Aisen

With the smallest population of any Chilean region, Aisén is a charming land of islands, mountains, fjords, lakes, rivers, and forests that draws ever more visitors since the completion of the Carretera Austral from Caleta Gonzalo in the north to Villa O’Higgins in the south.

Its only sizable city is the regional capital of Coyhaique, which has a state-of-the-art airport and is a good base for exploring the area.  Some visitors begin their trip in the ferry port of Chaitén and then head south by road. Others arrive at Coyhaique’s Puerto Chacabuco, via ferry or catamaran from Puerto Montt.

In addition to the Carretera Austral and its several national parks, Aisén’s major attraction is San Rafael Lagoon, where the ice meets the ocean, but it is only accessible by sea or by air taxi. The climate resembles that of coastal British Columbia, with the seasons reversed (December, January, and February are summer). Therefore, weather can be humid and cold at any time of year, especially at higher elevations, so hikers should carry good rain and hiking gear and hope for the best. Summer temperatures can climb above 25°C around Coyhaique, but cooler temperatures are the rule.  Days in the middle of summer are long, with sunsets at around 10 p.m.

How Much Do We Love This Place?

The Good

• It's an area of immense beauty with the remoteness that people expect from Patagonia
• There are some of the best fly-fishing lodges
• Great hotsprings
• You can find lands laden with lush vegetation or layered in fields of ice

The Bad

• Few accommodation options
• Towns along the way are few and far between
• Some parts of the highway are deserted

Somewhere Special To Stay

HOTEL	FROM	iCATEGORY
Puyuhuapi Lodge	219 USD
Loberias del Sur	180 USD
Yelcho Patagonia	3000 USD
Hacienda Tres Lagos	276 USD