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One of the best hikes in the world

Around Cerro Castillo

• Castle Hill
• Castle Mountain
  
• Cerro Castillo Circuit

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AT A GLANCE

• Cerro Castillo 2675m (8776ft) the highest peak in the central Patagonian Andes
• normal trekking route is 62km (38.5mi) plus sidetrips
• recommended 4 days, 3 nights
• nearest city is Coihaique, Chile
• picturesque highway — the Careterra Austral — brings you to the trailhead

Why We Like This Hike

• stunning glacier, lakes & jagged basalt mountains
  
• remote, uncrowded
• low risk of altitude sickness
• fantastic views from Laguna Cerro Castillo
• good fishing nearby
• does not get the massive precipitation of the coastal peaks
• slight chance to see the rare hemul deer, symbol of Chile (we did)
• the days are long in Patagonia during their summer — it is light until at least 10PM
• no special trekking permit is required
• no fees for the rough campsites
• bag Paine & Fitz Roy treks on the same trip
• Castillo means castle in Spanish

Considerations

• speak conversational Spanish if you want to do the trek on your own
• this hike is in the middle of nowhere
• there are no easy ways to get to this hike. Public transport is limited.
• both Paine & Fitz Roy are far better developed hikes with easier access
• If the weather turns bad, as it likely will, it may be epic
• plan for terrible weather — rain, sleet, snow highly likely
• Dec to March are the best months
• Castillo is more famous with mountaineers than hikers
• these central Patagonian Andes have terrific potential for hiking, yet the infrastructure is not much developed
• tent only, no hut (refugio) yet built
• no toilets
• a 4-season tent with good tie-downs would be ideal
• it can get cold. Be well prepared.

Cost

• Chile is the most expensive country to travel in South America. Budget a minimum of US$40 a day. Days on the trek will save you money.
• rent-a-car is the easiest way to get to the trailhead

Routes

Three trailhead start options based on highway signposts:

1. at 64km – Laguna Chiguay campground & Conaf Guarderia Chiguay which will give you last minute advice on the trek.
2. at 75km – a bend in the highway called Las Horquetas Grandes, if you wish to start the long hiking route immediately.
3. at 98km – the town of Villa Cerro Castillo, from where you can do short hikes directly to the mountain.

• Lonely Planet Trekking in the Patagonian Andes is the essential guidebook
• we recommend the full route starting either at trailheads #1 or #2 above — though the short hikes out of Villa Cerro Castillo are excellent too for those rushed for time
• we stayed overnight in Villa Cerro Castillo which offers several pleasant options
• some boulder scrambling, route finding & creek fording
• rated medium-difficult. If you reverse the recommended route, it is more challenging.
• sidetrip to Laguna Duff well worth the effort
• parts of the main trail pass through private property

wikiexplora recommends this itinerary:

1. Day  The Big Horquetas (Laguna Chiguay) – Camping Rio Turbio
2. Day Camping Rio Turbio – Laguna Cerro Castillo
3. Day Laguna Cerro Castillo – Camping New Zealand
4. Day Camp New Zealand – Villa Cerro Castillo

Summitpost has two more possible itineraries.

 

Trekking Guides

• Swoop Patagonia
• Patagonia Trip Planner

infinito-sur seems to offer some guided trips.

Logistics

Cerro Castillo is in Patagonia about 46 degrees south. About 75km from Cerro Castillo.

• fly or ferry to Coihaique, Chile
• we stayed overnight in Coyhaique (which suffers a disagreeable reputation in guidebooks) & quite enjoyed the town. No problems.
• a private vehicle would be ideal, otherwise you’ll likely end up renting a vehicle
• public buses are infrequent and unreliable
• you can try hitchhiking — but there is very little traffic

Local Information

• South American Explorers is your first and best source of information on arrival in South America
  
• CONAF  (Corporación Nacional Forestal) is responsible for Parks in Chile. Try the CONAF office in Coyhaique when you get there.
  
• CONAF Guarderia Chiguay at one of the trailheads could give you last minute advice
• we asked around in the town of Villa Cerro Castillo. Folks there were quite helpful, keen on increasing tourism.

Best Trekking Guidebooks

• Lonely Planet Trekking in the Patagonian Andes 2009 (no longer in print)
  • LP Around Cerro Castillo PDF
• Trekking por Chile 40 Rutas 2015 (Spanish) … widely available in Chile bookstores

Best Travel Guidebooks

• Lonely Planet Chile 2012 (get the most up-to-date edition)
• Footprint Patagonia 2012

Related Books

• Enduring Patagonia – Gregory Crouch

Crouch is ideal reading when tentbound due to weather. 🙂

• In Patagonia – Bruce Chatwin
• Baja to Patagonia – Larry Rice
• Nowhere Is a Place: Travels in Patagonia  – Bruce Chatwin, Paul Theroux, Jeff Gnass
• Patagonia: Wild Land At The End Of The Earth  – Tim Hauf, Conger, Jr. Beasley, Gregory Crouch

• Lonely Planet Trekking in the Central Andes 2003

Best Maps

• IGM Chile 1:50,000: Lago Elizalde (Section I, No 132), Balmaceda (Section I, No 133), Villa Cero Castillo (Section J, No 10)
  

Best Web Pages

• wikiexplora – Circuito Cerro Castillo
• patagonian dreams – Posts tagged “cerro castillo”
• wikipedia – Cerro Castillo
• interpatagonia.com
• Cerro Castillo National Reserve
• future Patagonian National Park

Best Trip Reports

• Stingy Nomads 2016
• trail running – Cerro Castillo Circuit: An Unknown Patagonian Paradise 2015
• Steve Behaeghel photos (huemel)
• Trekking in Around Cerro Castillo, Chile
• Emilie Dannenberg hitched to the trailhead

Movies

Click PLAY or watch a short Ecotravel Patagonia autumn trip highlights vid on YouTube.

 

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