Take the Naviera Austral ferry from Quellón to Puerto Cisnes. The voyage takes 12 hours and the ferry stops in Melinka before docking in Puerto Cisnes. The ferry leaves Quellón on Tuesdays and Saturdays and makes the return trip from Puerto Cisnes on Wednesdays and Sundays. Find out more about the itinerary and reserve your tickets in advance at: http://www.navieraustral.cl/rutas/ruta-cordillea-corta.

During the trip in ferry, you’ll have the chance to take in the coastline and wind through the fjords and channels near Corcovado and Melimoyu National Parks. You’ll spend the first night aboard the ferry and, depending on the day of the week, the tides, and the weather, you’ll arrive at Puerto Cisnes between 7 a.m. and 9 a.m. We recommend taking the afternoon to explore this beautiful bay and its surroundings. Some possible activities include: fishing in the Cisnes River, walking the “Patrimonial Route” to learn about the town’s history, visiting the Municipal Market, hiking the Leucotón Hill for a panoramic vista and, if the weather is nice, relaxing at Las Truchas beach, the first authorized swimming area in the Aysén region.

You’ll also find various options for lodging, restaurants with delicious dishes made with hake, trout, and conger eel, and stores selling traditional artisan wares made with fish leather, among other local crafts.

12 hours in boat from Quellón to Puerto Cisnes

Today, we invite you to explore the areas around Isla Magdalena National Park. The best way to do this is in one of the boats setting out from Puerto Cisnes, which cross the Puyuhuapi Channel in a voyage of around an hour (one way). Kayaking through the bay is also an option. Whichever way you choose, this will be a great day for spotting marine life, and it’s not unusual to see Toninas (Commerson’s Dolphins), Humboldt Penguins, and Cormorants, among other species.

Return to Puerto Cisnes in the afternoon to continue enjoying the great tourist offerings of this bay on the shores of the Puyuhuapi Channel.

● 1 hour in boat from Puerto Cisnes to Isla Magdalena (one way)

Head 21 miles east on Route X-25 toward the Carretera Austral. We suggest detouring 3 miles north to visit the marvelous Bosque Encantado (“Enchanted Forest”) trail in Queulat National Park. The trail winds through a beautiful forest and ends at Laguna Gnomos, which is surrounded by a natural amphitheater formed by mountains, glaciers, and waterfalls. If you walk at a relaxed pace, enjoying the sights and sounds of the trail, the hike will take around 5 hours out and back.

Once you’ve finished the hike, continue south on the Carretera Austral for roughly 112 miles until you arrive at Coyhaique. In the city, you’ll find a wide variety of lodging, restaurants, and other services.

45 minutes from Puerto Cisnes to the beginning of the “Bosque Encantado” (enchanted forest) trail

245 minutes from the “Bosque Encantado” (enchanted forest) trailhead to Coyhaique

We recommend taking this day to explore the areas around Coyhaique and visit Río Simpson National Reserve or Coyhaique National Reserve before continuing on to your next destination, whether that’s heading to the Balmaceda Airport, driving back along the same route, or crossing into Argentina via Coyhaique Alto.