Cerro Castillo Circuit
Las Horquetas Trek
The full Cerro Castillo National Park circuit. 57 km of guided trekking with local guides from Villa Cerro Castillo.
Distance
57 km
Duration
4 days / 3 nights
Difficulty
Medium-High
Group size
Minimum 3 people
Season
Nov – Apr
The full Cerro Castillo circuit
The Cerro Castillo Circuit — also known as the Las Horquetas trek — is the flagship trek of Cerro Castillo National Park and one of the most spectacular in all of Patagonia. It's 57 kilometers crossing glacial valleys, native lenga forest, demanding mountain passes and camps beside turquoise lagoons with hanging glaciers.
No crowds, no saturated circuits — here solitude and untouched nature are the stars. It's one of those routes where you can walk for hours without crossing paths with anyone else — just the wind, the river and the peaks of Castillo. The trail begins at the Las Horquetas trailhead (km 70 of the Carretera Austral) and ends in Villa Cerro Castillo, with four days of hiking that build in beauty and challenge.
Doing it with a local guide makes all the difference. Our team knows every stretch, every weather shift and every risk zone. We handle the full logistics so you can focus on living the experience.
Condors and huemul deer
El Peñón Pass 1,300 m
Turquoise glacial lagoon
5 remote camps
Patagonian river crossings
Native lenga forest
Route summary
- Total distance 57 km
- Duration 4 days / 3 nights
- Difficulty Medium-High ▲▲
- Start point Las Horquetas, km 70
- End point Villa Cerro Castillo
- Max. elevation 1,300 m
- Group size Minimum 3 people
- Season Nov – Apr
🏡 Local guides from Villa Cerro Castillo. We know every corner, every weather shift and every risk zone in the park.
Day-by-day itinerary
Four days that build in beauty and challenge
Day 0 — Briefing
At our office in Villa Cerro Castillo we hold an introductory briefing: gear check, route walkthrough, safety protocols, camps and park conditions. We also check in your equipment and confirm transport to the trailhead.
Las Horquetas → Río Turbio Camp
Departure from km 70 of the Carretera Austral at 8:00 AM. The first kilometers cross pampas and small settlements where gauchos still live off cattle ranching. The trail is relatively gentle, with river crossings we'll ford using river sandals. Arrival at Río Turbio Camp.
~16 km
Distance
~400 m
Elevation
~6 hrs
Hiking
Río Turbio
Camp
Río Turbio → El Peñón Pass → El Bosque Camp
One of the most memorable days of the trek. A continuous climb up to El Peñón Pass (1,300 m), the first of the two high passes of the trek. From the top the most anticipated view opens up: in the distance, Laguna Cerro Castillo appears with its turquoise water surrounded by peaks and hanging glaciers. The descent from the pass is technical, with exposure to the Patagonian wind and scree fields that demand focus.
~10 km
Distance
1,300 m
Max. altitude
~7 hrs
Hiking
El Bosque
Camp
El Bosque → Morro Negro → Laguna Cerro Castillo → Porteadores Camp
The most anticipated day. A climb up Morro Negro, the second high pass of the trek, with panoramic views of the Cerro Castillo massif. Then a descent toward the iconic Laguna Cerro Castillo: turquoise water with floating icebergs and hanging glaciers dropping straight from the walls. We continue to Porteadores Camp, where we set up camp surrounded by native forest.
Important: The pass must be crossed before noon to avoid the strong afternoon winds. Our guides know the exact timing based on conditions.
~13 km
Distance
~285 m
Elevation
~6 hrs
Hiking
Porteadores
Camp
Porteadores Camp → Laguna Duff → Villa Cerro Castillo
Descent along Estero Parada through mature lenga forest with wild strawberries and orchids in season. Along the way, we pass Laguna Duff — one of the most remote and beautiful glacial lagoons in the park, the perfect finishing touch to the trek. Arrival at the ranger station, where our private transport will be waiting to take you back to Villa Cerro Castillo. Reception and program close with our team.
