In Auqua Buena we ate at the restaurant La Higuera. Good food and friendly owners.
In Auqua Buena we stayed overnight with Pedro. He has a very nice little house in the green about 5 minutes walk from the centre. Pedro can offer a room with bathroom and breakfast. Kitchen and everything else can be shared. Pedro is a super nice guy and also helped us for the start of GPT04. He told us that he would also be happy to host other hikers. It is best to contact Pedro before starting on GPT03. Here is his number: +56 9 6135 7353
*2019-Nov-26 / Tyler & America / RR / SOBO (mostly)
the optional track around the last big climb of the route is pretty dang difficult to navigate in a couple places. Be prepared for some bush bashing and the route to not be the most accurate. I had downloaded satellite AND topo maps of the section on Gaia GPS and this was very valuable in finding the best ways through this. Bush Bashing: OH-BB-A@03-03-#006. Trail down to Rio Antivero (last half SOBO): OH-TL-V@03-03-#009
* 2020-Jan-06 / Frank / RR / Southbound
6KM from Coya after 2 footbridges there is a trail junction. If you fork right onto OH-TL-V@03-B-#001, when you reach the road access to it is blocked by a high fence. I was able to get through a small hole in the fence but it would be better to fork left as regular route is shorter & avoids the fence
There was only one ford were simply jumping on small rocks to cross the river with dry feet wasn’t possible, but water level was pretty low and the current not too strong, so it was easy enough to walk across.
Was not able to find accommodation in Aguas Buenas, so hopped on a micro bus to San Fernando. Was told that it arrives every hour or so.
* 2020-Jan-06 / Frank / 4 days / RR / Southbound
All river crossings OK. At KM 47.1 the camp is after you ford the Rio Claro, a few minutes after you reach the road. Water mentioned by Matus & Anna on way to 1780M pass is on the trail @ 1420M. It's a long day if you want to get from Rio Claro camp over the 1780M & 2020M passes to good water & camping @ Water 19. The bush bashing section is well below the 2030M pass. Try to get the entry point exactly right or it will be nearly impassible. 2 good shops in Agua Buena & a good restaurant, La Higuera. Updated transport section.
6KM from Coya after 2 footbridges there is a trail junction. If you fork right onto OH-TL-V@03-B-#001, when you reach the road access to it is blocked by a high fence. I was able to get through a small hole in the fence but it would be better to fork left as regular route is shorter & avoids the fence
* 2019-NovDec-24 07 / Martina and Ivo / Regular route southbound (mainly)Matus & Anna
It took us five 4 days to walk this section. Water levels are very low, so river crossings never caused any problemsincluding one nero day. One short part of the Regular trail (1 km) after the second pass is quite overgrown and we were really glad doing it downhill and not uphill (northbound). Instead of climbing the third pass we took the alternative route to the East and from there the exploration route, again to the East. The "yellow" part of it was a 700 m hell of a suicidal bush bashing, but mainly because there was thick fog and we couldn't get an overview at the top. The rest of the route (orange) was a trail in good condition. Back on the alternative route we couldn't find a safe way to start the bush bashing part, so we turned around and again took the exploration route, which was a great decision, as we found a trail in excellent condition. In Aguas Buenas are some small tiendas but for accommodation you'd have to go to San Fernando. There is a Microbus twice a day (morning at ??? and evening at 17:00).
I agree with what was written, I just want to clarify that overgrown part of trail (cca 1km) is after the pass (2030m), which is first marked pass in gps files. After the last posts we were not sure.
Last good water source is in the climb to the pass (1780m), but filtration needed. There is one more further in the junction with optional trail, but it was quite slow and it would be challenging to take enough water from it.
* 2019-Nov-26 / Tyler & America/ RR SOBO (mostly)River crossings were not a problem. In the morning after a second cross of Rio Claro river was suddenly at least twice as stronger, but looked still crossable.
It took us six days to hike this section. We took a great nearo day down by Rio Claro. Agreed with everything said by Martina. This section was pretty challenging navigation wise for us too. We decided to take the shortest optional route around the second pass. The bush bashing section was THICK. I would say nearly impassable. Luckily I had satellite version of the route downloaded on Gaia and found an easy route around it. After this the trial was very overgrown. Past the puesto and descending back down to Rio Antivero, the route was VERY difficult to find on steep terrain. We had to emergency camp and found our way out the next day after finding a well worn trail near the bottom that led us down safely. If I were to do it again I would just stick to the recommended route the whole second half. In San Fernando we found a horse right next to Hostel O Higgins with private room/both for 20,000. Definitely the best prices in town by far.
* 2019-DecNov-7 26 / Matus Tyler & AnnaAmerica/ RR SOBO (mostly)
It took us 4 days, including one nero day. Regular trail the optional track around the last big climb of the route is pretty dang difficult to navigate in good conditiona couple places. Be prepared for some bush bashing and the route to not be the most accurate. I had downloaded satellite AND topo maps of the section on Gaia GPS and this was very valuable in finding the best ways through this. Bush Bashing: OH-BB-A@03-03-#006. Trail down to Rio Antivero (last half SOBO): OH-TL-V@03-03-#009
I agree It took us six days to hike this section. We took a great nearo day down by Rio Claro. Agreed with what everything said by Martina. This section was written, I just want pretty challenging navigation wise for us too. We decided to clarify that overgrown part of trail (cca 1km) is after take the shortest optional route around the second pass (2030m), which is first marked pass in gps files. The bush bashing section was THICK. I would say nearly impassable. Luckily I had satellite version of the route downloaded on Gaia and found an easy route around it. After this the last posts we were not suretrial was very overgrown. Last good water source is in Past the climb puesto and descending back down to the pass (1780m)Rio Antivero, but filtration neededthe route was VERY difficult to find on steep terrain. There is one more further in We had to emergency camp and found our way out the junction with optional next day after finding a well worn trail, but it was quite slow and near the bottom that led us down safely. If I were to do it again I would be challenging just stick to take enough water from itthe recommended route the whole second half. In San Fernando we found a horse right next to Hostel O Higgins with private room/both for 20,000. Definitely the best prices in town by far.
River crossings were not a problem. In the morning after a second cross of Rio Claro river was suddenly at least twice as stronger, but looked still crossable.
* 2019-Nov-24 / Martina and Ivo / Regular route southbound (mainly)
* 2020-Jan-06 / Frank / 4 It took us five days / RR / Southbound All to walk this section. Water levels are very low, so river crossings OK. At KM 47never caused any problems.One short part of the trail (1 km) after the camp second pass is after you ford quite overgrown and we were really glad doing it downhill and not uphill (northbound). Instead of climbing the Rio Clarothird pass we took the alternative route to the East and from there the exploration route, again to the East. The "yellow" part of it was a few minutes after you reach 700 m hell of a suicidal bush bashing, but mainly because there was thick fog and we couldn't get an overview at the roadtop. Water mentioned by Matus & Anna on way to 1780M pass is on The rest of the route (orange) was a trail @ 1420Min good condition. ItBack on the alternative route we couldn's t find a long day if you want safe way to get from Rio Claro camp over start the 1780M & 2020M passes to good water & camping @ Water 19. The bush bashing section is well below part, so we turned around and again took the 2030M passexploration route, which was a great decision, as we found a trail in excellent condition. Try In Aguas Buenas are some small tiendas but for accommodation you'd have to get the entry point exactly right or it will be nearly impassiblego to San Fernando. 2 good shops in Agua Buena & There is a good restaurant, La Higuera. Updated transport sectionMicrobus twice a day (morning at ??? and evening at 17:00).
==Summary Table==
