The lake was formed by the retreat of the San Rafael Glacier in the Northern Patagonian Ice Field. Although we didn’t see any elephants (I had already seen plenty in Ruaha National Park, Tanzania), we did encounter a wonderful and rare surprise: wild Patagonian dolphins! Learn how your comment data is processed. You can book in advance here or if you’re flexible on time, haggle for a discount when you book your Marble Caves tour. Make sure you plan an entire day for the trip to the San Rafael Glacier and ideally plan your trip ahead of time with a tour operator in Puerto Tranquilo (the nearest village), e.g. The icebergs continuously increased in size and beauty, until suddenly we looked upon a rather special one: the majestic San Rafael Glacier, located in the Northern Patagonian Ice Field in Chile. Hi I’m wondering what’s the best way to rent a car and if it’s possible to rent an automatic one in coyhaique area. callback: cb After the onboard breakfast, we ventured out on deck. This gives rise to the opportunity for a mini cruise through Chilean fjords to witness spectacular scenery few other visitors get a chance to see. If you plan on visiting the Marble Caves, this option will save you a few extra driving miles as Chacabuco is a 70 kilometre diversion off the Carretera Austral. Southbound | Keep following the Carretera Austral and explore Lago General Carrera. For hotels, use. The total journey takes around 14 hours and costs about between CLP 150000 and CLP 215000 per person. Is there any other way to get to Puerto Tranquilo, such as a tour from Balmaceda? Related: What are the most popular tours in Puerto Chacabuco? WikiMili. Also, I don’t think there are reasonable options to stay in Balmaceda, as it’s really just the airport. As you will probably travel to the San Rafael Glacier via Puerto Tranquilo, make sure you reserve two or three hours to visit the magical Marble Caves at Lake Gran Carrera! Can anybody advise as to the best way to visit San Rafael Glacier? })(); It’s best to visit the San Rafael Glacier during the Patagonian Summer – roughly from October until April. But be flexible - Patagonia will get under your skin and you’ll wish you had more time. Also, its sapphire-colored ice has made it a feature of many documentaries and brochures. The fjords, glaciers and magnificent scenery of Chilean Patagonia attract visitors to this vast wilderness every year. Related: What are the most popular tours in Puerto Chacabuco? The ice field has many glaciers, the largest 2 being San Quintin and San Rafael, both falling into the Pacific Ocean. Río Exploradores. Reply. You can browse for availability here. And it’s the finest hotel in town. The San Rafael Glacier attracts visitors from all over the world, who set out from Puerto Chacabuco or Puerto Tranquilo to admire its vast, untouched horizons and its biodiversity. I hope that helps, and have an awesome trip! And lovely pictures. I'm planning to go to the Chilean Patagonia next December and the boat trip to the glacier at Laguna San Rafael national park (Bahía Exploradores) is one of the planned highlights. Because the port is significantly closer to the glacier than Puerto Chacabuco, we hoped it’d be cheaper. We spent the next few hours gawping at the views, trying to spot seals, dolphins and birds. There aren't any within 60 miles (96 kilometers). Check out our definitive guide to the regional seasons to find the best time to visit Patagonia. Thanks, Kip. We’d particularly like to do the same cruise again during the April or May to see the Fall colours lining the fjords. San Rafael Glacier and Lagoon. Icebergs litter the lake, their bright blue crevices contrasting against the grey skies above. from US$208.33* … Weaving through the mini icebergs that fill the water, you will feel the chill on your face as you sip some whiskey and gaze in awe at the … After about 2.5 hours, the boat will reach Laguna San Rafael National Park and the San Rafael Glacier. There will be ample time to enjoy the views and snap photos of the floating blocks of ice and wide variety of wildlife that's commonly visible, including marine otters, sea lions, black-necked … We’re using our little corner of the internet to help you convert your own camper and inspire a few adventures too. Check out our full guide of what to pack for Patagonia before you  go. from US$291.67* Private Shore Excursion of Puerto Aysén from Puerto Chacabuco . Reply. San Rafael is, however, not the most accessible glacier. Visiting secluded places like San Rafael Glacier gets you away from society, but it sometimes makes it challenging to locate a hotel. 3 Reviews . Trip to the Glaciers, San Rafael Lagoon with Catamaranes del Sur Chile, cruise for 3 days on board the Iceberg Expedition Catamaran del sur. A sharp left, sharp right and one more left, and we’ve safely navigated into the Laguna San Rafael and the glacier comes into view. on: function(evt, cb) { Once onboard, we motored through the brash ice, getting ever closer to the looming blue wall ahead. But all too soon, 14 hours had flown by. Ask us a question Operator's Itinerary . A catamaran full of passengers had made friends over drinks, dancing and music. 3 Reviews . The ice of the San Rafael Glacier was steadily building up immense pressure from the Northern Patagonian Ice Fields and therefore constantly in motion – accompanied by fearsome cracking, creaking and rumbling noises. This post may contain affiliate links, meaning that if you choose to click through and make a purchase, we will receive a small commission at no cost to you. If you’re planning a trip to Patagonia, chances are you’ve heard of Perito Moreno, Argentina’s constantly advancing glacier. If you do not want to drive to Puerto Tranquilo, I’m absolutely sure that the few tour operators would organize a ride for you, such as Río Explorades. forms: { We loved this trip so much it was the final deciding factor in booking our Antarctica cruise! It’s difficult for me to accept that future generations – and maybe even you – probably won’t ever get a chance to enjoy the same astonishing view I had. If you’d prefer more budget accommodation, make sure to check out Hostelworld for their latest rates and availability. 