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* '''Start Date to Finish Date (use Format YYYY-MMM-DD) / Duration in Days / Hiking or <span style="background-color:aqua;">Packrafting</span> / Travel Direction (SOBO for Southbound or NOBO Northbound) / Chosen Route and/or Option Name (RR for Regular Route) / Names or Alias'''
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<nowiki>* '''</nowiki>'''Start Date to Finish Date (use Format YYYY-MMM-DD) / Duration in Days / Hiking or <span style="background-color:aqua;">Packrafting</span> / Travel Direction (SOBO for Southbound or NOBO Northbound) / Chosen Route and/or Option Name (RR for Regular Route) / Names or Alias'''<nowiki>'''</nowiki>
Include remarks about your route useful for other hikers and packrafters, alerts, suggestions and personal perception of attractiveness and difficulties. Try to be specific. Do not be shy to fix obvious mistakes.
=Overview=
=Section Log, Alerts and Suggestions=
==Season 2025/26==
*''' GPT04 | 2026-02--08 to 2026-02-13 | 5 days | hiking | NOBO | Route: RR + 03A + 03 + RR (+04C) | Chris & Lotte '''
Difficulty: 2/5 (mostly a matter of physical condition, not many risks apparent)
Attractiveness: 4/5 (we were quite surprised how scenic and isolated it was, not much wow, but a constant nice, at least if you skip the paved road)
We took a bus ti Los Quenes from Curico at 13:00. There are several a day on weekdays.
Then the RR is a very busy and dusty MR full of trucks.
The new National Park (8kCLP each) has a huge gate with cameras and a bell on the right, that calls the architect/project manager of the NP. We rang and Manuel opened the gate remotely, despite the park being officially closed. He knew about the GPT and gave us some hints, where to camp (-34.94731, -70.74377). A bit off trail at the river under an amazing tree, a wonderful site, thats gonna become an official one of the park ib the future. The whole way is full of nice spots to take a bath, the campsite is no different.
Also the campsite splits the high pass in half, which is very comfortable.
Next day we hiked up to the Laguna de la Palma. No palmtrees in sight. laguna was quite muddy, not very nice to bath and filtering water was slow. we intended to do a zero up there but decided otherwise, as we didnt enjoy it as much. We took 03A+03 over Cerro Zapallo, which was really nice, and saw, that all lagunas were very muddy. We therefore decided to go to the next campspot at a river, marked at 30.5 (-34.83993, -70.76135). We met Ben & Sierra there, had a wonderful chat and spend the night there. The campsite juuust fits two tents, its not too good for larger groups.
Next we went to Laguna del Encanto, which is also an official campsite.
We accidentally took Option 04C, but ended up in front of a huge gate with a dozen signs and werent able to circumvent it. There seems to be no good reason to take this option though.
The Laguna is a wonderful swim but its also dusty and crowded. You shouldnt miss it, but prepare yourself for loads of people. Its relatively clean though, we saw a truck collecting garbage in the morning.
When walking out on RR we werent charged by anyone.
We started hitchhiking as soon as we hit the paved road and had a 100% rate in two rides to San Fernando. Not many cars around though in the beginning.
*''' GPT04 | 2025-12-15 to 2025-12- 17 | 2,5 days | hiking| SOBO | Route: RR | Michaela '''
- I completed this section together with Kathrin and Matthias.
- We took an Uber to Las Peñas and started our hike from there.
- At the start, we each had to pay 6,000 CLP.
- There's almost no snow left.
- There is a new bridge at: -34.989219, -70.754204
- We couldn’t find the camp spot marked at: -34.9863, -70.74956.
- When leaving Parque Cuenca Andina (just before Los Queñes), we each had to pay 8,000 CLP.
