Cerro Castillo National Park, part of the Route of the Parks of Patagonia, in the heart of Aisén, is a sanctuary of glacial landscapes, turquoise lagoons and sub-Antarctic forests. Its mountains, crowned by the majestic Cerro Castillo, tell stories of explorers and conservationists. In this park, biodiversity finds refuge, with the huemul as its most precious symbol and indeed as the symbol of Chile itself. Trails like the Las Horquetas circuit offer physical challenges and a spiritual connection to nature. Every corner of the park reflects the fusion of majesty and legacy, inviting to preserve this treasure for future generations.

In the region of Aisén, under endless skies, Cerro Castillo National Park stands as a sanctuary of natural beauty and historical legacy. Its mountains, crowned by the 2,318-meter-high (7,600 ft) Cerro Castillo, are guardians of a landscape shaped by glaciers and winds over millennia. Transformed into a National Park in 2017, after having been a National Reserve since 1970, Cerro Castillo is part of the Route of the Parks of Patagonia. This change reinforces the commitment to the conservation of its biodiversity, including the huemul, a critically endangered deer.

In its landscapes, turquoise lagoons such as Laguna Duff and the subantarctic forests of lenga and ñirre seem to stand still in time. Trails such as the Las Horquetas circuit offer physical challenges and a deep connection with the untamed essence of Patagonia. More than a destination, Cerro Castillo National Park is a living poem, an ode to the majesty of Aisén and a reminder of the importance of preserving this natural treasure. Its richness inspires respect and commitment to future generations.

Over five days, we move through a changing sequence of terrain: lenga forests, exposed valleys, moraines, high passes, and remote campgrounds shaped by ice and wind. Each day builds on the last, not only in distance and effort, but in commitment. Once inside the route, the mountains dictate the rhythm.

This journey is designed for travelers who seek earned landscapes, who understand that traversing a mountain system means accepting uncertainty, effort, and responsibility — and that the reward lies precisely there.

Esta experiencia tiene una clasificación de Nivel «Aventurero», lo cuál según nuestro sistema de clasificación es una experiencia de nivel de exigencia: «Media» física y técnicamente. Por tal motivo, necesitarás sentirte cómodo caminando 10+ kilómetros al día, con travesías de hasta 8+ horas diarias. Cada integrante debe ser capaz de desplazarse de manera independiente y segura, a través de múltiples terrenos irregulares (nieve, hielo, roca), incluyendo descensos empinados y grava suelta. Tres aspectos importantes durante todo el desarrollo de esta experiencia son:

• That each member has the flexibility and mental strength to adapt to possible waiting times in tents and/or shelters.
• Mutual and active support, teamwork and tolerance in a remote environment are very important.
• Team(s) will be formed to make the progression on the glaciers.

What It Means to Traverse Las Horquetas
Una travesía no es simplemente una caminata larga. Es un compromiso con la continuidad. En la Las Horquetas Traverse, each day carries us farther from the trailhead and deeper into the mountain system. There are no short exits, no daily resets, no easy alternatives once the route unfolds. Progress is linear — both geographically and mentally.
Traversing means:

• Accepting variable weather as part of the experience
• Moving through terrain that demands attention and judgment
• Managing energy and pacing over multiple consecutive days
• Understanding that decision‑making evolves as the route progresses

The Las Horquetas route connects valleys and ecosystems rarely understood as a whole. By crossing rather than returning, we experience Cerro Castillo not as a destination, but as a continuous landscape, shaped by glaciers, elevation, and exposure. This is where trekking becomes mountain travel.

How We Explore
We approach this crossing with a mountaineer’s mindset:

• Routes are planned carefully and adapted to conditions
• Daily objectives balance progress, safety, and group strength
• Guides read terrain, weather, and group dynamics continuously

Our goal is not speed or conquest, but clean, responsible passage through complex terrain — leaving the mountains unchanged and the travelers transformed.

Difficulty & Commitment
This is a physically and mentally demanding journey. It is not technical mountaineering, but it requires mountain readiness.