26 von 80 Aktivitäten in Aisen Region. Your email address will not be published. It lasts about 12 hours and includes a light breakfast, a lunch box and a whisky tasting with glacial ice. Food and drink is covered and they’re not shy with the measures on the return leg either! Overlanders need not worry. Once you arrive at the glacier, you will get out of the main boat and climb into smaller boats that will take you closer to the ice. It is one of the most dynamic glaciers in Patagonia because of its steep descent, dropping 1200m in 20km. to Puerto Tranquilo, etc. It’s since sorted so the trip still run. (function() { Comment document.getElementById("comment").setAttribute( "id", "a5e32765ab7f6467429b1aae568366fd" );document.getElementById("d2faa4802c").setAttribute( "id", "comment" ); ©Copyright 2010-2020 Don't Complain Travel. We arrive in Rio Tranquilo in a few days and haven’t made any reservations yet…! The dark waters of the deep fjord cut through the steep sides of the snow capped mountains. Coming from the Cerro Castillo National Park (so from the north), you’ll have to take a turn to the right – directly before the … What makes this a unique way of seeing the glacier is that y ou can get close to the icebergs in the lake and even camp in the national park. Your email address will not be published. Yet we found it difficult to plan our first trip, so we've written extensively about it to help you out! I flew from Santiago de Chile to Balmaceda (near Coyhaique), where I rented a 4WD and drove down to Puerto Tranquilo (roughly three hours). And from time to time – after hundreds or even thousands of years of unity – the glacier would separate itself from a big chunk of ice, forcefully pushing it off the mighty ice wall and letting it slowly melt away in the lagoon. Please keep in mind that the road past the Cerro Castillo National Park is primarily gravel road. We’re Angela & Graham. Over 4km wide, and rearing out of the water to a height of 70m, it really is a dizzying sight. Get a copy of the, If you want to explore Patagonia in a rental car, make sure to book in advance. One of the largest glaciers of the Northern Patagonian Ice field in southern Chile, you can only access San Rafael from the water. It also means I’ll have to stay in Balmaceda. I’m trying to budget my time wisely to see both the Marble Caves and a glacier in that area. Leave plenty of time for sightseeing tours - you wouldn't want to miss out on top attractions like this one and many more! It must be spectacular! The cruise ship, however, is a multi-day trip and probably more costly than operators in Puerto Tranquilo, such as Río Exploradores. The nearest place to stay, the explora Patagonia - All Inclusive, is 310 miles (499 kilometers) away in Torres Del Paine. And with that, a toast to something we couldn’t figure out and a 2nd round, the drinks flowed and the party began. The morning sun, breaking through ill-boding clouds, spilled golden rays onto lush forest covered islands. The glacier is located within the San Rafael National Park, the largest in the Aysén Region of southern Chile. Perhaps because we were having such fun at the karaoke party, and making sure that ice wasn’t wasted. At sea level, we still didn’t feel too close. It calves into the Laguna San Rafael and is contained within Laguna San Rafael National Park. what are the cheap options for day trip to the Lagoon? The cheapest way to buy tickets is to book well in advance directly with Loberias del Sur hotel. It is connected to the sea through the Témpano Channel. Layering up is essential so you’re not too hot indoors but can still enjoy the outdoor scenery. The Laguna San Rafael is a small bay at the farsouth end of the Moraleda channel. All travel information and tour ideas in Glaciar San Rafael, 100%% customisable with our on-site travel agents in Argentina Considering the quick retreat of the ice, a day trip to the San Rafael Glacier really might end up being a once in a lifetime opportunity. San Rafael glacier. And of course, don’t forget your camera with extra batteries. You’ll have to check for direct flights, but I flew in from Santiago and there were already one or two stop-overs until Balmaceda (it went further to Punta Arenas). Report inappropriate content . This gave us peace of mind the van was in good hands while we visited the glacier and meant we could indulge in an extra whisky on the return leg of the cruise. How long does it take to get from Santiago to San Rafael Glacier? Loberias del Sur hotel | minibuses pick up and drop off guests for the day trip from here so it’s a convenient place to stay. listeners: [], Get free comparison quotes with, Check out our extensive and still growing, Book your accommodation in advance, at least for the first destination. The San Rafael Glacier is one of the major outlet glaciers of the Northern Patagonian Ice Field in southern Chile and is the tidewater glacier nearest the equator. Answer 1 of 4: My wife and I will be travelling to the Aisen region, Chile in early December. If you want to spend more time in the … Well think of San Rafael Glacier as its little brother, only more difficult to reach so more adventurous and way less touristy. We slowly approached the ice wall during almost two hours, marveling at the unique structures of the glacier’s ice. The journey back to Puerto Chacabuco felt considerably quicker than the outbound leg. Subscribe to our newsletter and get exclusive information about our adventures! San Rafael Glacier and Lagoon is located in Aisen Region. See all. It calves into the Laguna San Rafael and is contained within Laguna San Rafael National Park. It’s simply too awe-inspiring, I absolutely loved the trip! San Rafael’s magnificent landscapes are a mosaic of fjords, channels, islands, inlets, and ice. You’ll find all major car rental companies at Balmaceda or Coyhaique. Eastwards | If you’re going into Argentinian Patagonia, don’t miss a visit to Cuevos de los Manos. I don’t know any operators out of Coyhaique, but there are a few in Puerto Tranquilo that would probably be able to pick you up in Coyhaique, such as Río Explorades. Not the cheapest way to do it but we couldn’t guarantee our arrival day so had limited choice. Work out when and for how long to visit San Rafael Glacier and Lagoon and other Puerto Bertrand attractions using … Over how to visit san rafael glacier wide, and making sure that ice wasn ’ t be my last Glacier t a. 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