Attractiveness: 3/5 Difficulty: 2/5
1st camp: -34.876942, -70.744334 very beautiful next to Laguna Fría
2nd camp: -34.98989, -70.75438 very beautiful next to the river
'''GPT04 2025-11-24 to 2025-11-27/3 days/SOBO/ variant A/RR/Denis Rosa and Robert Hanulík'''
We took variant A with hope to find gas in Puente Negro, but not successful. We slept in camping Monteverde(8000 pesos per person). Owner of the camp gave us one camping gas.
Almost no snow on the trail, easy to avoid and even easier to slide down.
We slept next to the second lake, nice spot for camping.
At the end of the valley there is a gate where we had to pay entry fee to Parque Cuenca Andina 8 000 pesos per person (there is camping as well), we took the bus to Curico for 2 400 pesos.
Difficulty 2/5
Attractiveness 3/5
*'''2025-08-09: Track file update 2025 and investigation suggestions of Jan Dudeck'''
- New GPT04 Option 4 (Alto Huemul): This very scenic ridge route probably becomes traversable in January and combines well with GPT05 Option 1 (Lago Teno). We investigated this new route in February 2025 and found stunning.
==Season 2024/25==
* ''' 2024-JAN-12 to 2024-JAN- 14 / 3 days / Hiking / SOBO / RR + Hiking Option Variant H / Elijah & Michael ''' Laguna del Encanto is 4,000 CPL and worth a visit. There is good water where the road transitions to trail at -34.80733, -70.76579. Variant H is a pleasant, non-technical addition to the climb. We dropped directly from the ridge to Lake, Camp {04} (39.4/23.46). South of the mountain, Cerro Zappallo, shady forests begin to take root for the first time heading SOBO. The resupply in Los Queñes is rather good and sells Iso Butane Gas. Bus to Curicó leaves across the street (near the bridge) for 2,200 CLP, and returns from the Curicó central station. There appear to be several running times per day. * ''' 2024-DEC-05 > 06 / 1,5 jours / Randonnée / SOBO / RR / Pierre-Marie ''' Etape : GPT04+GPT05+GPT06| Meteo : soleil| Eau : facile| Neige : peu| Intérêt : 3/5| Difficulté : 2/5| Danger : aucun Au debut un garde (aucun justificatif) me demande 4000CLP. 2 jeunes chiens m'ont suivi les 4 premieres heures. J'ai dormi pres du second lac. A la fin un autre garde (aucun justificatif) me demande 7000CLP. * '''2024-NOV-29 to 2024-NOV-30 / 2 days / Hiking / SOBO / RR + OH (var. J) / Ivan, Jakub, Daniel''' 29/11At approximately 8:00 AM, we reached a locked gate at the end of Agua Buena [-34.6569755, -70.8528045]. There were barking dogs tied nearby, but no people around, so we climbed over the gate. When the minor road ended, it became challenging bush bashing as the trail was heavily overgrown. Afterwards we reached a cherry orchards. Cherry harvesting was in progress, but nobody seemed to mind our presence. The gate near the settlement [11,4/647] was open. A bit further ahead, there is a small shop selling basic supplies [-34.7207306, -70.8309495]. At another settlement [-34.7737603, -70.7783622], we paid an entrance fee of 4000 CLP each to access Santuario de la Naturaleza Alto Huemul. Some beverages were also available for purchase there. We recommend taking a detour to Laguna del Encanto - a beautiful lake with a waterfall. It’s a great spot for a swim and it wasn't that bussy. Following the RR trail, we ascended to a flat platform [-34.84218, -70.76672], which is a great spot for camping. The area offers space for several tents and a nice view, though there is no water source! 30/11At the pass [37,1/2451], we encountered snow. We slid down the snowy sections to reach Laguna Fría. The sliding continued as we descended toward another lake. Lower in the valley, we opted for the OH-J[0.0+0.3] route. We managed to cross all the streams without getting our feet wet except for two fords: [-34.98731, -70.75117] and [-34.98861, -70.75339]. Upon reaching Río Teno, we paid an entry fee of 7000 CLP each to access Parque Cuenca Andina, as we had entered the Maule region. In Los Queñes, we were invited by locals and spent the night camping in their yard. * '''2024-Nov-21 to 23 / 3 Days / SOBO / Lukas/Tabea/Basil'''
After Agua Bueno the trail is overgrown with a lot of thorny vegetation and not a lot of fun to walk. From "El Liano alto" we hitchhiked the arround 20km to avoid walking a day on the dusty road to Sierra Buena Vista Alto. From there it is a nice (Southbound) hike over the 2 Passes. There where some big Snowfields left. Most of them you can slide down southbound.
