Chile National Parks Guide: Laguna San Rafael National Park

San Rafael Lagoon National Park Chile

With 1.742.000 hectares (3,832,400 acres), this park is the largest in Aysén and it includes the entire Northern Patagonian Ice Fields (Campos de Hielo Norte), where countless rivers and lakes are born. The tallest peak in the Southern Andes, Mount San Valentín (4,058 m or 13,310 ft), is located in the park.

The ice field extends over this mountain and the surrounding hills, giving birth to 19 glaciers. San Rafael Glacier is one of the most impressive, hence why it gives its name to the park. One of the most spectacular sights is the blocks of ice breaking off the glaciers and falling into the lake with a thunderous roar.

Although the glaciers and the lake are the park's major attractions, it also shelters a rich variety of both water and land birds. Some notable species include the black-browed albatross, huala duck, black-necked swan, and the cormorant, among many others. You can also observe dolphins, fur seals, chungungos, and elephant seals.

Do you want to visit the park?

SKORPIOS II: CRUISE TO SAN RAFAEL LAGOON

Sail from Puerto Mont heading to San Rafael Glacier, a majestic vestige of the earth's last glaciation.

Year round - 2 days / 1 night Read more...

Plan your Visit

Laguna San Rafael National Park Basic Information

Location
Region of Aysén. Coyhaique is 82 km (51 mi) south of Puerto Chacabuco. The lagoon is 120 miles southeast of Puerto Chacabuco.

How to get there
Santiago-Puerto Montt: by airplane, by private or public land transportation. Puerto Montt-Laguna San Rafael: by sea.

When to go
Year round.

Other nearby attractions
Las Guaitecas National Reserve

Activities
Trekking, sea kayaking, fishing, wildlife observation, photography, mountaineering.

Climate
Humid with lots of rain on the coastal areas, with an annual rain index of 3.500 mm (137 in). In the high-altitude areas, rain and snow reach 5,000 mm (197 in) annually. The average annual temperature is 5°C (41°F).

Services
Park ranger.

Services

Infrastructure and services in Laguna San Rafael National Park

Administration office
The park administration office is in the west shore of San Rafael Lagoon, in the Río Saltón area.

Office and station
In Caiquenes Lagoon (San Rafael Lagoon).

Camping and Picnic areas
The camping area is located in Caiquenes lagoon. It has five rustic areas with picnic tables, benches, garbage bins and bathrooms. No bonfires are allowed.
Accommodation fees (site per day): CLP 3.500

Recommendations

Consider these recommendations during your stay in the park:

Protect the vegetaton.
Protect the fauna, its nesting areas, and the natural refuges.
Camp and picnic only in authorised areas.
If you have doubts, contact a park ranger or the area administrator.
You will need a gas or coal stove for camping.

Attractions

Attractions in Laguna San Rafael National Park

What to See
San Rafael Lagoon
The lagoon is located on the south side of Moraleda Channel, on the feet of Northern Patagonian Ice Fields, with San Rafael Glacierflowing into it. With over 3.000 years, this is the park's main tourist attraction.

The lake features enormous floating icebergs, San Valentín glacier, and the usual detachment of ice blocks, which can be seen from the different ships sailing the lagoon. They stay in the surroundings for around 6 hours and use boats to cover the area. There are several ways to get to San Rafael Lagoon, with different costs and durations. Some crafts do the tour in one day and others take up to a week.

What to do

Sailing
Fishing
Trekking
Wildlife observation
Photography
Mountaineering

Trails

The trail going from the pier in Puntilla del Cisne to San Rafael Glacier connects all the facilities in the park. There are two areas with hygienic services: one in the access road, in Puntilla del Cisne, and the other one in Caiquenes Lagoon. This trail gets to the glacier, crosses the evergreen forest and allows you to observe the differences in the vegetation due to the recession of ice.

Pier - Puntilla de Cisne control post (300m)
Pier - Airstrip (800m)
Airstrip - Salóm River station (1.400m)
Salóm River station - Foot of the glacier (1.500)
Salóm River station - Caiquenes lagoon station (1.800)
Road to the glacier - first viewpoint (2.300)
First viewpoint - Second viewpoint (500)

Nature

Natural Heritage in Laguna San Rafael National Park

Fauna

Birds:
Black-necked swan (Cignus melancoriphus)
Seagulls (Larus sp)
Condors (Vultur griphus)
Cormorants (Phalacrocorax sp)
Chucao tapaculo (Scelorchilus rubecula)
Black-throated huet-huet (Pteroptochos tarnii)

Mammals:
Pudús (Pudu pudu)
Kodkod (Oncyfelis guigna)
Sea otter (Lontra felina)
Huemul (Hippocamelus bisulcus)
Andean fox (Pseudalopex culpaeus)

Flora
Arboreal Species:
Magellan's beech (Nothofagus betuloide)
Coihue (Nothofagus dombeyi)
Mañio (Podocarpus nubigenus)
Michay blanco (Desfontainea spinosa)
Chiloe's Coigue (Nothofagus nitida)
Winter's bark (Drinys winteri)
Guaitecas Cypress (Pilgerodendron uvífera)
Tepa (Laurelia phillippiana).

Bushes:
Magellan barberry (Berberis buxifolia)
Chilco (Fuchsia magellanica)
Chaura (Pernettya mucronata)