Trailhead. Laguna Cerro Castillo | Tourist Attraction
Chile
Details
- Verified:
- about 2 months ago
- GPS:
- -46.11275, -72.20034
- Altitude:
- 361.0 masl
- Contributor:
-
mit-eigenen-augen.blogspot.de
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Description
Trailhead to the Laguna which looks like the Chilean Fitzroy ;) 1100 elevation gain and 7km one way. Costs 18000 pp, latest starting time is 1pm. If you plan to stay 2 or more days, the latest start is at 3:30 pm. Note that there is a nicer and free trek that leads to the same laguna. It goes 6 km further and it's a Conaf trek.
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Latest Check-Ins
Don’t listen to the post before this one. There is a checkpoint at 5km where you need to show you ticket, if you don’t have it, you can’t go to the lagoon! Also good to know, from 4Km to the end is the hardest part
Report Check-InIncredibly expensive : 18.000 clp (18€) for a single hike ?? I've done it, and I'm not sure it's worth the money. Know that there exists another trail just after the bridge at this position : -46,1114107, -72,1572312. That leads to the exact same place. This one's for free, if you go early. There's a ranger ticket control at this position: -46.091987, -72.167131. I passed this "gate" at 9.30 am and nobody was here. Just follow maps.me, jump the fence, ignore the signs and enjoy. 15km and 1100 eg for the round trip.
Report Check-InEntrance to the Laguna Cerro Castillo hike is 16.000 for foreigners. Trail is open and well organized. Just note that you can only reach the trailhead with a 4x4. Without this, you can park earlier along the road (there are signs where the 4x4 part starts) and hike the last 2 km to the start of the hike.
Report Check-InThis is the private entrance for the laguna Cerro castillo. $5.000CLP. I didn't check price at formal entrance.
Report Check-InIt is open if you are a guide or with a guide.
4500pp, still some snow on the upper third of the path.
Closed when we arrived here. Opens probably in two weeks. Walked to Laguna Duff. Much cheaper. 2000 pp
Report Check-InNow the trail is closed because of too much snow. The only trail open is to the laguna Duff. Which still cost 19000 pp
Report Check-InThis is the only entrance to do the 6.5km hike up to the cerro castillo. 19000 for foreigners, if you have a RUT, 15000. Ticket gets checked at km 5, where a ranger camps for this purpose.
Report Check-InNice hike to glacier lake of one of the most unique mountains I've seen. 19,000 entrance fee per person is exorbitant -- had I known exactly what the hike experience would be prior to paying, I would have second thoughts and consider filling a day with cheaper or free trails. Started at 10:30, finished at 15:30. I'm not a fast hiker and spent time relaxing at the top.
Report Check-InUnless you’re a heavy FWD van or have a weak motor, almost anyone should be able to reach this point with their vehicles. Price is still 18000pp and you pay it all in one go and they give you the National park ticket. Nice people working the ticket office. The price is steep, but the gorgeous lake, glaciers, and valley views are worth it (just our opinion). I don’t know if this is the “official” entrance, but this is definitely a primary entrance for the hike. Over 30 people entered here the day that we went. There are clean bathrooms and even cold water showers after the entrance.
Report Check-InTrail is open at this location! Is the cost worth it? Well… it depends on the hiker. The hike offers a genuinely cool perspective on the valley and a few whimsical meadows - particularly during flowering seasons. My only hesitation with recommending this hike is that though it’s impressive, it didn’t stand out to me as unique. I’ve completed quite a few treks with similar laguna views! I don’t regret hiking it, as I was itching for activity, but I do think it’s overpriced based off my previous experiences. This being said, if you’ve yet to experience a high altitude laguna with surrounding snow capped peaks, this is a wonderful opportunity! I further justified my spending by utilizing the absolutely frigid showers afterwards.
My bf and I purchased our tickets at the trailhead and no one checked our tickets at the top. The semi-last call for hiking is 12pm and the hard cut off is 1pm. We were told that at 4pm the trail is “swept” by a ranger and everyone must come down. It took us a little less than 5 hrs. If you go, enjoy! If not, also enjoy!
Report Check-InTrail is still closed due to snow. Will probably open next week. Open trail goes to Laguna Duff, longer round trip but campsites along the way. Ask the tourist information in the village.
Note: the official entrance moved due to private land. It is 4km further down, better with a 4WD.