Shortly before "Las Quenes" we met a ranger and paid 12000 each.
* '''2024-Nov-18 to 2024-Nov-20 / 3 Days / Hiking / SOBO / RR and J / Karin'''
Camp: km30 (a bite downstream at the ford) / km44 (about 100m before ford)
In Los Queñes, I took the bus (in front of the bridge km60.9, at the corner of the street) to Curicó (about 1 hour for 2200 pesos). So I did not look for shops or accomodation.
* '''2024-Nov-10 to 2024-Nov-12 / 2.5 days / Hiking / RR + variant A + J / Sean & Neele'''
Buses from San Fernando only go as far as Puente Negro on a Sunday (1,000 CLP) (2,000 CLP to Las Peñas) started walking the road but someone offered us a ride to the Las Peñas junction.
==Season 2023/24==
*'''2024-Feb-01 to 2024-Feb-04 / 3.5 days / SOBO / RR-E-RR-I-RR / Matthias de Austria'''
I hitchhiked to Las Peñas in the late afternoon, shortly after on the street to the first Laguna a young friendly local couple picks me up, we drive to the Gate at -34.7739,-70.7782 they discuss with the lady, she lets them pass for free, but the gringo has to pay 4000. Got a piece of watermelon from her, at least.
In Los Queñes (little supermarket there, enough food) I tried to take the last bus to Curicó at 18:30 (as I read here) in front of the supermarket, but it already drove off at 18:10, leaving me, waiting for this bus at a little park next to it, behind. After 1 hour of hitchhiking attemps a very friendly couple takes me to Curicó even driving me directly to my Airbnb.
*'''Jan-10-2024 to Jan-12-2024 / 3 days / SOBO / variant A, RR, variant I / Matthieu'''
Nice section, the laguna fria zone is really beautiful, with all the remaining snowpatches.
No problems with dogs or private properties.
* '''2023-Dec-19 to 2023-Dec-21 / 3 days / SOBO / RR + Variant A+D+I + traverse of Cerro Capallo / Matthias'''
Road hiked variant A to avoid route finding around gates in the early morning.
km 30,2 near marked water (before the river to the right), km 42.7 (arriero camp, -34.91107 -70.72997, water and pool 20 hm down easy to reach)
*'''2023-Dec-15 to 2023-Dec-17 / 2.5 days / Hiking / SOBO / 04A-RR-04E-RR / Lilian'''
I go for {04-A}, resupply at Puente Negro, 3 small shops and 2 tiny shops there. (Agua Buena and Las Peñas also have some small shops, but they were all close when I was there. Maybe too early?)
{04-E} km8.85 : water flowing.
RR km33.4 : water flowing.
Look like some nice flat spot at first lake km37.7, second lake km39.3 and beside a stream km40, but they are wet and muddy now(sonw melting).
Km42.5 : camping spot with fire ring and log seats at down hill side.
I met a park ranger at the dirt road, he said he came to here for observation, maybe this area will be national park at the future.
A small shop in Los Queñes, super friendly.
* '''2023-Nov-24 to 2023-Nov-26 / 3 days / Hiking / SOBO / RR / Jens'''
The route over the hill of Aguas Buenas cannot be reached via the route marked on the map, as there is a gate in the way. Further to the west is another path, which at some point further up the hill meets up with the original path again. From there it is easy to reach the road to Las Penas.
