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==Season 2025/26==
2026-01-05 to 2026-01-07/ 3 days/ Hiking/ SOBO/ Option 2, Variant E/ RR/ Option 3/ RR/ Greg Carter
Only a few things to add to Dave and Siyuan’s log of their trip on 21-25 December 2025.
Overall
The mountains were stunning, worth paying the price of admission (CLP 35,000), and putting up with mice, tourists, tábanos.
Attraction: 5/5
Difficulty: 3/5
Day 1
I started from Villa Cerro Castillo, and took a local bus to Las Horquetas for CLP 8,000. There was an unmanned Ranger station with a book for voluntary registration, which I completed. I was going to camp at Rio Turbio/ Segundo camping, but I arrived early afternoon and the tábanos were oppressive, so I kept hiking.
(Generally in the forest, throughout the hike the tábanos were bad, so I recommend you bring a headnet, and be prepared to swat/ kill a lot of them.)
I hiked up Variant E, to Laguna Glacier Peñon, which was very picturesque and well worthwhile. There are also some good camping spots up there.
In the late afternoon, as the weather was good I went over the pass, which had some snow fields on the top (I walked on them with no micro-spikes required). There are wonderful views to the east, and the western side of the pass (which is steep with some fixed ropes), has beautiful views of numerous waterfalls coming off the mountain.
I camped before Camping El Bosque, at Camp {32} [48.0/939], which has some good, slightly sloping sites.
Day 2
Upon reaching Camping El Bosque I took the side trail west (OSM), up to the laguna/ glacier viewpoint, which was well worthwhile.
Before going up I stashed my backpack off the trail. On returning I found that mice had eaten through the mesh of a side pocket to try to get into a plastic jar of peanut butter. A big reminder to hang all food around GPT32!
Upon leaving Camping El Bosque there is a CONAF sign stating that you should cross Morro Negro before 12pm, due to it being an exposed rocky ridge, with strong wind gusts usually hitting after this time. If the conditions are not optimal CONAF states that you must descend via the Mirador Laguna trail and re-enter via Estero Parada.
The views at the Mirador Cerro Castillo were really stunning in perfect weather.
I continued over Morro Negro with little wind, and camped at Camping Neozelandés. The trail to this camp from Camping Porteadores has an easy gradient. Also there is more and better camping, and much nicer views in close proximity to the mountains. Plus it positions you well to hike to Laguna Duff the next day.
Day 3
I hiked up to Laguna Duff for the sunrise - the views were incredible, with a mirror reflection of the mountains.
I then hiked out, paid CLP 35,000 at the Ranger station, and was required to complete an electronic declaration that basically declared I was ok to hike what I had just hiked! Ridiculous bureaucracy. But at least CONAF provides free WiFi!
I got a lift back to Villa Cerro Castillo with some others in the back tray of a taxi cab (CLP 5,000). I’m glad I didn’t walk - it’s a very stony and boring road.
* <span style="background-color:aqua;">'''2026-01-06 to 2026-01-07 / 2 days / Packrafting / EABO / RP + Option 09 / Daniel.s'''</span>