Report Check-InWell worth the effort -- probably the most beautiful alpine lake we've ever seen. Go in the AM (we started at 8:15 and were second up) to avoid the crowds. Take at least 2L water and refill at the banos at km 5. Ranger is indeed camped up there and will ask for your ticket. 10.3 miles, 4,000' gain from 2WD parking spot on overlander. Still 18,000pp for foreigners.
Report Check-InThe company asking 18000 clp is not conaf. i suggest not paying and using the trek farther north-east (its marked on maps me). conaf seems to not be running the entrance anymore. just climb the fence. there is a checkpint further up the hike with a checkpoint that asks you for your ticket. the guy is not from conaf and trys to check you on conaf territory. i suggest to just ignore him.
Report Check-InThe official entrance has moved. Updated the location. CLP 18,000 for foreigners, 14,000 if you have a RUT. Low clearance 2WDs can park at the spot of the warning in iOverlander.
Report Check-InGorgeous park! We loved the place! The Laguna Cerro Castillo and the Laguna Duff (2 days for this one or one day from the last entrance) are worth a visit!
The price is still 18.000 for one day and 29.000 for two days or more... quiet expensive, but we didn't regret paying it.
If you want to try to avoid the entry check point it's possible, but there was also a ranger camping on the way to the Laguna! Impossible to avoid... Depends on your luck!
From Villa Cerro Castillo there's three entries now (on ioverlander "Trailhead Laguna" and "CONAF entrance", the new one is 4 km from the first and 2 km from the last one. I don't have the GPS coordinates, but easy to find and well indicated), if you don't have a 4WD you can't access the new entry and the last one, you have to walk there or enter from the first one.
If you only want to do a day trek, the shortest way is from the new entry (4 hours up to the Laguna Castillo and 2 hours down, it's what the ranger told us, we didn't do this part). We did a 2 days circuit from the last entry to the Laguna Duff and the next day to the Laguna Cerro Castillo and back at the first entry. They give you a map, it's well marked and you have all the trails (except the new one) on maps.me.
No one manning the booth over nye and even after. We drove past several times to find wild camping and finally did the hike on a calm day. Beautiful views, 5 hours up and down, add extra 2 return for getting further up the mountain pass to have a view of other lake. I’m a slow hiker but thanks to nasty horseflies had to go up without stopping
We saw conaf driving on this road so i assume other entrance is manned
Report Check-InThe price at the beginning of the trailhead is 18,000 CLP (5,000 for crossing private land, 13,000 for the National Park). The trail is very well marked and maintained, with water access along the way. It is a 14km round trip, 1,100m in elevation gain. It’s a bit tough going at times, it’s a steady climb to the top, but it’s a great hike. We completed it in around 5 hours, with half an hour break at the mirador. The views at the top are amazing, and well worth the effort to get to. It is a little pricey but in reality it’s the cost of one takeaway or a round of drinks; we didn’t begrudge the cost for an incredible hike with amazing scenery which we won’t be forgetting any time soon. I would recommend spending the money for this experience.
Report Check-InCONAF open at 7:30AM. We jumped the fence at 6:30AM. There are cows and horses in a pasture and the fence is noisy when you're climbing over it. Immediately as you start the trail you will see a house and large tents and a few pickups. Be very quite and I guess a bit lucky for the first three to five minutes as you quickly go through the trail and enter the forest. Once in the forest you're safe. Not the most ethical thing to do but it does result in seeing the sunrise over the mountains and the village as you do the hike which makes it even more worthwhile. We ended up doing the last two days of the hike in one day (meaning we exited from the private red tent side, the front of the tent is red and the rest of it is blue). We ran into a ranger asking for our tickets but lied about losing them, at the red tent we had to check out in a register (this is so CONAF and the private land owners can get the money each of them is owed). If you exit from the way you came in you shouldn't have any issues.
Report Check-InView, trail, glacier and everything overall, super nice, 14,000 for us Chileans. 18,000 for foreigners. It's an scandal, hopefully it will change.
Report Check-InFrom the hostel in town we've heard that the price is the same, so it does not matter if you take the other trail to the laguna (although I'm not sure if it's true). We've took this trail and although it is far too expensive, it is a really nice hike! At the entrance there is a little hut with two desks you have to pay. At the first you pay 5000 for passing the private land, at the next desk you pay 13000 for the park entrance.
Report Check-InWe did the trek today. So, the first entrance is managed by a farmer. To join the trek, you have to cross his land. And you have to pay a lot for that: 18 000$. unbelievable. You can otherwise go 5kms further at the Conaf entrance, it's 10 000$. The last 2kmw are only for 4x4, the road is pretty bad there, even some 4x4 didn't try to take it!
