Lago Verde: Lake, Steppe and Patagonian Trails

Lago Verde brings together a lake, forests, rivers, Patagonian steppe and mountain ranges. The town lies in a rural valley of the Río Figueroa. If you enjoy spending your trip outdoors, there are various ways to experience the landscape here: from a hike with views of the lake to kayaking and boat trips, as well as multi-day routes. When choosing a holiday apartment or holiday home, it is therefore particularly worth considering whether you would like to focus your trip on shorter outings or longer excursions.

Hiking between the edge of town and Lago Palena

One relatively short hiking option is the Sendero La Cancha. The trail begins at the northern edge of town and follows the historic northern trail. Along the way, you can enjoy views of the vegetation and a panorama of Lago Verde. The route is about 5 kilometres long, takes approximately four hours and has a low difficulty level. It is considered suitable for everyone. This makes it easy to distinguish this hike from the considerably longer Andes Patagónicos route.

The Andes Patagónicos route from Lago Verde to Lago Palena starts in the town and ends at Lago Palena. It is about 55 kilometres long; the one-way journey is estimated to take around three days. Its difficulty level ranges from moderate to high. The Lago Verde–Lago Palena route is also known as Huella los Troperos and is a Ruta Patrimonial in the Región Aysén. This makes it a very different choice from the approximately four-hour hike on the edge of town: plan either a multi-day crossing or focus your outings on shorter trails.

South of Lago Verde lies the Sendero Boca de Diablo, described as an out-and-back route about 7.5 kilometres long. A guide is required to visit Boca del Diablo. If you would like to include these destinations in your trip, take into account both the length of the trail and the requirement to have a guide.

Lake, boating and fishing

There are various options on the water, too: kayaking and boat trips are possible on Lago Verde. A half-day boat trip goes from Lago Verde to the La Herradura sector of Lago Verde. There, you can go ashore and enjoy the beach. This is a different way to experience the lake’s surroundings than walking along one of the hiking trails.

Those interested in fishing will find suitable areas at Lago Verde and along the Figueroa and Pico rivers. You can also fish from the shore of the turquoise Lago Verde. In addition, the municipal tourism portal lists wildlife watching as one of the town’s activities. The lake, rivers and landscape of forests, steppe and mountain ranges offer a variety of nature experiences, so you do not have to limit yourself to a single type of outing.

The town and getting there

Attractions in the town include Plaza Lago Verde and Monumento los Pioneros. These destinations complement excursions into the landscape with a brief look at the town itself. You can reach Lago Verde from La Junta by taking Route X-10 east; the town is 74 kilometres away.

When choosing your accommodation to suit your preferred pace of travel, the differences between the outings may help: La Cancha is a hike of about four hours, while the route to Lago Palena takes approximately three days one way. Boat trips, fishing and wildlife watching offer more ways to enjoy your time at the lake and in the surrounding area.

More destinations: Puerto Aguirre, Puerto Chacabuco, Puerto Raúl Marín Balmaceda, Tortel, El Remanso.

See the broader travel overview: Aisén Region.