking and fishing.
Fully Inclusive - Bed, All Meals, Fees and Activities
All Drinks (excl Premium Brands) Included
Fast Facts
Lodge
Explora Patagonia National Park | Patagonia National Park
Inspired by iconic national park lodges from around the world, the Lodge at Valle Chacabuco’s detailed woodwork and original photography of local culture and nature provide a uniquely Patagonian experience. Each room at the lodge features soft South American linens, hairdryer, complimentary internet access, hot showers, and radiant floor heating. The central living and dining room are the ideal setting for resting after a day of travel, hiking, or exploration. Guests can drink regional wine at the living room bar and enjoy views of looming Mount Tamanguito through expansive paned windows, nestle into overstuffed sofas, lounge by the fire, or venture to the patio by night to view an endless spread of stars.
Images
Rooms
Activities and Services
Credit: Explorahttps://www.explora.com
Credit: Explorahttps://www.explora.com
Credit: Explorahttps://www.explora.com
Credit: Explorahttps://www.explora.com
Room of 25 to 32 m² (269–344 ft²) with panoramic park views. Features a King-size bed or two twin beds, heating, and hairdryer. Laundry service is not included.
Room of 35 to 42 m² (376–452 ft²) with panoramic park views. Features a King-size bed or two twin beds, heating, and hairdryer. Laundry service is not included.
Lagunas Altas Trail
The 23-km Lagunas Altas Trail starts at the Westwinds Campground, just a short walk from the Lodge. The trail climbs up the hill, close to the Tamanguito Peak, before winding around numerous alpine lakes and returning to the park headquarters. The trail is marked with rebar poles, but feel free to ask for a trail map. Allow at least 6 to 8 hours to complete this route, and bring a picnic, water, warm layers, and sun protect.
(full day)
Drive to Argentina
Follow the east-west Route 83 through the Chacabuco Valley to the Argentine border. Along the way, you’ll pass numerous lagoons with excellent opportunities for bird watching, and experience the dramatic transition out into the arid steppe of Argentine Patagonia. The drive to the border takes about an hour each way; but if you bring your passport and papers for your vehicle, you can make this a full day trip, exploring the remarkable landforms on the Argentine side. Make sure you have plenty of gas there is nowhere to re-fuel.
(full day)
Aviles Trail
Drive up the valley to the Stone House Campground and the Berkley Footbridge across the Chacabuco River. Park, cross the bridge, and look for the marked trail. The Aviles Valley trail extends 30km up into the Jeinimeni Mountains; if you like, you can plan a multi-day trip up to Valle Hermoso, into the Jeinimeni National Reserve, and even to the town of Chile Chico. For a shorter hike, walk up valley to a hanging footbridge over the Aviles River, cross the river, and return on the other side, 15km round trip.
(half to multiple days)
Explore Lago Chico
In the eastern sector of the Chacabuco Valley, the Lago Chico area has spectacular views of Lago Cochrane and Mount San Lorenzo. Drive up valley approximately 45km to a secondary road on the right (south) side of the road. Take this road up the hill to a parking area (in construction), approximately 7km. This is the next area for trail development, so for the 2012 – 2013 season, don’t expect to find an established trail in this area! However, it’s a beautiful area to explore, particularly if you reach the Lago Chico lake.
(half or full day)
Fish in the Chacabuco River
For those keen to fish, the Chacabuco River offers plenty of opportunities for exploration. Near the Stone House Campground, there are several holes rumored to contain some fish. Just north of the park headquarters, the Chacabuco River passes through some small canyons and rapids, which have also proved good fishing. You’re welcome to keep what you catch the trout are non-native species. If you’d like to fish, bring your own gear.
Walk to La Confluencia
One of our favorite spots, the confluence of the Baker and Chacabuco Rivers lies very close to the park’s western entrance. Drive to the crossroads of the main park road and the Carretera Austral, find a spot to park, and head down to the nice beach at the confluence. There’s a trail that starts slightly north of the crossroads, near some pull-off. The walk down is ~45 minutes. This is a great place to swim, fish, and relax.
(3 hours)
Walk the La Vega Trail
For a pleasant walk, head out the La Vega trail, which starts behind the Lodge. The trail winds through the valley before arriving at Westwinds Camping, the first main campground of the park. You’ll pass the project greenhouse and the historic Valle Chacabuco cemetery, which contains the graves of several past residents (human and animal) of this area. You can return by the same trail, or take the road that leads to the campground. Round trip is ~7km.
(2 hours)
Kayak or Raft the Baker River
The Baker River is Chile’s largest, and one of the most spectacular. Draining from Lago General Carrera and the Northern Patagonian Ice Field, it forms the western border of the park before continuing on to the sea, at Caleta Tortel. Several local guides run sea kayaking or rafting trips on the river; none include much whitewater, although the river’s volume can make for some exciting whirlpools and currents. River trips provide spectacular views of the surrounding mountains and glaciers.
(full day)
Visit Caleta Tortel
Caleta Tortel, at the mouth of the Baker River in the fjords, is a historic fishing village with picturesque wooden boardwalks throughout the town. Drive about 3 hours down the Carretera Austral through temperate beach forests and along the Baker River to reach the village. You can spend the night and explore the fjords and glaciers by boat. We recommend the Entre Hielos hostal.
(full day or overnight)
Trip to Villa O’Higgins
If you are making the trip to Tortel, consider continuing on to Villa O’Higgins, the very last town on the Carretera Austral. To arrive there, take the ferry from Puerto Yungay and continue on for several hours before reaching Villa O’Higgins. For the adventurous, there is a crossover route to El Chalten from here. We recommend Hostel El Mosco.
(overnight)
Boat through the Marble Caves
The shores of Lago General Carrera, the second largest lake in South America, contain numerous marble caves, carved by wind and water. Puerto Rio Tranquilo, a two or three hour drive north from the park on the Carretera Austral, serves as the best jumping off point for exploring these formation. Several guides in town offer boat trips to and around the caves. From this town, you can also drive up the Valle Exploradores to fantastic glaciers.
(full day)
Trek on Exploradores Glacier
This guided trip begins in Puerto Rio Tranquilo and drives an hour up the Exploradores Valley to the glacier. From there, the hike crosses the dirty ice at the end of the glacier to reach the clean ice beyond. You can explore ice caves and learn about the geological history of the region The trek is 6 –7 hours; the whole day takes 10. Run by El Puesto Expediciones.
(full day)
Visit the Cueva de Los Manos
If your car has papers for Argentina, explore the prehistoric paintings at the Cueva de Los Manos. Drive east through the park, cross the border at Paso Roballos, and continue east on Ruta 41 to the junction with Ruta 40. From there, turn south and drive for 15 – 20 minutes. In total, the drive from the park headquarters is 3 hours. There is a visitor center with tourist information there.
(full day)
Boat on the Cochrane River
The Cochrane River, which flows from Lago Cochrane to the Baker River, has some of the clearest, bluest water around. Inside the Tamango National Reserve, you can take a boat trip up the river to a short hike to a vista point over the lake. Huemuls can be seen in this area occasionally. There are good spots for cliff jumping along the way.
(half day)
Your Stay
3 Nights
Fully Inclusive - Bed, All Meals, Fees and Activities