If you do the loop, start at the farmer's land and finish at la Conaf, you will have to pay both so 28 000$!
Bellow some people said that you can cross the river to enter to the farmer's land. It wasn't possible for us as the water was hight. But still, we didn't want to pay 18 000$ for crossing 200 miles on the farmer's land. So, we left early. We have heard that he and other guides start working at 8am, so we left at 7:30, jump over the portal. They supposed to finish at 6pm but we weren't sure. So we took another way. Look on maps.me, you can take a way behind the farmer's land (which is still a private property but with nobody). People said that because a lot of person don't pay, there is more and more guards... We understand why people do that. except that, the view is AMAZING! We really enjoyed this trek, a must do!
Very beautiful hike, highly recommend it! Price is 18k pp, but the trails are well maintained and clearly marked. It’s about 1000m up and down and some parts are quite steep. Took us about 7 hours including a break of more than 1 hour at the top to enjoy the views.
Report Check-Intrailhead for the private and more expensive trek to the laguna and mirador of cerro castillo - if only doing a dayhike you might want to consider it though as it saves you about half the kms of walking, and the kms you save arent scenic and nice but just flat gruelling 6km one way flat gravel road to the conad trailhead. the views on top are the same - both trails merge at the mirador.
if youre doing the multiday trek this is your "emergency" exit if winds on the paso are too strong or you face other issues.
also saw some ppl climbing bolted routes in the river bed but didnt check the topos. didnt look very high though, topping is probs 6m-ish.
Seems like some of the comments on this thread are actually referring to the official Conaf trail which is nearly 6km down the road (marked as a wind camp spot for some reason). We did this in early December and there is really minimal snow, quite easily passable. The hike is pretty but really straight up and straight down. Also, not that this is the trialhead for the DAY hike to the mirador only and this is privately owned (NOT Conaf run) and costs 4,000-6,000 pesos/person (prices seemed based on the whim of the person running it). If you want to do a multi day hike or start here and come down at the other trailhead (6km down the road), you will have to pay twice- here and to the Conaf rangers at the other end. It’s extremely confusing- see another post on the other trailhead if you’re interested in going that way. The guys here did allow us to leave our van in this parking lot overnight while we hiked to the other trailhead, started there, and ended here.
Report Check-InI had to pay 18,000 CLP (!) Seemed excessive but they said that CONAF raised the prices this season
The view at the top is amazing but the trail starting here is pretty bad, very steep and dusty/muddy.
The two water points that are marked were also dry (early season I suppose) so make sure you carry enough water if you're here before January.
If I had to do again I would go with the other trail that starts 6km further, i heard it's much better.
Trail still closed. Did the trek anyway but there is still a LOT of snow. The trek from the alternative entrance (see other comments) has no snow at all, so take that one! There is no one to collect entrance at this time. Be careful as it can be extremely windy around 1km from the top.
Report Check-InEverything is still closed, you can go through a private property but it is forbidden and someone told us that it is still with a lot of snow up there.
Report Check-InThere is a list of prices hanging at the entrance booth and seemingly prices are reduced; 8.000CLP for an adult. Kids 6.500CLP
Report Check-InDid the walk today. Chap at the entrance spoke English pretty well. 8000 clp per person (adult). It's advertised as 6~8 hrs, but it'll probably take you about 3 hrs to get up and less going back down. 2 water points along the way, the first (roughly halfway) was easiest to fill a bottle with. Great views, superbly blue lake. Tip: go to the waterfall on your way down, in the afternoon. There's a good chance you'll have it all to yourself. Amazingly clear water!
Report Check-InThe hike is nice and the laguna is beautiful. Still in our opinion not worth the price. There are so many great hikes you can do for free or cheaper. If you can do it for free or dont mind spending money, do it. But if you are on a tight budget, Just skip it and dont feel bad about it.
Report Check-InCheck in 10.000 pP, lots of people in Jan/Feb, great hike, amazing views, laguna really rewarding! Swimming not allowed anymore! Trail has lots of markers so no problem, everything very obvious where to follow the path. Latrina/Baño half way and also two spots for grabbing more water from a creek, marked with signs.
Enjoy!!!