* '''2023-Nov-24 to 2023-Nov-26 / 2,5 days / Hiking / SOBO / Variant A + RR / Yannick & Nolwenn '''
- Water : all markers are good and even more water present - snow from km 36,4 to km 40,5
==Season 2022/23==
* '''2023-Mar-08 to 2023-Mar-10 / 3 days / Hiking / SOBO / RR / Hannes & Luisa'''
We hitchhiked from Agua Buena to Las Peñas. Everything fine till -34.8001 -70.7687. There is a fenced cherry plantation with incorporated RR minor road for a few hundred meters. You can walk around on the left all along the fence and you get again to RR (or maybe take the OH where the fence starts?). Nice camp at the rio at -34.8398 -70.7613 way before the pass. There is still water going up to the pass. Last we found at -34.8576 -70.7593. Puesto with gate at -34.9740 -70.7455, nobody there. Nice camp at -34.9822 -70.7442, probably crowded on weekends and holidays...straight before we got out to the bridge close to Los Queñes another gate with supposed dogs behind, you can walk around this area left side moving down to the river. You will get out directly under the big bridge. In Los Queñes we stood for 15k each at the house of a señora who lives where is the feria de artesania, coming from the cordillera turn right after the Carabinero station and follow about 50m, turn right again, last house bottom left corner near river.
* '''2022-Dec-18 to 2022-Dec-21 / 4 days / Hiking / NOBO RR and SOBO Options / Tomáš'''
First I went from Terme del Flaco over the pass to Ruta-55. It is easy trail, almost all horse trail, not CC, but in parts overgrown at knee-height with those annoying spiky things, also dusty with little rocks falling into your shoes as it has not rained since ages. In the afternoon light it was quite scenic. There is a path going from the camping ground along the hot creek (see below) and then the river for about 1 km, then there is a bridge - nicer and shorter than the official route [2024: since incorporated into GPT]. It took me about seven hours of walking to get to the other side. There is a mine there (I think for cement) with cell reception and I think some 3G service. Then no coverage until Los Quenes. During workweek, there are lots of trucks with the mine material going to a junction 1 km from Los Quenes, so getting a ride should be easy. There is also some traffic towards the border, so a ride as far as this route follows the optional GPT05 track should also be possible, but could involve an hour or more of waiting. In Los Quenes, there are two shops, the first (on the right before you get to town from the direction of the mountains) is better stocked, it had some nectarines, no cherries. On Monday, restaurants were closed (the one marked in OSM at the exit of the town does not seem to exist), not sure about accomodation. Probably possible to stock for a week for GPT05 but it was not great, worse then Coya. (I returned on Thursday and the restaurants were opened, there is a pizzeria and another restaurant but I did not eat there, the second shop now also had some nectarines).
RR NOBO from Los Quenes is uneventful. The valley is quite beautiful with trees and lovely creek until about 1700, then the track (no snow now) was easy to follow but during midday rather dull including the lakes. It started to be pretty again at about the same height. Met a huge herd of goats with a silent ariero. I got over the same gate as Yannic and Mirjam, ate a few cherries from the new orchard (a few branches were overhanging the fence), then followed the MR without paying anything (I guess they meant the gate with the house and sign saying that some basic food is on sale about 3 km from the tarmac road) going NOBO. Once I reached the tarmac road, I started hitching (enough of cars), never making it to Aqua Buena and not meeting Pedro. Took me 46 hours.