~18 km
Distance
865 m
Descent
~5 hrs
Hiking
Villa CC
Arrival
What's included?
Meals (4 days)
Breakfast and dinner every day of the trek. Lunch is carried as a trail ration to enjoy en route.
Certified local guide
Guides with deep knowledge of the park, flora, fauna and weather conditions.
Start and finish transport
Transfer to the Las Horquetas trailhead and pickup in Villa Cerro Castillo.
National Park entrance
CONAF entrance ticket included in the service.
Radio and satellite communication
Emergency communication equipment throughout the whole trek.
First aid kit
Complete first aid kit for field emergencies.
Camping gas
Cooking gas at every camp. You bring your own food.
Add-on services (optional)
- + Porters — carry less weight in your pack
- + Gear (4-season tent, sleeping bag, trekking poles)
- + Transfer from Coyhaique / Balmaceda Airport
What to bring
Clothing
- 🧥 Waterproof jacket and waterproof pants
- 🧣 Thermal layers (base and mid layer)
- 🧤 Beanie and gloves (even in summer)
- 🥾 Waterproof high-cut trekking boots
- 👡 Closed sandals for river crossings
Gear
- 🎒 50–65 liter backpack
- 🏕️ 4-season tent (or rent it from us)
- 🛌 Sleeping bag rated -9°C comfort minimum
- 🥘 Camping stove and food for 4 days
- 💧 Water filter or purification tablets
- 🔦 Headlamp with spare batteries
💡 Tip from our guides: Don't overestimate Patagonia's warmth. Even in January it can snow at the pass. Always carry backup warm clothing in a waterproof bag inside your pack.
Photos from the Cerro Castillo Circuit
Choose how you want to hike
Two options depending on your experience and how much weight you want to carry
Chilean
$549,990
Foreign
$579,990
CLP per person
Booking deposit: $150,000
You carry your own gear
- Transport Villa Cerro Castillo ↔ Las Horquetas round trip
- Certified guide
- National Park entrance fees
- Meals (breakfast and dinner) + snacks for all 4 days
- Cooking gas
- Cooking equipment: stoves and pot set
- Radio and satellite communication
Not included: personal or camping gear (tent, sleeping bag), porters, flights, tips.
Chilean
$894,990
Foreign
$924,990
CLP per person
Booking deposit: $200,000
Hike light — porters carry your gear
- Everything in the Basic program, plus:
- Experienced porters — carry up to 15 kg of your camping gear (tent included)
Portering is shared among those booked on the Full program for that departure — not a private porter per person. Ideal if you have little experience with multi-day trekking.
Why isn't the tent included? The trek runs with mixed groups and our tents are two-person. We prefer each participant brings their own: everyone gets their own space and privacy during the 3 nights of camping. You can rent gear from us as an add-on service.
👥 Departures require a minimum of 3 people. Prices are per person. If your group is smaller, message us and we'll find a way.
Calendar 2026 – 2027
Available dates
The briefing (Day 0) is always the evening before the start, in Villa Cerro Castillo
Basic Program
No porters · you carry your own gear
Full Program · New Year Special 🎉 Special 🔥 Last 2 spots!
With porters · ring in the new year at Cerro Castillo
Full Program
With porters
Basic Program
No porters · you carry your own gear
Full Program · Autumn 🍂 Autumn
With porters · autumn colors in the valley
None of these dates work, or want to book a private group with your friends?
Message us and we'll check custom date availability. Group size per departure: minimum 3, maximum 8 people.
How to book
- 1 Tell us your dates and how many are in your group.
- 2 We send you the quote with pricing and options.
- 3 You make your booking deposit (see payment options below) and you're confirmed.
Book with total peace of mind — pay however works for you
🇨🇱 From Chile
Bank transfer or Mercado Pago
🌎 From abroad
Mercado Pago or PayPal
We send you the payment details once you confirm your interest by WhatsApp or email.
Book the Cerro Castillo Circuit
Tell us when you want to go and how many you are. We reply within 24 business hours.