Physical Demands

• Sustained daily hiking with a loaded pack
• Significant elevation gain and loss
• Uneven surfaces, rocky ground
• Consecutive days of effort without rest days

Environmental Factors

• Rapidly changing Patagonian weather
• Wind exposure at higher elevations
• Cold nights and variable trail conditions

Technical Considerations

• Non‑technical terrain, but route awareness is essential
• Sections require balance, stability, and confidence on uneven ground
• No via ferratas, fixed ropes, or artificial aids

Who This Traverse Is For
This journey is designed for travelers who:

• Have prior multi‑day trekking experience
• Are comfortable with sustained physical effort
• Understand mountain environments and their unpredictability
• Seek commitment, progression, and depth over comfort

Who It Is Not For
This traverse is not suitable for:

• First‑time trekkers
• Travelers seeking daily vehicle access or easy exit options
• Comfort‑first or sightseeing‑focused travel
• Those unwilling to adapt plans to weather and terrain

Clarity protects the group — and the experience.

Why Cerro Castillo, Why Now
Cerro Castillo remains one of Patagonia’s most powerful mountain landscapes — less traveled, less curated, and more demanding than its famous neighbors.
Traversing Las Horquetas is not about avoiding crowds. It is about earning access to a landscape that still requires effort, patience, and respect.
Se trata de ganarse el acceso a un paisaje que aún exige esfuerzo, paciencia y respeto.

Adéntrate en Las Horquetas. Comienza aquí tu exploración…

Explorar Las Horquetas significa comprometerse con un cruce continuo de montaña.
Una vez dentro de la ruta, el terreno dicta el ritmo, las decisiones y la experiencia.
Esto no es una caminata entre miradores. Es un viaje de montaña a través de un sistema conectado de valles, pasos y paisajes glaciares — abordado con atención, adaptabilidad y respeto.

We do not return to the same place each night, and we do not “reset” daily. Progress is earned, and the landscape is understood as a whole.

Guided by the Land, Not a Script
Our approach is guided by mountain logic, not fixed scripts. Daily decisions are informed by:

• Weather systems and wind exposure
• Snow conditions, water levels, and trail state
• Group strength, pace, and recovery

Routes and timing are adjusted responsibly to prioritize safety and quality of movement. Flexibility is not a compromise — it is a requirement in Cerro Castillo’s terrain.

Movement as Understanding
On Las Horquetas, walking is not passive. Movement requires:

• Balance on uneven, and rocky ground
• Awareness of footing, slope, and fatigue
• Efficient pacing over consecutive long days

This is non‑technical terrain, but it demands mountain awareness. Attention is constant, and effort is cumulative.

The Role of the Guide: A Local Compass
Your guide’s role goes beyond navigation. They are responsible for:

• Interpreting terrain and weather in real time
• Managing group rhythm and energy across multiple days
• Making conservative, experience‑based decisions when conditions change

The guide leads the traverse as a continuous process, ensuring safe passage through exposed and remote sections while preserving the integrity of the journey.

Cerro Castillo as a Living Landscape

Traversing Las Horquetas reveals Cerro Castillo as more than a scenic park. Through movement, we encounter:

• Glacial valleys shaped by ice and erosion
• Ecological transitions between forest, alpine, and exposed terrain
• Historical routes once used by arrieros and early settlers

The traverse allows these elements to connect — geographically and narratively — into a coherent understanding of the mountain system.

Small Groups, Shared Awareness
We explore in small groups to maintain:

• Clear communication and cohesion in demanding terrain
• Flexibility in pace and decision‑making
• A quiet, focused relationship with the landscape

In a traverse, every member contributes to the group’s rhythm. Awareness, patience, and mutual respect are essential.

Exploration with Respect
Las Horquetas demands humility. We move lightly:

• Following Leave No Trace principles Leave No Trace
• Respecting park regulations and fragile environments
• Accepting that retreat or adaptation can be the right decision

Success here is not measured by speed or bravado, but by clean passage and sound judgment.

Traverse Las Horquetas is to surrender to the mountains on their own terms — moving through them with conscious steps, with serene intention, and with the responsibility demanded by their grandeur.