{"id":23334,"date":"2018-05-01T13:48:35","date_gmt":"2018-05-01T03:48:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/slingadventures.com\/?p=23334"},"modified":"2019-01-23T10:28:40","modified_gmt":"2019-01-22T23:28:40","slug":"hiking-cerro-castillo","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/slingadventures.com\/destinations\/chile\/hiking-cerro-castillo","title":{"rendered":"Hiking the epic Cerro Castillo in one day"},"content":{"rendered":"
Mother natures castle, Cerro Castillo, towers 2,675m high across the Ays\u00e9n landscape of Chile. Somewhat an aperitif before venturing into Patagonia and certainly an unexpected taste of what is to come.<\/p>\n\n
How to hike Cerro Castillo in one day<\/h2>\nWe read really good things about hiking Cerro Castillo but mostly around the popular four-day hike, which sounded great but we just didn't have time. It took a bit of effort to try and establish you could do this in one day by yourself but still we had no concrete information. \"Oh well, let's go and work it out\". Not an unfamiliar statement in camp Sling, as working out how to do things is all part of the fun!\n\nWe travelled via Coyhaique after picking up our Padron (the proof of ownership for the car we bought). From a blog we read, we knew the Cerro Castillo day hike started from Villa Cerro Castillo. We drove for about one hour and twenty minutes before we saw the mighty structure of Cerro Castillo's towers loom over the surrounding landscape.\n\n
Our approach to Villa Cerro Castillo from Coyhaique.<\/p><\/div>\n
Finding the Cerro Castillo National Park Entrance<\/h2>\nAfter doing a quick lap of this very small village, we decided to find the base of Cerro Castillo, scout out the starting point and set-up a place to camp. We had a few issues finding the turn-off. It's not a paved road, just a muddy path that slips off the road rather than having a distinctive turn-off, so it's really hard to see. Afterwards, we realised there are some signs but we completely missed them because it just didn't look like a road. It's funny how obvious it looks after the fact but at the time we drove up and down a few times before speaking to a local for directions.\n\n
A map showing the Cerro Castillo turn-off.<\/p><\/div>\n\nWe continued down the path to arrive at a small parking area for the Cerro Castillo National Park entrance. There was a little hut up a hill which provided information about access times and costs to hike Cerro Castillo for a day. Comfortable we were now where we needed to be, we looked for a camp spot. Not far from the entrance there were a few sections of grass next to a running river which had obviously been used for camping before. Here was the perfect place to wild camp for the night!\n\n
Our wild camp by the lake near the entrance of the Cerro Castillo day hike.<\/p><\/div>\n
Starting the Cerro Castillo Hike<\/h2>\nThe day hike was estimated at 8 hours, so we wanted to start early. After moving 'La Bestia' (our car) underneath the protection of the trees, at our camp spot, we arrived at the hut at 8 am just in time to watch the ranger speed down the path from town and roll out of this car half dressed. \"Bienvenidos,\" he said whilst buttoning his shirt as if he had just walked out of the hut. After some polite exchange and a rundown of the safety requirements for hiking Cerro Castillo, we paid our dues and excitedly walk through the gate into the great unknown. It is worth mentioning now that Cerro Castillo has a very expensive access fee for entering (CLP 10,000 per adult) but don't let this stop you from doing the hike because it is truly rewarding.\n\n
Clocking us in at the start of the Cerro Castillo day hike.<\/p><\/div>\n\nStarting out on an open path through paddocks and fields we were passed by some locals on an early morning run! \"There are three ahead of you,\" they told us as they cheerily jaunted passed. We both thought, what an epic place for trail running and yet we had only just started our journey. Then the more we ventured into Cerro Castillo, the more we realised this statement to be true.\n\n
Ascending into the enchanting forest.<\/p><\/div>\n
The journey to the Cerro Castillo glacial lake<\/h2>\nWe started to ascend as we entered a thick and enchanting forest. Contrary to what we had researched, the signage within the national park was clear and probably new. We can only assume that they have realised there is an interest in doing the day visit and have started to maintain the path for hikers. The red markers are the indicators of the right track and these come in particularly handy as you enter the bushier part of the hike.\n\n
The new clear signage along the route.<\/p><\/div>\n\n
The mirador to Cerro Penon on the Cerro Castillo hike.<\/p><\/div>\n\n