GPT31P (Lagos de Aysen)
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Summary with remarks to route that are considered useful for other hikers and packrafters. Include alerts, suggestions and personal perception of attractiveness and difficulties.
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Section Log, Alerts and Suggestions
Season 2025/26
Season 2024/25
Season 2023/24
Season 2022/23
Season 2021/22
Season 2020/21
Season 2019/20
- GPT31P / Regular Packrafting Route Southbound / 2019-Dec-03 / 5 easy going days / Meylin Ubilla & Jan Dudeck
After we aborted the traverse GPT90P due to an completely overgrown trail (after all settlers abandoned the area) we returned seamless on GPT31P to Coyhaique.
This section combines a succession of lake crossings and river floats into a quite diverse packrafting route.
This section is only feasible in southbound direction due to the predominant wind direction on the lakes and the flow direction of the river float.
GPT31P is a suitable continuation right after floating down Rio Palena (GPT27P & GPT28P) in particular if traveling with the ferry from Raul Marin Balmaceda directly to Puerto Chacabuco. GPT29P and GPT30P are both pretty special, only feasible in northbound directions and require a very big appetite for adventure and luck with weather so skipping section GPT29P and GPT30P is a reasonable choice for most packrafters.
The roughly 6 km float on Rio Blanco should not pose a significant challenge to even novice packrafters.
Lago Riesco, Lago Portales, Lago Zenteno and Lago Atravesado are between 6 and 10 km long with few suitable exits along the shore. In good calm weather these 4 lakes are true packrafting delights but if the wind picks up even these smaller lakes should not be undermined.
Lago Elizalde is a different category. This 30 km long Lage is a wind channel and pretty impressive waves can build up in windy weather. With a classic open packraft this lake traverse can easily become a frightening challenge. So packrafters with a classic open boat should wait for a calm weather window before venturing on this lake. We traversed this lake this time in pretty rough conditions with an extra-long double packraft with spraydeck. We ended up surfing in some parts at least 1.5 m high waves; something that we did not intent doing.
Portages: Lago Riesco to Rio Blanco: Easy 100 m portage crossing the gravel road. Make sure to not take the lake outlet river but do the portage.
Rio Blanco to Lago Portales: this roughly 3 km portage follows mostly the gravel road. Only the last 300 m are cross country down to the lake.
Lago Portales to Lago Zenteno: 1 km on minor roads and cattle tracks.
Lago Zenteno to Lago Atravesado: Connecting footstep hikers/packrafters might find the 24 km of gravel road annoying but we hopped on a car that took right from Lago Zenteno to Lago Atravezado. If you don’t like hiking gravel roads you might take the minibus that travels this route on Monday, Wednesday and Friday.
Lago Atravesado to Lago Elizalde: 300 m partly on stairs that end on a small hydro power station. Nice camping sites up at Lago Atravesado with space refuge but not down at Lago Elizalde. If you don’t have weather luck to cross Lago Elizalde in calm weather you may walk out from Lago Atravesado.
It took us 5 days but we had two very short days; one to rest in good weather on the shore of Lago Riesco and another one when we got invited by the settlers on Lago Portales. There we also learned why the trail of section GPT90P was partially cleaned.
Season 2018/19
Season 2017/18
Season 2016/17
Resupply and Accommodation
Resupply and Accommodation in nearby Towns
Resupply and Accommodation along the Route
Transport to and from Route
Permits, Entry Fees and Right-of-Way Issues
Links to other Resources
Retired Section Article GPT31P - Lagos de Aysén
Images
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GPT31P: Lagos de Aysen | Hiking | Packrafting | |||||
Group | G: Aysen Norte | Total | - | - | 90.7 km | 25 h | |
Region | Chile: Aysén (XI) | Trails (TL) | - | - | 1.3 km | 1.4% | |
Start | Puerto Cisnes | Minor Roads (MR) | - | - | 39.0 km | 43.0% | |
Finish | Villa Frei | Primary Roads (PR) | - | - | 4.3 km | 4.7% | |
Status | Published & Verified | Cross-Country (CC) | - | - | 0.3 km | 0.3% | |
Traversable | Sep - May | Bush-Bashing (BB) | - | - | 0.4 km | 0.5% | |
Packraft | Required | Ferry (FY) | - | - | (171.2 km) | (65.4%) | |
Connects to | GPT28P, GPT29P, GPT32 | Investigation (I) | - | - | (0.7 km) | (0.7%) | |
Options | 236 km (4 Options & Variants) | Exploration (EXP) | - | - | - | - | |
Hiking | Packrafting | Total on Water | 45.5 km | 50.1% | |||
Attraction | - | 4 (of 5) | River (RI) | 5.5 km | 6.1% | ||
Difficulty | - | 4 (of 5) | Lake (LK) | 39.9 km | 44.0% | ||
Direction | None | Both ↓↑ | Fjord (FJ) | - | - | ||
Comment | Hiking: Hiking not feasible | ||||||
Character | Packrafting: ↓ Recommended, ↑ Exploration option | ||||||
Challenges | Valdivian Rain Forest, Farmland, Settlers, River Packrafting, Lake Packrafting |