Puerto Río Tranquilo
Exploradores Glacier day hike
- Distance: Approximately 7 miles (11 km) round trip
- Duration: Six hours
- Start and end point: Puerto Río Tranquilo
- Difficulty: Mild
The Exploradores Glacier day hike is a fantastic experience if you're in the Aysén region of Chilean Patagonia.
The trail is located in the vicinity of Puerto Río Tranquilo, a small town known primarily for its proximity to the stunning Marble Caves. However, the opportunity to get up close to a glacier makes the Exploradores Valley a noteworthy destination in its own right.
This trail leads you to the viewpoint of the Northern Ice Field and the Exploradores Glacier, a part of the massive Patagonian Ice Fields.
The trek starts off easy, meandering through a forest, but gets progressively more difficult as it ascends through moraines and rock fields. The last section requires walking on the glacier itself, which demands special gear like crampons, and in some cases, ropes and ice axes.
From the viewpoint, the sight of the Exploradores Glacier is a stunning spectacle, with its immense wall of ice surrounded by sharp peaks. On a clear day, you may also be able to spot Mount San Valentín, the tallest peak in Patagonia.