The best trip of my life: Aysén Patagonia and Carretera Austral

We arrived in Balmaceda at 9:00 in the morning. With a hug we were well received by the team of "Recorre Aysén", who took us to Villa Cerro Castillo. We were in silence those 70 kilometers that we walked in car ... impressed and maybe very excited with the landscapes of this infinite Patagonia.

I had never seen in Chile that the Andes mountain range mixes with the central valley. What valley? Here on the Carretera Austral everything talks. Lakes, rivers and lagoons appear everywhere and in many colors. The sea enters and loses itself in uninhabited bays with extensive beaches full of vegetation. Why has not tourism reached this place? Just come!

From Puerto Ibañez, we cross Lake General Carrera by ferry. A lot of wind, a lot of waves but I could not stop looking at the color that for that day, was of a very strong calypso. I went up on the deck and knocked on the captain's door. A robust man, about 65 years old and with deep blue eyes.

- Are you a journalist? Do not tell me ... he caught my arm and said: "Welcome to my land, the land of the Patagones. You will not find something similar in the world. I have traveled in many countries ... well, nothing. Nothing like this. “He took off his hat in greeting and extended his hand.

We were talking, laughing and he even got angry with me! because according to him, journalists are making Patagonia known. It's such a pristine place that, according to him, you have to keep it a secret...

In Chile Chico we stayed and covered all the surroundings. To do this, I recommend the Aysén Patagonia travel program that visits the Jeinimeni National Reserve, the lunar valley (highly recommended!), its lakes and lagoons of intense colors. You can do trekking and mountain biking and the roads are perfectly marked.

Then, we moved to Terra Luna Lodge, in Puerto Guadal, where they waited for us with the surprise of flying by helicopter through the Meliquina Glacier that is part of Campos de Hielo Norte. I got a nerve attack! I admit it ... but flying over Lake General Carrera from the air, seeing its natural outlet in Lake Bertrand and then landing in the middle of a glacier was a truly moving experience.

There we were able to fly over the territory. It is impressive to see how the Northern Ice Fields have been decreasing; you could see the Rocky Mountains that used to be part of this great mass of ice. In the middle of this silence, we landed.

There was nothing to talk about, just contemplate, look and thank for so much.

The trip followed several days more, but I'll leave it for another article since every place deserves its due extension.