* '''2022-Dec-08 to 2022-Dec-11 / 3 days / Hiking / SOBO / RR / Martin & Helena'''
We started in the afternoon at the property of José Pedro (see our comment from the last section) who showed us a little different way than the beginning of RR with saying the owners changed since the trail was established and it might be problematic to get on the trail through some gate? We are not sure bc we decided to follow Jose’s advices and didn’t even try to start on the RR. His way should be a little shorter and easier, its basically the same direction to the bridge as RR but more on the left side. You just aim at the highest mountain visible in that direction, half way on the hill, and always stay on a clear path - anything else got us off after all. We lost the path a few times and ended up close to the top of the hill from where we got clear view over the farms. You just need to get down and from there you actually connect to the RR. In one point you get to a natural “fence” made out of branches that goes around the farm and thats the only time when you should go into it, just for a short time.. then there is a short section through the cherry farm (sufficient hole in the fence) and after reaching one of the main gates which was opened its easy walking down the road to the bridge.. we met even some cars with workers and there were plenty of cherries everywhere in this time of the year. We crossed the bridge at night already and therefore had to camp close to the road to Las Peñas, but there are some cabanas to spend the night in.
Contact: @martin_hanzelka @helenneka
* '''2022-Nov-16 / Hiking / SOBO / RR / Yannic & Mirjam'''
After having a relaxing rest day at Pedro's, we set off for GPT04. Although Pedro explained the route in detail, we got confused in the terrain and ended up going into the plantation.
==Season 2021/22==
* '''2021-Nov-28 to 2021-Nov-30 / 2.5 days / Hiking / SOBO / RR / Kris&Stiina'''
We started from Agua Buena around noon and tried to follow Franks suggestion, but after a few hundred meters where the road turns left we encountered a gate with four angry dogs behind it, otherwise the gate would be climbable.
==Season 2019/20==
* '''2020-Jan-10 to 2020-Jan-12 / 2.5 days / Hiking / SOBO / RR / Frank'''
I thought it would be an easy hike from Agua Buena to Las Penas. It isn't. At Agua Buena 500M from start is a fruit farm with no entry sign. No one @ the gate & it was unlocked so I went in. Met the owner & he wasn't too happy to see me but after a discussion I was allowed through. If you go 500M beyond the start in Agua Buena on main road there is a dirt road which branches right just as the main road goes left. The dirt road should come in to join RR just where you exit the fruit farm, allowing you to avoid going through the farm.
You cross Bridge 5 into another fruit farm, no entry sign on bridge. As you leave the farm there is a house, they might not let you in here if you are Northbound. Just after you get to the road there is a shop. 3 campsites (paid camping) & 3 shops in Las Penas, last one does small meals. About 2K later you pay 3000 CLP entry fee @ a gate. Camped @ Water 25. There is one place with water beyond that but nowhere else to camp until the lakes. Lakes are nice but no shade & no wood. I would suggest road walking the first section to Las Penas or get the bus (see updated transport section)
* '''2019-Dec-20 to 20219-Dec-22 / 3 days / Hiking / SOBO / Southbound / Ian Hikes'''
Overview: If hiking southbound this is the first section where it really starts to get green and the pine trees start to appear more frequently. The first section is dominated by dirt roads with paying campsites, cabins, puestos and other developments. Later you go over a large mountain pass with sweeping views in all direction completely above the tree line. Finally, you follow the valley into Los Quenes which in a nice little town to resupply in. The town has a small supermarket with many food options along with a few restaurants. These include pizza, sandwiches and empanadas. The plaza in the center of town also has free access to WIFI which I used while I was there.
Please feel free to reach out and ask me any questions at Ultratrailca@gmail.com
* '''2019-Nov-30 to 2019-Dec-03 / 4days / Hiking / SOBO / RR / Martina & Ivo'''
low water levels, no snow, trails in excellent condition. ...and food and accommodation in Los Queñes :-)
* '''2019-Dec-09 to 2019-Dec-10 / 2 days / Hiking / SOBO / RR / Matus & Anna'''
We started in Las Peñas (we took Uber there from San Fernando). It took us 2 days.
There is enough water on both sides.
Accomodation, food and tiendas in Los Quenes.
=Resupply and Accommodation=
==Resupply and Accommodation along the Route==
=Transport to and from Route=
=Permits, Entry Fees and Right-of-Way Issues=
=Links to other Resources=