Check in was very business-like, just enter the shack on the right side of the road (10,000 CLP). For the route, follow the red road markers for about 4km until you enter the national park, and the markers turn into yellow triangles. They said there were two water opportunities, but really only the second one was usable (almost 6km up the trail). Check out the hike to the waterfall on the way down if you have the time, it's 15 minutes round-trip and beautiful.
Report Check-Inthe owner close the place , you can pass , but is illegal .
beautiful trek 😁
Still nobody to collect payment. Amazing hike, quiet tough because of the steepness.
Report Check-Inwhen at the entrance, no one is to collect payment. I just walked in without paying. free trail
Report Check-InWe did the 'free' trail that starts 7 kms or so down the road, but we heard from a few hikers coming the other way that there was no one at the booth today to collect the 10,000 pesos pp. Maybe it's off season? Very cloudy and windy when we were there.
Report Check-InThe free trek is prettier. From the paying entrance of the trek, just continue the way during 6km (need a 4x4). Then the beginning of the free conaf trek is through a private field but it is the legal way, follow the cairn. More than 1400m slope , a part is quite hard (rocks) but wonderful views that you can't see from paying trek. For us (slow walker), 5h to reach summit and 9h way&return
Report Check-Inreally nice hike!!! its now 10'000 pp. but it worth the money. we tried cheat them and went in at 6 am with other locals but there guys are smart. they have guards on the hike. soo if you go down early...because of early start they gonna ask you for the entryticket...if you dont have...you have to pay when you get back...ah jeah and dont try to go over the river to escape...there is a guard too....it felt a bit like hide and seek. but a lot of people try to dont pay and they know the tricks....so if you want to save money you have to be realy smart...enjoy the view
Report Check-InWe are sure this is a lovely route but the price is pretty steep. Check out the alternative entrance also on iOverlander that is free. It is a little longer but we talked to some backpackers that said the alternative route up is easier than this one. Wind and clouds pick up a lot around 11am so make sure you get an early start if you can. Just providing some information for travelers on a budget!
Report Check-InWe arrived at 9am and was told it would be 10,000 clp pp. As we were a group of four we bargained him down to 25,000 in total. We were outraged that it was so expensive, especially because the was little maintenance done to the track and very few signs directing you were to go. Money aside the view of the Laguna and Cerro Castillo were breathtaking. There are drop toilets at the beginning of the trek.
Report Check-InIncredible inflation of the price! now it is 10 000$. ok to pay some entrance fee but for us it is an abusive price. didn t go... and enjoyed view from curvs on the way. just fews meters above the parking, there is a lovely place where we stayed for one night with a camper van not so high, between two trees, very close of river.
Report Check-InNew pricing for the 2017/2018 season is 10000 CLP per person. Makes it "the most expensive trail of Chile" (I quote the lady who runs the entrance booth). Reason is the bottom part of the trail is privately-owned, top is CONAF. The owners at the bottom are quite greedy it seems. Anyway, we did the trail and it's one of the best day hikes (took a bit more than 5 hours up and down) we did in close to 2 months in South America. Amazing views of the valley and you end up right below the Cerro Castillo summit by a nice laguna. If you can afford the 10000 CLP and forget this crazy price you'll have a great time.
Report Check-InWe parked for two nights for free in the parking area of the trailhead in our motor home, no problems. Right by the river and amazing drinking water. We did the hike, owner charged us 3000 each to do the Cerro Castillo Laguna hike, usually it's 10,000. It's low season and he likes the Irish apparently. Right now, the last part of the hike is snow covered and only accessible with good hiking boots and poles. 3 and a half hours up to the top and 2 hours down. Stunning views and tough but great hike.
Report Check-Inin you have more time and equipment to do more than a day hike you can also go down the road to the other trailhead into the valley towards campamento Nuevo zelanda and cross over the pass to the Laguna. no need to pay at the other entrance either.
Report Check-InEntrance for the day: 7:00 am t0 1:00 pm
Entrance 2 or more days 7:00 am to 3:30 pm 7/8 hours / medium to dificult/ 7km one way
there is a parking area where we stayed overnight. on the other side from the river is a campground for tents.
Report Check-InOffice currently not open, entry appears to be free. Follow red and white markers for the 15km day route. 5-6 hours.
Report Check-InTrailhead to the laguna which Looks like the chilean fitzroy ;) 1000 altitude meters and 8km one way. Costs 5,000 pp, latest starting time is 2pm. Park hours are 8:30 - 19:30. i guess you Could also stay in the parking lot overnight for no extra costs but no baños and no garbage cans.
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