Patagonian spa resort and San Rafael glacier

Balmaceda

4 days, 3 nights Option
Tuesdays (October to April) and Saturdays (mid-October to April)

Day 1 Arrive Coyhaique/Balmaceda airport. Glorious two hour drive along a forested river valley to Puerto Chacabuco; board catamaran for a 5 hour sail north to the 32 room spa hotel, Puyuhuapi Lodge.
Day 2 Visit nearby village of Puerto Puyuhuapi. Optional excursions, bookable locally, to visit the translucent blue Queulat hanging glacier, to hire sea kayaks or a motor boat.
Day 3 Full day cruise by catamaran to the San Rafael Glacier, reaching the head of the Seno Ventisquero fjord and glacial lagoon in the early afternoon: there’s time to see the towering wall of ice at closer quarters. Return to Puerto Chacabuco in the late evening and overnight.
Day 4 Drive to Balmaceda airport.

5 day, 4 night (Mon) and 6 day, 5 night (Thurs) options

These longer trips allow more time at Puyuhuapi Lodge and incorporate a stunning 5 hour drive along the Carretera Austral - ‘Southern Highway’ (the journey takes 8 hours including stops for lunch). 

A tremendous feat of engineering only completed in 1983, the highway crosses mountain passes, glaciers and dozens of waterways, lakes and fjords as it weaves its tortuous path from Puerto Montt south to where the land runs out.

A thorough description of this hotel can be found in our hotel section.

Our comment

"Facing a gorgeous bay and dwarfed by towering forests and mountains, this is a perfect base for a visit to the San Rafael glacier, offering the opportunity to luxuriate in its thermal pools in between exploring the supremely beautiful surroundings."